A file photo of Pastor Leke Adeboye. Photo: [email protected] Adeboye
Leke Adeboye, the son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, has apologised for describing some of the church’s pastors as “goats”.
The Senior Personal Assistant to the General Overseer had in the wake of the church’s thanksgiving service last Sunday slammed pastors who preached on the day despite his father’s sermon.
But in another post on Thursday, Pastor Leke said the comment was not intended as an insult to the pastors.
” I wish to use this medium to tender my unreserved apologies for the statement made from my social media handle about some of our esteemed Pastors,” he said.
“The disciplinary measure taken by the Mission is well received and this period will be used to reflect and introspect.
“I wish to crave your indulgence to please forgive my extreme statement which I wish to emphasize was absolutely not intended to insult or malign.
“I also wish to apologise profusely to the entire leadership and Pastors of our beloved church who might have been hurt by this statement.”
Pastor Adeboye is regarded as one of the most charismatic preachers in Nigeria.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has rued oil theft in the country, warning that Nigeria might go bankrupt if the trend is not checked.
‘Daddy Adeboye,’ as he is fondly called, said this in a sermon to his congregation during a thanksgiving service on Sunday.
“Who is stealing the oil? Where is the money going? What do they want to do with the money? Who are the foreign nations buying this stolen oil? How many of these nations of the world are your friends?” he asked.
He also raised concerns over the country’s economic future, warning that Nigeria’s debt to service revenue ratio might pose danger for decades.
According to him, over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue from crude oil sales is used to furnish interest accruing on debt.
“We are borrowing more and according to a friend of mine, we are moving steadily towards a state of bankruptcy, a whole nation…,” the cleric said.
“That is why we are going to pray so that our children and children’s children do not keep paying debt. We are still borrowing. ”
The revered preacher also spoke about the 2023 election, urging Nigerians, especially his congregation, to take part in the political process.
He believes those who do not vote during elections should not complain about how the country is conveyed.
“As a Nigerian, you have a duty to register, to vote, and make sure your vote will count. You have a duty to belong to any party of your choice; you can’t refuse to vote and then complain about the government,” the 80-year-old explained.
Pastor Adeboye, however, clarified that his position “has nothing to do with partisan politics,” maintaining that he is not interested in the political party members of his church belong to.
“I have never told you this is the fellow you should vote for. I have never said this is the party you should belong to and I will never say it. Because in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, every party is represented here. APC, PDP, APGA, Labour, and other parties that you don’t even know their names,” the cleric added.
But according to him, he is unsure if the 2023 elections will take place in the country,
“As of now, as I am standing before you, I still don’t know yet whether or not there would be an election next year,” the charismatic preacher added.
“Don’t say that Pastor Adeboye said there would be no election next year; that’s not what I said. Adeboye does not know yet, put the word ‘yet’.”
A file photo of Foluso Adeboye, Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo and Pastor Enoch Adeboye
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has said that as Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) clocks 80, a unique lesson for all and sundry remains his humility, integrity and exemplary behaviour despite his huge achievements.
In a tribute he signed on behalf of himself and his wife, Prof. Osinbajo said the leader of the RCCG (a church with representation in over 198 countries and territories around the world) has impacted many lives and overseen unprecedented growth of the church, yet these achievements have not affected his behaviour.
Below is the tribute, signed by the vice president:
Dolapo and I are honoured to write this tribute to Daddy on his 80th Birthday.
Very few leaders will ever have the geographical and spiritual reach of influence that Pastor E.A. Adeboye has. He is neither the Pope nor the leader of the free world, but he heads a denomination that, since his assumption of office as its General Overseer, has established churches in over 198 countries and territories of the world.
He was, as early as 2008, listed by Newsweek, as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Earlier in 1998, the Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lekki, Lagos, was reported to be one of the largest Christian gatherings ever, and every year, the RCCG Conventions and Congresses have live crowds breaking that record. Through the years, miracles of every kind have been commonplace in his ministry.
