Uebert Angel also has regrets

Controversial prophet, Uebert Angel (UA), has been something of an enigma. His departure from Zimbabwe has been mired in controversy, as has been his lifestyle and prophetic ministry. Prophet Uebert Angel.

The Financial Gazette’s Online Editor, Paul Nyakazeya (PN), spoke to Angel from his base in England on these issues.

PN: I will cut to the chase. I know you have a well-documented portfolio of businesses globally but, how much are you really worth?

UA: If you want to know my value, I would ask: How much time do you have? Given that you don’t have much time, I will give you the short version and here it is: You can’t put a value on something already paid for. Jesus paid for me so do the mathematics.

Uebert Angel also has regrets

PN: You have a media blackout policy and you do not respond to the media. Why is that?

UA: Never abuse your right to question; the fact that someone makes accusations or makes allegations against me does not mean I owe them an answer no matter how well-intentioned they, as an enquirer, may be. The privilege of a real open dialogue springs from a real genuine relationship.

PN: In as much as you say you have a media blackout policy, why is it that you are always in the news headlines yet you say you do not speak to the media?

UA: We are more concerned about our vision and mission, whereas others are more concerned about our day-to-day lives than they are about our mission and vision. Thus they are fixated on the life of Uebert Angel yet Uebert Angel is fixated on the life of Christ.

PN: You say a lot of wrong things have been written about you, how do you deal with bad publicity?

UA: I personally love bad publicity because to me it’s part of our charitable exercises. We consider it part of our Good News Aid charity arm. You need to understand that some rogue journalists can never put food on the table until they invent and sell a bad story about Uebert Angel, so we are helping a few journalists feed their families. It’s all charity.

PN: Uebert Angel is known as a very public figure yet most would say you are an enigma. Would it be right to say you are an enigma?

UA: The rationale is I have never found a companion that is so companionable as solitude. It is in those moments of solitude that I can be intimate with the divine, the world we live in is starved for solitude, silence and privacy.

PN: So are you saying you want to be alone?

UA: You missed a profound point. I never said I want to be alone. All I said is I want to be alone with God. Therein lies all the difference, because with him I am a crowd.

UA: We have semi-autonomous chapters across the world with pastors who follow the Good News vision. This has allowed for growth all over the world. The Good News message is gaining traction because its scope is built on the very basic, but fundamental message found in the word of God that empowers people to realise their God given potential to prosper. The Good News message breaks the yoke of poverty and it sets free all those who believe and follow the precepts of Jesus Christ.

PN: Around the world, you were known as the leader of the modern-day prophetic movement, but now you are being referred to as the Good News man, a leader of the Good News revolution, why the shift?

UA: In the Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration by Vera Nazarian she says “In the kingdom of glass everything is transparent, and there is no place to hide a dark heart”. God awakened me to the fact that perfection eludes all mankind, and that birthed in me a desire to embrace the Good News of God’s grace. Come to think of it that’s the fundamental difference between Christianity and all the other religions, that word (is) grace.

PN: You mentioned the word grace. You said it is what makes Christianity different. Could you expound a little more on that?

UA: During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world were discussing whether any one belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religious had accounts of return from death.

The debate went on for some time, until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. “What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. In his forthright manner, Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”

PN: We have heard what CS Lewis argued, but what is your definition of grace?

UA: Religion says because I am flawed I am unacceptable and grace says though I am flawed I am acceptable. Now you have my definition.