Fund seekers

Some scholars argue that the current situation of wealthy pastors resulted from churches trying to fend for themselves.

"It all started when the original missionaries left their African churches they had started on their own," said Edith Abike, a Nigerian lawyer who is doing research for her book on the wealth of Nigerian churches.

"When the gospel was brought to Africa 150 year ago, it was the mother churches in Europe that handled everything," she said. But after independence in Africa this changed and churches were left to fend for themselves, she said.

"Over the years, churchgoers have been convinced that it's their money that counts, and so they give freely even though they are being lured," said Abike.

In 2006, Lucy Nduta, calling herself a "prophetess of the Salvation and Healing Ministries," shot to fame by conducting false healing to attract a congregation. She spent days taking advantage of desperate churchgoers seeking spiritual healing. Nduta claimed to heal diseases including AIDS, as long as after the healing process, your HIV test was conducted in a clinic of her choosing.

The police later found out that the clinics were her own creation to lure people. She was consequently sentenced to two years in prison.

Despite these revelations, thousands still fill churches each Sunday waiting for miracles to happen in their lives.

CEO pastors

In a continent filled with fraudsters of every nature, it is hardly easy to convince a stranger to part with his money for your cause. Preachers have to go to great lengths, including misinterpreting the Bible to receive donations.

Apostle Francis Irungu of the Glorious Family Church, Nairobi, runs his services on a local gospel channel three times a week costing roughly $15,000 for 30 minutes on air.

"We have three types of prayers, all you need to do is ask for one and see the miracle," he declares. The miracle he claims includes the lame walking, financial recovery and deliverance from problems. But before any healing people need to send a minimum of $10 to a bank account number flashing across the screen.

In most East African countries, money can also be transferred through mobile phones.

On his church's website, Irungu reckons that there is a flock of 15,000 members and "we are seeking to save more lost sheep out there."