I connected with Alex via Facebook about 7 years ago. I was encouraged by his enthusiasm and desire to step out. This was great to see and an encouraging benchmark to set. This said, I wasn’t in contact with Alex, and had never met him personally.
Towards the beginning of 2025, I received a message out of the blue asking to borrow £300 with a promise to pay it back the following week.
I thought that his Facebook account must have been hacked, so I reached out to Alex’s WhatsApp account. Alex replied with a voice note to say that it wasn’t a hack and that it was him who had asked.
I initially said no, but then I thought, if a man of God is asking then I can trust him. I gave the funds he asked for, with a note to say I needed it back before the end of the month. He agreed, and I sent the funds.
I didn’t hear anything back for a while, so I sent Alex a nudge for the repayment which was met by silence. I tried calling, texting, and contacting via Facebook and WhatsApp. It took nearly 4 weeks to get a reply saying they were struggling.
With this, I felt I didn’t want my debt to be a burden to him, or to be something I may begin
to resent, so I forgave the debt and blessed Alex with an extra £50.
At the end of the month, I received a message asking if I could help with a £1000, as his father had died. I said I couldn’t help with a £1000 but did give £50.
Since then, I have received messages asking for further funds towards: £2000 for help for his son in hospital, £50 for food, another £50 for food, £450 for help to set up a seminar with a promise to pay back the next day.
At this point I suggested that if he needs to ask regularly for money, then God isn’t providing and maybe he needs to seek a season of work to pay for his needs. I received one more message about 6 months later asking for £100 to which I haven’t replied.
I believe Alex to be good man at heart and believe he has done many great things and God has blessed him. I thought he was only asking me, or a few others for funds, so was disappointed to hear and read that the same kind of requests were sent to many others.
My thought since have been that the messages play on people’s sense of goodwill and the want to help another brother/sister in need. But I questioned to myself, if the same message goes out to numerous people, then is it a reach for help, or an attempt to receive funds by deception. I don’t know the answer, only God does but it didn’t leave a good feeling.
I hope others don’t feel guilt tripped into giving, as many give what they do not have. For such reasons I support bringing this into the open after first trying but failing to contact Alex directly.
I pray for a new start for Alex to continue in the good works, and know if God wants to bless, then you do not need to ask. I feel sad for Alex, I pray for repentance and new beginnings and to continue in being an encouragement to others, let’s just do it without the begging for funds.
