A Camberwell church is cashing in with ‘exploitative’ £91 coronavirus “plague protection kits” – made of just oil and red string.
According to Bishop Climate Ministries, part of the Kingdom Church on Camberwell Station Road, the product protects buyers from coronavirus.
The most effective way to prevent the virus remains strict social distancing and washing your hands.
But a post on a ministry website claims: “It is by faith that you can be saved from the Coronavirus pandemic by covering yourself with the Divine Plague Protection Oil and wearing the Scarlet Yarn on your body.
“That is why I want to encourage you, if you haven’t done so already, to get your Divine Plague Protection Kit today!”
After being contacted by this paper, the authorities said they are investigating the church’s claims.
he post goes on to allege that the Lord has instructed the self-declared prophet of the ministry, Climate Irungu Wiseman, to make the “special oil.”
“As you use this oil, along with a special scarlet yarn, every coronavirus and any other deadly thing will pass over you,” states the post dated March 20.
A linked payment option advertises the oil and yarn for £91. The oil is supposedly made from cedarwood, hyssop and “prayer.”
In bold red capital letters, the post states: “Use the plague protection oil for protection from coronavirus.”
A following post also signed by Mr Wiseman, dated March 25, urges believers to pay up to £900 in “sacrificial seeds” amid the coronavirus outbreak.
It begins: “Is the coronavirus making you afraid? Are you afraid that you or your loved one might get sick?”
It links to a range of payment options, up to a whopping £910 for a “sacrificial seed of divine protection for [the] entire family.”
Some of this money can pay for a ‘fire request’ prayer. Followers are encouraged to write down their worries on a prayer request card, which is then burned during a live-streamed sermon.
“Every army that has encamped against you … as a result of this coronavirus, is going to burn by fire in Jesus name,” claims the self-styled prophet and bishop.
The so-called plague protection kit was slammed by Southwark Council’s Cllr Victoria Mills.
“It is wrong for anyone to exploit people’s fears at this time of high anxiety and we encourage people to report any issues like this to London Trading Standards,” she said.
“This particular issue is already under investigation by our teams.
“There are many scams relating to COVID-19 and the council will be working hard to support consumers to be on guard for bogus test kits, cures and treatments and other financial scams.”
A call from the News to ask the ministry about the kit and associated coronavirus claims went unanswered.
An email asking for evidence for the bold claims, including what “sacrificial seeds” entail, also was unanswered at the time of writing.
Health guidance for coronavirus should be found from trusted sources, such as the government’s website, Southwark Council website, or the Department of Health.
Concerns over products being sold to treat or help with coronavirus can be reported to London Trading Standards at londontradingstandards.org.uk.
