This ‘man of God’ has been in the news for a long time, but his popularity has nothing to do with the message of Christ he is supposed to be preaching. Rather, what has made the pastor gain popularity is his unconventional fashion taste. He has gained fame as the ‘High Heels Pastor’. if Anything, the pastor has vehemently argued that his decision to wear women’s heels is an act of faith.
With the long history heels have had over time, they have come to be known mainly as a women’s fashion accessory, employed especially for graceful ceremonies and events. To be comfortable wearing them, women need to have excellent body balance and a mastery of their postures. This limits the possibility of injury and encourages their confidence as they build elegance.
As glamourous as they are, the fashion choice which keeps many a lady en vogue also leaves many seeking medical care. But a Togolese man, is mounting this hill with eyes closed. Unnamed, he has been in the news for years today, owing to his penchant for heels. To him, the footwear is more comfortable than regular shoes meant for men.
“I wore men’s shoes…but I suffered from it. I have long suffered from illnesses such as body aches and other ailments that numerous medical consultations could not cure,” he is quoted saying.
But his story only gets more exciting. He is a preacher and he never fails to bring in his work when quizzed about his fashion choices and the image he gives. Denying allegations of him wearing women’s clothes, he says his shoe mandate is one ordained by the Most High:
“In my prayers, God himself revealed himself to me and advised me to wear these shoes that you see…since then I’ve been running it 24/7, my pain is gone… I don’t wear women’s clothes as people have said on social media, but I wear all kinds of shoes, according to the calling I received” multiple online platforms quote him saying.
Gimmick or manifestation of faith?
The preacher’s unconventional story, surprising as it is, is just one of a myriad of unbelievable stories in the African milieu, stringed to religious beliefs and spiritual revelations. The continent is laden with thousands of preachers, each declaring their special mandates. In some cases, preachers have been seen walking on their followers or making them consume substances whose effect on human health remains doubtful.
In what appeared to be the height of these theatrics and antics, in 2019, a South African preacher was alleged to have raised a man from death.
“Can you see what happened? This man died on Friday, he was in the mortuary. This is a sign that no matter what the devil’s done it is over. Devil, I told you wherever I find you I will kick you,” the preacher, Pastor Alph Lukau declared in a clip of the incident that went viral. He would later retract his words, declaring the subject was alive when brought to his church.
The Pastor with the ‘heels of faith’ is to some unique and to others, just another controversial figure in the African religious landscape. He challenges the conventional expectations of how a preacher or Man of God should dress but uses divine mandate as the anchor for his choices. But whether one agrees or disagrees with his heels, he is certainly a pastor who stands out from the crowd and is high among his peers.
