My Father Did not Care About Earthly Recognition- Daughter Of RCCG's Founder, Pastor Titilayo Adewale, Debunks Claims Of Criticizing The Church Over Her Father's Legacy

A daughter of the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Titilayo Adewale, has denied claims that she criticised the church’s leadership for allegedly sidelining the legacy of her late father, Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi.

In a statement released on her Facebook page on Monday, Adewale described as false a viral statement attributed to her, which claimed that many senior pastors in the RCCG were unaware that her father founded the church and that she had called for greater efforts to preserve his legacy.
she said, “My attention has been drawn to a statement attributed to me regarding The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye and the legacy of my father.

“I want to clarify that the statement attributed to me is not from me, either implicitly or explicitly.”

She said her father never sought earthly recognition and would not have been concerned about whether his name or image appeared on church buildings or institutions.

 

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“For the record, Baba’s image or no image on any edifice on earth is nothing compared to making Heaven with his full face being recognised,” she said.

According to her, the greatest legacy her father left behind was people, not physical structures.

“Regarding legacy, the most significant legacy is not buildings or institutions but individuals. My father consistently believed in building people rather than merely constructing buildings,” she stated.

Adewale recalled that her father was reluctant to own personal property during his lifetime, saying it would be inconsistent to suggest that he desired public recognition through monuments.

“He never believed in acquiring wealth or earthly possessions. It was a challenge to convince my father to own a building because he was not convinced of its value.

“If he was unwilling to own a personal residence, how could he or any child be bothered if his name is not associated with buildings or institutions? It doesn’t add up.”

She argued that the viral reports were not about her, her father or the leadership of the church, but were aimed at creating unnecessary controversy and division.

“In my opinion, this news and similar ones are not about me, my father or even the leadership of the RCCG. Instead, they are intended to create unnecessary arguments and discord.

“Their purpose is to divert attention from the divine work being carried out and sow discord among us.”

She urged those behind the reports to stop spreading what she described as false narratives and warned them against further misinformation.

Adewale also expressed support for the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, praying for wisdom and strength for him, his family and the church’s leadership.

“I pray for continued support and strength for Pastor E.A. Adeboye and his family. I pray that God will enhance the wisdom of the leadership of the RCCG.

“Wishing the RCCG family worldwide a successful convention. Shalom!” she said.

  

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Bandits Will Block Lagos-Ibadan Expressway In July Or August - Primate Ayodele

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned that bandits may block the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in either July or August, urging security agencies to take proactive measures to avert any potential attack.

The cleric made the remark while addressing members of his congregation, saying he foresaw a security threat along the country’s busiest highway.

“Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, I don’t know the exact time, but it’s either July or August. Bandits will block the road. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” Ayodele said.

“They will block the road. So the security agencies need to take this into account,” he added.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is one of Nigeria’s most strategic transport corridors, linking Lagos with several states in the South-West and serving as a major route connecting the southern and northern parts of the country. The highway carries thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles daily.

Although Ayodele did not provide details of the basis for his warning, he called on security agencies to remain vigilant and strengthen surveillance along the route to prevent any possible attack.

The warning comes amid ongoing concerns over insecurity in parts of the country, including incidents of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on major highways.

In a recent statement, the cleric criticised the Federal Government over the country’s security challenges, accusing it of failing to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

  

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RCCG To Train Over 100,000 Youths On Tech-Related Skills

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has announced plans to train more than 100,000 young Nigerians in technology-related skills as part of activities lined up for its Mega Music Festival 2.0 scheduled for Friday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

The church said the initiative, tagged the RCCG Young Adult and Youth Tech Fellowship, would be officially launched during the event, which is expected to draw thousands of worshippers from across Nigeria and beyond.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Youth Affairs, Sola Olukoya, said the fellowship would provide a four-month practical training programme aimed at equipping young people with skills required for the digital economy.

According to him, the programme, being organised in partnership with Reach4Christ, will focus on areas including data analysis, product development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software development and digital innovation.

“This transformational initiative is designed to empower over 100,000 young adults and youths through an intensive four-month practical, hands-on technology training programme,” he said.

Olukoya noted that the church’s goal was to prepare young Nigerians for global opportunities while contributing to national development.

“Our mission is to equip young people spiritually, mentally, and professionally — giving them the tools required to access global workforce opportunities, create solutions, build enterprises, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.

The cleric disclosed that the Mega Music Festival, themed “A New Season,” would combine worship, prayers, thanksgiving and prophetic declarations for Nigeria.

He said the event was inspired by the church’s belief that collective worship and prayer could usher in national transformation.

