The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has made headlines after turning down a ₦30 million donation offered by the Kebbi State Government, insisting that public funds should not be used for church activities.
EdoToday reports that the incident occurred during the Kebbi Healing and Deliverance Crusade, where Kebbi State Commissioner for Social Duties, Zayyanu Umar Aliero, announced on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris that the state had approved and brought a ₦30 million cash donation to support the crusade’s organising committee.
“Our Governor, His Excellency Dr Nasir Idris… has graciously approved the donation of ₦30 million to this gathering,” Aliero told attendees. “He doesn’t make promises without fulfilling them, so I have that money here in cash to present to the committee.”
However, in a move that surprised many, Pastor Enenche respectfully declined the offer and asked that the funds be directed toward charitable causes such as orphanages, insisting that the church must remain financially independent from the government.
“If there is anything like orphanage, if there is anything like that, at your discretion, please apply this amount of money to it,” Enenche said. “It will not be received.”
He explained that the principle behind the refusal was rooted in the belief that church funds should come from God’s people, not the government. He added that such a stance allows the church to maintain its voice and integrity without being influenced by political interests.
“We are one of those who believe that government money should be used for government projects and government things,” he continued. “Church money should be used for church things, not mixed together.”
Pastor Enenche further emphasized that the massive Glory Dome, the international headquarters of Dunamis in Abuja, was built without government funds, from the land purchase to the completion of the structure.
“That is what we did, and that is what we do. As small as the Glory Dome is, government money is not in it… This is so we can retain our dignity as the body of Christ and be able to say what we need to say when we need to say it.”
Following the pastor’s comments, Commissioner Aliero responded by expressing understanding and respect for the decision.
“They don’t accept it because whatever he is doing, he is doing it for the sake of God,” Aliero said. “We really appreciate and thank him for what he is doing in our state.”
The moment has sparked discussions online, with many praising Pastor Enenche’s stance as a bold call for accountability, separation of church and state, and integrity in ministry.