But the moral of the story is not in these achievements, but in how his behaviour has remained unaffected by them.
It was Mummy G.O. who said to us once, “see how God uses your father as a smokescreen to do the miracles He wants to do.”
This realization, that “apart from Him, you can do nothing” and that “no one can receive anything that is not given to him by God,” probably explains why a man so spiritually and intellectually gifted, so revered, so respected by the high and low alike, would still be so genuinely humble, so self-effacing and so unfailingly respectful, even of his subordinates.
His impeccable integrity, his measured speech and action at all times, his life of many challenges, many wars, his courage, his unshaken faith, his deep love for God, through phenomenal achievements and numbing personal tragedy, are altogether the most persuasive evangelical message to all, even those of other faiths, of the grace and mercy of God in the life of the Saved.
For us, we are extremely proud that this man of extraordinary faith, courage and humility is one we can call our daddy.
Daddy, Happy 80th Birthday! As your days, so shall your strength, wisdom and favour with God in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the City of David in Victoria Island, Lagos, has launched a dating website.
“There is no marriage in heaven!” the church posted on its official Facebook page, days after the website went live. “We are here to help you connect and hopefully meet your better half.”
A visit to the website shows that the dating platform connects adults in preparation for courtship and marriage.
Intending participants must register and have their details processed before approval. Participants are not expected to pay any fee to access the platform.
The aim of the platform is to connect people for courtship and marriage, according to the church. Photo: Facebook/Pastor Idowu Iluyomade
In a statement on the dating site, users of the platform were advised to carry out their due diligence before connecting with other participants.
“The Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish makes no representations or warranties and expressly disclaims any and all liability concerning any damages sustained by any registrant as a result of connecting with anyone on this platform,” the disclaimer added.
In a video on its Facebook page, the Parish Pastor, Idowu Iluyomade, said people on the platform are of varying ages.
“We have from ages 20, 25 to 65,” Pastor Idowu noted in the social media post.
The platform is already organising virtual masterclasses for participants where it teaches about key ingredients for a successful marriage.
A file photo of RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. Credit: Pastor Adeboye/Twitter
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye is confident that Nigeria’s security challenges will end soon.
Pastor Adeboye said this in his monthly first Sunday telecast streamed on the church’s social media platforms.
“Very soon, all the acts of terrorism, all the acts of banditry, all kinds of evil actions will come to end,” the revered cleric noted, citing the book of 1 Samuel 17.
The preacher who captioned his sermon, “Divine Involvement”, admitted that though Nigeria is facing challenges in some areas, with divine intervention, the situation will change.
“When God is involved with a nation, He can solve a national crisis overnight,” Pastor Adeboye added while pinning his assertion on Exodus 14 verses 1-31.
“When God speaks, it is done. When He sends a word of prophecy, you can be sure that as soon it is gone out, it is settled,” Pastor Adeboye further noted.
Aside from security issues, the cleric also attributed the reduced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country to God’s help.
According to him, while several individuals and international bodies had predicted doom for Africa, especially Nigeria, the nation was spared.
“One very great scientist and I were discussing not very long ago and he said, ‘The fact of what had happened [COVID-19] with Nigeria showed that there must be something here that is not anywhere else’,” he added.
“When the Lord is involved in the affairs of a nation, He will protect the people from the pandemic,” said the 79-year-old.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is optimistic that Nigeria will get a new beginning, regardless of its current challenges.
He stated this on Friday while featuring virtually at the 25th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God – The Americas – themed: New Beginning.
Osinbajo declared that despite doubts in some quarters, the country will experience a new beginning.
According to him “today, many men are saying the same about our nation Nigeria, even men of God, but this is the textbook case of how God works, He is set to give Nigeria a new beginning”.
The VP stated that “in the midst of current travails, the God of new beginnings is about to change our story. He is about to do something new. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”.
The Vice President added that the ideal person for a new beginning is one who requires the strength of God to show forth in their weakness.
