A South African pastor is causing a stir online after 5 people were confirmed dead and 13 in critical condition after the Pastor encouraged his congregants to drink deadly rat poison to “show forth their faith.”

At a Christian conference held at Grace Living Hope Ministries, Pastor Light Monyeki fed faith-filled congregants rat poison mixed with water to reportedly nourish their bodies and heal the sick on Saturday.

“Then he declared life from above upon the water mixed with Rattax; and spoke nourishment unto bodies and healing unto the sick. A multitude of congregants voluntarily ran to the front to have a drink of the deadly poison. After declaring nourishment and healing, Prophet Light was the first one to drink,” the church added.

If (sic) nyope boys can smoke Rattax for more than eight years, who are we? Death has no power over us,'” the church noted in a Facebook post along with pictures of the pastor presenting the poison.

According to the Sowetan, Nyaope is a highly addictive drug made from a range of ingredients from low-grade heroin’ dagga’ rat poison and detergents containing chlorine and ammonia.

Many critics of the pastor, however, were not amused with Monyeki’s public antics and challenged him to demonstrate the power of God more constructively.

“Go to hospitals and demonstrate the power of healing on people with strokes and people who are comatosed. Do not poison people and call it act of power. The Lord said His people will be misled for they lack knowledge, let us be careful of false prophets!” warned Matladi Tholo.

When accused of causing the deaths of members of his congregation, He told them too much of anything can kill and he is not to be blamed. No official case has been filed against the pastor yet.