“We believe that when a people honour God with genuine praise, the land responds with increase, restoration, peace, and divine blessings,” Olukoya said.

He added that the church would use the gathering to pray for economic recovery, security, education, innovation and national progress.

“We believe the new season Nigeria desires must include a generation of young people who are empowered, innovative, productive, and guided by godly values,” he said.

Olukoya said the event would feature gospel ministers including Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Yinka Alaseyori and Bidemi Olaoba.

He added that senior ministers, including J. F. Odesola and J. T. Kalejaiye, would lead prayer sessions, while the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, would pronounce blessings and prophetic declarations over the nation.

Olukoya said more than 5,000 volunteers had been mobilised for the event, covering areas such as security, logistics, medical support, sanitation and crowd management.

He also disclosed that free buses would operate from designated locations across Lagos and Ogun states to convey worshippers to and from the venue.

Describing the festival as more than a musical event, he said, “It is an altar of praise. It is a sound of hope. It is a movement of transformation. It is a declaration that Nigeria is entering a new season.”

  

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You Cannot Stop Bad Roads, Banditry By Merely Praying - Nollywood Actress Njoku Tells Christians

Nollywood actress and producer, Mary Remmy Njoku, has urged Christians to complement prayer with practical action in addressing societal challenges, saying issues such as poor roads, insecurity and failing healthcare systems cannot be solved through prayers alone.

The actress made the remarks in a post shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, where she stressed the need for accountability, planning and hard work alongside faith.

According to her, while prayer remains important for guidance, strength and wisdom, physical problems require practical solutions.

She wrote, “Dear African Christians, as we continue to pray, let us not confuse prayer with action. You cannot bind and cast away bad roads. You cannot rebuke a failing healthcare system into working. You cannot pray away the bandits who are terrorising our lives.

“Physical problems require physical solutions. Spiritual problems require spiritual problems.”

Njoku argued that food does not appear on a plate through prayer alone, noting that someone must still cultivate, harvest, transport or prepare it.

“You cannot pray food onto your plate, someone has to plant it, harvest it, transport it, cook it, or provide the means for you to get it yourself. Even in the bible, provision often came through people, work, and practical action,” she added.

She further stated that critical areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and economic development require deliberate efforts from leaders and citizens.

“Good roads, quality healthcare, education, security and economic growth will not appear simply because we pray about them.

“Prayer can guide us, strengthen us, and give us wisdom, but physical problems must also be addressed with physical action, planning, accountability, and hardwork,” she said.

  

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Pastor Adeboye Blows Hot Over Insecurity: End Terrorism Within 90 Days Or Quit, He Tells Service Chiefs

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has thrown his weight behind those calling for a change of the current security chiefs if they can no longer guaranty the safety of Nigerians. This is coming on the heels of a video circulating online, in which popular teak talker , Mama G, heaped curses on the man of God for allegedly stopping members of his church when they wanted to join the protest over the abduction of school children in Oyo state. The cleric urged the Federal Government to give Nigeria’s security chiefs a 90-day ultimatum to eliminate terrorists or resign from office.

Adeboye made the call in a video shared on his X handle on Tuesday.

He expressed concern over the country’s worsening security situation and called for urgent action against perpetrators of violence.

According to him, security chiefs should be held accountable for results in the fight against terrorism.

He said, “You can only advise the commander-in-chief. You can’t command him, because if you command the commander-in-chief, then you become the commander of the commander-in-chief. That doesn’t make sense.

“But I’ve tried. And God is my witness. I don’t want to take much of your time.

“What should we do now? I’m talking to you as my children. If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, move fast. And tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days, or resign.”

The cleric also urged the government to target not only terrorists but also their sponsors, regardless of their influence.

He said, “When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists; they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be.”

Adeboye recalled that a former Nigerian president once issued a similar directive to security chiefs, but said the order was not fully enforced after the deadline elapsed.

He said, “There was a president, unfortunately he’s dead now… who called the service chiefs together and said, I give you three months. Get rid of all these Boko Haram people, or resign.”

He added, “He ran with that advice, but he didn’t follow it through… because he gave the order as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. But security operatives moved fast.”

Adeboye said he later met the late president after the deadline passed, noting that the experience shaped his current recommendation.

He said, “So I went to see him… this time, somehow, the press got to know that I visited him… unfortunately, like I said, he’s not alive now.”

The cleric added that his advice to government remains that security chiefs must not only be tasked with eliminating terrorists but also their sponsors “no matter how influential they may be.”

