During the annual convention of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC), Lagos, held last Sunday, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, Founder and Presiding Archbishop, spoke with Adeola Ogunlade on the theme ‘Culture of the Kingdom.’ In this interview, he reflects on the values that distinguish God’s Kingdom from the world, the challenges of leadership within the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the evolving face of evangelism in the digital age.
In the wide-ranging interview, the cleric addresses issues of false teachings, the influence of social media on church unity, and national concerns, maintaining that while fake ministers may rise for a season, only those rooted in truth and godly character will endure.
Can you tell us about this year’s convention?
This year’s theme is drawn from both scripture and the concept of the ‘Culture of the Kingdom.’ It focuses on how one ought to conduct oneself in the house of God. Just like every earthly kingdom or culture has its own way of life, the Kingdom of God also has its own values and standards.
For instance, an Igbo man typically doesn’t behave like a Yoruba man — their cultural differences are clear. The same goes for an Edo man and a Hausa man; even if someone lives in another region for 20 or 30 years, it’s still difficult to completely adopt another culture.
Likewise, in the Kingdom of God, once we are born again, some specific values and behaviours distinguish us. Some things are acceptable while others are not. So this year’s convention is about understanding how to live and conduct ourselves as true children of God and embracing the culture of His Kingdom.
What influenced the choice of this year’s theme: ‘The Culture of the Kingdom?’
Our inspiration always comes from the Word of God. Just as politicians may draw their motivation from philosophy or current events, in the Kingdom of God, our direction is guided solely by scripture. The Bible is our source: it shapes our understanding, our values, and our conduct.
This year, the theme is rooted in 1st Timothy 3:14-15, where Paul writes: “I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon. So that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the house of God.”
There are many aspects of life in God’s Kingdom that need to be taught — including proper conduct within the house of God. Sadly, many ministries today are led by ministers who have not been thoroughly trained in these areas. Even basic pulpit conduct during preaching is sometimes missing.
Jesus commanded us to go and teach all nations everything He has taught us. If we don’t teach, people won’t know. And that’s what this theme emphasises: how believers ought to behave in the house of God in line with Kingdom values.
Loitering, gossiping, or disorderly behaviour in the church is not part of our culture as children of God. These things go against the nature of the Kingdom. So, this year’s convention is about returning to the biblical standard of conduct in God’s house.
You have been part of PFN for quite some time. Shouldn’t the elders of faith within the PFN rise to this responsibility and lead in teaching these values?
Yes, it is definitely a challenge. But the reality is, the PFN as a body faces unique difficulties. It is made up of many denominations, each with its own doctrines and dogmas. And navigating that diversity is no small task.
To be honest, it’s often easier for the head of a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to correct or instruct some of these groups. Some carry powerful anointing, others command great wealth and with that comes a sense of independence and, sometimes, resistance to oversight.
I have always said, just as earthly kingdoms have their own rules, God’s Kingdom also has structure and order. But within the PFN, it’s as though we are many tribes within one nation. For instance, CKC might be seen as one tribe, just as Nigeria has tribes like the Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, Hausa, Urhobo, and Fulani. They all have different cultures, yet they are all Nigerians.
Likewise, within the PFN, we are all part of the same spiritual nation, even though we come from different ‘tribes’ or denominations. And that diversity can make leadership and unity quite complex. Sometimes when you try to offer correction or direction, the person you’re speaking to feels they know more than you.
What truly unites us in the PFN is prayer and fellowship. That’s our common ground. There are areas where we must be united, especially where doctrine affects salvation. But there are also areas where liberty should be allowed, as long as it doesn’t lead anyone away from God.
For example, if someone doesn’t tie their hair, that doesn’t determine their salvation. We won’t be going to heaven in these physical bodies anyway. As the Bible says, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
Do you think the church today is facing an incursion of a strange culture, especially compared to what it used to be?
Well, evangelism, holiness, all of those foundational elements are still very much part of the Church. What has changed is how people define and approach them today compared to the past.
Take holiness, for example. In the earlier days, holiness was largely measured by outward appearance — how you dressed, how polished your shoes were, or how sharp you looked. That was considered a sign of godliness. But over time, we have come to realise that true holiness goes far deeper than that. It’s not about how you look; it’s about your heart, your obedience to God, and how you live out His Word.
