As he marks his first anniversary in office, Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter, Rev. Yemi Davids, says the fellowship has made significant strides in community development, church unity, and value-driven leadership. In an interview with Adeola Ogunlade, Davids highlights the transformation in PFN’s message, its social interventions across the state, and his vision to strengthen the structure, promote reconciliation, and counter misinformation within the body of Christ.
Looking back at your first year in office, what would you describe as the highlight of your tenure as PFN Chairman in Lagos?
For me, the real highlight is the shift of emphasis in our message as a church. Our syllabus has changed. We are no longer only preaching theory; we are now teaching people how to live practically—how to behave, greet, smile, and engage society positively. If you change the content of the message, you change people. And when people change, society changes. Give us more time, and you will see greater results in Lagos.
In the last one year, by God’s grace, we have been very active across the 21 provinces of Lagos State. Our focus has been on community development and impacting lives beyond the four walls of the church. We have embarked on clean-up exercises, environmental sanitation, provision of boreholes, and direct interventions in hospitals. For instance, we supported patients with life-threatening conditions by paying medical bills running into millions of naira. These are some of the silent but impactful works PFN has been doing in our communities.
In one word, the summary of our first year is impactful. From leadership training to statewide evangelism, from social interventions like the Benue Relief Campaign to media advocacy, PFN Lagos is no longer a silent body. We are equipping leaders, touching lives, defending the truth, and changing perceptions about the church. And we are just getting started—there is always room for improvement.
It has also been a year of lessons. When we came in, we realized one of the biggest challenges was communication. Many people assumed PFN Lagos wasn’t doing anything simply because they didn’t know what was happening. That created disenchantment. So, one of our first priorities was to bridge that gap by sharing our agenda, our impact, and our relevance with churches and the public.
We also needed to create internal structure and order. Where there is no structure, chaos thrives. We have worked hard to align leadership, set standards, and build cohesion across the body. Going forward, we want to introduce more standardization, especially in responding to issues of doctrine, ethics, and public controversies.
For example, we are considering regular town hall meetings—possibly monthly, virtually or physically where we can clarify issues, address misinterpretations of scripture, and guide conversations about prophecies, doctrines, or public statements that affect the image of the church. If we don’t provide clarity, people will believe the wrong things.
So, in summary, the first year has been one of impact, restructuring, and laying foundations for a stronger PFN Lagos that is visible, relevant, and responsive.
Some members still feel reconciliation within PFN Lagos is incomplete. Why haven’t all estranged leaders returned?
Reconciliation is not just about words; it is about the heart. We have reached out, and some have responded positively. In fact, we have a thanksgiving service today, and I believe some of them will be present. But reconciliation is a process, not an event. Reconciliation is not only about somebody talking around you. It has to do with the heart.
Not everyone will align, and we cannot promise that. Sometimes, when there’s a noble agenda, people with contrary motives may not embrace it. Our duty is to love everyone, do the right thing, and keep moving forward with those willing to work together.
From the beginning, inclusiveness has been on our agenda. Even those who felt disgruntled were welcomed back during our inaugural efforts across Lagos. The PFN we have today is not the same as before—we now see more calmness, unity, and commitment.
The Benue Relief Campaign stood out as a high point. Why did PFN Lagos invest so much in it?
Because the church must be a blessing beyond itself. The Benue intervention was not only about food and relief materials, but also about sending a message that we are blessed to be a blessing.
We saw it as an idea from God: beyond what is happening in Lagos, we should also step up to support Benue State in their time of need. It became a platform for collaboration between pastors, churches, and individuals who came together, contributing both in cash and in kind.
From Lagos, we moved about 60 tonnes of relief materials to Benue. That was no small task. The challenge was not just in gathering and transporting the items, but also ensuring safe and fair distribution in the face of insecurity and corruption. To address this, we deployed a team from Lagos to supervise the process and make sure the materials reached the intended people.
For us, the campaign was more than humanitarian aid; it was about demonstrating what Christianity truly stands for—not just receiving, but being a blessing to others. Instead of talking about compassion, we showed it in action.