Adeboye reshared a video that suggested he had campaigned for a government or political party and that he called for the cancellation of a planned protest against insecurity.

Earlier on Tuesday, RCCG defended the General Overseer against what it described as persistent falsehoods and deliberate misrepresentations.

In a statement issued through its official public relations handle on X, the church said it would no longer remain silent in the face of inaccurate narratives about its leader.

According to the church, both Adeboye and the church have, for years, been subjected to false narratives driven by personal interests.

It accused some commentators, bloggers, and media organisations of circulating misleading claims about Adeboye’s positions on politics, governance, and national issues without proper verification.

Addressing allegations that Adeboye had campaigned for a government or political party, the church described such claims as untrue, maintaining that the cleric has consistently encouraged civic participation without endorsing candidates.

The church explained that he had merely communicated a directive from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria concerning changes to the format of a nationwide prayer programme.

The church further rejected suggestions that the cleric has remained silent on major national issues.

“Pastor E.A. Adeboye has, on several occasions, spoken about national issues such as insecurity, corruption, economic hardship, elections, governance, and the need for righteous leadership. However, he often chooses the language of moral guidance, prayer, and counsel rather than partisan political confrontation,” the statement added.

All this is coming amidst the outburst of a popular teak talker known as Mama G, who heaped curses on the man of God for allegedly preventing members of his church from embarking on a peaceful protest against the kidnap of school children in Oyo state. According to Mama G, this “suppression” happened because the church has close ties with Nigeria's First Lady, who currently serves as an RCCG pastor. She also criticized high-profile Nigerian religious leaders for keeping quiet while ordinary Nigerians continue to suffer from banditry and economic hardship under the Tinubu’s administration. 

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My Secret Battle With Cancer – Pastor Oritsejafor

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, founder of Word of Life Bible Church and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has revealed how he secretly battled cancer, ran up a $120,000 medical bill, and was saved partly by a personal assistant who refused to obey hospital rules.

In a video message posted on his Instagram handle, the cleric said his public smile during months of private agony was a deliberate act of his faith in God and heart to help the less privileged.

He urged his congregation to remain “a pillar” to those around them, even when it is inconvenient.
He said: “It may be hard today, it is the same God that will make it softer tomorrow. It may look impossible today but it is the same God that can make it possible.”

The cleric recalled that doctors initially told him the cancer had spread and there was no hope.

He travelled to the United States, where medics said the cancer was not yet “ripe” and asked him to return in three months. Back in Nigeria, he continued his ministerial duties, dancing and helping the less-privileged, all while in constant pain.

After the church’s yearly Jubilee Celebration, he said, the pain became intense and he took the next flight to America. There, a scan brought relief that there is no cancer in his bone.

In his words: “I went to America and they said there is cancer, but not yet ripe, that I should come back in three months time.

“However, I got to Nigeria, there was jubilee and i was dancing, doing my ministerial duties, helping people, doing the best that I could do for the less privileged, but there was cancer within me. I was in pain but was laughing and smiling because it is good to be a pillar.”

Referring to essence and importance of house pillars, Pastor Oritsejafor said he had to picked next flight to America after the church yearly Jubilee Celebration because he was in intense pain.

“The doctor said he had to check if the cancers had spread to my bones. I relaxed and about an hour he came back and announced there is no cancer in my bone,” he said.

But the real test came after surgery. Pastor Oritsejafor said he spent months on medical bed. He had instructed his personal assistant, Bayo, not to accompany him to the US because he wanted to be free and “be myself.” To his surprise, Bayo paid for his own ticket.

“I thought he only escorted me to the airport,” the pastor said. “But I was glad that he did because I was all alone by myself and I spent about $120,000 for my treatment,” he revealed.

Days after the operation, he was rushed to the emergency room with an unknown infection. Doctors said they had never seen it before and had no drug to prescribe.

He said: “The oldest physician on the team warned that reopening the wound would kill me . The doctor eventually brought two experimental antibiotics. The first did nothing. The second worked within four days.”

During that critical period, hospital rules required anyone entering his room to be fully geared up. But Bayo refused to leave his side, staying against medical instructions.

The pastor also recalled how, when a doctor gave him “licence” to eat anything he wanted – including pork – Bayo promptly reported him, and the doctor ended the pork craving.

“I was there for months. The doctor said anything that enter my mind I should eat it. That I should eat six times a day. And I told Bayo ‘This man don give me licence’. I will eat pork. But Bayo reported me to doctor and he stopped my craving for pork. And I came out stronger.
“He stayed against doctors’ instructions,” Pastor Oritsejafor said gratefully. “I was there for months.”

