As the Vineyard Christian Centre, Lagos rounded off its annual Word Conference in Lagos today, Founder and Senior Pastor of the ministry, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, delivered a piercing message to the Body of Christ: ‘Return to the Word and Stop Chasing Miracles.’
In an exclusive interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, the revered cleric—who has walked with God for over five decades—recalled how the infallibility of Scripture has shaped his life, ministry, and global mandate.
From his dramatic conversion in 1972 to preaching across five continents, surviving near-death experiences, and watching lives transform through the simple teaching of the Bible, Archbishop Osa-Oni insisted that the Word of God—not miracles—remains the true anchor of the Christian faith. “The Word has never failed anyone who believes it,” he declared.
“We should be content with preaching the Word and allow God to do what only He can do. We should not fake miracles or force them.”
Speaking with the confidence of experience, the Archbishop shared vivid stories from his early days in ministry, the divine instruction that brought him back from a promising life in America to Nigeria in 1985, and the power of obedience that birthed a global ministry now in its 38th year. From doctrinal clarity on miracles and faith, to insights on marriage, infertility, surrogacy, and the contentious debate on security escorts for clergy, Osa-Oni addressed contemporary issues with candour, conviction, and a call for integrity in both spiritual and civic life. His message, however, remained consistent: miracles follow the Word—not the other way around.
What is the Infallibility of God’s Word?
I have known God since 1972 when I became born again. I have not seen the word fail in the lives of people “We should be content with just preaching the word and allow the Lord to do what He alone can do. We should not fake miracles and force it.
I was born in an idolatrous home. The very day I gave my life to Christ, I preached, and about 12 people immediately gave their lives to Christ. When believers live in the realm of God’s Word, they will not panic or be frustrated. I recall an instance I was preaching and a boy convulsed in the course of the message. I did not panic. I just kept sharing the Word of God. Many were wondering how I could confidently be preaching when such a thing happened. But in no time, the boy came back to himself and became normal.
Having taken the Gospel to about five continents, the word of God redefines you, it rebuilds you. If you do what the word says, you will experience transformation. The whole world is created by the word. There is nothing the word of God cannot fix. Anything the word can’t fix does not exist.
“I appealed to my colleagues in the pastoral ministry to always prioritize the Word. Life is about learning and unlearning. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Another translation says he is a new species. God sees a new you. People should have that understanding and stop living in the past. Your old self has died and you are now new. It is the word of God that should shape your thinking. As believers, we should neither run after nor be obsessed with miracles. I believe every child of God is a miracle. People should stop coming to look for miracles in the church but rather should focus on the Word of God and do what the Word says. Don’t come to church because of marriage, business, or anything mundane. If you know God genuinely, you will not have trouble obeying God. He becomes your all in all.
You often speak about God’s leading in your life. Could you share how God instructed you to return to Nigeria in 1985?
In the 1980s, when the Lord began to stir my heart about starting Vineyard, I sought guidance and travelled to Ilesa, Osun State, to see Pa Sydney Elton. I spent three days there before he said a word—he waited until God had spoken to him.
At the time, I was living comfortably in the United States. I was engaged to a white lady whose grandfather had been a Prime Minister in her country. Everything seemed set for a settled life abroad. But God spoke clearly: “This is not where you belong. Return to Nigeria.” That instruction overruled comfort. When God speaks, you obey.
So after about eight weeks, I returned home. Then came another direction: “Go to Ilesa and meet Pa Elton.” Although I had heard of him, I didn’t know where he lived. When I finally located him, he kept me waiting for three days to confirm whether my calling was truly from God or just my own desire. I knew it wasn’t the flesh—I had walked away from a very beautiful life in obedience to God.
It has now been almost 40 years since I returned, and I have never regretted it—not for one day. The church started 38 years ago and God has helped us. Wherever the Word of God is preached, signs and wonders naturally follow. People must come for the Word, not just miracles; yet as they hear the Word, miracles happen.
From starting in Mushin, behind Bishop Aggey School—my former secondary school, now gone—God has taken us across five continents to preach the gospel. I live by faith; I have often told the church, “You cannot pay me. I live by faith.” And God has never failed. Truly, returning to Nigeria remains one of the best decisions of my life. Obedience to God has carried me this far.
Scripture says we shall do greater works, yet many believe apostolic-era miracles no longer happen. From your 53 years of walking with God and your own ministry experiences—including surviving COVID—does that same power still operate today, and how have you encountered it personally?
Yes, the same power still exists. The problem is never with God’s power; it is with people’s perception. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the same resurrection power is still flowing. But today, many pursue miracles without pursuing the Word. In Scripture, “they came to hear Him, and then they were healed.” Hearing comes before healing. That is why, even in Kenneth Hagin Ministries, they teach the Word first in the Healing School before laying on of hands—faith must be built. When I preach, I don’t pray for the sick on the first day. You must first understand the Word and catch the spirit of the message. Paul saw that a man had faith to be healed after teaching him. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. I have witnessed people rise from wheelchairs without anyone touching them—simply because faith rose through the Word. So, God’s power is very much alive today.
