Dear editor,

The now popular belief that churches are set up for the sake of business is not completely true. Most people think that one of the professions they could easily take up would be being a pastor of any church.

I would like to defer with what them. They need to know that not all churches are set up for extracting money from the faithful church goers. As a church everyone is a participant and contributor to its development.

The pastor is not the one who handles the money offerings. The church is an organized body that also involves administration. Professionals in this area usually deal with matters concerning what needs to be done for the church to reach out and help the community.

For instance to go out and feed the hungry, look after the homeless, to care for widows and orphans and to send outreach groups upcountry, all requires the use of money.

For the someone to criticize and say that pastoring a congregation means taking the money offered is unfair because in an organized and well established church a lot of people sacrifice just to see that others especially here in Rwanda are not suffering.

In fact at my church we see where the money goes and the results are evident. This is what makes me say that my church is true and real. The actions follow the words preached.

On the other hand it would be an oversight to assume that there are no churches out there that are exploiting the people. Caution needs to be taken and people should also see what practical steps the churches they go to do.

It is not all about preaching but practical actions that better the community should also be practiced by the churches.

Remera