Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has expressed dismay over the arrest of one of the church’s pastors abroad.
The pastor was detained after addressing attendees at a program as “ladies and gentlemen,” a greeting that was deemed discriminatory in the culture of the region, as it allegedly failed to acknowledge all gender identities recognized in their society.
Adeboye shared this incident during his sermon at the RCCG’s Throne of Grace parish in Lagos on Sunday, as part of the church’s monthly thanksgiving service.
His message, which was broadcast to RCCG parishes worldwide, was titled “My Father’s House.”
“The end times are closer than we think. Things are getting worse,” Adeboye remarked, stressing that the recent arrest was a wake-up call.
He recounted how some attendees reported the pastor, questioning why the greeting did not include those who do not identify as “ladies” or “gentlemen.”
The pastor also shared another unsettling story about a woman who referred to her dog as her “husband.”
When asked about her spouse, the woman responded, “I took him to the vet before coming. He doesn’t talk,” explaining that her “husband” was actually a dog.
Adeboye expressed growing concern over the decline in moral values, interpreting such incidents as signs of the approaching end times.
He urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and not let societal pressures weaken their commitment.
“Jesus is coming back. The devil is working to pull you away, but you must not let him,” he cautioned.
The RCCG leader also addressed what he perceives as disturbing trends in the church, particularly among church workers.
He criticized men who wear braided hair and women who wear excessive makeup, false eyelashes, or heavy cosmetics.
Adeboye emphasized that such practices would no longer be allowed on RCCG altars, following comments he made at the church’s 72nd annual convention in August 2024.
The convention, themed “Heaven,” took place at Redemption City in Mowe, Ogun State, and ran from August 5 to August 11, 2024.
