During one of my thesis defenses in missiology, I wrote on the topic “Liberation of the Poor: Our Mission Today in Igboland, Nigeria.”
During the preview session, my moderator asked me a question that annoyed me deeply at the time. He said,
“What about the rich? Why is your mission centered only on the poor? How will you help the rich in their spiritual growth? Or do we remember rich people only when we need money to help the poor?”
I argued with him endlessly. I defended my position with theology, scripture, and passion.
Since my ordination, I have worked almost exclusively with the poor. I eat with them, cry with them, pray with them, and struggle with them. But when it comes to financial aid, suddenly my pastoral GPS redirects me to the rich.
That uncomfortable realization humbled me. The Gospel is not only for the poor financially; it is also for the rich who are often spiritually poor, imprisoned by wealth, power, pride, and self-sufficiency. If the Church ignores them, we risk turning evangelization into a one-way charity project rather than a universal call to conversion.
Especially in Africa, we often fall into the habit of seeing the poor as automatically godly and the rich as inherently evil or greedy. But holiness is not measured by poverty, and sin is not created by wealth. Both poverty and riches are human conditions that can either draw a person closer to God or pull them away from Him.
This is why I sincerely congratulate the ministry of Pastor Jerry Eze. He has intentionally extended his ministry to the rich, and that is beautiful. A few months ago, it was the popular Tonto Dikeh who openly encountered God. Now it is our billionaire brother Obi Cubana. These moments remind us that wealth does not cancel the need for God.
Of course, let me be honest and a bit funny.
It often takes a rich man of God to convert a rich man. Poor clergies like me will naturally convert poor sinners, we speak the same economic language.
But the Kingdom of God must be preached without class discrimination. The poor need dignity, justice, and daily bread. The rich need detachment, humility, and salvation. Both need Christ. Both need conversion.
I must also confess something personally. Sometimes, I pity our sponsors and benefactors. Our mission here in Haiti survives largely because of their monetary aid. Yet, I realize that I have not paid much attention to their spiritual lives. I know that many of them no longer go to church, yet my focus has often been to visit, collect the envelopes, and zoom off.
That realization calls me to repentance.
Their money supports the mission, but their souls matter just as much. Going forward, I must make time not only to receive their generosity, but to share the Word of God with them, to listen, to pray, and to walk with them spiritually. Salvation is not reserved for those who receive charity; it is also for those who give it.
Bravo to Pastor Jerry Eze for reminding us that the mission of the Church is not only to redistribute wealth to the poor, but also to redistribute grace to the rich.
The Gospel must be rich enough to reach the rich, and humble enough to remain with the poor.
Rev fr Prince Chidi Philip