A North West bishop has opened a criminal case against Alleluia Ministries International (AMI) leader, pastor Alph Lukau.
The charges were laid following a video clip that went viral this week purporting to show Lukau raising a man from the dead during a Sunday service.
Bishop Elly Mogodiri said he opened a case of organised crime, fraud and misrepresentation, amongst others, against Lukau in an attempt to deter what he called "false prophets" abusing the church for their own personal gain.
"I have seen too much pulpit greed and commercialisation going on in the church, amongst other disturbing practices. Right now we are witnessing the staged fraudulent and unfaithful act of resurrecting a deceased person in the church of Alleluia Ministries International under the leadership of prophet Alph Lukau.
The case was opened at the Hartebeespoortdam in the North West Province.
Mogodiri said Churches need to desist from brand management decisions because that is not Godly. As the body of Christ, we should be teaching our people to relate directly with God and not with us as bishops, prophets, or pastors
He said God should be the only priority for churches and that tithing and contributions should be used to support communities instead of acting as a vehicle for "amassment of wealth by the church leaders as is the case prevailing in our country right now".
-African News Agency (ANA)
-pics: Alph Lukau Twitter
