The General Overseer/Archbishop of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda has warned pastors not to exaggerate the word of God by faking miracles.

Archbishop Moses Odongo also warned them against getting involved in false prophecy.

“Many of our colleagues fake miracles so that they get a big following. Kindly desist from it because you are not deceiving the people. Instead, it is God that you are shaming."

Odongo said this on Good Friday while handing over a large gift of bicycles to dozens of Born-Again pastors from Teso at the Faith Mission Church in Soroti city.

He said that he chose to gift the pastors with the two-wheelers on Good Friday so as to relieve the pastors of the metaphorical cross of lacking transport to execute their work.

Archbishop Moses Odongo interacting with the pastor who received the bicycles.

For long-term purposes though, he said he partnered with Gospel Messengers to make work of the pastors of spreading the gospel easier.

'Humble start'

Bishop Moses Ssemanda Mbuga of Gospel Messengers Church Kampala said that donors have supported them with over 1,000 bicycles that they have distributed to pastors, especially those in rural areas.

“These pastors in one way have been carrying their own crosses in the work of God, especially the cross of lacking transport. They walk for long distances to visit Christians and also to preach,” said Odongo.

He said one of his missions as General Overseer is to ensure that pastors get better means of transport so that they can conduct their work with dignity.

“Always, it good to start in a humble way with hopes of ending in a big way," he said.

"We shall graduate to motorcycles and to vehicles, but today I have chosen to give bicycles because it’s a sign that Jesus' suffering gives us rest and indeed these pastors have rested from walking on foot."

The beneficiaries promised to utilize the bicycles to the satisfaction of the Lord.

Pastor Naume Anero of PEM Church in Serere district said that this year's Way of the Cross was more memorable for her and her family.

“This gift has given me more energy to serve God with all my heart. It’s a memorable day for me because as we commemorate the day Jesus started facing torture leading to his crucifixion, I start the day with joy to go and preach the goodness of God who offered His son to die for our sins,” she said.

For Rev. Caroline Okello of Shower Gospel Truth Church, who has been walking for 12 kilometres to her church, the bicycle gift is a blessing as it will allow her reach church on time.

“It has been tough for me to arrive at church sweating and tired, but this bicycle has made my work easy," she said.

While addressing the pastors in Soroti city, Odongo stressed the need for them to ensure that they get side income that can support them in their ministry.

He said poultry keeping and piggery and crop farming can support them as opposed to depending on their flock.

“You have children that require school fees as well as your welfare. If you don’t have a side income, how do you send your children to school?”