The clergyman used his testimony to encourage believers never to stop being a support system for others.

“Never stop being a pillar,” he admonished. “It will inconvenience you. Many times you feel like crying, tired, sometimes you may not even get answer from God, and there is a reason for that. God may not even say anything to you – just stay there with Him.”

  

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Don't Marry A Woman Who Demands Costly Wedding Or Cannot Cook - Pastor Adeboye

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, recently shared a set of marital guidelines for young men warning that marrying for beauty alone or ignoring practical foundations could lead to a “deep trap.”

In an address during the May edition of the Holy Ghost Service, the cleric emphasised that spiritual discernment and domestic competence must outweigh physical attraction and social status.

Addressing the men, Adeboye warned against being blinded by physical appearance. He cautioned that a lack of prayer could lead a man to inadvertently “choose a demon” because of outward beauty.

“There are many demons that are very beautiful. If you marry because of beauty, you might choose a demon. I’m not saying all beautiful people are demonic. If it’s beauty alone that leads you into marriage, it’s a deep trap,” he said.

He also urged men not to marry a woman who cannot cook or is not hospitable.

“Don’t marry a girl who cannot cook. We are talking of excellent counsel. Only I can tell you these things. Even if a prophet says this is your wife, if she can’t cook, say ‘Thank you, keep her,'” he said, citing Sarah and the Shunamite woman as biblical examples of hospitable cooks.

He further advised men to call off any wedding where the woman demands a ceremony that would lead to debt.

“Don’t marry a girl who does not do things in moderation. No matter how close you are to a wedding and your girl is suggesting a wedding that is going to cost you everything you have and get you into debt, call it off, ” he directed.

On cosmetics, Adeboye warned against “excessive makeup,” false hair, and false nails.

He said, “The girl you are going to marry must not be heavily made up. If you look at the girl, the hair on her head is from India. The eyelashes are false. The nails of the hand are false. The nails of the toes are false. You must ask yourself the question, ‘What is behind the mask?’ Because one day you will discover that excessive makeup
is simply saying there is something to hide.

“I want my boys to end up well. When you check the Bible very well in 2 Kings 9:30-37, you will discover that the matron saint of makeup is Jezebel.”

  

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You Can Marry Married Men, Pastor Odekunle Epaphras Advises Single Christian Ladies

Against the backdrop of an overwhelming number of Christian single ladies unable to find husbands even when they are long due for marriage, Pastor Odekunle Epaphras has advised Christian ladies that they can marry married men, contradicting traditional church doctrines on marriage. Pastor Epaphras  argues that not all women will find single men and some should consider married men if they are willing to formalize the relationship. This controversial advice has drawn diverse reactions and criticism, with some urging pastors to focus on scriptural teachings. Others however, say the pastor is right as the bible is replete with many men of God who married more than one wife and yet were very close to God. These respondents point to the fact that polygamy is a way of life for those in the region where Christianity originated from, and that the concept of monogamy in Christianity is a European culture imported into Christianity even when it is not in the bible.

Contrary to the doctrine of monogamy, for which the church is known for, Epaphras advised single ladies to date married men who are willing to meet with the ladies’ families and formalise the relationship.

According to Epaphras, not all ladies would be opportune to marry single men, as a result, some of them should look inwards the direction of married men.

The cleric gave the piece of advice while responding to some of the questions raised by his followers.

“Not everyone will marry single men. Some people will marry married men. If a married man wants to marry you accordingly, ready to meet with your family, and has made necessary arrangements with his family, you can go ahead and marry him,” the pastor stated.

”Some people may criticise this but it is my candid advice,” he added.

The 51-year old pastor hosts several programmes on social media, with the most prominent being the Online Radio Broadcast.

These programs are largely broadcast live on his Facebook page, Odekunle Epaphras Baba Mi O, and his YouTube channel.

However, other religious leaders, such as Prophet A.T. Joel, have opposed this view, encouraging believers to follow biblical standards rather than seeking human solutions to companionship, noting that polygamy is not commanded in scripture.

“I agree that salvation is the only thing that will take us to heaven but those who are genuinely saved will follow the word of God,” Prophet A. T. Joel said in a Facebook post.

“Polygamy is man's creation and like many other human errors, God isn't its author. God is faithful to sort us all. I know how painful it is for eligible singles especially sisters but we must not keep breaking God's Word to satisfy ourselves,” he added.

Prophet Joel went on: “No man’s word is superior to the scriptures, the Bible is the final authority over  all things. One thing every pastor must do is to help our brethren to fully trust God and flee ungodly desires and expectations.

