“What hurt me the most was the Church” – Ex-Deeper Life member shares why he stopped attending church

A former member of Deeper Life Bible Church has opened up on his painful experience that led him to stop attending church, despite being raised in a deeply religious environment.

Awucha Ezekiel, whose father served as a pastor in the ministry, recounted the ordeal in a detailed post on Facebook on January 29.

Devoted Upbringing in the Church

Ezekiel explained that his father not only dedicated himself to church work but also ensured that the family was actively involved in church activities.

Beyond spiritual guidance, his father financially supported church members and assisted families in need.

“My father made sure I was involved in everything in the church. We were devoted, committed, and faithful,” Ezekiel shared.

Family Business Betrayal

The turning point, according to Ezekiel, came when his father was swindled by new business associates claiming connections with foreign embassies.

The business, which involved helping people process visas, took a disastrous turn when some of the clients were church members.

“Many of the affected people were church members and even pastors. When they heard what had happened, some immediately involved the police,” he said.

Threats and Hardship at Home

Ezekiel described the chaos that followed, revealing that his family faced threats and nights of fear while his father was away in Abuja trying to recover lost passports and funds.

“Back home, life became a nightmare. People came to our house threatening us. Some nights, we couldn’t sleep out of fear. My mother, my siblings, and I suffered hunger and deep uncertainty,” he wrote.

Losing Faith in the Church System

What hurt Ezekiel most was not the financial loss but the lack of support from the church community.

“It was this: the church turned its back on us. My father, who had given his time, resources, and strength to the work of God, was suddenly pushed to the back seat. No support. No defense. No compassion. That moment broke something in me. It changed the way I saw Christianity—not God, but the system and the people. That was the moment I stopped going to church,” he said.

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