EASILY the most widely discussed story last week was the decision by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, head of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), to relinquish his leadership of the Nigerian operations of the church. He had cited the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Act 2011 that limited headship of charity organisations or faith-based groups, among others, to 20 years. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had fought the Act in court for a while but lost. However, an also significant part of the church and other faith-based organisations were never averse to the law.
After the pugnacious executive secretary of the FRC, Jim Obazee, had been sacked for allegedly defying the orders of the supervising Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, it appeared the federal government had effectively taken over and owned the controversy and was prepared to determine how it should end. It was shocking, therefore, to hear the Head of the RCCG Media and Public Relations, Segun Adegbiji, a pastor, tell the media that Mr Obazee had sworn to remove Pastor Adeboye from office. He also spoke about some ecclesiastical infractions committed by the embattled FRC boss when he was a pastor in the church.
These are superfluous pieces of information. The church should have kept discretely silent in order not to give the impression they were smarting from Mr Obazee’s intemperate actions. Furthermore, by disclosing church information about the sacked FRC executive secretary, they seemed to be challenging him to open up on more intimate details concerning the inner workings of the RCCG. No one stands to gain from this pointless controversy. The RCCG told the media that every step taken by Pastor Adeboye was ordered by God. They should leave it at that, whether the people believe or not, and let the federal government take care of Mr Obazee’s actions or inaction, excesses or inadequacies. For obviously, given media reports, not many people feel quite at ease with the way the church seemed to have pulled rank over the sacked FRC boss.
Tag: RCCG
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RCCG’s needless explanation
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‘RCCG amending constitution on leadership structure’
THE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is amending its constitution to reflect its new administrative and leadership structure, it was learnt yesterday.
RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations Pastor Segun Adegbiji, stated this at a media parley at the church’s Redemption Camp in Ogun State.
This follows General Overseer (GO) Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s appointment last Saturday of Pastor Joseph Obayemi as National Overseer and leader of the Nigerian branch of the church.
Pastor Adeboye, fondly called ‘Daddy GO’, made the declaration at the church’s Annual Ministers Thanksgiving service.
Adegbiji explained that the church was reworking its constitution even before Saturday’s announcement. The final document will reflect the changes.
”The reworking of the Constitution has been going on for a while, even before the appointment of Pastor Obayemi as National Overseer,” he said.
Adegbiji explained the official relationship between Pastors Adeboye and Obayemi, stating that Adeboye, remains the head of the RCCG Worldwide. Obayemi is head of RCCG Nigeria. He reports to the GO.
RCCG is in 192 countries. The church appointed National or Country Overseers, just like Obayemi, to administer most of them.
Adegbiji added: “Although the RCCG headquarters in Nigeria is in Ebute-Meta, Pastor Obayemi will, for the time being, perform his functions from his RCCG Somolu Parish in Lagos.”
Adegbiji admitted that the immediate reason for the appointment of Obayemi, an Assistant General Overseer, was the now suspended Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Code.
The code set a controversial 20-year tenure for heads of religious groups and civil rights organisations.
“But the church has been growing so rapidly that the appointment was inevitable. It was probably going to be made in the long run whether there was an FRC code or not.
“Since Pastor Adeboye assumed office in March 1981, he never ceased to be General Overseer. The new development does not affect Daddy GO’s status, functions or powers. He will continue to preside over RCCG programmes, such as Holy Ghost Congress, Shiloh hour, Divine encounter conventions etc,” Adegbiji said.
He confirmed that the sacked head of the FRC, Jim Obazee, is a former pastor in the RCCG.
“Obazee was a teacher at the School of Disciples, but he voluntarily resigned. Afterwards, he started attending RCCG Province II Parish on Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos. He was neither suspended nor sacked by the church.
“There was no feud between him and the church that I know of, Although I can confirm that I heard the story that he vowed to get Pastor Adeboye out,” Adegbiji added.
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What next for Adeboye, RCCG?
