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Lovemore Mataire Senior Reporter
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder and leader Prophet Walter Magaya has defended his church’s emphasis on economic empowerment issues, saying God wants his flock to enjoy life.

Prophet Magaya said this while addressing his congregation on Saturday during a church service, which included a question-and-answer session on issues to do with economic empowerment.

“I don’t care about what people talk about gospreneurship. Who doesn’t want money? Ask me; the life of not having money is unbearable,” said Prophet Magaya to thunderous applause from thousands of congregants.

Prophet Magaya said spiritual deliverance was meaningless if individuals failed to use their God-given talents in empowering themselves.

He castigated people relying on monthly salaries, saying the Zimbabwean economy demanded that individuals embarked on some income generating projects to complement their earnings.

One congregant asked whether it was not correct that all of them could not be businesspeople as they were differently gifted.

Prophet Magaya’s response was: “If you are a member of PHD and you rely on your salary then you are daft.”

He said every individual was capable of running a profitable business as long as he/she was exposed to a business environment.

He said most people were failing to run their businesses because of failure to adapt to new trends.

“Not long ago, some people used to make money by selling zips and buttons. But who do you sell those zips and buttons to when cheap Chinese clothes have flooded the market?,” asked Prophet Magaya.

He urged congregants to pursue projects that they were passionate about and identify their purpose in life.

Prophet Magaya said it was critical for individuals to establish relationships with key stakeholders in business and/or Government in order to build confidence and trust.

“Having a relationship with people who matter is not corruption.

“It is strategic and it’s better to shelve your business plan until you establish a good rapport with the person or institutions that are expected to fund your project proposal,” Prophet Magaya said.

The youthful church leader, said congregants must emulate his leadership style in church, which was based on understanding every department and its workings including grabbing any opportunity that arises.

He said there was nothing wrong in church leaders preaching about economic empowerment as the body just like the spirit needed nourishment.

President Mugabe recently criticised some Pentecostal churches who mislead their congregants into believing they could get rich quickly.

He urged people to be patient and work hard as prescribed in the Bible to sustain their livelihoods.