The Senior Pastor of Life Changers Assembly Lagos, Pastor Gbolahan Dada, clocked 50 recently. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his life, the church and the nation. Excerpts:
For those who are not yet 50, how does it feel at that age?
Well, it is a good feeling. At 50, you are consolidating. At 50, you are no longer looking at who to marry. At 50, you are looking back and thanking God for what He has done for you over the years. At 50, you are thinking of how to do much more for God. At 50, there is no cause for anxiety. You are only looking ahead to a brighter future.
How will you assess your life at 50?
I would be more comfortable if you had asked people to do that. But with all sense of modesty, I will say God has been faithful, especially since He came into my life. One has been able to do so much through His help. I have been able to transform lives, by His grace, in Nigeria and abroad. The changed lives and testimonies are there. So far, it’s been wonderful and we can only pray for more grace and strength to accomplish more for Him.
At 50, there must be new goals to pursue. What would that be for you?
Well, one of the things I did just when I knew I was nearing 50 was to review my relationship with God. It is possible to have a thriving ministry without a thriving relationship with God. It is a dangerous stage to get to and I do not want that. So, I want a more thriving and robust relationship with God now. That was the decision I have taken after the celebration and euphoria were over. I have gone back to seek the face of God in this direction.
So, my decision is to know more of God. I believe I can do much for God when I am more with Him. That is my objective. I want to walk more with God to be able to do more with Him. It is good to make projections but one needs God to do everything.
With the benefits of hindsight, are there things that you would have done differently if you were to do them again now?
I am somebody that is very slow in taking decisions. I’d rather wait for God rather than going ahead of Him. Walking in steps with God keeps away from mistakes and regrets. Once I am sure I heard from Him, there is no stopping me. So, I hardly have regrets because I take my time to get directions from Him.
You have been outside the country recently. What has been occupying you over there?
I never had any desire to be junketing about. One of our senior ministers told me several years ago to stay in my primary place of calling and watch over the sheep. He said I should seek to know and not to be known. So, I concentrated on working based on what God called me to do and as the works begin to speak for themselves, people began to call me for ministrations outside the country. I have been to places like Estonia, Finland, India and the former Soviet Union. I found out what I have are needed over there. So, the apostolic ministry has taken off. I also travel a lot within Nigeria for revival services and leadership conferences.
You also clocked 25 years in ministry…
Yes, 25 years of impact, God’s faithfulness and witnessing transformation of lives among people. I get to places where people will come and say, ‘Pastor, bless you. Do you still remember my daughter?’ and I will say ‘no’. And they are like ‘you did the christening 23 years ago and now she is a graduate’. Such encounters make one feel fulfilled.
You started quite early, did you feel short-changed back then especially when your contemporaries were pursuing careers and you left for ministry?
I was practising as an architect back then and ministry was not something I went out for. I was a Muslim and did not have any relationship with Christianity. I happen to be the first generation Christian in my family. I was in my room one day when God showed up and asked me to serve Him. So, I was left with no choice than to follow Him. So, I have no regret at all.
The best way to live is to contribute. If I were to continue with my career, I would be seeking of what to grab and all that with no fulfillment. But I have found fulfillment serving God. Most of my colleagues are pursuing careers but I have been making impact and fulfilling destiny. By the grace of God, looking back now, I am not a pushover in their midst.
Was there ever a time in your life you felt God was far away?
You know when I gave my life to Christ, I had a relationship with convictions with God. I had a deep encounter that made Him more real to me. I don’t ever doubt Him despite the challenges that I have had to go through. I just believe that every challenge gives me an opportunity to know Him more. Every challenge has been an inspiration and not a discouragement.
The issue of succession has been a challenge in the Nigerian church. Why is this so?
I believe, like the Bible says, that two cannot walk together except they be agree. If you have new converts, they will soon become disciples if you follow them up enough. With their loyalty and integrity proven, one should be able to open up to them. They no longer relate as boys but partners because they now have direct access to your ministerial exploits. But I found out that a lot of our church leaders have things to hide.
For me, I have nothing to hide. I try to trust people easily until they give me reasons not to. But once you don’t betray a trust and we are on the same page, I don’t have any issue with you at all.
What will people find in Life Changers that might be difficult to find elsewhere?
In Life Changers, we do not adulterate the word at all. I was raised by Dr Tunde Joda, who preaches the word of God with integrity. In this place, we do not have to impress anybody or embellish the word. We deliver the word unadulterated. People don’t have to go through me to access God. They can reach Him on their own and get the same results that we got. So, we make the word people-friendly and the atmosphere too so that people’s hunger for God can be met.
Personally, my wife and I have gone through challenges especially in the delay for children, but we stood on the word and got results.
How many years did you have to wait?
We waited for eight years to have our children and I will tell you it was not funny at all. You should ask my wife how it was like. God, however, has used our testimonies to challenge people within and outside our church.
What do you have to say on the nation?
I found out that Nigerian people are one of the easiest to lead in the whole world in the sense that we are obedient and we respect authorities. If our leaders will value the trust and confidence that followers have in them, Nigeria will be a better place. Ironically, our leaders take us for granted. They think we are fools and docile. We are not fools, but as Africans we have natural respect for authorities and leadership. But if you push Nigerians to be wall, they will react. So, our leaders should remember God and have Nigerians in mind because with what we are seeing now, posterity may not forgive some of them based on their attitude to leadership and power.