Responding to Prophet Joel, a Facebook user with the name Abiodun William Shobowale said, “I commented on that post yesterday actually. Was sad to hear that from the man. It’s one temptation faced by men of God  because their ministerial focus is on women and marriage. Seeing many single ladies thronging his programme and yet having no ready suitors who will become husbands  might have been the factor responsible for such straying from the word of God. Since they wont allow him to rest, he had to look for a solution from his mind so that they can let him rest . May the Lord help him to correct himself.”

Some people who spoke with Lagos Today Extra, however, did not agree with Prophet Joel’s criticism. According to them, the bible does not condemn anyone for marrying more than one wife.

“If you carefully look through the bible, you would notice that those who where very close to God were polygamous in nature,” Ijeoma, who resides in the Yaba area of Lagos stated, adding that the concept of monogamy in Christianity was imported into the church by European missionaries who used it as an avenue to further expand the European cultures through Christianity.

“it’s sad that those in the Middle East where Christianity originated from, are a polygamous society; the Europeans who took the religion from them and brought it to us infused their monogamous culture and we Africans, who have a polygamous heritage, swallowed it hook, line and sinker,” Ijeoma told our correspondent.

Another respondent, Evangelist Adeleke, said even the New Testament of the bible does not forbid polygamy except for those occupying some ministerial positions in the church.

“You hear some people say polygamy in the bible is a doctrine of the Old Testament but the New Testament does not forbid it either. Look at 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:12.  Paul writes that if anyone aspires to the office of pastor or deacon, he must be ‘the husband of one wife’. What does that tell you? It simply means that any Christian, except those occupying those offices, can marry more than one wife. And it is easy to understand why the bible puts such a restriction on occupiers of those offices. A pastor or deacon is someone who should be focused on the ministry and not being diverted by family issues. It’s not because it is a sin to marry more than one wife. If marrying more than one wife is something detestable to God, he would never have gone near the likes of Jacob, David and many others who married more than one wife,” Adeleke said.

He however said he could never muster enough courage to publicly tell this to his church as he would be excommunicated if he did that.

 

Editor’s Note: Please, we urge readers, especially Christians, to frankly express their views on the comment section below. We intend to make a compilation and do a critical analysis of the issue from the standpoint of readers. 

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RCCG Is Not Affiliated To APC - Pastor Adeboye, As Pressure Mounts On Church To Drop Oluremi Tinubu From Pastorate

As pressure continues to mount on the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to drop the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pastor Oluremi Tinubu from its pastorate, The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has stated that he would not bow to pressure to remove her as an ordained pastor of the church. He also debunked the claim that the RCCG has a link to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the church is not affiliated to any political party. The cleric also gave reasons why he took part in political protests in the past, saying it was in obedience to the directives of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Pastor Adeboye made these known while addressing the congregation at the church’s monthly Holy Ghost Service, held at Redemption City (formerly Redemption Camp), located at KM 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State.

Adeboye said suggestions that RCCG was linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were unfounded, noting that members of different political parties freely worshipped together.

He dismissed claims that the church was aligned with any political party, insisting that it remains a place of worship open to all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.

According to the revered cleric, Mrs. Tinubu was ordained as an Assistant Pastor in the RCCG more than a decade ago, long before her husband, President Bola Tinubu, indicated an interest in contesting for the presidency.

Adeboye added that her ordination followed the full process required by the church and stressed that she has not violated any of its doctrines or guidelines.

“She was properly ordained many years ago, long before the political journey of her husband to the presidency began,” he said.

He added that the RCCG would not bow to external pressure demanding her removal as a pastor.

Adeboye further noted that the church operated on established spiritual and procedural principles and would not take decisions based on political sentiment or public agitation.

He maintained that the First Lady remained in good standing within the church and had continued to serve in her pastoral capacity.

“Some people are saying RCCG is an APC church. I just smile. In RCCG, you will find a governor from the Peoples Democratic Party sitting down with a governor from the Labour Party, APC, and APGA. By the special help of God, we are representative of the whole nation, and that is what we will continue to be,”

he said.

The cleric stressed that while politicians are welcome in the church, the altar is not a platform for political expression.

“If you saw one governor among us today dancing and you were expecting he would be called forward to say something, we don’t do that. But if you come to

worship with us, you are welcome. Our duty is to pray for everybody,” he added.

On Nigeria’s political future, Adeboye offered a spiritual perspective on the 2027 presidential election, stating that the outcome is already determined

by God.

