Head Pastor of Christ-Life Avenue, Prophet Isaac Love Pappoe has shared a series of cautionary guidelines on maintaining integrity and moral boundaries in ministry. In a Facebook post, Pastor Pappoe addressed the challenges faced by pastors, particularly in interactions with female members, and emphasized the importance of boundaries to prevent potential downfalls.
In his message titled, “How Many Great Pastors Have Fallen,” Pastor Pappoe outlined several practical steps to help pastors safeguard their ministries. His advice, rooted in both scripture and experience, serves as a warning to pastors about the dangers of inappropriate relationships and the subtle traps that can derail their spiritual journey. Below is the full message he shared:
HOW MANY GREAT PASTORS HAVE FALLEN
Take heed to these instructions:
- Dear Pastor, don’t visit female members alone, no matter how faithful or trustworthy they are to you. Even if you do, meet them outside.
- If you want to do well in ministry, desist from the habit of visiting female members alone. You will one day fall. It’s not a prophecy; it’s word of knowledge.
- Inform your wife about any dealings with the opposite sex and seek her opinion before you make any move. She will be your witness one day in times of trouble.
- Send copies of any strange message sent by any female member that is sexual, sensual, tempting, or suggestive to your wife or trusted PA for evidence and as witnesses in times of trouble. Screenshot them, record them if possible, and keep them.
- Block any female member who is sending you strange messages or is acting strangely around you. Mark them, and ask your trusted protocol to be very strict with them to discourage them from feeling comfortable around you.
- Don’t hug female members chest to breast. Hug them shoulder to shoulder or sideways. It will save you unwanted thoughts and battles you’re not ready for.
- Keep conversations with the opposite sex (you’re not dating) very precise, concise, and straight to the point. Don’t cross the boundary. It will seem fun at the moment, but the end is very grievous.
- Never have a female member as your best friend. Don’t share issues about your wife with female members. These are seeds that will harvest troubles.
- Don’t be alone in the church auditorium or home with a female member, whether it’s for a prayer meeting or an official meeting. You’re about to shipwreck your ministry because Satan will set a trap for you, and you will fall.
- All those who initially said, “I can handle her,” soon became casualties. Just know that you can’t handle any situation with the opposite sex that has an appearance of evil or sinfulness. You’re a MAN of God, not the God of man.
- If you know your weakness, never choose a lady to be your secretary or PA unless she is someone you can highly trust. Even with that, you must have very serious boundaries.
- Set very strict boundaries for yourself that don’t entertain late-night meetings, conversations, text messages, or visits with the opposite sex.
- Say this to yourself every morning: “I am a man who is helped by God,” “Lord, help me,” “Jesus, show me mercy today,” “I am weak in myself, Lord,” “I need your strength and guidance every day of my life, Jesus,” “Without you, I can do nothing.”
- Don’t do counseling or deliverance sessions alone. Always have a minimum of two males around to protect and save you. Women under the power of deliverance often have sensitive parts of their bodies exposed, which can tempt you. Be careful.
- Be careful of your messages, impure WhatsApp conversations, and sending nude pictures and videos. They can be used against you after many years. Many popular pastors are being blackmailed and have lost their confidence for many years because of this. Lust can blind you and lead you into foolish, unnecessary ministry hazards.
- Avoid saying “I miss you,” “You are so beautiful,” “I love your shape,” etc., in your conversations with a female member. What you cannot say publicly to her, don’t say privately.
- Don’t hold hands with a female church member, whether married or unmarried, if you’re not planning on getting married to her.
- Don’t break the hearts of women or female members. Don’t promise them marriage when you know you won’t marry them. You’ll bring curses upon yourself, your ministry, and your future children.
- Don’t impregnate a member and commit an abortion with her. It’s a curse upon your ministry. You can’t do ministry with blood on your hands. Demonic spirits will mark you for destruction.
- Don’t sleep with a member during her menses. You just entered into a demonic covenant.
- Don’t rape a female member of your church or force her against her will to sleep with you. Anything she says to you after shall come to pass.
- Don’t call female members at odd times. It’s rude and disrespectful. They will never respect you. Yes, they respect you, but you must also respect them. If it’s an emergency, apologize first before saying anything.
- Any ungodly or sensual dealings with the opposite sex will never and can never be a secret. Women were not designed to keep such secrets. They will surely share it one day with their best friend or your enemies. Your sexual secret can never be safe with a woman. It’s just a matter of time.
- Don’t sleep with a married woman as a pastor, or with a woman already with kids, if you don’t intend to marry her. You won’t recover from this calamity.
All your problems in life and ministry will begin when you fall into fornication or adultery. You’ll give demons entry into your space to destroy you, and hear me carefully—they won’t spare you.
The two you must greatly fear: Fear God and fear sin, and you’ll be fine. Truthfully, God will forgive you, but sin won’t. He who truly fears God will fear sin. Take heed to these proverbs and instructions.
