New Era Detroit, an activist group, recently stormed the church of a successful African-American Detroit leader, accusing him of neglecting to help the community.
Now, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, pastor of Great Faith Ministries International, the target of the Motor City group’s protest that turned into an all-out brawl less than a week ago, says he wants the leader of the demonstration arrested.
“How dare you come into a place where there are children where there’s elderly and widows and grandmothers and do such a thing! It’s wrong and you can’t justify it,” said the Founder of the Impact Network in a Fox 2 Detroit interview, sharing strong words of reprimand aimed at the leader, who simply goes by Zeek.
Here’s what happened.
During a birthday celebration service at Jackson’s ministry, Zeek and members of New Era Detroit staged a demonstration as part of its “Church Accountability Effort,” which organizes protests of the black churches its leaders feel neglect the black community.
Unfortunately, things went left. What started out peacefully, became a rowdy and chaotic scuffle, which Bishop Jackson, a registered Democrat who recently hosted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on his network, said was out of line.
But Zeek argues that New Era Detroit’s actions were justified in light of the fact that Jackson is well-off, drives a Rolls Royce and lives in a mansion while the surrounding neighborhood remains in poverty.
“The situation is bigger than just Wayne T. Jackson,” Zeek told Fox 2 Detroit. “This is about black churches and black pastors who live a lavish life on behalf of the people and they are not giving back to their community.”
Zeek, who was there for the collection of the offering complained, “They started the offering at a thousand dollars. And then they said if you don’t have $1,000 then do $300. If you don’t have cash, then we got ATM machines.”
Jackson, however, clarified that the lump sums of money collected in that particular service came from those who wanted to honor him on his birthday and does not accurately depict regular offering protocols.
“I have several pastors in this city that are my spiritual sons,” Jackson told reporters, while denying the ministry has on-site ATM machines. “They came to celebrate my birthday. They have churches. They were bringing a thousand-dollar love gift for my birthday.”
Jackson, who says he has a heart for the community with actions to back it up, added, “I have bought washers and dryers for elderly people. We have taken and had dinners at my home for school children for dinners at my home for school children.”
He continued, “I have people living in my home right now that were homeless and they’re not paying me a dime.”
A woman named Juanita Kinney is among those who attest to Bishop Jackson’s bigheartedness and helpfulness.
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SOURCE: EEW Magazine – Rebecca Johnson
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