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Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Ching Ching! Ring the tills, the miracle merchants are open for business.
If anybody is looking for a miracle, there are people who are ready to promise them one. For a fee, of course.
They invoke the name of God, they paint vivid pictures of fire and brimstone scenarios and then they use their charisma and charm to worm their way into the hearts, minds and wallets of their followers.
However, the way they get money from you is subtle. Not as subtle as the offertory in the mainstream churches where they seem to still operate on the Biblical parable of the Widow's Mite, but using all sorts of corporate gimmicks.
For instance, Pastor Pius Muiru's Maximum Miracle Centre has a website which invites wellwishers to be what they call covenant partners. The detailed form gives details of a US Bank business checking account.
In Kenya, churchgoers at the Maximum Miracle Centre who want to donate money are given a variety of pre-printed envelopes. One such envelope bears the legend: TESTIMONY SEED IN JESUS NAME Sh500.
Another envelope encourages donors to give either a cheque or a money order payable to the Maximum Miracle Centre and leaves a space for the donor to fill out their name, address and telephone contact. It also has little boxes where the donor can tick which of the Maximum Miracle Centre's projects he wants to give to. Either a Tithe, a Thanksgiving offering, a TV and Radio offering or to finance a Crusade.
According to the site, "...covenant partners are those who have answered to the call to share the vision of touching the world with the message of gods saving and healing power to the lost and suffering around the world. You can make a commitment to join with Pastor Pius in reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can stand in prayer and support the ministry financial today...
"It is true that every good work done will be rewarded in heaven and on earth (give and it shall come back to you) as a Covenant partner you will not only be blessed by knowing that you are a vital part in this ministry but your name will enter in the ministries prayer line. You will also receive the teaching of Pastor Pius through the monthly magazine Maximum Miracle Times and an anointed audio message.
Thousands of testimonies on healing, promotion and financial break through are received every day in our offices about what God has done through giving to this fertile ground. To become a Covenant Partner you can register on-line now!" Donors are told that the money pledged is for the "support of crusades, TV and radio Ministry and the Maximum Children's Home."
Weekly or monthly pledges are welcome. Other details given are a US telephone number and an e-mail address.
Another aspect of the miracle merchants is their prophesying. They see themselves as latter day prophets and make prophesies, which like their promises of miracles are too vague for them to ever be pinned down on but which like horoscopes, could fit various people and apply in varying situations. | 
