The Lead Pastor of Champions Faith Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla, has shared his views on the controversy surrounding a recent statement attributed to Korede Komaiya, in which he said he would never follow a poor pastor.
His comment has sparked widespread debate across religious and social circles.
Iginla, while addressing the controversy in a video message titled “The Poor Versus the Rich,” said Komaiya’s remark was widely misunderstood and taken out of context, stressing that it reflected a personal conviction shaped by exposure, experience, and individual values rather than an attack on poor people or pastors.
“What is wrong with the statement? It is his personal opinion,” Iginla said.
“If you want to follow a poor pastor, follow one. If you want to follow a rich pastor, follow one.”
He argued that perspectives on leadership often evolve with time and exposure, noting that what may have been unacceptable years ago could become understandable in light of changing realities.
The pastor questioned why poverty is frequently spiritualized in the church while prosperity is treated with suspicion.
“If I say today the topic of our message is poverty, will you sit down?” he asked. “Do we teach people how to be poor?”
He clarified that material wealth should not be confused with spirituality, stressing that a person’s spiritual depth is not determined by financial status.
According to him, prosperity operates on principles that anyone who applies them, regardless of religious affiliation, can benefit from.
“You can be poor and make heaven like Lazarus. You can be rich and make heaven like Abraham, David, or Solomon,” he said.
Iginla also warned against what he described as the intimidation of people who openly embrace prosperity, insisting that both poverty and wealth are choices influenced by decisions, systems, and knowledge.
‘Poor pastor’ debate: ‘Prosperity should not be demonised’ – Iginla
