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The runaway prophet?

Glorious Church says he didn’t flee

17 May 2023 12:51 am - 27     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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‘Prophet’ Jerome Fernando


‘Prophet’ Jerome Fernando, the man in the middle of controversy over his statement on other religions including Buddhism, is reported to have left the country. It is learnt that Fernando has gone to Singapore and he is planning to travel to Malaysia.


However a spokesman for Glorious Church led by Jerome Fernando denied that the ‘prophet’ left Sri Lanka. “He never fled the country but went to attend an event. We have various events in other countries. This is a journey that was planned earlier,” Ryan Perera, a leader of Glorious Church said.
However on Tuesday evening Colombo Fort Magistrate issued a travel ban on Jerome Fernando following a complaint by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 


The self-proclaimed prophet became notoriously popular with his connection with the powerful politicians, extravagant spending and more questionable doings; bestowing himself as the spiritual son of Uebert Angel, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador At Large who was exposed for using his diplomatic status to launder millions of US dollars through a gold smuggling scheme according to an Al Jazeera undercover investigation recently. Uebert, who visited Sri Lanka in February 2020 for a weeklong conference, saw thousands in attendance and there was tight security provided by the government given that it was folloinwg the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. During his visit Uebert, who is also famous as a businessman and an investor, together with his wife Beverly met the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members at their residence in Colombo.


Videos went viral where Jerome prostrates himself before Uebert; repeatedly in public. Starting as an ordinary preacher on Jesus, Jerome’s entire journey changed with the meeting of his new found spiritual 
father Angel.


“This was the time we started to see his changes. He used to talk and preach about money and money,” one of the followers who left Jerome told Daily Mirror.
“We warned about this man, but he didn’t want to listen to us”.
Dressed lavishly with extremely expensive attire, Jerome converted to super luxury life and even publicly questioned his followers, “what have you given to your prophet,” indicating that that his followers should give him money.


“With the meeting of Uebert, Jerome changed the entire system and he even changed the name as ‘Glorious Church,” one of those in the ‘Inner Circle’ of Jerome said. Over the yearts he also got this idea of building a big place which was later named as  ‘Miracle Dome’ in Katunayake. Then he started collecting money and we have no idea how much went to his pocket,” the former follower who spoke on terms of anonymity said.


 Many questions have been raised regarding the controversial miracles performed by Jerome. “These are all fakes. He has an organised system for the ‘enactment’ of so called miracles,” a senior religious leader who left Jerome told the Daily Mirror. Ordinary people with simple faith would get attracted to these and it is not right to do these in the name of a religion or a religious leader.
 Adding to his latest businesses, Jerome who always wore dress in designer dresses and branded items recently started an upmarket dress shop named ‘Prize’.


Daily Mirror was in touch with the secretary of Jerome Fernando for past three weeks and she promised to arrange an interview with the ‘prophet’. However later all attempts to contact her failed and she did not respond to the messages sent by this newspaper. However from Monday evening her phone too had been 
set on roaming.

 

Jerome Fernando, Uebert Angel, his wife with former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa 


 

“Sri Lankans should be proud for having a man like Prophet Jerome,” a leader of Glorious church

Representing the Gloriuous Church  of Jerome Fernando, church leader, Ryan Perera said that Sri Lanka should be proud to have a man like Jerome Fernando.


Responding to the allegations that Jerome  Fernando’s statement have created religious disharmony Mr. Perera said that the statement had been taken out of context. “If somebody takes something out of a message and then tries to propagate in a different manner obliviously it would look controversial”.
I don’t think there was ever anything where he has mentioned that people would get aroused and create an uprising,”.


“Where have you seen Christians going and attacking other religious places in Sri Lanka. It has never happened. There are so many other extremists who do various other things and try to create religious defuse and create ethnic issues,” he complained.
“He is mentioning something to do with Jesus. And that should not be misconstrued and just pull apart and take unnecessarily in a wrong manner. Then it looks like something else.”   


Asked about President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s direction to probe into the statement and police investigations that followed, Mr. Perera said that they would have to wait and see. 
“ We will wait and see. At the end of the day we have not done anything wrong.”  
He further denied the allegation of enacting fake miracles and questioned as to how one can concoct a sickness. 


