Prosperity gospel brought from US affecting Christianity in Nigeria —Oye
By Tribune Online
Prosperity gospel brought from US affecting Christianity in Nigeria —Oye
When did you start your ministry?
For me, it was immediately I got genuinely born again in 1962, but more formally when I assumed the office of the president of the Ibadan Varsity Christian Union in 1965/66. Upon graduation in 1966, I accepted to serve in the Scripture Union as its first indigenous travelling secretary. Till now, I have continued to serve the Lord in various capacities and in different organisations.
Can you recall unforgettable encounters in your years in ministry?
I have obeyed God and taken big risks in going to places. Sometimes, I travel through the night—maybe to go and meet a group later in the day or to go and meet just a single person or a family. Let me share just one or two. At one time, I travelled from Ado Ekiti to Akure through the night because I had another appointment at 6.00am in Ondo town. I reached a point in the journey between Ita-Ogbolu and Akure, there was a bridge which I was very familiar with. I was about to cross but the Lord stopped me. He said, “There is danger ahead.” Intuitively, I knew that some people were lurking there with an intention to harm. And as I was thinking of what to do, I simply found myself, still in my car, in the compound of Fiwasaye Girls High School. How that happened, I honestly don’t understand till date. This was in 1969. Initially, I thought, “Am I dead? Or is it a dream?” Still not sure of what was going on, I drove towards the gate and the watchman there got up and asked me, “How did you get into this compound?” I told him I too could not explain. All I knew was I was travelling from Ado-Ekiti to Akure. Fortunately, the man knew me because my house was just beside the school and I used to minister in their chapel. So when I narrated my story to him, he became quite panicky and quickly opened the gate. Then I drove to my house that was nearby. That was an interesting encounter for me which further taught me how much the Lord cares for His own. First of all, He knew where I stayed and brought me very close to home. I also believe He wanted that watchman to know what He, God, can do.
Why did you not start a church of your own early enough?
It is an aberration for a man of God or any church worker to have a “church of his own” because Jesus didn’t come to create denominations or factions in the church. So, I personally didn’t see it necessary for me to create another body when there are already many bodies. Rather, I work for the universal church; and wherever the Lord leads me, I go and minister – not in the name of a group or a denomination, but in the name of Christ. By the grace of God, I have raised disciples for God who are all across denominations and the important thing is for them to follow Christ. My success is not in material things, but in raising people who are genuine disciples of Christ, no matter their background or church affiliation.
Are there things that bother you in Christendom in Nigeria today?
I think the greatest blow that befell genuine Christianity in Nigeria was the unfortunate introduction of prosperity gospel imported from America. It brought a skewing of the work of God in this land. The basic, loving, sacrificial suffering of the children of God to make the gospel spread has been jettisoned and the cheap satanic gospel of coming to Christ and finding everything easy has been introduced. And today, many young Christians are disillusioned because they were told they would enjoy and enjoy, but the joy has eluded them. So, there is a lot of backsliding and a lot of hypocrisy. Many people who claim they are born again are not born again at all. In fact, we have taken church membership to mean born again in many cases. Today, repentance, holiness of life and standing for the truth are not being preached as they should. Personal study of the word of God and its application are alien to many people.
Do you have remarkable testimonies in the course of your ministerial assignments?
This particular testimony may look so small, but I am very fond of it because of the circumstances around it at the time. It was also in Akure and we were expecting our first child. I was the travelling secretary for Scripture Union then and we barely survived at the time. On this particular day, we had only 48 kobo at home and I needed to buy milk for my pregnant wife (I had her drinking milk every day to give strength to the baby). But about 5.00 a.m. that day, we were still praying and someone knocked at our door. I stopped the prayer to attend to the visitor and there was this short old man—very old and he said: “My son, somebody is coming to ask me to pay 60 kobo debt I owe and I don’t have it, can you help me?” I said “I don’t have 60 kobo but wait.” Then I went in and told my wife what was happening and she said I should give the man the 48 kobo we wanted to use to buy the milk. So, I gave the man who in appreciation said some powerful prayers for me. To the glory of God, that same day, one Christian student was travelling from the University of Ibadan through Akure to Owo and he came to our house—which was just along the road, and dropped 12 tins of milk, the same type of milk I wanted. I thanked God and said, “Three more dozens to go.” In the evening of that same day, some SU students in the School of Agriculture in Akure came to my house and brought 36 tins of milk—making exactly four dozens which I wanted to buy.
What was your experience like in Kaiama?
The decision to go to Kaiama (Borgu Local Government, near New Bussa in Niger State) was tough but we accepted it gladly because we knew it was of the Lord. Actually, at the same time the call to go to Kaiama came, a group from the United States also approached us, inviting us to relocate to the United States to lead an evangelistic campaign among the black people all over the country. We waited on the Lord for a few days and became convinced He wanted us at Kaiama; this was in 1973. So, my wife, two children and I went to Borgu Local Government. Kaiama was the capital and we settled down there and worked under the Methodist Church. Our mandate was evangelisation, health work and agricultural training. It was a comprehensive and integrated missionary project. I was the head of the team with about 16 workers under me—nurses, and farmer-evangelists—and we were there for four years. Some Christians thought I was not okay for shunning the l offer to go to the United States for that kind of a place. But that was how the Lord wanted it, and we obeyed.
What is your message for young pastors and Christian leaders?
They should examine themselves and see whether they are really in the faith because among them are many who don’t even know the Lord at all. They have only taken Christianity and ministry as a means of livelihood. So, among those who truly repent will be some who realise they are not even meant to be ministers at all. Such should search for and follow true minister under whom they can grow as disciples. Then, those who believe they are genuinely called should get back to the basics, lead a holy life and study the word of God.
Prosperity gospel brought from US affecting Christianity in Nigeria —Oye
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