The church leaders cannot continue to misrepresent church philosophy, breaching the trust of the followers or church members and giving people the impression that church establishments are mainly for business. The church is for worship, and it must not be for any other selfish things. The government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) need not fold their arms when it comes to church establishments, especially in Nigeria.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” This is a serious issue that needs serious attention from all Christians and religious leaders.

For establishing a church, the intending church founder should be subject to strictly meet standards to meet up before the operations commence. Apart from only registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), there should be a recommendation letter from either the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to back up registration processes with the CAC and also have independent regulatory institutions pre-approval, screening, and monitoring for the eligibility of the person to own a church.
With the points highlighted above, it will surely stand as a strict measure to give room to only certified, serious, and committed people before establishing churches and drastically reduce “Awalokan Apostle” or general overseer (G.O.) by force to enrich their pocket and fill up their belly. NO! It should not be.

Remember, that the main reason for establishing a church is to draw people closer to God in holiness covertly and overtly, as stated in the holy bible: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy,’” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Contrary to the above, false teachings and bad behaviors by church leaders will only lead members down dark and forbidden paths.
The rate, at which religious leaders, who are supposed to draw people nearer to God while misleading church members and camouflage under the name of God, are malevolent, is alarming and needs urgent attention for immediate correction both from the hands of society, Christian leaders, advocates, Christian associations, and governments.
The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people. “And we should all be aware that silence at times is synonymous with betrayal.”
As a result of trending news on social media, a renounced Ifá priest (Babalawo) and formal pastor in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Pastor Sunday Abiodun Oluwadare, established his own church, Mountain of Fire and Thunder Prayer Ministry, after being expelled from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). He allegedly killed his pregnant wife for ritual purposes.

He has been alleged to have stolen the little child of one of the church members for ritual during their mountain prayers program in CAC, which led to his departure from the church.

And the question that is most curious to me is: what happened to his first alleged case? Why he is not exposed when it was known that he established a church after being expelled? If these were trashed out in the first place, it is possible the second alleged case might not have happened.

Secondly, the saddest issue is when one of the Celestial Church leaders, Land of Goshen Cathedral, aka “Mountain of Divine Encounter with God” Evangelist, Sunday JP, aka De Governor, Ebundola 1 of Lagos, invited secular musicians to a proposed praised night in December 2023, as shown in their flyers. The invitee pictures of dressing on the flyers, the hoist alias, have addressed the church leader’s philosophy.

However, Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ International Headquarters, Ketu Olatosho Oshoffa, has condemned the invitation of those secular singers, which is highly commendable for his leadership intervention and prompt action to stop the invitation. Moreover, Evangelist Sunday still needs to undergo special deliverance and Christian leadership orientation with the aid of the Holy Spirit before he can continue leading the church.
Thirdly, truth might be bitter, and Franz Kafka said, “Do not bend; do not water it down; do not try to make it logical; do not edit your own soul according to fashion. “Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. A popular clergyman, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, is the founder and head prophet of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. Who gave his wife fifty-five million naira in cash and after church members joined in celebrating his wife by spraying her money? The actions and scenario displayed by this Prophet and his wife presentation in church and church members display of money have described what the Bible told us in Matthew Chapter 7 verses 15-20. Beware of false prophets, which can be decoded by their fruits.
Therefore, the Social Rights and Christian Leadership Forum (SRLF), a non-governmental organization with the objective “to correct and admonish the wrong behaviors in society and to build future leaders, is strongly kicked against all these eyesores, abnormalities, and atrocities here and there from those we called prophets and church founders.

We, Social Rights and Christian Leadership Forum (SRCLF) hereby calling on governments starting from local, state and to Federal government to put serious measures in establishing any religion center not just only the registration with Corporate Affair Commission alone. To Nigeria police force most especially in Ekiti State to ensure justice for the death of Tosin Oluwadare, may her soul continue to rest in peace and God should grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. There should be more probe of Pastor Abiodun Oluwadare to deduce reasons for his change from ifa Priest to Christian, his first alleged of stolen a child that led to his exit in Christ Apostolic church, and people involving in aiding and abetting to the crime.

SRCLF also calls upon the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to speedily react to the aforementioned issues within the Christian folds and to reduce them to a minimal rate.
Lastly, all Christians, church worshipers, and citizens at large endeavor to understand church leaders before any commitment; let us all watch before praying (Matthew 26:41). Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near (Revelation 1 verse 3).

By: Oguntimehin Oluwafemi John
National President,
Social Rights and Christians Leadership Forum (SRCLF)
Lagos, Nigeria
08097496971