From lecturer to holy celebrity: The rise and fall of the man they called The Prophet

IN LESS than eight years Dr Walter Masocha’s Agape For All Nations Church has gone from meeting in his living room to having 2,000 members across the UK, USA, Canada and Africa.

Masocha initially combined his full-time job as an accountancy lecturer at Stirling University, by working part-time as a pastor in a Pentecostal-style church, the Forward With Faith international ministry. After taking part in a prayer retreat in 2007 in St Andrews Masocha, described as a skilled motivational speaker, said he was told by God to set up the church, named Agape – or God’s love, in Greek.

The accountancy lecturer had already forged a path from sub-Saharan Africa to a master’s and a PhD at the University of Strathclyde and the full-time lecturer’s job, which he quit to run his ministry.

Masocha and his wife Judith, 49, a former insurance worker, are called “sacred terms”. She is known as the Prophetess.

As well as Prophet, the leader was also called The Apostle, Man of God and High Commissioner.

Masocha earned £40,000 a year after tax and his wife £32,000, funded by a “tithe” system in which the congregation contributed a tenth of their income to the registered charity.

His flock also funded the couple’s air fares and accommodation as they flew around the world spreading their message, until Masocha stepped back from his ministry because of the trial. Up to 30 minutes in each service is devoted to obtaining offerings, often about £200 a month.

Walter and Judith Masocha moved from Bridge of Allan, where the numbers of people attending meetings, chanting and crying “Alleluiah” had caused neighbours to complain to the council, to a seven-bedroomed £500,000 mansion, Coseyneuk House, amid rolling countryside at Sauchieburn, near Stirling.

It contains a massage room where much of Masocha’s offending was said to have taken place.

The court heard the congregation “treated him like a god”. It was an image finally shattered by the courage of his teenage victim who made the sex assault allegations that led to yesterday’s conviction.