My own journey is proof. I wasn’t born into a Christian home; I grew up in a military home. But the day I met Christ, I became intentional about knowing Him and understanding His power. In ministry, God has helped me serve with integrity. When I returned to Nigeria, I served as Director of the Fire Conference and later as Financial Director in Reinhard Bonke’s crusade. I knew the controversies that had trailed offerings in crusades before, so I ensured total transparency—every offering collected went straight to the bank hall at Zenith Bank for counting and lodging. Ministry must be both spiritual and accountable.
And even during COVID, I experienced God’s power in a very personal way. I was almost gone—very close. A friend even told me he wouldn’t come near because of the diagnosis, and he never came. My doctor advised me to listen to my own messages, so I did. One day, while listening, I heard a voice clearly in my kitchen: “This is not your day.” Immediately, strength came. I got up, went for tests in Yaba—negative. Went again—negative. A third time—negative. Sadly, that same friend who refused to come later passed away. But I am alive today because the Word works. It was the Word that sustained me. The power of God has not reduced. It is real, active, and available to anyone who anchors their faith on the Word.
With many marriages struggling today, what key factors truly sustain a successful marriage, and how should Christian couples navigate sensitive issues like delayed conception and the growing use of external surrogacy?
Most marriages fail from the foundation. Many people enter marriage for the wrong reasons—“Does he have a car? Does she have money?” But money has wings, and possessions cannot build a home. A lasting marriage must be built on shared values and ideology, genuine friendship instead of enmity, understanding, patience, and a willingness to learn and unlearn. Above all, the Word of God must be the foundation. Two people coming from different backgrounds must intentionally learn from one another; a beautiful marriage is never automatic—it is built deliberately.
Regarding delayed conception and the rise of external surrogacy, let every man be fully persuaded. Surrogacy is not a man impregnating a woman outside of their marriage—absolutely not. True surrogacy is a medical arrangement mutually agreed upon by the couple, where the husband’s sperm and the embryo are medically handled, and the surrogate mother remains unknown to the family. I have seen misuse of surrogacy destroy marriages when people fail to follow proper medical and confidentiality procedures. That is why I often prefer IVF, which offers clearer boundaries. Ultimately, it depends on the couple’s conviction. It is not for me to condemn. If they are persuaded, and the process is decent, medically supervised, and ethically conducted, it is allowed.
With the government withdrawing police from VIPs, how do you personally handle security, and what is your response to those who say pastors should rely solely on God rather than use security escorts?
If people saw what I have seen, they would understand why some of us take security seriously. I have been attacked many times—physically. The reason my hair receded was because a gun was placed on my head and I was hit with the butt of a pistol. They even had to stitch my scalp at the clinic.
One incident happened at my residence in Olayinka Close. As I was about to enter, armed men surrounded my car and demanded the key. I told them, “No, I cannot give you the key. I bought it with my money.” They hit me, but the Lord gave me a word: “The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous.” As I began to declare the Word, those armed men who had guns suddenly fled. This is just one out of several incidents.
My spiritual father, the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, once told us something I will never forget. After he was attacked, he said, “God did not say He will make security for you. You are the one who must make security for yourself.” He used to tell people, “If you come to my house, I have about 12 dogs that will eat you raw.”
His point was simple: defend your life. Don’t wait for someone to kill you. Defend your faith and defend yourself.
When we came to this land around 1999, if you go upstairs you will see that even my security doors—imported from Israel—were broken by criminals because they knew exactly where to target. Some of our security personnel were badly beaten, tied up, and one of them was killed. It was painful. But by God’s grace, the young man’s family—who were members of the church where I grew up—said they held no grudge. They only asked me to help train his child, and I invested millions to give that child a good future.
So when we talk about pastors having security, it is not because we don’t trust God. It is because we live in a nation where the security architecture is weak. When I travel in America, I can drive from New York to the Canadian border—15 hours—without seeing a single police checkpoint. Here, the harassment on our highways is more than anything else.
I believe the government needs to overhaul our security system. Not everyone who has police protection is abusing it, but I also agree that people don’t need to have 10 or 20 policemen. Two, three, or four should be enough if necessary.
Let me add this: in the days when we were speaking boldly for Nigeria, some of you journalists were not even in the press yet. Major General Adebayo once told me, “Don’t let them waste your life,” because of how outspoken I was. But I told him, “Nobody will kill you for speaking the truth.” And many things we see happening in Nigeria today were things we warned about prophetically.
In 1999, on this same land, I held a press conference and declared that no military or civilian government would overthrow the incoming administration. Since then, God has helped our democracy. But those in the government must remember that they are not in power for themselves—they are in power for the citizens.