He observed that “God did not create us to be independent of Him, He did not endow us with the strength to succeed without Him…The God of new beginnings did not create us to be self-sufficient. We need Him”.
L-R : Pastor Segun Opaleyi; Pastor Detola Akinremi; Pastor Idowu Iluyomade; Pastor Trevor Akindele; Pastor Africanus Sam-Epelle; Pastor Adeyemo; Pastor Lanre Oyegbola; all of Redeemed Christian Church Of God(RCCG) during His Love Foundation world press conference in Lagos
After impacting over 130million people spending N18,444,618,335.97 on a series of CSR activities covering the 6 points of concern of the foundation, His Love Foundation (HLF), the charity arm of Redeemed Christian Church of God, today announced the launch of a new crowdfunding campaign to raise and dispense funds in an honorable, transparent, sustainable and structured manner with a view to continue to deepen her initiatives, spread, and broaden the level of impacts in benefiting millions of Nigerians that are in desperate and dire needs.
In the last three years, the Redeemed Christian church of God in Nigeria has spent on various CSR activities over N18,444,618,335.97, impacting over 130,753,857 people in her 43,000 operating centers spread over the 36 states of the federation.
The funding to be raised will be used to support His Love Foundation’s efforts in addressing a wide variety of in-the-moment, on-the-ground needs in 6 specific areas of health, education, feeding, social enterprise, rehabilitation and prisons at the local, state, national and international level.
The crowdfunding campaign was inspired by growing demands of intervention programmes and projects of the church through the foundation which is in response to the clarion call of Jesus Christ to every believer to be mindful of the sick, the poor, those in prison, and the hungry.
Intercontinental Overseer, Christian Social Responsibility ( CSR ) of The Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade while taking members of the press community through the strides of the foundation stated that “CSR is a matter of life and death and the church has committed itself to give succor in 6 specific areas of health, education, feeding, social enterprise, rehabilitation, and prisons, so this crowdfunding campaign provides an incredible opportunity for individuals, philanthropists and corporations to take part in ameliorating the suffering of people across the world especially in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic”.
He went on to say that, “There are a wide variety of urgent demands where government support will not be available at all or available in time to meet all the rapidly-changing needs on the ground, hence the need for donations from individuals, philanthropists and corporations to fill critical gaps and make a tremendous difference. We therefore need to bring our resources together, so that we can make a tremendous impact.”
He further stated that with as little as #1000 a month or #12,000 lump sum as a year donation or more, from a partner, we will be able to do more for more people, impact more communities and transform more lives.
In addition, the HLF has entered into partnerships with 4 Insurance companies in Nigeria to give 1year free Accident Insurance Policy to partners who make lump sum donations of #12,000 or more at once.
According to Iluyomade, the insurance partners are
Axa Mansard
Leadway Assurance Company Limited
Veritas Kapital
Cornerstone Insurance
The policy provides a worldwide cover on a 24-hour basis and pays prompt compensation in the event of injuries, disability, or death caused solely by accident, external and visible events such as road accidents, Motorcycle and Tricycle ( Keke NAPEP) risks are covered, however, power bikes or bikes used for racing are excluded.
Meanwhile, to commemorate the 3rd year anniversary of the setting up of His Love Foundation – The RCCG Charity, and the 69th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Foundation will be donating a full-fledged Dialysis centre to be named Enoch and Folu Adeboye Dialysis Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, to the Ogun State government.
The Enoch and Folu Adeboye Dialysis unit in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu to be donated will have 3 units of Dialysis Machines, a Medical Water Reserve Osmosis Purification System and a 30KVA generator.
This donation will be the 16th in the series of specialised medical interventions – Intensive Care Units (ICU)/ Dialysis Centres / Cancer Screening Centre / Primary Healthcare Centres – donated by His Love Foundation in the country.