WITH Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye’s surprise announcement of Pastor Joseph O. Obayemi as the new General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (in Nigeria) yesterday, church members and millions of Nigerians are wondering what would be the future role of the popular cleric in the church and how the current development will impact on the structure of the mission?
Most of the RCCG ministers, who gathered at the gigantic Shimawa New Auditorium in Ogun State for the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving Service yesterday, could not believe their ears when the highly revered head of the church, who would be 75 in March this year, made the “unexpected” announcement.
In a bid to assuage the fears he saw in the eyes of the dumbfounded ministers at the thanksgiving service, Adeboye, fondly called Daddy G. O, had assured them that what has happened does not mean he would no longer be available at the Holy Ghost and Congress services at the camp.
Notwithstanding the assurance from the Man of God, the questions in the lips of most of the members of the church and other concerned Nigerians who responded to the development yesterday include whether the pastor has actually retired, as some interpreted his action yesterday, or if the development was a mere prelude to a major re-organization in the fundamental structure of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)?
The confusion that trailed the new appointment draws from the fact that the current law governing the church has provision for only one General Overseer (G.O), who is both the Spiritual and Administrative Head of the mission. In that position, Pastor Adeboye is also the Chairman of both the Governing Council, the highest organ of the church with 18 members and the Board of Trustees.
With yesterday’s appointment of Pastor Obayemi as the General Overseer (in Nigeria), observers are wondering if that would mean an imminent amendment of the mission’s law? They argued that if Pastor Obayemi’s powers will be limited to Nigeria, it suggests that other parts of the world, like Europe, America, Asia and other parts of Africa, where the church, (unarguably, the biggest Pentecostal Church in Africa, if not the world), has made appreciative impact, may soon get their own General Overseers?
If that happens, they ask if Pastor Adeboye will eventually change his title or remain Daddy G.O? It is the speculation yesterday that this scenario may soon play out that has sparked off their curiosity to know how Daddy G. O intends to share power with the emerging countries or continental Overseers.
Most critically, they asked if the development means that Daddy G.O will actually “take the back seat” or if the impending restructuring will lead to a split of the spiritual and administrative roles of the General Overseer (G.O) so that Pastor Adeboye will now limit his role to that of the Spiritual Leader of the church, leaving administration to the other General Overseer(s).
Even if this happens, some respondents said yesterday that the bulk of the church membership is in Nigeria. Although the church, founded in Nigeria in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi is today in over 190 countries across the five continents of the world, it’s Nigerian chapter alone has over 14,000 parishes and houses the international headquarters, the huge Redemption camps, which are big cities in their own rights, many schools, colleges and the Redeemers University of Nigeria (RUN), amongst others. The question one agitated observer asked yesterday in The Nation’s newsroom was if the new General Overseer is to oversee these, what would be left of the global RCCG?
It would be recalled that talks about impending retirement of Pastor Adeboye has been on for some years now, especially since 2012 when reports claimed that some pastors from outside Nigeria visited Daddy G.O and advised him to retire at 70, citing the retirement of some very senior pastors like M.O. Ojo, Ilori, Aderibigbe and D. Ojo in 2010.
Since then, whenever the issue cropped up, some elements alleged to have been behind it had reportedly based their agitation on RCCG’s law that requires any senior pastor, up to the rank of Deputy General Overseer (DGO) or Assistant General Overseer (AGO), who is up to 70 years of age, to retire.
In August 2015, that same law was quoted when the mission retired 20 senior pastors “who have attained the age of 70 in obedience to the church’s constitution, which pegged retirement age at 70.”
Aside the issue of retirement and its implications, some members of the church also expressed surprise at the way the New General Overseer emerged, alleging that, though Daddy G.O had predicted that this will be a year of surprises, nothing about his previous pronouncements on the person that will succeed him prepared them for what happened yesterday.
Everybody therefore expects to hear more about the development.
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Glitz at RCCG teens’ fashion show
There was an impressive array of talented clothes on display at the Genesis Fashion Show organised by the Next Generation-Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David Teen.
The designs were top-range, showing designers’ immense talents that allowed them to create such beautiful clothes and accessories while juggling school and their other activities.
