In response to the recent announcement by The Church of Pentecost distancing itself from a youth member who wore a female outfit during their Youth Ministry Week celebrations, social media users have confirmed his active membership within the church.
The church’s Youth directorate issued a press release disavowing the member’s legitimacy due to his unconventional fashion choice.
“While the legitimate membership of the one who used it in such an unacceptable way is in question, we in no unreserved terms condemn it,” a section of the statement read.
The controversy surrounding the incident emerged when a promotional flier featuring a male individual dressed in a garment made from the Youth Ministry’s materials surfaced online, triggering diverse reactions from netizens.
In the statement signed by Apostle Ebenezer Hagan, Youth Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, the church “unequivocally condemns such use, as it may connote other meanings, whether intended or unintended.”
However, close friends of the member took to social media to vouch for his character and confirm his active involvement within the church community.
They revealed that he is a fashion designer who aimed to honour God by showcasing his talents through the creation of the Youth Ministry cloth.
“I know him, please. He is part of our choir. He is a fashion designer, and he had no bad intentions. Please,” one social media user stated,
Samuel Grant, the young man at the centre of the controversy, has since issued an apology to the church for his actions, expressing remorse for any offence caused.
The incident sparked conversation on social media about individual expression, interpretation of church guidelines, and the role of fashion in religious settings.