Pastor Ibiyeomie Warns Yahoo Boys Against Giving Offerings
The presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has condemned internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo, describing it as theft and warning fraudsters against bringing proceeds from cybercrime into the church.
Ibiyeomie made the remarks during a recent sermon while addressing the presence of internet fraudsters among Christians. He said cybercrime remains stealing, regardless of how offenders attempt to justify or disguise it.
“There are Yahoo boys inside the church,” Ibiyeomie said. He questioned how anyone could defraud another person and still attend church without feeling remorse.
The pastor said taking money that belongs to another person amounts to theft. He rejected attempts to portray internet fraud as a different form of crime because of its use of technology. “Whatever you take that belongs to someone else is stealing. Yahoo is stealing,” he said.
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Ibiyeomie also warned Christians against maintaining close relationships with people involved in cybercrime. He said believers should not support or associate with individuals who profit from defrauding others.
The pastor illustrated the consequences of cybercrime with the story of an electrical engineer and university professor who worked as a consultant on one of the ministry’s electronic projects.
According to Ibiyeomie, fraudsters emptied the professor’s bank account of his savings. He said the incident caused the professor severe distress and resulted in his death.
Ibiyeomie said the man physically held his burglary-proof security bars before collapsing after discovering that his savings had been taken.
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The pastor also issued a warning to members of Salvation Ministries who engage in internet fraud. “If you are in this church and you are Yahoo, you will go to another church and do your offering,” he said. He said the church would not accept money obtained through fraud, regardless of the amount involved.
Ibiyeomie further rejected economic hardship as a justification for cybercrime. He argued that financial difficulties do not give anyone the moral right to take another person’s lifetime savings.
He said many people have suffered serious consequences, including death, because of internet fraud.
The pastor urged Christians to reject cybercrime and avoid benefiting from money obtained by exploiting or defrauding others.
source: Vanguard News
Content Credit: Azeez Amosun
Image Credit: Facebook.com
