Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries has criticised pastors who publicly boast about their wealth and material achievements.
In a recent sermon, Suleman addressed what he described as a growing culture of materialism among some Christian ministers.
He particularly questioned pastors who use expensive church buildings as evidence of their success or divine favour. 
To illustrate his point, Suleman described a common scenario involving an unnamed pastor.
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According to him, the pastor completed a church building and later told his congregation that people had been asking how he achieved the feat.
Suleman responded with a question: “Sir, what have you built?”
He then compared such claims with the achievements of some of Nigeria’s wealthiest business figures.
Suleman referenced Bishop David Oyedepo’s The Ark, which has been reported as one of Nigeria’s most expensive church projects, with an estimated cost of $200 million. However, he noted that the project remains unfinished.
He contrasted the project with Aliko Dangote’s $23 billion refinery, highlighting the scale of the businessman’s investment.
According to Suleman, Dangote generates about $49.3 million daily and employs approximately 30,000 people.
He also described Dangote as Nigeria’s largest private employer of labour outside the Federal Government.
Yet, Suleman noted that the billionaire does not regularly take public platforms to boast about his achievements.
Suleman Criticises Materialistic Prosperity Culture
Suleman’s message challenged the idea that material possessions and impressive structures automatically demonstrate spiritual authority or success.
He argued that genuine wealth does not require constant public display.
“People that have money don’t talk about money,” Suleman said. “All these prosperity and materialistic preachers are broke; they don’t have money.”
He added that people with genuine wealth often do not constantly think about their money or use it to seek validation.
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“The Bragging Right of a Church Is the Poor People It Helps”
Suleman further argued that churches should measure their success by their impact on vulnerable people rather than their buildings.
“The bragging right of a church is the poor people they are helping. The bragging right of a man of God should be the poor people he is helping… not ‘I built a church!’”
He questioned whether constructing a large building alone should qualify as evidence of wealth.
According to him, wealth becomes meaningful when it improves the lives of others.
“You are not rich until you reach out to people,” he said.
Suleman concluded that genuine wealth remains quiet and reveals itself through generosity and positive impact.
In his view, the strongest evidence of prosperity lies in the lives transformed through a person’s resources, rather than the structures they build.
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