He further defended Jerome Fernando’s spiritual father, Uebert Angel and his controversial conduct.  “Anyone can have a mentor. For something to do with a mentor, the mentee cannot be attacked,” he argued. 
Referring to religious leaders including Buddhists, Catholic and Christians coming forward against the statement referring to the Buddha,  and other religious founders Mr. Perera said “it is always the trees that bear fruits get stones. Irrespective of great respect to all religions and I don’t think we disrespected any religion,”. 


Ryan Perera also claimed that most of the good work done by Glorious Church had not been highlighted. “Most of the sick we get are either those given up by doctors and given up medical treatment. Where are they going to find the solutions? We as a church trying to help people,” he justified. 
"There are so many good which are not getting highlighted. During our prayer services we pray for the country and the leaders and presidents. Every time it is about negative side is highlighted”. 


He also said that there are many coming to Sri Lanka from abroad because of Jerome Fernando. “At a time when people are not even thinking about coming to this country because of Prophet Jerome so many people are flying into Sri Lanka.  Have you ever heard Sri Lankan mentoring other nationals, Europeans, American and for that matter Indians. It was always Sri Lankan going to get mentored to other country. Sri Lankans should be proud for having a man like this,” he said.


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  Comments - 27

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  • MURUGA Wednesday, 17 May 2023 04:39 AM

    WE ARE 100 THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SRI LANKA FOR GOD MURUGA NOT FOR JEROME

    Sokrates Wednesday, 17 May 2023 09:39 AM

    As an atheist, I have no affiliation with any religion (philosophy). As the Prussian German King Frederick the Great said, "Let everybody seek heaven in his own fashion." I am not interested in who or what my fellow human beings believe, as long as I am not bothered by it. As a secular country, there should be no blasphemy laws. These laws are only abused here politically and racially. Every religious group has to put up with criticism because they all have their skeletons in the closet. The clergy or leadership of all religious groups have become rich from their members. Every religion exploits its followers mercilessly. But as long as every believer is happy with their religion, no one should interfere.

    Paul Cole Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:34 PM

    jerome fernando and his ilk are the false prophets warned of in the bible.....

    Wiraj Wednesday, 17 May 2023 01:00 PM

    Jerome's first mentor was Pastor Dilkumar, a Sri Lankan civil engineer by profession, who left a lucrative job to start preaching in Dubai. He was the founder of "Kings Revival Church" in Dubai, which was the largest Evangelical church in the Middle East. Jerome was nurtured by Pastor Dil, and even Jerome started his church in Sri Lanka as Kings Revival Church, a branch church of Dubai. Jerome met Ubert Angel around 4 years ago and then the rot started. Ubert

    Do Wednesday, 17 May 2023 04:18 PM

    Send him to China with the monkies

    Rambada Parnathan Wednesday, 17 May 2023 05:08 PM

    Jerome is finished as the Big Myna and Little Mynas! Hurray!!

    Punchi Wednesday, 17 May 2023 05:47 PM

    If we had a Buddhist monk attacking other religions we would praise him, RW would take large offerings to him and we will say he is doing Buddhas work. If a Christian does the same we attack him and put the CID onto him etc

    Kandy Whip Thursday, 25 May 2023 03:42 PM

    You can be stupid but there is no reason to demonstrate that fact to others

    Volker Metzger Wednesday, 17 May 2023 05:53 PM

    Before talking about religious sites in Sri Lanka, tell Mr. Perera to do some research on what the Portuguese, as representatives of Christ, have destroyed in their 100 years of colonial rule in the country!!! But probably the bloody mission history of Christianity with Inquisition and destruction of Buddhist-Hindu sanctuaries is unknown to him! These people should be happy that they can travel the country today without any problems!

    VJ Wednesday, 17 May 2023 11:44 PM

    Hindus who believe in astrology are once in a while told his/her time is not good and the period may last seven years or so. During these seven years they in the grip of Saturn whose symbol is the crow. Could Jerome Fernando’s troubles linked to a crow as well?

