The young and ebullient Adejare (his mother’s preferred name) was keen to further his education after his primary education, the unpalatable placement of his family as one of the poorest in the small town of Ifewara, Osun State was the albatross. However, he was undaunted and unyielding in his determination. He decided at an early stage of his life that nothing would stop him from getting properly educated even though his parents were unable to afford a secondary education at that time. He decided to shun food despite all entreaties by his beloved mother of blessed memory. After up to three days of total abstinence from meals, his parents conceded and concluded to sell their belongings in order for Adejare to have his way. It was apparent that the unseen hand of the Almighty was working marvellously and mysteriously in aiding him to complete his secondary education. It was from this early stage of his life that the young Adejare Adeboye started depicting the uncanny and uncommon audacity, despite all odds, that further saw him through from secondary to tertiary education, and up to earning his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in applied mathematics, specializing in hydrodynamics, from the prestigious University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Adeboye: Setting His Face Like A Flint!
Flint is a piece of hard grey coloured rock that produces a spark when hit against another of the same kind. The young Adejare, audaciously set his face like the biblical flint. As it is written in the book of Isaiah 50 verse 7: “For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”
It is seemingly interesting and intriguing for Adeboye armed with a PhD at such a time of his life to aim high in life. The audacious and ambitious disposition inherent in him propelled his hunger for unprecedented greatness in academia. His vision was to be the youngest vice chancellor of any university in the African continent. However, his unique and unprecedented encounters with the God of the RCCG altered that course to something different. He had a redemption encounter with the God of Reverend Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), at the Ebute Meta Headquarters together with his wife, Folu Adeboye. He was transformed and became “a new man” (2 Corinthains 5 verse 17), fully committed to the church and gospel of Christ. This was clearly evident to all his friends, family members and colleagues in the workplace. He was ready to sacrifice anything for the Lord; once he and his wife, at the directive of the founder, as the latter was led by God, closed their bank accounts, and put the money in the church’s treasury! It was later discovered that only he and his wife obeyed Pa Josiah Akindayomi’s divine directive. Any wonder God, the Rewarder responded years later resulting in Enoch Adejare Adeboye becoming the General Overseer of RCCG?
Adeboye and RCCG: Contagious Audacity!
RCCG) was founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi. It started as a fellowship called Egbe Ogo-Oluwa (Glory of God); it is pentecostal denomination with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. Pa Josiah Akindayomi died at the age of 71 in 1980. Shortly before Pa Akindayomi passed to glory, he called the young and educated Enoch Adejare Adeboye that he would be taken over from him as the General Overseer, even though Adeboye had a foreknowledge of this earlier, he was unwilling to leave the academia, more so when there was nothing admiring or attractive in church headship compared with the academia where fame and money would be at his beck and call. Howbeit, the will of God prevailed as he decided to say: “Yes, Lord!”. Today, reflecting on that glorious decision, hinged on obedience to the heavenly vision, it was crystal clear that it was the Lord’s doing. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye was 35 years old when he became the General Overseer of the RCCG in 1981; and was ordained as a pastor in the RCCG in 1977. His speedy rise was surprising and could only be God-orchestrated! God was indeed preparing him for higher assignment taking cognisance of his many dealings with the Lord Jesus Christ which space would not permit to share in this treatise.
Ab initio, as inculcated by the founder, Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, the sound doctrinal stand and status of RCCG, which prevails till date, rests on the “combined Aladura and Pentecostal features, which included holiness, prayers, speaking in tongues, Biblical inerrancy, belief in miracles and healing, and the manifestation of other charismatic gifts such as visions and prophecies. Fasting was also encouraged in the church …” (Adeboye, Olufunke (2020): Origin and Expansion of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. University of Lagos (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344044565, accessed on 27th February 2025).
According to Professor Olufunke Adeboye of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, “… by 1980, when Akindayomi died, the RCCG had about forty branches, mostly in southwestern Nigeria. It had not spread into the eastern and northern parts of the country yet.” Thus, with 40 parishes the young but fiery Adeboye took over the mantle to pilot the affairs of the RCCG.
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, even though initially rattled by severe succession struggles and battles, was divinely inspired to strategically envision the church’s exponential growth. The outcome was coining Vision and Mission Statements for the church akin to what obtains in serious minded business organizations globally. The vision statement of RCCG was in sync with Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG). In Strategy Execution, Harvard University employs BHAG. These are goals that are seemingly larger than life; and with capacity and capability to stretch someone or group of people in actualizing them in real time.
These Vision and Mission Statements of the RCCG were to be strategically placed and positioned in every local parish, congregation or assembly of the church worldwide like it is done in the corporate world. There is a way this communicates with the subconsciousness of both the shepherd and sheep in actualizing the vision. Initially, these appear as mere epithets or mere mouthed mantras that are unattainable! However, for the audacious, cerebral scholar and mathematician, Dr. Enoch Adejare Adeboye, there is no other option or alternative left for him and his team but to succeed, and excel at it!
