The Crisis of the ‘Man-Made’ Pastor: Why the African Church is Losing Its Spiritual Power
Opinion & Analysis | Examining the state of leadership in the modern African Church.
A troubling trend is sweeping across the continent. What should be one of the most liberating institutions on earth—the Church—has, in many contexts, transformed into a rigid franchise system marked by control, fear, and spiritual stagnation. Many of the leaders emerging across Africa have become self-serving, inward-focused, and more concerned with building personal empires than advancing the Kingdom of God.
| When the structure supersedes the Spirit, true transformation ceases. |
From micromanaging sermons from central offices to imposing “mafia-style” exit penalties on pastors who wish to leave, the rise of the Man-Made Pastor is evident. The result is a church teeming with activity yet spiritually impotent—where elaborate structures mask a void of genuine power and, in some cases, serve as a cover for occult practices.
Unless the African Church realigns its focus on the Holy Spirit rather than institutional structures, it risks losing its transformative influence in society, leaving congregations spiritually drained and disillusioned.
Micromanaging the Holy Spirit: How Pastors Become Branch Managers
Leaders imposing control over every sermon and ministry decision risk turning pastors into mere branch managers—robbed of vision and spiritual authority.
They will open a branch for you and send you to handle it, but you are not truly leading. Even if you want to lead by the help of the Holy Ghost, the system forbids it. Instead, they send a rigid structure from headquarters detailing exactly how to run "their" church.
- Timing: Exactly how long the service must last.
- Content: Specific messages you are required to preach.
- Prayer: Pre-approved prayer topics you must cover.
Everything is timed. You sing three songs. You pray for 15 minutes. The sermon is a maximum of 45 minutes. After that, you close. This creates a predictable model across Africa, but it kills the move of God. A pastor might hear a fresh message from God, but he cannot preach it because it falls outside the "HQ Structure," and the elders—who are often spies for the system—will report him for insubordination.
"I Made You, You Cannot Leave": The Spiritual Blackmail of Modern Church Leadership
Many pastors today are trapped by leaders who treat ministry like ownership, using manipulation and control to prevent them from walking away, stifling true spiritual growth.
The leadership mentality is selfish and possessive. They believe they own your destiny because they gave you a platform. The moment you want to leave, they release curses. They put stumbling blocks in your way to ensure you fail. In extreme cases, the critique suggests that some will even hire people to kill you. It is a mafia system disguised as ministry.
The core issue is the belief: "I made you. I ordained you." When a man takes credit for making a pastor, that pastor becomes a servant of the man, not a servant of God. This creates a generation of leaders who function in fear of their superiors rather than in reverence of God.
A Church Without Impact: When Structure Replaces the Spirit
Despite programs, events, and busy schedules, many churches have become spiritually powerless, focusing on form over transformation.
Because of this "franchise model," the church has lost its effect on the people. Congregants attend church every day, yet there is no transformation in their lives or communities. Why? Because the one standing on the pulpit acts on the authority of a man, not under the unction of the Holy Spirit. A man-made pastor cannot deliver God-given power.
Why Witches Love Structure: The Spiritual Danger of Over-Planning
The critique ends with a stark observation: "Witches are very comfortable when the service is structured."
Occultic forces thrive on predictability. When a service is led by the Holy Spirit—spontaneous, discerning, and powerful—darkness cannot operate openly. But in tightly timed and scripted services, the demonic finds no opposition.
"If you come with something unpredictable, they won't come. But once they know the service is structured... they are comfortable." This rigidity is more than administrative; it acts as a spiritual cover-up, allowing darkness to persist unchecked.
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