File photo of a worried woman
Dear GhanaWeb,
I’m a 25-year-old woman who was raised in a Christian home.
Over the past years, I’ve been giving half of my salary to my pastor because he told me that by doing so, God would open doors for me.
My salary last year was GH¢1500, so I diligently gave him GH¢ 750 every month. At times, I thought about stopping, but he kept encouraging me, saying it was a test of faith and I shouldn’t give up.
On top of this, he insisted I still pay my tithe, which was 10% of my salary, or GH¢ 150 a month.
This left me with only GH¢ 500 for myself, which was barely enough to survive on. I struggled to feed myself, and I couldn’t even help my family much.
But I trusted that something good was coming, yet nothing changed by the end of the year. I was even a burden on my parents over Christmas because I was broke.
This year, my pastor called me again and asked if my salary had increased. I told him it had, and he suggested I add the extra amount to what I was already giving him, claiming that God was preparing me for something.
But I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to save and take care of myself.
One Saturday morning, after I was done washing, he asked me to come see him. When I arrived, he was alone, with his wife and kids not home. The way he greeted me was strange.
He served me chilled juice and offered me food, but I had already eaten, so I declined. He sat beside me and started talking, but to my shock, he began touching me inappropriately.
I told him to stop, but he insisted that he had always had feelings for me and wanted me to make him happy.
As he tried to kiss me, I pushed him away and stood up, angry and upset. As I was about to leave, he begged me not to tell anyone, then said that since I no longer wanted to give him money or sex, he didn’t see the point in me being in the church.
I told him I didn’t want to continue, and since that conversation in January, he has been making me uncomfortable at church.
He refuses to let me be involved in anything and speaks ill of me to others.
I still love this church. I grew here, and I connect well with everyone. I’ve helped with evangelism and brought many people to Christ. But now, I don’t feel happy there anymore because of how the pastor is treating me.
I just want to serve the Lord, but I don’t want to be taken advantage of in His house.
As a Christian, isn’t my dedication enough? What should I do now? Who would even believe me if I spoke out about this?
FG/EB
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