It is also important to note that this new Kidney Dialysis Centre is the second dialysis centre to be commissioned in Ogun State, following the setting up of the Pastor Enoch and Pastor Folu Adeboye Intensive Care Center in Redeemed Health Center, Mowe, Ogun State.
The first ICU donated by HLF attached to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Lagos in 2017 was followed by the ICU in Jos Specialist Hospital, Plateau in 2018 and most recently in April 2021, the Akindayomi – Adeboye Intensive Care Center in Ondo State.
Other health interventions by the foundation are The Healing Stripes Cancer Screening Centre at Surulere set up in 2010, having 12 Dialysis machines and offering highly subsidized dialysis to patients with most of them done free of charge, the Dialysis centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State ín 2019; refurbishing of the Kirikiri Correctional Centre Referral Hospital, Kirikiri, Lagos into a modern health facility for the benefits of the inmates and rehabilitation of the Resettlement Community Primary Healthcare Centre, Ajah, Lagos.
These health interventions have been done alongside several other projects executed over the years in the areas of feeding, education, and skills acquisition, all in the fulfillment of His Love Foundations commitment of “Help for the helpless, Hope for the hopeless, Food for the hungry and Strength for the weak.”
The center to be commissioned in Ságamu shall be commissioned by the Governor of Ogun State His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun with other State dignitaries and the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in attendance.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday condoled with the family of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), on the passing of his son, Pastor Dare Adeboye.
Son of the revered cleric was reported to have died in his sleep on Wednesday, shortly after ministration.
President Buhari in a statement signed on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina commiserated with members of the RCCG on the demise of the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35.
He urged them to “find comfort in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that those who have chosen to serve God faithfully will see Him as He is in eternity.”
The President prays God Almighty to grant the departed rest in His everlasting kingdom and comfort the grieving family, friends, and associates.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has confirmed the death of Oluwadamilare Adeboye.
Oluwadamilare, 42, was the son of popular cleric and General Overseer of the RCCG, Enoch Adeboye.
In a statement released on Thursday, the church said Oluwadamilare, who was a pastor at one of its branches in Akwa Ibom, died on Tuesday.
“It is with a deep and heartfelt sense of loss, we announce the departure of our beloved son, brother, husband and father, Oluwadamilare Temitayo Adeboye, who went to be with the Lord on the 4th of May, 2021,” the statement said.
It is with a deep and heartfelt sense of loss, we announce the departure of our beloved son, brother, husband and father, Oluwadamilare Temitayo Adeboye. Who went to be with the Lord on the 4th of May, 2021. His life was well lived as he served the Lord without reserve,giving… pic.twitter.com/7n1mvuTWzY
“His life was well lived as he served the Lord without reserve,giving effortlessly and leading fearlessly.”
Oluwadamilare was survived by a wife and three children, the church said.
“Though shaken, our anchor remains Jesus Christ in whom we have the assurance that we will one day meet in a place where there is no pain,” the statement continued.
“It is the wish of the family to be granted privacy at this moment and that prayers be offered on their behalf.”
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye meets with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna on April 13, 2021. Credit: Kaduna State Government
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
The meeting held on Tuesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, days after some RCCG members were abducted in the state.
In attendance were some top officials of the Kaduna State Government and those of the church.
Although it is unclear what transpired at the meeting, both leaders confirmed the talks via their Twitter handles.
“Earlier today, I decided to go out of my schedule to see my Children who God delivered from the den of the kidnappers while they were on their way to the venue of the Lets Go Fishing Exercise. To the Glory of God, they are Hale and Hearty,” Adeboye tweeted.
The revered cleric disclosed that Governor El-Rufai “appealed to me to visit the State House in Kaduna to pray for the state, its people and its leadership for peace and protection after laying hands on my Children who were sick. It is my prayer that the peace of and kingdom of God will be established in Kaduna State.”
Pastor Adeboye had on April 8 announced that eight of his church members kidnapped by bandits on March 26 in Kaduna State have regained freedom.
Shortly after their release, all the abducted persons were taken to a hospital for medical check-up.