“The one that will rule has been decided by God before we were born. He knows the end from the beginning,” he said, urging Nigerians to remain focused

on prayer and their personal responsibilities.

Addressing his past involvement in public protests, Adeboye explained that his actions were in obedience to directives from the Christian Association of

Nigeria (CAN).

“That was because the then chairman of CAN asked all Christians to go out for a peaceful protest. If he talks tomorrow and asks me to march, I will,” he

said, adding that he operates under the authority of CAN on national Christian matters.

He also clarified that he does not see himself as a spiritual father to all Nigerian Christians, describing himself strictly as the leader of RCCG.

“I don’t want to be the father of all Christians in Nigeria. I am certified as being the father of RCCG, and that is enough assignment for me,” he said.

Adeboye further urged members of the church to avoid engaging in criticism or political disputes involving fellow believers, assuring them of his continued

support and protection.

“I will not allow any outsider to dictate to me how to deal with my own children. Even if you make a mistake, I will not allow an outsider to tell me what

to do with my own children. I will defend you against anybody, any blogger or whatever who may say anything against you.

“If anybody is criticising any of us, don’t join them. Don’t allow them to use you for politics.”

  

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Bishop Oyedepo Dares Kidnappers: "If You Are Kidnapped, Just Call Me" He Tells Congregation

    Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has stirred fresh controversy after asking members to hand his phone number to abductors if they are kidnapped.

He said he has the spiritual authority to secure their release.

Speaking during a service at Canaanland, the cleric told worshippers not to panic in the face of abduction but to direct kidnappers to contact him.

“If anybody picks you, give them my number,” he told the congregation in a sermon that later circulated widely on social media.

The comment, delivered in a message tagged SupersonicSunday, quickly gained traction online, drawing attention amid persistent concerns over kidnapping across the country.

Oyedepo anchored the unusual instruction on what he described as previous interventions involving abducted church members.

Recounting one incident, he said a pastor linked to the church was kidnapped and the abductors allowed communication with him.

According to him, he warned the kidnappers to release the victim or face death within 24 hours, after which the captive was freed.

In another account, he spoke of a female church member who, while in captivity, declared by faith she would regain freedom by 7am.

He claimed the woman was later released after what he described as unusual developments among her captors.

The cleric said such experiences were evidence that his members possessed spiritual authority over fear and violence.

“You have been raised far above the devil,” he said, while urging members to confront threats with faith rather than terror.

Oyedepo further maintained that members of the church carry the same spiritual force and should learn to exercise it.

His remarks come at a time when kidnapping for ransom remains a major security challenge in parts of Nigeria, with religious leaders, traditional rulers and communities increasingly speaking on the crisis.

While the sermon was delivered as a message of faith and confidence to worshippers, its viral circulation has placed it at the center of public discussion over insecurity and the role of religious conviction in confronting violent crime.

  

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International Miracle Service Debuts In Lagos

Renowned evangelist and senior pastor, Pastor Andrew Umoru, has unveiled the inaugural edition of the International Miracle Service (IMS), a global spiritual outreach that debuted in Lagos with a message centered on divine intervention, forgiveness, and transformation.

The maiden service, held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Paradise Event Arena in Ebute-Metta, attracted participants from across Nigeria and abroad. The gathering was described by organisers as a landmark event aimed at ushering believers into what the cleric termed a “new season of grace and manifestation.”

In his inaugural address, Pastor Umoru said the programme was more than a routine church meeting, describing it as a “divine appointment” with deep spiritual significance. He expressed confidence that the service would trigger “unusual testimonies, undeniable miracles, and supernatural shifts,” raising expectations of healing, deliverance, and breakthrough encounters.

The launch of IMS comes amid growing public interest in the pastor’s recent ministerial direction, including discussions surrounding his administrative status and reported transition from previous affiliations.

Pastor Umoru, widely regarded within and beyond Nigeria’s Christian community, reiterated the need for spiritual depth and doctrinal soundness in worship. He also advocated a return to hymn-based expressions, which he said “prepare the soul” and foster deeper encounters with God.

Organizers disclosed that the International Miracle Service would hold weekly, with worshippers gathering every Wednesday for intensive prayer sessions, prophetic ministrations, and teachings focused on faith, restoration, and divine empowerment.

Attendees have been encouraged to approach subsequent services with readiness and expectation. “Come hungry. Come expectant and come with faith in your heart,” the cleric urged.

The weekly programme is expected to attract increasing participation, particularly in Lagos, where faith-based gatherings continue to play a significant role in social and spiritual life. Organizers also noted that digital platforms would be utilized to enable global participation in the services.

