Pastor E.A Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has his name listed among 49 others as the top 50 Global Elites by Newsweek magazine.
His name is the only African mentioned, and together with Pope Benedict XVI, is one of two Christian leaders listed among the world most powerful people. Born on March 2nd 1942 in a village of Ifewara in Osun State, Daddy G.O. as is fondly called had serious struggles of his early life with the monster called poverty.
Through the help of God coupled with dogged determination, discipline and hard work, he chose to be educated under very difficult circumstances and moved forward to bag himself a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos hitting a successful career in the academic world.
Later in life by Divine Providence, Enoch Adeboye became the General Overseer of the RCCG.
Under his leadership, the church has experienced phenomenal growth from 40 small parishes which were located only in the south-western Nigeria to well over 20,000 parishes in 110 nations.
Pastor Adeboye is also the host of the annual Holy Ghost Congress which attracts over 7 million worshipers from all the continents of the world and has reputed as the largest gathering of human beings in history.
What an outstanding figure this man of God is!
1. LIFE AND TIMES OF PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE:
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye was a mathematics lecturer, and worked at the Universities of Lagos and Ilorin as lecturer. Married to Pastor Foluke Adeboye-nee Osundahunsi (mummy GO), the marriage is blessed with 4 children. He experienced untold hardship as a boy from the cruel hand of poverty & for the first 17years of his life, he never wore shoes nor a pair of trousers as there was no money to buy it. Hear him:’ When I was very young – in 1950, two lorries came into my village – an Austin and a Bedford. Those days, very few people could afford to put on shoes. They included the traditional head, the village headmaster and the catechist.
One day, the Anglican bishop came on a visit.
All the little children including myself, lined up on the way as the hunters fired gun shots to welcome him.
He came in a shiny car, and was well dressed.
When I saw his shoes, my mouth opened wide in surprises.
On getting home that day, I told my mother I was going to be a Bishop. As the years rolled by, I forgot that dream. in 1981, when I become General Overseer of the RCCG, I want to visit our church in my village.
I went in a brand new car, my shoes were glittering. The school children lined up the way and the hunters fired their guns to welcome me.
Then I realized I had just filled my childhood dream.’ Pastor Adeboye was an ‘A’ student throughout his academic life. He became born-again at RCCG on July 29th 1973 & was baptized by immersion in September 1973. As a worker in the church, he laboured to preach the Gospel of Christ through his word and deeds.
He also conducted lunch hour fellowship at the University community. He was ordained a pastor of the church on September 14, 1975 alongside four others.
2. EXPLOITS OF PASTOR ADEBOYE: Rom.12: 1-2
After he joined The Redeemed Christian Church Of God he began working to translate the sermons of its then Pastor and founder, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, from Yoruba into English. In 1981 Pastor Adeboye became the General Overseer of RCCG making him leader of the Church after the death of Papa Akindayomi who died the previous year.
Amidst controversy, Pastor Adeboye‘s appointment was formalized by the reading of Pa Akindayomi’s sealed pronouncement after his burial.
For 3 years he filled the role part-time, still lecturing at Ilorin, until giving up his university position to preach full-time.
The Church, which was not well known before Adeboye took charge, now claims branches in over 100 countries, including more than 14,000 in Nigeria. Since 1981, an open explosion began with the number of parishes growing in leaps and bounds.
One of the well-known programs of the church is the Holy Ghost Service, an all-night miracle service that holds on the first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp at KM. 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Holy Ghost Service also holds in London twice a year and in other parts of the world.
Another major service is the Holy Ghost Congress which holds in the second week of December every year at the Redemption Camp. In spite of a gargantuan congregation-about five million members in Nigeria alone- Pastor Adeboye nurses a big plan to save more souls. His goal is to “plant” churches everywhere. “In the developing world” Pastor Adeboye states, “we say we want churches to be within five minutes’ walk of every person.
In the developed world, we say five minutes of driving.”.
One thing Pastor Adeboye understands is that there is nothing like a free lunch.
There is always a price tag. So, whatever he desires – miracles for his congregation, financial breakthrough for projects or whatever, he is committed enough to pay the necessary price to make it happen.
Kudos man of God. Ride on in your service to God sir.
CONCLUSION: Use me Lord. I have no excuse to give for spiritual idleness and barrenness!