Reverend Dr. Lucy Natasha Carmel, the general overseer of Empowerment Christian Church, has received backlash from people on social media after announcing her move that they would no longer meet at their Biashara Plaza rooftop location at Nairobi CBD, switching to online services rather than physical services.
Her straightforward message cited venue challenges and asked followers to pray as God leads them toward their own ordained space.
Millions of people flooded her comments, many of them criticising her decision, perceiving it as failure.
“Starting this Sunday the 11th, we will not meet at Biashara Plaza Rooftop due to venue challenges. All services will not continue ONLINE until further notice. Stand with us in prayer as God leads us into our own God ordained space. Stay connected,” Rev. Lucy wrote.
Ezekiel Mutua’s take
The CEO of Music Copyright Society of Kenya, Ezekiel Mutua, wrote on his social media platform, arguing Rev. Natasha’s case differently. In his view, those mocking Rev. Natasha’s decision misunderstand both leadership and the economic realities facing organizations across sectors today.
They, Mutua said, are also not understanding what it actually takes to run a church in today’s economy, confusing a smart business decision with spiritual weakness.
“Treat the church as any legal business entity with obligations like rent, staff salaries, and operations, and you’ll see it’s not immune to the harsh economic times hitting other organizations,” Mutua said.
Mutua pointed out that many church leaders have already made moves similar to Rev. Natasha’s, and quite a few have simply shut their doors completely.
He even predicts that churches sitting on their own land and buildings will soon be wrestling with maintenance costs so high they will need to find other ways to make money just to keep the lights on.
“Many church leaders have made similar pivots; some have shuttered their doors entirely. Soon, even those with big church buildings on their own property will grapple with maintenance costs and may pivot to alternative ventures for sustainability.This demands serious reflection from church leaders on enduring these tough times,” he wrote.
He stated that unless churches start thinking like businesses and find different ways to bring in money, most of them will not survive.
“Without recalibrating business and operational models to diversify income streams, most churches risk closure. This challenge is not restricted to churches only,” he said.
He added: “Media houses are struggling. Law firms are downsizing. Educational institutions are looking for new revenue streams. The economic pressure is everywhere, and pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.”
Mutua further explained that Rev. Lucy Natasha’s decision to close that physical location is an eye-opener for everyone watching, stating that other institutions should follow suit and embrace the online platforms.
“Rev. Lucy’s decision isn’t weakness, it’s inspiration and an eye-opener. It’s a bold decision that’s not sugarcoating the challenges, but is real and pragmatic. Other institutions should follow suit, embracing affordable spaces or online operations without shame,” he wrote.