 

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How Churches Can Achieve Inclusion Of Persons With Disabilities In Their Activities - Pastor Arowosegbe

He is blind but he is a pastor; and not just any pastor but the senior pastor of a zonal headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), under Lagos Province 69. The story of Pastor Adegoke Lawrence Arowosegbe, the shepherd in charge of RCCG Light of God Zona Headquarters, is proof to the Bible’s assertion that, while men look at the outer appearance, God looks inwards. It’s also a testament to the fact that God can use anyone to expand his kingdom, irrespective of their situation or condition.

In this interview with Lagos Today Extra!, Pastor Arowosegbe speaks on issues bothering the church and persons with disabilities and other related issues. It’s a must read for all Christians and all persons with disabilities as both parties have one or two lessons to learn.

 

How does it feel being the visually impaired senior pastor of an RCCG zonal headquarters church?

How does it feel? Well, it has its own challenges. The society where we dwell has very little or no regards for persons with disabilities, especially those with visual impairment. So, there has been one or two challenges. However, since it is the work of God, God has always proven himself and we are able to handle most of the situations that come our way, at least as far as church is concerned.

How do the members of your church respond to you, especially during healing ministrations? Do they say “Pastor heal yourself first before you think of healing us”?

We have taught the people, through the Word of God, that it's God who does the healing, not the man of God. And he does it in whichever way and manner he wants. Because one is visually impaired does not mean that God cannot propagate his kingdom through that person. Our God can do anything through anybody. He does his things the way he wants it and when he wants it. For instance, in the book of Daniel chapter 1, verse 21, the Bible tells us that God controls times and seasons. And so, if we have that understanding, that he controls times and seasons, we can also understand that he does things whenever  and in whatever way he likes. That the pastor is visually impaired is not a factor here because  the people can see the work of God manifesting in him. In view of this, they cannot deny the power of God operating through him despite the visual impairment.

At what point in your life did you give your life to Christ, was it before or after the impairment?

The truth of the matter is that I started having visual challenges right from childhood. The visual impairment did not come up in the course of church appointment. I did all my education as a blind student in the blind school. So, at what point did I give my life to God? I gave my life to Christ in 1998; to be specific, the last Sunday of January 1998. Prior to that time, I was just like the regular boy in the neighbourhood: going to different parties, carrying girls and all the rest of it. But at the point when we needed to surrender to God, we surrendered. Old things passed away and all things became new in the new life in Christ.

Looking at inclusivity in the church, especially in the Nigerian setting, do you think we are there yet or more still needs to be done?

More still needs to be done. We are Far from there, far from being there. Very, very far. I'm not too sure at what level we are in this country in terms of inclusion of persons with disabilities in church activities. If I say that we have not even started, it would be like one is not optimistic even though that is the present reality as far as Nigerian churches are concerned. So I will say that we have started but we are not there yet. Maybe with time, we will gradually build it up. For example, many churches, whether Redeemed or other denominations, don't have facilities that can really, really accommodate persons with disabilities. They don't have them. If we look at accessibility as a case study, you will agree with me that we are not there yet. But we do hope that with some of us now getting involved and doing advocacy, Maybe the church will get to know and do the needful to achieve inclusion of persons with disabilities in its activities.

Can you be more specific about these accessibility facilities? We know about ramps. Are there other facilities that the church needs to put in place to achieve this inclusivity for PWDs?

The facilities are different in nature. You talk about ramps, right? Ramps are essential modifications that provide significant benefits to wheelchair users by improving accessibility, safety, and independence. But even if you look at the staircase, where PWDs that are not on wheelchairs walk on, a lot of those steps cause more harm than good to persons with visual impairment. I was supposed to minister on a particular Order of Reading in a particular church. But to climb to the altar was a big challenge. The staircases in most churches are in zigzag form and as a blind person, you are sometimes confused whether to go to the left or to the right. It might be accommodating to persons with sight; but for the visually impaired, that's a big challenge. So, to access the church environment itself, A lot of work needs to be done, a lot of advocacy needs to be made.

In the area of Bible literature, do you also look in the direction of brailing Bibles, Sunday school manuals and other literatures so that blind persons can actively participate in church activities?