    Where is Income Tax Department? Thursday, 18 May 2023 07:32 AM

    S. L. Treasury is short of funds, to meet Govt. expenses. What is the Inland Revenue Department doing with all these exposures by Daily Mirror? Why can't they raid his premises and take over all monies un-accounted? This shows how inefficient the IRS is! IRS waits till people come and submit their income report to open a file! Do you need a department for this?

    Fake prophet Thursday, 18 May 2023 10:55 AM

    He spent LKR 700,000 on a luxury designer shirt from the UK - Angelo Galasso! You can see it on his social pages. Clearly extravagant living off of his followers' contributions and you only get special treatment if you can donate a certain amount may be LKR 500,000 or more! Double standards!

    Anthony Perera Thursday, 01 June 2023 11:02 AM

    stupid followers?

    Tissa Fernando Thursday, 18 May 2023 05:24 PM

    MR may have believed that some blessings from these two guys would keep his family in power for ever. He could have been in power had he nd his family not robbed the country and genuinely interested in the development of the country. The credit for ending the civil war vanished quickly when people learned about the stolen money.

    BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 01 June 2023 02:36 PM

    There is no credit or heroism in a war where you mass kill a sector of your own citizens based on their ethnic rights. It is a failure of you governance.

    ACL Friday, 19 May 2023 06:44 PM

    Jerome F is a fraud. Like many so called evangelists - this is a get rich quick scheme. I heard he tells people if they do not give money bad things will happen. What a joke this all is. I am Roman Catholic, a child of GOD, and there is NO one in this world I worship but GOD. I do NOT worship or give reverence to any human being including bishops popes etc. People in SL , like many in the world, are easily swayed by these jokers. Look at so many Evangelists -Joel Osteen, Joyce meyer, they all are quite rich and successful. Of course, many may give back to society what they get by helping others in their own countries or others struggling across the world. This JF is full of himself. I always say, if you are doing something wrong in the name of GOD - He will come and strike you down.

    rbh Saturday, 20 May 2023 05:17 PM

    How come with Divine interaction or awaken by spiritual communication prophet was not told or that he is in wrong frequency and wavelength and making people separate by naming other religion, where he in inviting a debate with other religion to travel in gods wavelenth

    ignore Sunday, 21 May 2023 04:30 PM

    Why are people wasting time talking about this rogue priest. He should be investigated for his financial dealings and if found guilty sent to prison. The Buddha, the Christ, Prophet Mohommad faced all kinds of insults, and they never preached revenge and never asked for police investigation. The best way to deal with fake prophet is to get him exposed for his financial dealings so that people who foolishly believed him would leave him.

    Janaka Nandapala Monday, 22 May 2023 10:19 AM

    Myna had no contacts of this man! This is a BORU photo or Myna is telling lies? Pastor can give him two Toungs to Myna!1

    rbh Monday, 22 May 2023 04:12 PM

    Only those prophets mentioned in the holy books can be accepted prophets as god would have revealed if is some one coming as the coming of jesus.

    Hingollage Palandedara Tuesday, 23 May 2023 04:12 PM

    This is a fake photo! myna is an innocent bird! Let him fly to the HELL very soon!!

    Ama Saturday, 27 May 2023 01:55 PM

    there you go. MR playing his familiar DIRTY CUNNING TRICKS. "he pitches the baby and rock the cot"

    Mike Revere Monday, 29 May 2023 09:26 AM

    Thou shall not steal command is that it has to be covered with lies. Rev.21,8 says all liars go to the lake which burns with fire.

    Mahinda Galgoda Tuesday, 30 May 2023 07:59 PM

    So on a official meeting Myna has his wife and daughter in law it seams . thats the way they run their Srilanka INC.

    Mike Revere Friday, 02 June 2023 06:35 AM

    Angel as gold mafia expelled from Zimbabwe as of criminal record, may not now accept family gold.

    Mike Revere Friday, 02 June 2023 03:08 PM

    The robber family involvement to stay in power for ever is the carrot offered, but offering frauds lost diplomatic passport to carry gold and dollars. This prosperity is surely not right for local prophet.

    rmnth Sunday, 04 June 2023 08:41 PM

    the Portuguese showed their barbarism in elephanta caves in mumbai which has aesthetically carved sculptures of the gupta period by blasting the sculptures and using them as target practice...today the same fellows come as tourists visit the island and take photos


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