Brazilian Church Using Tithe To Build Houses For The Poor

Tithing and the issue of its relevance has caused a split amongst many Christian leaders and their followers. Some pastors are of the view that tithes are compulsory and are still relevant.  Other leaders have said that tithing is no longer necessary for the church.

Now a Brazilian church is taking steps with their tithe collection that other Ghanaian churches and Christians could copy.

The church, a branch of the Assemblies of God Church in Brazil, launched a sustainable project to build houses for its poor and homeless members using part of the tithes and offerings paid into the church coffers.

The Assemblies of God church at Lagoinha in Araruama, a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has constructed and delivered dozens of houses to its members, most of them women and jobless.

“We use part of the church’s tithe and offering for the project. It is not fair to be living big when several members of the church are living in abject poverty,” said Fábio Mendonza, the pastor of the church.

“The word of God says there will always be the poor amongst you; do not forget them, Deut. 15:11.”

According to him, they also rely on competence from church members who are architects, bricklayers, painters and carpenters, who are involved in the projects as volunteers.

Considering the number of mushroom churches and established churches in the country, who have their impoverished members parting with their small sums of money,it will be a great service to the poor and homeless if these churches direct their funds to affordable housing.