‘Jesus Hates Poverty, Never Visited Poor People’, Claims Pastor Ibiyeomie

The founder of Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie has stated that Jesus Christ detested poverty and deliberately avoided entering poor people’s homes while he was on earth.

Ibiyeomie, while addressing his congregation on Sunday in a video that later went viral on X (formerly Twitter), referenced biblical accounts to argue that Jesus never visited any poor individual, suggesting his divine disdain for poverty.

He stated that Christ’s mission on earth was beyond salvation, suggesting that it included deliverance from poverty.

According to Ibiyeomie, continuing to live in poverty after embracing Christianity indicates ignorance about spiritual insight.

“Jesus never visited any poor person in his house. Check your Bible. That means he hates poverty. When he visited Lazarus, they were not poor; they were giving him food.

“He visited a sinner called Zacchaeus, who was rich. Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty, that is the meaning. He hates people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor. How can you now come to church with some kind of mentality?

“You can come poor but you’re not permitted to remain poor. Nothing wrong with you coming to Christ as a poor man, but it’s wrong for you to remain poor. It is wrong,” he said.