The claims Money
Does Go Church pressure young people to give money, and was a €20 gift called “not enough”?
VRT’s own narrator says that at Go Church “you are not obliged” to give, and the €20 story is one former member’s account. Go Church told VRT in writing that the offering is not meant to pressure anyone to give, and VRT’s own footage shows calls that run all the way down to the smallest amount.
What the documentary said
In Antwerp, but also in Leuven and in Ghent. Payment details appear on large screens. Whoever gives money can raise their hand or phone and receives a blessing.
Giving money is usual in many churches, and at Go Church too, it seems, you are not obliged, but according to former followers, at this church it isn’t so optional.
Geld geven is in veel kerken gebruikelijk, en ook bij Go Church word je zo te zien niet verplicht, maar volgens ex-volgers is het bij deze kerk niet zo vrijblijvend.
I had transferred 20 euros, because I didn’t have that much money to give. I remember I wanted to go forward, and someone stopped me to ask how much I gave. I said: 20 euros. And she said: That’s not enough.
Ik had 20 euro overgeschreven, omdat ik niet zoveel geld had om te geven. Ik weet nog dat ik naar voren wou gaan en iemand me tegenhield om te vragen hoeveel ik gaf. Ik zei: 20 euro. En zij zei: Dat is niet genoeg.
Say you have 107 euros. Give 100 and go home with the other 7. That seed will bring forth many trees. God will bless you.
Stel dat je 107 euro hebt. Schenk er 100 van en ga met de overige 7 naar huis. Dat zaadje zal veel bomen voortbrengen. God zal je zegenen.
How can you as a bishop manipulate people like this and say:” Who here has € 200? Who here has € 100? Who has that € 50? Even if it’s just your last 50 cents or € 1 in your bank. Give it to the church. “
Young people are a very interesting target audience. If you can get that large group on board, even small contributions add up to big money. But as they grow within that movement and find a job, they ask for more.
Watch VRT at this point · VRT NWS Pano25:35 (opens the recording on YouTube at 25:35)
Go Church’s written answer
Het opsteken van handen tijdens het gebed is een uiting van eerbied naar God toe en weerspiegelt ons geloof dat onze gebeden en giften tot Hem opstijgen. Het is niet bedoeld om mensen onder druk te zetten om te geven.
Go Church written reply to VRT (published on vrtnws.be, 21 Oct 2026). VRT broadcast one sentence of the reply. Read the full reply in Dutch and English.
What the film left out
In English: raising hands during prayer is an act of reverence towards God and reflects the belief that prayers and gifts rise to Him. It is not meant to pressure anyone to give. VRT’s teaser played the line that giving money to the church is “a must”. Twenty-five minutes later its own narrator said you are not obliged.
VRT’s footage shows how these offerings run. Amounts are called in turn, from €200 to €100 to €50, and the same call goes on to “your last 50 cents or €1”. The smallest amount has its own turn in the call.
The Brussels appeal VRT shows came from the closing session of a camp, led by Bishop Joshua Heward-Mills. The offering itself is not in the public upload of that session, so its full context cannot be shown.
Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has told giving meetings that a person matters more than money, and he blesses those who gave much, those who gave little and those who came with nothing to give.
The record: his own words, across the years
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2019
Newark, New Jersey, USA, Camp meeting, I Come Seeking Fruits
During a giving appeal at a camp in the United States:
I prefer any day for you to give yourself to [the work] of God than to sit somewhere thinking you will give money. You must know the importance of money: it’s a very low level relative to many things. You must know [that] a person is more important than money. A human being, a person, is far more important than money.
Watch · Newark, New Jersey, USA, 201915:01 to 15:34 (opens the recording on YouTube at 15:01)
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2019
Newark, New Jersey, USA, Closing blessing of the same camp
At the close of that camp he prayed over everyone who came, givers and non-givers alike.
…they knew that this is not just a camp, but it is really to support evangelism. They came, so their presence is their support. And Lord, some have given money, some have given more, some have given less, [some] have given everything they had. So Lord, I bless them.
Watch · Newark, New Jersey, USA, 20190:01 to 0:41 (opens the recording on YouTube at 0:01)
The scripture
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing… Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury
Jesus watched people bring their offerings in the temple and said the poorest woman’s two small coins counted for more than all the rest. Bishop Dag’s blessing over “some have given more, some have given less” follows the same pattern.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Paul set the rule for Christian giving: what each person decides, never under compulsion. It is the same rule VRT’s narrator found in practice: you are not obliged.
The verdict
VRT’s own narrator conceded you are not obliged to give at Go Church. Bishop Dag’s record says a person matters more than money, and every giver gets the same blessing.
Questions people ask
Is giving compulsory at Go Church?
No. VRT’s own narrator said that at Go Church “you are not obliged”, and Go Church told VRT the offering is not meant to pressure anyone to give.
Why are amounts called out during the offering?
VRT’s own footage shows a stepped call, from larger amounts down to “your last 50 cents or €1”. Each amount, including the smallest, is called in turn.