The show, which was basically for teens, also marked the rebirth of the best of afro-centric focus in most of the designs.
The designers, as young as 10 years, displayed love and pride in Africa and Nigeria.
To complement them, more established designers also showcased their fashion lines.
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Adeboye remains General Overseer Worldwide- RCCG
Despite the appointment of a new General Overseer for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Nigeria, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye remains the General Overseer, Worldwide of the church.A statement signed by Leke Adeboye, the clergyman’s last son and Personal Assistant said the clarification is in response to alleged misrepresentation of Pastor E. A Adeboye’s announcement at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving held at the redemption camp on Saturday that the Church in Nigeria is now to be led by Pastor Joseph Obayemi.The statement clarified that the latest development is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council of Nigeria (FRCN) guiding all registered churches, mosques, and CSOs.The regulation according to the statement stipulates that “heads of non profit organisations like churches now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations while in retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families.”Leke Adeboye added that Pastor Funsho Odesola, will now serve as the new Church Secretary while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu, is the new Church Treasurer.He advised all members of RCCG to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning.He also appealed to members to educate people around them and not spread inaccurate information stressing that Pastor E.A Adeboye remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide. -
New GO: How Adeboye caught RCCG members unawares
Elegantly dressed members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) were looking forward to the usual annual Thanksgiving Service with the General Overseer (GO), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye on Saturday but they were shocked when the GO announced a new leadership for the fastest growing church in the country.
The announcement coincided with prophesy of surprises listed by Adeboye in his annual prophesy released on December 31, 2016, while he urged members to join any political party of their choice in order to have a stake in the selection of leaders across the country.
The don-turned cleric told the members at the ultra-modern 3kmX3km auditorium located at Shimawa in Ogun State that the announcement of the new GO for Nigeria became necessary following government’s directives to all religious bodies to appoint leadership on a tenure basis.
Wearing blue patterned batik dress, Adeboye named Pastor Joseph Osuolale Obayemi as the GO (Nigeria) while the new church Secretary is Pastor Johnson Folorunsho Odesola and Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu, Treasurer.
The news was received with shock by the members but their fears was allayed when Adeboye said that he remains the GO (Worldwide) for the church which has presence in over 192 countries in the world.
He added that new GO – Obayemi will oversee the Nigerian arm of the church, adding that, “this will also affect other General Overseers including David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church aka Winners’Chapel; Kumuyi of Deeper Life; Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire Ministries, among others.”
He described the new GO as an experienced administrator who has been prepared for years by God for the task.
According to him, Obayemi has been part of the mission’s Salary Review Committee as well as member of the church’s In-Land Mission and has also represented RCCG at Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) activities across the country.
The new secretary – Odesola is an Assistant General Overseer and the pastor in charge of the Church’s Headquarter in Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Adeboye charged the members to join political parties of their choice as this would afford them the opportunity to be part of the selection of leaders.
“I want to urge all of you to join any political party of your choice so that you can be part of those that will select leaders. You must start from your ward where you can be a delegate to be able to choose leaders,” he said.
He also announced the commencement of the annual fasting and prayer of the church which he said would last for 40 days starting from January 11 to February 19 across the globe.
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Adeboye retires as RCCG’s General Overseer
Pastor Enouch Adejare Adeboye has retired as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria.
He announced the decision on Saturday morning at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving of the Church in Shimawa, Ogun State.
Pastor Joseph Obayemi, former Special Assistant to the General Overseer (SATGO) on Finance was named as the new General Overseer.
Adeboye, popularly called Daddy G.O by Church members also named Pastor Johnson Odesola, who was the Special Assistant on Administration and Personnel, as the church Secretary. Pastor Adeyokunnu will also serve as Treasurer of the Church.
NAN reports that Adeboye was born on March 2, 1942, in Ifewara, Osun State.
Pastor Adeboye had his B.Sc. in Mathematics at University of Nigeria Nsukka, and subsequently got his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Lagos, and worked as a lecturer in Mathematics at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin, before going into full time priesthood in 1984.
