- Speaks About His Elevation From One-Room In Mushin To Redemption City
The General Overseer at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has explained why he must continue to simply be referred to as ‘Pastor Adeboye’.
He also revealed how God elevated him from being a tenant in a room in Mushin, Lagos to Redemption City located along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
He also took time to revealed how he and his wife fasted for 14 days to avoid the pastoral call.
The respected man of God made these revelations while speaking at the 40th anniversary of his ascension as General Overseer of the RCCG.
Adeboye spoke at the church’s February Thanksgiving Service themed ‘Sunrise’ which was monitored by PMParrot.
He used the opportunity to again thank the founder of the church, late Pa Josiah Akindayomi for finding him worthy of the call.
“If I am to give you a summary of what the journey has been these last 40 years, I will be lying to you to say things have been smooth and easy. There have been times of pain, agony, sorrow and betrayal. One thing that has kept us is that we have been hearing from God. For all you my children, you will hear from God.
“I want to thank God for my father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi. I want to thank God that He heard from God, of all the people who were qualified to be the General Overseer, l was the least qualified.
Noting how he fasted 14 days to avoid the pastoral call, Adeboye said:
“I just came and after two years, he ordained me a pastor, when he said he will ordain me, my wife and l prayed and fasted for 14 days so that God will not allow it to happen because in those days, being a pastor is a sentence to poverty.
“I have seen poverty before, when l joined the church, my second-hand car was the newest car in the Church and suddenly they want me to be a pastor, we prayed and fasted, thank God He didn’t answer the prayer.
“When my father in the Lord told me l would be succeeding him, l told him no, it will not happen. I told him anyone He (God) chooses for you, l will support him but for me to leave my comfort to come to one room in Mushin, no, not me.
“So, as I was saying, it was not easy. When I launched myself into the new assignment God gave me, it was not easy. Like I said, I encountered so many problems.
“I resigned as a lecturer and got my gratuity which was reasonably heavy at that time. Then I asked God what I should do with it. God said I should divide it into three. I was happy at this point that at least, He would ask me to keep a part. But no. My Father asked me to give the first part to a certain ministry, the second to another ministry and the third to, yet, another ministry! He then told me that He would take care of me.
“Along the line, I also had to sell my Toyota Crown to support the project of RCCG. In fact, the folk I sold the car to only paid half of the money. He never showed up to pay the balance till today!
“Then, when we were getting comfortable, problems and crisis started coming up. From Kaduna, to Ibadan to Benin. Pastors would have issues and I would be jumping from one place to the other. One day, I checked myself out in the mirror and I discovered that my head was full of grey hair and I was not yet 40.
“I cried onto God and He told me that I was carrying a load that was not mine. He told me that He was just using me as a camouflage and that RCCG belongs to Him. He asked me to allow Him to carry His load. I complied. Two weeks later, the grey hair disappeared.
Pastor Adeboye also spoke about why all lovers of God must continue to refer to him simply as Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
According to him, “when we were starting, I had a modest office and, on my table, we had the tag introducing me as Reverend Adejare Adeboye, PhD, et cetera. One day, God just told me to remove all the descriptions and the titles I ascribed to myself. He warned me to remain humble. Since that time, I restricted myself to being referred to only as Pastor Adeboye.
“I am never ashamed of telling people that I never attended a Bible School. I don’t know Theology. I only know God and He knows me. If those of you listening to me learn to obey and follow God, all will be well with you. He will carry your load and meet you at every point of your need.”
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola
