Pentecostal Churches: Public Nuisance?

Some people see Pentecostal churches as a source of discomfort in their neighbourhoods.

Since most of these churches which shoot up like mushrooms in our towns are found in the neighbourhoods, many people who live in such areas consider them the greatest discomfort. They complain that they pray aloud at night, sing playing drums. Since it is at night the sound goes very far. These causes discomfort and disturb those who are asleep.
An inhabitant in Ngangue, Nganjeu Moise, whose house is sandwiched by two of the so- called “crying churches”, said he hardly sleeps for a week peacefully because the church members are always in church, especially in the night. It is worst he said during nights of ‘night tarry’. “It will require you also tarry with them because the noise will be too loud and you will be unable to sleep”, he complained bitterly.
Other inhabitants also said one big aspect is that they sit in their houses to relax and all of a sudden you get a knock on the door and it is one of these church people who have come to evangelise. “This is very common with the Jehovah witnesses and they even force you to buy their books” said Elizabeth Muma. She said sometimes she comes back from work, rushes home to get some rest, but you cannot because these people are in church. “I wonder when they have time to do their own private activities». If they are not there she added then it is someone else who comes to evangelise to you telling you that you are a sinner. “I hate this because they condemn other churches”.
Others we talked to complained that the churches are not only a nuisance in noise making but they cause problems among couples. A wife might be lonely and decides to go and visit the church in her neighbourhood. Suddenly the husband discovers she is a member and since he is not in agreement with her being there, a quarrel erupts. She starts seeing him like the devil, a young man added. “The worst is that if you want to complain about the noise at night they conclude you are the witch or wizard in the neighbourhood”, said he.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO