Nigerian pastor and founder of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie has once again sparked mixed reactions following a recent statement he made during his sermons.
In a clip that surfaced online, Ibiyeomie stood firm on his stance that while people can help the poor, they should never associate with them.
Despite facing backlash in the past for similar comments, the pastor reiterated that his views remain unchanged.
Recall that Pastor David Ibiyeomie had received backlash from social media users after claiming that ‘God hates poor people.’ This statement, which many found offensive, led to widespread condemnation on social media.
However, in his latest sermon, the pastor defended his stances, explaining that he had prayed about it and consulted the Holy Spirit and was told that he was not wrong.
The pastor went further to make a comparison between helping and associating with the poor, stating that while one can lead a sinner to Christ, they should not be friends with a sinner.
“Don’t sit in the council of the ungodly. Everybody gets angry when a believer is mixing with sinners, so when a believer mixes with the poor, people should be angry. Because Jesus was made poor so we can be rich, poverty is not for me, you can help the poor but don’t associate with the poor. That you don’t have money doesn’t mean you are poor, poverty is mentality.” He said
The controversy has not died down, as Pastor Ibiyeomie’s stance continues to generate heated discussions across social media platforms.
Watch the video below,
When a believer mixes with the poor, people should be angry – David Ibiyeomie pic.twitter.com/piTOibQVnt
— Naija (@Naija_PR) April 22, 2025