After joining the RCCG in 1973, he began working to translate the sermons of its then Pastor and founder, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, from Yoruba into English.
In 1981, Adeboye was appointed General Overseer of the church.
He took over from Papa Akindayomi, who had died the previous year.
For three years he performed the role part-time, still lecturing at Ilorin.
He finally gave up his university position to preach full-time.
The church, which was not well known prior to Adeboye’s ascendance has grown phenomenally, to become Nigeria’s biggest, with branches globally in about 190 countries, including more than 14,000 in Nigeria.
Adeboye has stated that his aim is to put a church within five minutes of every person on Earth.
He married Adenike, now 68 in 1967. She was born on 13th July 1948.
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RCCG builds 11-bed hospital in Lagos
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 2, has built a multi-million naira healthcare facility, Stillwaters Hospital, in Magboro community on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The 11-bed not-for-profit hospital was inaugurated at the weekend by the wife of the General Overseer, Mrs. Folu Adeboye, as part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Mrs. Adeboye advised community leaders and other residents to protect the hospital, guard against religious and ethnic discrimination in the use of the facility.
“Whatever God does, He does it for all. We must not say this was done by Christians and therefore not value it. We must live in love and protect the facility,” she said.
Provincial Pastor Yemi Lebi said Stillwaters, besides being fully stocked with drugs, boasts state-of-the-art medical equipment, including ultrasound scan facilities and an x-ray machine.
Land for the project, he added, was donated to the community by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, but the community was unable to equip the health centre built thereon.
Lebi said RCCG took over and upgraded the health centre with a tentative staff strength of two doctors, a matron, several nurses among others.
“It is not for profit, will be highly subsidised and patients will pay only a token to access healthcare at Stillwaters,” he said, adding that this was only one of the church’s many CSR projects.
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Glitz at RCCG teens’ fashion show
There was an impressive array of talented clothes on display at the Genesis Fashion Show organised by the Next Generation-Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David Teen.
The designs were top-range, showing designers’ immense talents that allowed them to create such beautiful clothes and accessories while juggling school and their other activities.
The show, which was basically for teens, also marked the rebirth of the best of afro-centric focus in most of the designs.
The designers, as young as 10 years, displayed love and pride in Africa and Nigeria.
To complement them, more established designers also showcased their fashion lines.
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RCCG’s Complete Restoration Congress begins
A WELCOME service by the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) yesterday opened the 19th edition of the mission’s Holy Ghost Congress (HGC) at Redemption Camp, Kilometer 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.
The six-day programme entitled: “Complete Restoration” is expected to draw millions of worshippers, including RCCG members, from across the country and from overseas.
According to the schedule, the first three days will hold at the sprawling Arena Auditorium and the other half at the 3×3 Kilometer Auditorium at Shimawa.
Speaking of the Congress theme, Pastor Adeboye said: “When God restores, what He gives back is always more than what is lost. When He speaks of ‘Complete Restoration’, it is far greater than what has been lost. And His word is Yeah and Amen! Your complete restoration is a settled matter. You are about to take back all that you have ever lost and more.
“But you have your own part to play. The Congress is a celebration of Jesus. It is a celebration, and yet, a serious affair. It is not a time for idle chatter or aimless roaming around the auditorium. It is a time to worship the Lord intensely, pay attention to His word, seek His face and pray with thanksgiving and a genuinely repentant and expectant heart.
“There will be time for personal petitions and intercessions for families, the body of Christ and the nations. Seize the opportunity of these six days of the congress to cry out unto the Lord. He assures us of speedy answers.
“The morning, afternoon and evening sessions are specially designed for you. Check the daily events sections for the details. It is a complete restoration. Divinely inspired messages await you at all the sessions. You shall not miss your blessings as you give God full attention at this Congress in Jesus’ name.”
Other clerics expected to minister at the congress include: Pastor Adeboye wife Folu, Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Pastor Stephen Rathod and President/founder of Christ Life Churches under the umbrella of The Sword of The Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke among others.