OPEN LETTER TO MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL: A CALL TO RECONSIDER YOUR APPROACH TO THE DIASPORA

 I might lose some friends after this letter, but I think it is time to address this issue.

OPEN LETTER TO MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL:

A CALL TO RECONSIDER YOUR APPROACH TO THE DIASPORA

To all ministers, pastors, and leaders in the Body of Christ across the world,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I write to you today not out of bitterness, but from a place of deep concern and holy burden. A trend has emerged in recent years that must be urgently addressed, for the sake of the Gospel, the unity of the Church, and the health of families within the body of Christ.

We are witnessing an increasing number of ministers (many of them with established ministries) actively directing their focus towards Christians living in the diaspora. Online programs, teachings, prayer sessions, prophetic gatherings, and fundraising campaigns are being broadcast almost daily, often without any regard for the local realities and responsibilities of these believers.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with using digital platforms to edify the saints globally, the motive and method of many of these efforts have drifted from Christ-centered service to man-centered gain. This is a dangerous deviation, and I lovingly but firmly urge every minister involved to pause, reflect, and reconsider the true purpose of their calling.

THE COST OF SPIRITUAL OVERREACH

Many believers in the diaspora are now exhausted, divided, and confused, caught between their commitment to local churches in their new countries and their loyalty to ministries back home. The time zones are rarely considered. Programs often run late into the night, disrupting sleep and work schedules. Parents are pulled into endless livestreams while children feel neglected. Marriages suffer. Local churches are weakened, and the witness of Christ in foreign nations is dimmed.

The very spiritual structure that was meant to build up the Church is, in some cases, tearing homes apart.

We must ask ourselves honestly:

Is this the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Or the result of unchecked ambition and spiritual manipulation?

MINISTRY IS SERVICE, NOT POSSESSION

To every minister who has fallen into the temptation of using the diaspora as a revenue stream, I urge you: Repent. The people of God are not yours to own. They are not spiritual ATMs. They are not commodities. They belong to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The call to ministry is a call to serve, not to exploit. It is a call to equip, not to possess. The Apostle Paul wrote:

 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care... not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve… not lording it over those entrusted to you.”— 1 Peter 5:2–3

Your duty is not to pull believers back into your circle, but to release them to serve faithfully where God has planted them. Many diaspora Christians are already rooted in local congregations, called to shine the light of Christ in secular societies. They need encouragement, not guilt; support, not seduction; commissioning, not control.

THE DANGERS OF A MISPLACED FOCUS

When ministers focus more on growing their following online than building up the Body of Christ on the ground, the mission is already compromised. The desire to gather funds rather than empower local leadership is not the Gospel. The pressure to make people dependent on your teachings instead of encouraging them to grow in maturity and serve in their communities is not discipleship. It is spiritual consumerism.

This is a warning in love:

If we continue in this path unchecked, we risk becoming peddlers of God’s word rather than sincere servants of Christ.

“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity.” — 2 Corinthians 2:17

A BETTER WAY FORWARD 

Dear servant of God, there is a better way—a Kingdom way:

Send, don’t steal. Send out your "spiritual sons and daughters" as ambassadors of the Gospel in the countries where God has placed them.

Bless, don’t bind. Bless them to serve in their local churches and communities.

Equip, don’t exploit. Provide biblical teaching that empowers them to live Christ-like lives, not create dependency on your livestreams.

Release, don’t retain. Let go of the desire to control people’s time, attention, and money. Let them grow and flourish where they are.

The Great Commission is not to draw people to our ministries, but to make disciples of all nations. We must be willing to lose followers if it means Christ is glorified in every land.

A FINAL APPEAL

The Church is being refined. The Lord is watching. May we be found faithful.

I urge every minister reading this to prayerfully examine their heart and ask:

- Am I building Christ’s Kingdom or my own?

- Am I making disciples or attracting donors?

- Am I serving or manipulating?

- Am I pointing people to Christ or to myself?

Let us return to the fear of the Lord. Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us lift up the name of Jesus above our own brands, platforms, and ambitions.

Let us bless the diaspora to be the Church where they are. Let us release them to be salt and light in their nations. Let us make Christ known, not ourselves.

For His glory alone,

Fleury Ndongozi,

A servant of Christ and His Church