It is on record and as attested to by Professor Olufunke Adeboye, the strategic foresightedness of Enoch Adejare Adeboye, as part of translating the vision to mission, “the most revolutionary innovation was the establishment of what became known as ‘Model Parishes’ to attract young professionals and members of the upper middle class. In the words of Adeboye, “these are local assemblies geared toward reaching educated professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders in government and politics … The first of the model parishes was established in Lagos in 1988.” The establishment of model parishes achieved, with speed, the attraction of the young, educated and upwardly-mobile professional and political personalities to the rapidly influential and expanding Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Adeboye: Aping His Audacity …
In conclusion, when the young and energetic Enoch Adeboye took over as the General Overseer at the age of 35, he was focused and fiery with his message of holy living, fervency of faith, fasting and praying, manifestations of the power of the Holy Ghost in healing, miracles and prospering those who truly follow and love the Lord Jesus Christ as enshrined and encapsulated in the Holy Scriptures.
Cumulatively, over the decades, and consistently, as RCCG has exponentially expanded, Enoch Adejare Adeboye’s life remains, in his own words, “an open book”, available for all to read, reflect and respond to in daily living. A man of holiness, humility and honour; outstanding in succinct simple lifestyle that is steeped in straightforwardness and service to God and humanity. Between him and his dearly affable wife, there are lots of humanitarian services imparting millions of people all over the globe. Mummy GO, as Pastor Mrs Foluke Adeboye, the wife of the General Overseer is affectionately called by adherents and admirers. No one visits Mama Folu Adeboye and leaves empty handed! A case in point the writer will continue to remember and refer to for a long time. It occurred in 2007. In fact, when she was visiting Singapore with her husband and others to plant the RCCG parish in that South Eastern nation, I remembered before leaving that city-state-nation (Singapore), she sent the pastor in charge of the new parish to gift I and my wife already sewn local adire batik. It was unexpected, as at that time, we were not members of RCCG but belonged to a local church – Cornerstone Community Church, Odeon Katong, Singapore, where Pastor Adeboye preached in one of the services. Such was the gracious spirit of Mummy GO.
It is remarkable to mention that a sign of the story of audacity turning to glory, in the year 2008, Newsweek magazine named Adeboye one of the 50 most influential people in the world. Presently, the RCCG is a global church with presence in not less than 197 countries and territories in the world. It is undoubtedly and unambiguously one of the largest denomination or congregation in the world taking cognizance of the records of attendance at both Convention and Congress Special Holy Ghost Services (August and December respectfully) annually. These two mega gatherings of God’s people annually witness attendance of millions of worshippers from all across the globe.
Adeboye @ 83: Summing up …
Presently, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), with presence in 197 countries and territories of the world, consists of more than 5 million members in Nigeria alone! The actionable audacity of a humble man, possessing a holy God of all possibilities, has transformed the then unnoticed church, RCCG of 1981, to becoming one of the biggest church denominations in the world possessing more than whopping 9 million members worldwide. We, as many as believe in the same God of Enoch Adejare Adeboye, can ape his humble, holy and humane lifestyle laced with fervent faith, aggressive fasting and praying and mission minded disposition of Enoch Adejare Adeboye and his wife, Mummy GO, Mama Folu Adeboye – there is no separating the snail from the shell!
Finally, and worthy of emulation is the audacity of a man God promised a city. He was praying for only a befitting accommodation for him and his family in Lagos, Nigeria, when the Lord promised him a city. Initially, Adeboye was led to a jungle along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. In the words of Adeboye, the place was the abode of highway armed robbers and home of pythons and snakes at that time. He built the first house at the then evolving Redemption Camp and started residing there in total obedience to God Almighty. Today, it is now referred to as the Redemption City of God with many banks, a tertiary institution, secondary schools, international and state of the art Health Village, myriads of modern estates, tarred roads, constant water and electricity supply, etc. Indeed, the government at all levels – local, state and federal – need to ape the audacity and tenacity of this revered man of God. Today, 2nd March 2025, Daddy Adeboye turns 83 years exactly. Blessed birthday, Daddy! As your days, so shall your strength be in Jesus’ name. Amen. As one of your unknown children, by the special grace of God, I am looking forward to your 90th birthday; and to remind you of your promise of using 30 days to celebrate. I wonder how many millions will feature in such a fete!
Dr. John Moyo Ekundayo, a minister in RCCG, also serves as the Special Adviser/Director General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD) to the Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria. He is based in Ado Ekiti; and can be reached through: jekundayo@ekitistate.gov.ng; or Whatsapp: +2348030598267
