Apostle James Ng’ang’a of the Neno Evangelism Center
By IP Reporter
NAIROBI, Kenya
Apostle James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism is never far from controversy.
This time, the Nairobi-based preacher shocked many when he openly claimed during a Sunday service that he has fathered over 70 children across different counties.
“Mimi naambianga watu niko na watoto kama sabini hivi. Ukambani kama 30, ukienda Mombasa kama 20 plus, pia Murang’a and Nyandarua. Nilijaribu hata kuoa, nikajaribu everything,” Ng’ang’a told his congregation, leaving many bewildered.
Ng’ang’a’s remarks, whether spoken in jest or truth, shine a light on a deeper issue facing the African church: the silent shadow of ancestral polygamy creeping into pulpits.
The Polygamy Spirit in African Christianity:
Polygamy has long been part of African traditional structures, where wealth and power were often measured by the number of wives and children a man had.
When this spirit finds its way into modern-day pulpits, it risks distorting the moral authority of spiritual leaders and confusing congregations who look to them for guidance.
Other leaders have faced similar scrutiny. The late South African Zulu prophet Shembe who led the Nazareth Baptist Church was reported to have multiple wives.
Such cases raise concerns over how cultural practices can overshadow biblical standards in church leadership.
The Bible’s Standard for Bishops and Pastors:
Scripture is not silent on this matter. The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy was clear:
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach…” (1 Timothy 3:2, KJV).
Similarly, in Titus 1:6, Paul instructs that an overseer must be “the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
These verses outline not just a moral code but a safeguard ensuring that leaders model the integrity, discipline and faithfulness they preach.
Why Deliverance Is Needed:
When bishops and pastors fail to break free from the ancestral spirit of polygamy, they risk turning the pulpit into a cultural stage rather than a spiritual altar.
Congregations may adopt confusion instead of conviction and family crises in leadership inevitably ripple down to the flock.
The African church must therefore call its leaders to accountability.
Deliverance from such practices is not just personal but necessary for the health of the body of Christ.
For how can a man lead a flock faithfully if he cannot demonstrate faithfulness in his own household?
As the story of Apostle Ng’ang’a stirs fresh debate, one truth remains: the calling of a bishop is not measured by the number of children or wives he boasts of, but by the character and discipline he carries before God and man.
