Jesus wants you to drive 4x4, says S. African church

Jesus wants you to drive 4x4, says S.African church [Excerpts]

SOWETO, South Africa (Reuters Life!) - Jesus wants you to drive a brand new Nissan Navara 4x4. He'd also like you to live in a classy house, use the latest cell phone and wear the snappiest designer clothes.

That was the message from a recent Sunday sermon at the new Soweto branch of Brazil's huge Pentecostal-style Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).

UCKG is expanding fast in Africa and bills its gleaming new cathedral in Soweto -- which seats 8,000 and has room for hundreds of plush cars in its vast underground car park -- as the biggest church on the continent.

"God doesn't want you to be poor and ashamed -- he wants you to drive a new car," the preacher at the new Soweto church yelled into a microphone, to delighted whoops from thousands.

Critics say UCKG is a cult that manipulates its members.

The church, which has a whole section on its Web site dedicated to correcting "misconceptions", insists it is part of the mainstream Pentecostal movement and notes members are not forced to donate money.

It has sued several media organizations for publishing what it says are false allegations and warned Reuters it was not afraid to use legal action to correct a "negative story".

When this reporter jotted down a few notes during a UCKG service an usher demanded to see them, and threatened arrest when he was refused. A request for an interview with the church's senior leaders was denied.

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