Fortunately for us, if I take the Bible as a case study, I have a Bible here which is braille. And to a very good extent, it was not supplied by the church. I have the complete Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, on braille and I ordered all of them from abroad. But in fairness to the Nigerian Bible Society, they have great Bibles there. And I think to a very good extent, they give them out free to those who approach them. And churches should find a way of partnering with them. For other literatures, churches are gradually coming up. I remember what happened with the Redeemed Sunday School manual. I wrote to the church to let them know that We have some visually impaired people in the church and these people need to read the Sunday School manual just like other members of the church. And they have taken that as a responsibility. So, as a case study that I know, the RCCG  produces Sunday school manual in Braille for the benefit of visually impaired people amongst us. and I think other denominations should follow suit.

What advice would you give to some men of God who keep their distance from persons with disabilities?

If I refer back to my message on love preached somewhere last month, we say love accommodates. If we are using love as a parameter in church, then pastors have no reason to distance themselves from people with disabilities. We must understand that even in disability, there is ability. If we have that understanding, we should give everybody a platform, just to test drive. I did not become a pastor overnight. Something happened. Far back in Ebute Meta, between 2004 and 2005, the church I was attending, the pastor saw me and spotted me out. Before then, I was the one writing for the "Excellent Men", a group in the church. I was their secretary. And I was always the one writing the minutes of our meetings. I was also the one writing the Pastor's Desk, a column on the church bulletin. I was carrying out these two assignments simultaneously. And one day, the pastor said, "Arowosegbe,  please prepare to minister for 20 minutes next week Sunday". That was the first time I was being given a platform to minister the Word of God to the congregation. So, pastors have no reason not to allow persons with disabilities to work in the church.

That’s one part of the conversation. Another part of it is that persons with disabilities must also be able to prove themselves. Recall that I said I was writing the church bulletin at the Pastor's Desk, the pastor's corner on the church bulletin. That was what the pastor was supposed to do but I was the one doing it. And I was also the secretary to the Men's group then. So, people with disabilities must be able to convince our society that they can really do what people think they cannot do on account of their disabilities status. Without this, the society, both inside and outside of the church environment, will see you as not able to do those things. You should be able to prove to them by doing those things, and not just doing, you should be able to go the extra mile. That’s what I always do and it has been working for me.

You are married to a sighted wife. How did that happened? How did she fall in love with you despite your visual impairment?

I was working in an oil company and she, at that time, was working with Ikeja Hotels. Ikeja Hotels happened to be the caterer supplying our lunch in the office. And so she, being one of their staff, I got to meet her on one occasion because she was the one that attended to me at the restaurant. But beyond the food menu, beyond the food level, when I was losing my sight rapidly,  connecting with the staff bus was becoming a challenge. So she offered to be helping me to navigate to the staff bus. This was also made possible because she, too, wanted to join the staff bus to enjoy the facility of transportation. She would come and pick me from my office and we would walk together to the staff bus. So, it all started with the staff bus, not even with the restaurant. From there, we started talking. She saw me as a big brother at the beginning. I must say that she had somebody she was dating then and she would come to me for advice about one or two things. And I always gave her my candid, unbiased advice. Yes, unbiased because the idea, at first,  was not to go into a relationship with her; but along the line, we began to develop interest in each other. And something happened that For whatever reason, she fell out of the relationship with the brother. So I saw that as an opportunity to win her heart. That's how we got to meet and we started courting and it worked out to be a marriage at the end.

Some blind persons married to sighted spouses have tales of woes about their in-laws in terms of verbal and psychological abuse. What has been the relationship between you and your in-laws, is it cordial?

Fortunately for me, that seemed to be working out well, to the glory of God. Her mother knew me very well even before I met her. Her mother also worked where I was working. She’s late now. But we both worked in the office. I didn't know her then but she said she knew me. As a matter of fact, she was always the one telling everyone about "Ah, one boy in our office. He's a special fellow. He's a genius." And because of that, maybe because the mother knew me very well and had decided to market me to her family, I became very safe with the entire family. When she was alive, she was closer to me than to her daughter. We were so close that She could confide in me rather than with her daughter. But of course, I am aware of the situations in-laws of persons with disabilities treat them horribly and that should be discouraged. But I think it all depends on how you carry yourself as a PWD. If you present yourself as a loving, caring spouse who is able to meet with the demands of a matrimonial home, whether as the husband or the wife, there is every possibility that your in-laws will treat you well. We must be able to convince them beyond the ordinary. I had an experience when I was doing my Mass Communications program at Laspotech, which has now become a university. A lady, who was being proposed to by a visually impaired man, told me that if I was the one proposing, she would accept the proposal but that she could not accept it from this other fellow because he fell short of her expectation. The point I'm making is that we must be able to prove to the society that we are able. We must bring ourselves out of This beggarly attitude which has made the society to believe that the blind person can do nothing but to beg.

  

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