After the tithes, having food for the kids was the miracle

Bishop Brian Tamaki. Photo / Martin Sykes

A good week was when there was enough food on the table for her seven children, or money to buy clothes and school books.

Those weeks were rare, but Angela Yerkovich would still tithe 10 per cent of the meagre wage - on a level with the unemployment benefit - she made working up to 60 hours a week at Destiny Church.

She would also find a way to donate to the church, when asked, which was often.

Her daughter, Deena Malloy, a 30-year-old solo mother, said her mother was taught that God would come through miraculously - if you tithed.

"But for us 'miraculously' was sometimes having enough groceries for the week or 'miraculously' having enough money for books for school or uniforms - we'd rejoice about that."

Ms Malloy said her mother left Destiny Church in Auckland late last year. She had been a member since 1999.

A former member of the New Life Church in Manurewa, she was attracted to Bishop Brian Tamaki's "message of empowerment and encouragement to break through the cycle of poverty".

She said the charismatic leader cited himself and his family as an example of tithing to achieve financial prosperity, an appealing prospect for low earners like herself.

"It was about people reaching people and helping people ... but I saw a lot of money being collected and didn't see it being manifested within the church and the people who were doing all the giving," said Ms Malloy, a Destiny member for two years.

"I did see his children driving nice cars, going on trips overseas, living in beautiful houses, their children having the latest clothing and wearing gold jewellery."

Ms Malloy said her mother would question this, but felt "spiritually unfaithful" for doing so.

Ms Malloy said the church sometimes provided basic food for her struggling family, but her mother would still donate to the church's numerous ministries on top of her tithes.

Ms Yerkovich began to seriously question her role with the church only after a chance meeting with other Christians.

She also began studying towards a degree in early childhood education where she realised she was being paid less than other students despite having more experience.

But Ms Malloy said the most hurtful realisation was her decade of investment in the the hope of financial prosperity that was never fulfilled.

"She put on a brave face partly for us because she felt stupid for giving so much of her time when we told her not to and partly because she didn't want to burden us."

Destiny Church spokesman Richie Lewis denied Ms Malloy's claims her mother was paid the equivalent of the unemployment benefit.

He said the church had a policy of "fulltime gainful employment for all able-bodied" members and despite most members contributing voluntarily, employed staff were fairly paid.

Asked what assistance the church provided for its lower-income parishioners, Mr Lewis said Destiny had a foodbank for needy members and non-members.

"Over and above this, we move quickly to provide household necessities where needs arise," he said.

Mr Lewis reiterated the church's stance that although it taught the Biblical principle, there was no obligation for members to tithe.