The Charity Commission of the United Kingdom has taken the significant step of freezing more than 100 bank accounts linked to Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Ministries International amid allegations of financial mismanagement and concerns over transparency.
According to a statement released on the Commission’s official website on Monday, this action followed the initiation of a formal investigation triggered by suspicions of improper handling of charitable funds.
The inquiry uncovered that trustees responsible for the church’s charitable operations failed to maintain sufficient oversight or control over the numerous bank accounts held by various individual branches.
Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, emphasized in the statement that serious financial irregularities were identified within the charity’s extensive network of accounts.
“Our investigation revealed that both past and present trustees at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International did not exercise adequate governance over the charity’s finances,” the statement noted.
The charity, which functions through a widespread network of branches dedicated to advancing Christian missions, came under scrutiny after financial discrepancies were reported, including allegations of fund misappropriation.
Findings showed that trustees could not verify effective control over more than 100 bank accounts managed independently by the charity’s branches, putting charitable assets at considerable risk across the organization.
Due to these grave concerns about the trustees’ capacity to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities, the Commission appointed an interim manager in 2019. This manager worked alongside the remaining trustees to establish critical financial safeguards.
Much of the charity’s financial turmoil was attributed to its rapid expansion-from a few branches to over 90 nationwide-without implementing necessary governance frameworks.
Branches operated with a high degree of autonomy, opening bank accounts without centralized approval and failing to report income promptly, which exposed the charity to significant financial vulnerabilities and inaccurate accounting.
Moreover, some branches made major financial commitments, such as property acquisitions and lease agreements, without the knowledge or consent of the trustees.
This lack of proper oversight resulted in financial setbacks, including instances where branches occupied properties without securing required planning permissions, leading to expensive legal disputes with local authorities. Additional losses arose from the trustees’ failure to formalize employment contracts, culminating in costly settlements of employment claims.
In response to these findings, the Commission froze the charity’s assets to halt further financial damage and appointed an interim manager tasked with enforcing stringent financial controls and enhancing governance standards.
The interim manager’s role concluded in September 2024, after a prolonged period necessitated by the charity’s complex restructuring needs and delays caused by ongoing legal matters.
Following the completion of these reforms, the Commission issued a regulatory directive mandating the charity to implement a comprehensive action plan focused on governance and policy improvements. The Commission has since confirmed that the trustees have met the requirements of this plan.