It hasn’t been confirmed if any ransom was paid, sources close to the freed victims told Channels Television that they were released in batches.
See photos below:
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye meets with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna on April 13, 2021. Credit: Kaduna State Government
A file photo of the bus conveying the RCCG members who were abducted in Kaduna State on March 26, 2021.
The eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) kidnapped by bandits on March 26 in Kaduna State have regained freedom.
Shortly after their release, all the abducted persons were taken to a hospital for medical check-up, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who is the General Overseer of RCCG said in a tweet on Thursday.
The clergyman announced the release of the church members two weeks after they were abducted by bandits while on transit along the Kachia Road in the southern part of Kaduna.
Today I got the exciting news that our brethren who were in captivity of kidnappers have all been released and taken to the Hospital for checkup and tests. Glory be to Jesus. We pray for lasting peace in all troubled regions of the country in Jesus name.
Although it is unclear if any ransom was paid, sources close to the freed victims told Channels Television that they were released in batches.
Three of them were said to have been released by their abductors on Tuesday, while the remaining five persons regained freedom on Thursday.
A combination of file photos of the map of Kaduna State and a gun recovered from crime suspects.
No Negotiation With Bandits
The freed persons are members of the RCCG Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary in Kaduna and were on their way to Kachia for an evangelical outreach programme before their bus was ambushed by bandits.
As soon as the bus conveying them stopped, the bandits immediately transferred the eight passengers to their vehicle and zoomed off to an unknown destination, abandoning the church bus on the road.
A day after the incident, the bandits established contact with the leadership of the church to demand N50 million ransom before they could release their victims.
But this is against the position of the Kaduna State government which said it would not negotiate with bandits, saying the recent attacks in the state was as a result of its action.
According to Governor Nasir El-Rufai who featured on the last edition of Channels Television’sSunday Politics, bandits are using the ransom they collect to fund Boko Haram terrorists operating in the North East.
In this file photo, a man is seen holding a rifle. AFP
No fewer than eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) have been kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State.
The gunmen were said to have abducted the church members on Friday evening while on transit along the Kachia Road in the southern part of the state.
While the authorities in the state have yet to react to the incident, the leader of the men’s fellowship of the church in the province, Elder Adaji, confirmed the abduction of their members to Channels Television on Saturday.
He explained that the abducted persons were on their way to Kachia for an evangelical outreach programme before their bus was ambushed by the bandits.
According to sources from the church, the bandits stopped the bus conveying the persons and immediately transferred the eight passengers to their vehicle, and zoomed off to an unknown destination.
The church bus was said to have been abandoned on the road.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, said the police have yet to confirm the incident.
The abduction of the church members comes on the heels of the chains of attacks by bandits on various communities in Kaduna State.
Day 16 In Captivity
Among the prominent ones is the invasion of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the Afaka where bandits attempted to kidnap scores of students from the school.
The prompt response of the military, however, led to the rescue of 180 people, comprising 132 male students, 40 female students, and eight civilian staff.
Despite the military intervention, the assailants abducted 39 students – a situation that has left their parents in despair with calls on the government to rescue them.
A photo combination of late Ibrahim Shamaki and his daughter, Fatima.
A breakdown of the missing students of the tertiary institution shows 23 females and 16 males, according to the government.
While the parents continue to protest for the return of the missing students using whatever available medium, the state government has insisted that negotiating with bandits was not an option.
Sadly, one Ibrahim Shamaki, whose daughter is among the abducted students, died from a heart attack on Friday evening.
Ibrahim was the father of Fatima Shamaki, one of the girls with hijab seen in the video that was released by bandits who attacked the school.
According to family sources, late Shamaki died after he fell ill shortly after the news of his daughter’s abduction was broken to him.
He was said to have later died while his relatives were about to take him to a hospital for further medical treatment.
Saturday makes it the 16th day since the students have been in the captivity of the bandits as the government says efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
