Don’t come to church because of your pastor – Otabil tells congregation

Pastor Mensa Otabil has told his congregation at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) to focus on God, and not the pastor, in attending church.

“You don’t come to church because of your pastor,” he preached on Sunday at Christ Temple at Abossey Okai in Accra.

“You come to church to worship God and so I want you to keep your eyes on Him and to worship Him and to focus on Him.”

It was Pastor Otabil’s first meeting with the church after the controversy over the collapse of Capital Bank, for which he was the Board Chairman.

The ICGC General Overseer had responded to critics and stated that his role at the defunct bank was “non-executive” and so was not party to the day-today operations.

READ: ‘My role was non-executive’ at Capital Bank – Otabil responds to critics

He indicated, however, that he has submitted himself to investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco).

“I have preferred not to respond in the public domain, not as an admission of guilt, but out of respect for the due process and the ongoing investigations,” he said in the statement issued on Tuesday.

Some members of the church and his sympathisers lent their solidarity to the renowned man of God with #IStandWithOtabil on social media.

On Sunday, when he mounted the pulpit, Pastor Otabil said: “I came this morning to declare the goodness of God”.

He said he was filled with “thanksgiving and praise and gratitude,” underscoring the goodness of God.

“God is good,” he shouted.

“I am overwhelmed by God’s love,” he added.

“I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness and today as we come to church, it is not about your pastor.”