Evangelism, too, has evolved. Back then, we had no mobile phones or instant messaging. If you wanted to communicate, you wrote a letter — and it could take two weeks or more to reach its destination, depending on the distance. There was no Zoom, no online meetings. But today, I can be right here and talk to you face-to-face over a video call. We can hold meetings, prayer sessions, and even preach the gospel online in real time. It wasn’t like that in those days.
The revelation of God is progressive, and He is the author of all innovation that helps spread the gospel. In those early years, there wasn’t even television in many homes. I remember I was the first person to preach on television in Benin, on MTA, back in 1975. Today, many ministries have their own TV stations and digital platforms, reaching audiences across the world.
So yes, times have changed. Technology has improved. And while the methods may differ, the message of the gospel remains the same. The important thing is that we don’t lose the essence of our faith, even as we adapt to new tools and ways of reaching people.
There are growing concerns that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has become ‘toothless’ in addressing certain issues within the church. What is your take on this?
No, don’t say that. The PFN is not toothless. What we see today stems largely from human behaviour and the changing times. You must understand that we live in an era where almost anyone can go on social media and say whatever they like about ministers and ministries. Many of the things happening today are fueled by social media and hunger. People now chase likes and views just to make money. They spread misinformation, lies, and even promote fake products that don’t work. I have tried one or two of such products myself, just to confirm, and they didn’t work. It reminds me of the same trick the serpent used on Adam in the Garden of Eden. It has created a culture of public criticism among believers. Some ministers now openly attack one another online—not for correction, but for attention or financial gain. That’s not of God.
If a brother or sister offends you, you can call and correct them privately. Don’t go on Facebook or YouTube to criticise them publicly. The English say, ‘Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.’ Even if your linen isn’t dirty, once you wash it outside, people will assume it is.
There are growing concerns about false teachings and questionable practices among some ministers today. How do you see this trend?
Yes, such things indeed exist, but the only lasting solution is God. There will never be a time when everything in the Church is perfectly clean. Jesus Himself gave us an example in Scripture: a farmer went out to sow good seed, but while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.
When the servants wanted to uproot the tares, the master said, “No, let both grow together until the harvest.” At the time of harvest, the angels will separate the good from the bad. That’s exactly how it is with the Church today
Does that mean the Church should do nothing about false ministers?
We can do something, yes, but not as much as we expect. The truth is, fake ministers and false doctrines don’t last. With time, they fade away — just as it happened in the Bible.
You’ll notice some ministries rise suddenly and attract a lot of attention, but after a while, they disappear. That alone shows the kind of seed they were built on.
Enduring ministries are those built on truth and godly character, not on showmanship or material gain. When a ministry is rooted in the Word of God and genuine service, it will stand the test of time.
Look at this church, for example. By God’s grace, we have continued to grow steadily over the years. But some once made a lot of noise — today, you hardly hear of them. That’s the difference between good seed and bad seed.
What then is your advice to church leaders and believers in this era of social media?
We must promote unity and love, not division. If you have an issue with someone, settle it privately. Don’t use social media to destroy the body of Christ. We are all called to edify, not to tear down.
The Church must use these platforms wisely, to preach the gospel, to teach truth, and to build up believers, not to chase popularity or sow discord.
CAN issued a statement over the genocide claim in Nigeria. Do you agree with the CAN position? Is there genocide in Nigeria?
I cannot be categorical because I don’t know the statistics that they used. It would be biased of me, simply because I am a Christian leader, to say it is true. Unless I can lay my hands on the data, I would be a false prophet to speak on what I have not verified. The Bible says we should declare the things we have seen and handled. That’s the right approach, and that’s my view on it.
Should such issues be politicised or given religious colouration?
Not at all. We should never politicise such matters.
The Catholic Church seems to be at the receiving end of arrest, kidnapping in parts of the country.
I believe the Roman Catholic Church, with its well-structured system and national secretariat, is in a better position to speak authoritatively on the matter. They have the mechanism to gather, verify, and document data more effectively than we in the Pentecostal movement.
As for me, I cannot claim to have the ‘anointing’ to make people fearful or to say things that are not true. Even if I’m not physically arrested, once I discovered that what I said was wrong, my conscience would arrest me.