The reality in Benue is tough—displacement, insecurity, and leadership challenges have placed overwhelming pressure on the body of Christ there. The local church is doing its best, but it is not enough. That is why PFN Lagos felt compelled to stand with them, to support and strengthen their efforts. Our hope is that other states will be inspired to do the same. The need is huge, and we cannot afford to relent.
You mentioned bridging the gap between generations. How is that happening in PFN Lagos?
Yes, we are seeing more women becoming aware of their identity and influence. There’s a fresh fire as women are no longer content with sitting back. They want to contribute, to have a voice, and to play a part in society. We also have platforms where female Pentecostal ministers come together to bridge the gap between older and younger generations. It’s helping us strengthen unity and sharpen the impact of our women’s ministry.
Our desire is that by next year, we will have even greater influence both spiritually, socially, and economically. The women are rising, and they are realizing they have a role beyond the church. That awareness is transforming the fellowship and positioning us to have a stronger impact on society.
What about fake news and misinformation that often fuel disunity within the church and society?
That’s a very big issue. Social media today is flooded with fake news, and unfortunately, many Christians fall for it. Our strategy is to educate people to discern truth from lies and to use our platforms to communicate clearly. We cannot afford to let misinformation damage the unity of the church.
When it comes to unity, the first thing we must acknowledge is that fake news exists beyond the church; it is a societal challenge. Sometimes the government tries to regulate, sometimes it doesn’t, and in between, people are often maligned unfairly. That’s why we plan to use upcoming town hall meetings as platforms for education. People will be able to ask hard questions, such as why there is so much division and through dialogue, we can begin to address them.
But it’s also important to understand that unity is not uniformity. The body of Christ is diverse. Just as the hand is not the same as the eye, and the heart is not the same as the legs, different denominations and ministries have unique roles. Diversity does not mean division. We can respect our differences while agreeing on fundamental truths like Jesus is Lord, He is coming again, and the rapture is certain.
Disputes often arise over non-essentials, whether someone wears earrings, trousers, or a particular style of dressing. The key issue should be decency and order, not outward appearances. The Bible is clear that what matters is righteousness and godly living, not whether we celebrate Christmas on a particular day or argue over how many days Jesus spent in the grave. What is essential is that He died and rose again for our salvation.
So, as a church, we must keep educating people to separate irrelevances from core truths. When we focus on the essentials of the gospel, we will love one another better and reduce unnecessary divisions.
That’s why our vision for a monthly town hall meeting is very important. It will give us a chance to engage the public, answer questions, and break down walls of misinformation and division. With media support, this can go a long way in promoting unity in the body of Christ.
The rising level of poverty is often used as an excuse for corruption and greed. How do we tackle this?
Poverty is not the real problem; it’s a cultural one. I’ll give you an example. An NGO once came with funds to construct a bridge that would have made life safer for an entire community. Shockingly, some individuals blocked the project simply because they were not given money for themselves. Imagine choosing personal gain over the safety of your own children and neighbours. That shows we are dealing with a deeper issue of values, not just economics.
So, we must admit we have a cultural and moral problem. And that means we need to keep talking to ourselves as a people. Poverty alone doesn’t explain corruption—it is the state of our hearts.
Nigeria is still a good country, and I believe one day something truly good will emerge from here. I see a future where the Nigerian passport is respected globally not because of wealth or power, but because we as a people have embraced integrity.
Of course, this transformation must start with us, and the church has a critical role to play. The message in churches is changing. We are no longer only preaching prosperity; we are teaching practical values.
When we instill such values from the grassroots through ministries and fellowships, you will begin to see the changes in society. It may take time, but if we stay consistent, the results will be undeniable.
Looking ahead, what should Lagosians expect from PFN in the next phase of your leadership?
We are grateful for what God has helped us to achieve in one year, but we are not resting. Our next focus is deeper community development, stronger youth engagement, and building partnerships that will position PFN as a change agent in Lagos and Nigeria at large. We will also be sharing our vision for the next two years at our Thanksgiving service on Sunday. We trust God that the best is yet to come.
