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The clergy of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) Church Otucopi in Soroti City East, Soroti district, say in the New Year, that they are not ready to minister to beggars among their flock who shun work.  

Pastor Francis Mpande of PAG Otucopi while delivering his New Year’s message to Christians, said they don’t want to pastor beggars who will not work hard to improve their lives in the new year.  

“We don't want to pastor beggars, it's a shame. Mathew 25:21-28 encourages us to work hard just like Abraham in the Bible,” he said.  

According to him, reading the Bible from sunrise to sunset will never bring money to a Christian’s pocket, but rather hard work.  

He said nobody was created poor by design but hard work makes one prosper in life.   

Mpande observed that some have the energy to work hard but they are beggars even during the harvest period.  

“God is not a very hard man to make you rich. Even if you pray every day to break general curses and you don't work hard, you won’t become rich,” he said.  



Mpande however warned Christians against being involved in the business of making quick money. 

“The more we work, the more God adds more things to us,” Mpande said.  

Rev. Stephen Omoko of PAG Otucopi said God calls Christians and mandates them to work hard. 

“Let's draw closer to God, a year of hard work and humility. This year should be a year of hard work not begging,” Rev. Omoko said.  

Rev. Omoko said Christians should not resort to praying and fasting yet they become very poor as a result of not working hard. 

He said the church is going to focus on giving Christians entrepreneurial skills this year.  

Omoko warned that the church leaders will soon launch an operation and whoever is found still sleeping in their parent’s house will be disciplined by the church.  

“You cannot have a deep voice sleeping in your parent’s house. You cannot listen to your parents producing your brothers and sisters in the same house because of your laziness to construct your own,” said Omoko.