Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt, has reinforced his earlier statements discouraging Christians from forming close relationships with people living in poverty. The pastor, who has faced criticism over his remarks, told his congregation that his comments were not personal opinions but messages directly given to him by the Holy Spirit.
During a recent sermon that has gained widespread attention online, Ibiyeomie said Jesus Christ never visited the home of a poor person and argued that Christians should follow that example. According to him, this is not about charity or support, but about drawing a line between assistance and association.
In response to the backlash, Ibiyeomie addressed the issue again in a follow-up message. He said he had received calls informing him that his sermon had stirred controversy on social media. Curious, he looked into the reactions and later prayed for guidance. According to him, the Holy Spirit confirmed that his message was accurate. He explained that this divine response came to him while he was in the bathroom, where he claimed to receive word-for-word instruction from the Spirit.
Ibiyeomie also shared that the Holy Spirit compared sin and poverty, suggesting that believers are not expected to build friendships with either. He said the Spirit asked him if he liked sin, and when he answered “no,” the Spirit reminded him that Christians are meant to lead sinners to Christ, not befriend them. He then applied the same logic to poverty, saying if believers are criticized for associating with sinners, they should be equally criticized for associating with the poor.
He added that although Christians are encouraged to help the poor, they should not maintain close ties with them. He clarified that lacking money does not necessarily mean someone is poor, stressing that poverty is a mindset. According to him, rejecting poverty is as important as rejecting sin and sickness, since, in his words, “Christ paid for all three.”
Ibiyeomie said he supports giving to the poor but warned against building strong social bonds with those he describes as living in a poverty mindset. He concluded that those who fully reject poverty through faith and scripture would remain free from sin, sickness, and poverty.
His remarks continue to generate debate, with some interpreting them as a call for spiritual clarity while others see them as dismissive of those struggling financially.
