Pastor Sunday Adelaja, a Nigerian, is the founder of the
Embassy of God Church in Ukraine, one of the biggest churches in Eastern
Europe. Adelaja, in this interview, speaks on the many controversies dogging
him, including the most recent one alleging he had sexual relationship with 20
women in Russia.
What would you say ignited sexual accusation leveled against
you in Ukraine?
First of all, the media is making too much noise about it. I
was said to have confessed to some people in Russia about having sexual
relationship with 20 women but I have not been to Russia in the last 10 years.
It’s part of a conspiracy by some former members of my church leadership who,
after hearing that I was leaving for Africa, decided to take advantage of the
vacuum to gain for themselves temporary benefits. This is nothing new really.
In the Bible, Paul spoke of similar
situation. He warned that when he departed from his congregation, the wolves
will come in sheep’s clothing to take over. To attain that goal, they are ready
to do anything.
How were you able to scale the controversy and the other
ones you were enmeshed in?
Just being focused on what I have to do. Jesus said by their
fruits you shall know them. I just keep on bearing fruits, kingdom fruits.
Secondly, I don’t see controversy as a bad thing. I see it as a propeller of
destiny. To me crisis is just a traffic light on the path of destiny. So if you
really believe in God and your heart is pure, all things will work out for good
at the end of the day. Just be focused on what you are called to do.
Did you ever think of becoming a pastor when you were
growing up?
I didn’t. The first thinking I had was when I was 16years
old, I attended a camp meeting in the Anglican Church, where I met a young man
in his 30s who, after finishing his
master’s degree in England, came back to Nigeria and became an Anglican priest.
He was so charming and charismatic that I wanted to be like him. Soon after
that, I forgot about it until I got saved at the age of 19. At the same age,
while in Russia, I had an encounter with the Lord; that was when I got the confirmation that I am called to be a
minister. But that did not happen until years later.
How do you compare worshiping here with worshipping in your
base, Ukraine?
First of all, whenever
I come to Nigeria, my mission is not to start a church. I come for
national transformation. I am more interested in changing Nigeria than starting
a church. I already have a thriving church in Ukraine. My greatest achievement
in Ukraine is not that I was able to start the church, but that God was able to
use me to impose kingdom values on the society. It could be that I will
eventually have a church in Nigeria, but God has to speak to me specifically on
that.
You spoke like you may ultimately have a church in Nigeria. What makes you believe
such a church will be accepted here?
Like I said earlier, my focus is not to establish a church
in Nigeria. Church is not my focus, the kingdom is my focus. That is the
mandate of God for me; to teach the Nigerian churches how to practically apply
kingdom principles in order to bring change and transformation to our society.
We have many pastors who have been accused of sacrilege in
Nigeria. What is your view about them?
When people fail, sin or make mistakes in life, especially
when they are pastors, you must first of all think of how to help them and
restore them, rather than seeking to destroy them further. Jesus said they that
are without sin should cast the first stone. But when we know that we are all
fallible, we have to extend mercy to others rather than passing judgment. This
does not just pertain to pastors or ministers, all men must be treated with
some amount of understanding.
What is your biblical definition of miracle?
Miracle is something that is beyond the ability and capacity
of man. It is a solution that requires supernatural intervention.
Differentiate between wealth and religion.
Religion is the act of discovering and worshiping God while
wealth, in particular material wealth, is a resource that God gives to those
who know the laws of wealth creation. Wealth
should be used to advance the cause of God on earth. Wealth therefore is a tool to pleasing
God. It is a tool to be used to accomplish God’s intentions on earth.
When you eventually relocate to Nigeria, will you retain
your church in Ukraine?
When I relocate to Nigeria, even though I will remain the
Senior Pastor of The Embassy of God Church in Ukraine, I will not be involved
in the day-to-day running of the church. I intend to face the work in Nigeria
squarely and visit Ukraine occasionally.We have over 400 churches in Ukraine, and
each one of them is independent. They have their own names, buildings, budgets
and pastors. While each is led by a Senior Pastor, we have a board that oversees the network of the
Embassy of God Church. It is that board
that will manage the churches when I am
gone.
SOURCE: Vanguard Newspaper
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