Enlightened Christian Gathering
| Enlightened Christian Gathering | |
|---|---|
| ECG | |
| Address | Chibanja, Mzuzu, Malawi |
| Website | www.ecgministry.org |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Shepherd Bushiri |
| Associated people | Mary Bushiri |
Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) is a Christian non-denominational charismatic evangelical church found by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri in Mzuzu, Malawi.[1] The church has been established and leads churches in South Africa, Malawi, Ghana, South Sudan and other countries.[1]
The church founder, Bushiri, has been interviewed for television by the BBC and received coverage also in Al Jazeera, New African, Nigerian Tribune, and African Leadership magazine[1].
History
The church started and is headquartered in Mzuzu, Malawi. On February 20, 2022, the church founder renamed the church from "Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG)" to "Kingdom Financing Ministries International (KFMI)"[1] .
In 2028, The Botswana Gazette reported about shutting down the church in the country following the violation of Botswana laws which prohibits the use of miracle money.[2]
Rumours
On 28 December 2018, it was reported that three people died, and nine others were injured during a stampede at the ECG Church caused by people trying to avoid a thunderstorm. Bushiri's spokesman Maynard Manyowa told the media, "The ECG Church is not his [Bushiri's] church; it belongs to South Africa and South Africans." [3]Manyowa also said that the deaths were "not his [Bushiri's] problem, but a problem that the church must deal with.
The ECG church has attracted over 100,000 viewers via Bushiri's personally-owned television station, social media and in-person attendees[4].
The biggest gatherings are held on New Year's Eve at FNB Stadium, South Africa, with over 95000 attendees both in 2016 and 2017. The FNB Stadium is the largest stadium in Africa.[5]
References
- ^ a b c "BBC features Malawi-born Prophet Bushiri on his church's rapid growth - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". www.nyasatimes.com. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
- ^ "Botswana Gazette". African Studies Companion Online. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
- ^ News24.com. "BUSHIRI DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM CHURCH". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ ARIEM, EM (http://www.afriem.org/2015/03/bushiris-prophetic-channel-starts-broadcasting-live-services/). "bushiris-prophetic-channel-starts-broadcasting-live-services/".
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|date= - ^ Malawi: Prophet Bushiri Smashes Record in SA With 100k Congregants for Normal Service - allAfrica.com