Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries has stood by his recent controversial comments, claiming that Jesus detested poverty and avoided associating with poor people.

The cleric, while preaching in his church recently, asserted that during Jesus’ time on earth, he never entered the home of a poor person because he “hated poverty.”

His comment sparked widespread backlash and debate across social media and religious circles.

In a follow-up sermon, Ibiyeomie doubled down on his position, insisting the Holy Spirit affirmed that his statement was accurate.

He further argued that when a believer associates closely with poor individuals, it should provoke the same level of concern as if they were mingling with sinners.

 “Some persons called me and said internet was on fire. I wasn’t interested, but out of curiosity, I checked. Then I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me if I’m wrong and I would take the blame.

He was dictating God’s word to me verbatim in the bathroom, he said ‘you’re not wrong, you’re right.’ I said how? he said ‘I became sin for humanity, true?’ I said yes

He said ‘do you like sin’? I said No. He said you can only lead people to Christ, but you cannot be a friend to a sinner. He said if a believer is mixing with sinners, everybody gets angry. So if a believer mixes with the poor, everybody should be angry.

He said ‘I was made poor. so you can be rich. So poverty is not of me.

He said ‘you can help the poor but don’t associate with the poor’. You don’t have money does not mean you’re poor. Poverty is mentality. And he gave me scriptures. He said ‘I paid a price for sin, poverty and sickness’. Why will you reject sin and accept poverty. And those who rejects poverty in line with God’s word, these three things will never be identified with you.”