A PIONEERING Zimbabwean pastor who grew a church in Northern Ireland has been defrocked over an alleged affair with a vulnerable woman who sought marriage counseling from him.
Pastor Philemon Banda was a trailblazing evangelist who opened Northern Ireland’s first branch of the Light of the World Ministry Church in Portadown five years ago.
But on Sunday, the married father of one who has seen his congregation grow to 200 members of all races missed his first church service.
Assistant Pastor Bryne Harvey was left to reveal to the shocked congregation that Banda had been asked to step down after his affair with an Irish woman, who worships at the church, was discovered.
A church official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “It appears Banda has chosen to not only stand down but quit the church altogether.”
Banda was one of several children adopted by Canadian evangelist Reverend Daniel Richard Curl who settled in Zimbabwe in the 1980s.
An entry on the church’s Facebook page reveals Banda’s painstaking work in building the church he has now been forced to give up over his infidelity.
It says the church was founded by Banda 2005 “with just a handful of people meeting in Bryan Harvey’s home”.
It adds: “In just a short space of time, the numbers grew and soon had to move to the local town hall to cater for the growing numbers.
“In 2006 the Lord led Philemon Banda to build a centre that the ministry could operate from in order to cater for the growing needs of the people. On October 7, 2006, Light of the World Ministries Centre was dedicated by Philemon Banda’s father Reverend Daniel Richard Curl.
"The construction of the centre was a miracle and to God we give the glory. The building contractor came on site when we had no bank account and £70.00 of offering that had been received over the few months.
“Our faith, however, was bigger than the physical obstacles. Today we can boast in the Lord, Light of the World Centre was completed with all the furnishings Debt Free. Hallelujah!”
"It's a title that comes with the scope of the ministry," Banda said. "Our ministry is an apostolic ministry, so it is appropriate that I take on that title because if I'm gonna be church planting and taking leadership in the kingdom of God, I need to rise up to the challenge (and) the responsibility that the need and the ministry is calling me to."
In the same interview, he says "God has spoken to us that we are gonna have a 5,000 seater" church.