There can be very little doubt that religion and religious movements continue to be powerful forces that can have a profound influence upon their communities and especially their members. There are thousands of sects and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them. Some sects have become targets with critics accusing them of a wide variety of spiritual and even worldly aberrations. HOPCC certainly seems to fall in this latter category.
Even a rudimentary online search quickly reveals that there is no shortage of complaints about and criticism of the House of Prayer Christian Churches. There are many critics that allege that they have become members of this church, only to be coerced into donating all their worldly possessions to the church, including their homes and cars. Some were even required to stop working at regular jobs so that they can dedicate more time to the church.
A number of critics are of the opinion that the House of Prayer recruit young people under false pretensions and then separate them from their families. This seems to be the case especially when the parents of such young people start to question the involvement of their children with the sect. Parents say their children show behavioural changes and they avoid their own loved ones.
Some of the people that have related their experiences with the church say that they have laid complaints to various authorities. However, according to them, the authorities are hesitant to act in a decisive manner. The right to enjoy freedom of association is an inalienable right and formal steps can only be instituted if there is clear evidence of a crime being committed.
Officials from the House of Prayer Church maintain that the church is nothing else but a spiritual home for those that long for revival and that want to worship with others that share their norms and values. The church expects its members to attend services and prayer meetings and they have a strong focus on missionary work.
The church will admit, however, that the faculty and students at their seminary are expected to avoid worldly preoccupations and to live pure, spiritual lives. It is not clear what exactly it means when by worldly preoccupations but critics maintain that this means such members must surrender their personal possessions and that they have to dedicate all their time to mission work for the church.
Meanwhile, critics continue to attack the House of Prayer Christian Church on a variety of websites. In fact, some of the comments are downright nasty, vitriolic even. Reading some of the comments may lead one to believe that the church is wholly evil. However, balanced individuals know that there are always more than one side to a story and it may be best to discard the most vicious of the attacks on the church.
The House of Prayer certainly has many detractors but it has not become the subject of official investigations or even civil suits. People have the right to join any church they choose and they similarly have the right to resign their membership. These rights are enshrined in the constitution and if the church should infringe upon those rights then there may be a case for official interest.
Even a rudimentary online search quickly reveals that there is no shortage of complaints about and criticism of the House of Prayer Christian Churches. There are many critics that allege that they have become members of this church, only to be coerced into donating all their worldly possessions to the church, including their homes and cars. Some were even required to stop working at regular jobs so that they can dedicate more time to the church.
A number of critics are of the opinion that the House of Prayer recruit young people under false pretensions and then separate them from their families. This seems to be the case especially when the parents of such young people start to question the involvement of their children with the sect. Parents say their children show behavioural changes and they avoid their own loved ones.
Some of the people that have related their experiences with the church say that they have laid complaints to various authorities. However, according to them, the authorities are hesitant to act in a decisive manner. The right to enjoy freedom of association is an inalienable right and formal steps can only be instituted if there is clear evidence of a crime being committed.
Officials from the House of Prayer Church maintain that the church is nothing else but a spiritual home for those that long for revival and that want to worship with others that share their norms and values. The church expects its members to attend services and prayer meetings and they have a strong focus on missionary work.
The church will admit, however, that the faculty and students at their seminary are expected to avoid worldly preoccupations and to live pure, spiritual lives. It is not clear what exactly it means when by worldly preoccupations but critics maintain that this means such members must surrender their personal possessions and that they have to dedicate all their time to mission work for the church.
Meanwhile, critics continue to attack the House of Prayer Christian Church on a variety of websites. In fact, some of the comments are downright nasty, vitriolic even. Reading some of the comments may lead one to believe that the church is wholly evil. However, balanced individuals know that there are always more than one side to a story and it may be best to discard the most vicious of the attacks on the church.
The House of Prayer certainly has many detractors but it has not become the subject of official investigations or even civil suits. People have the right to join any church they choose and they similarly have the right to resign their membership. These rights are enshrined in the constitution and if the church should infringe upon those rights then there may be a case for official interest.
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