For the past few months I have been reading with keen interest of how General Overseas of Pentecostal Churches especially in Nigeria travelling to European Countries for the purpose of preaching the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Ordinarily, this did not suppose attract my attention but on a second thought it is worth focusing on because of its implication and misplaced priority. Some of these General Overseas include Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, Church: Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). It should be noted that the Redeemed Christian Church of God according to google.com was founded in 1952 by the late Reverend Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi in Lagos, Nigeria. Till date none of the church properties was named after the founder but passengers. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi (1909–1980) established the church after previously participating in the Cherubim and Seraphim church and other spiritual groups. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Dr. Sunday Adelaja, Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations (Embassy of God), Pastor William F. Kumuyi of Deeper Christian Life Ministry (Deeper Life Bible Church), Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) and Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel).
In the early fifties or thereabout when Nigeria embraced Christianity and Islam, the country was better off compared to the same European countries our pastors are running to even without invitation to preach the gospel. When we have no General Oversea and Pastors running to European countries to preach, Nigeria, instead of borrowing from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), lent money to them in 1974 and 1975 during the oil boom. In 1974 Nigeria signed a long-term borrowing agreement on December 23, 1974, to lend $240 million to the World Bank. In 1975 Nigeria extended another loan of $120 million to the IMF. During this period Nigeria economy was not growing but effective and efficient management was roaring line a lion. The rate of stealing of government fund was at its low ebb. The nation was discipline and it is a period when a father will ask his child to explain to him who have the pencil in his bag since it is not from the parents. It was the period when a child of twenty years cannot donate a cup of sand to a club in the name of love your neighbor as yourself. When we were not running to abroad to preach the gospel our country is the most attractive city to Europeans and others. During this period, the name of Sapele, Orerokpe, Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Okuetolor, Okuovwisi, Okuegume and Okobia are hot cakes harboring all manner of immigrants both local and foreign.
Since we have turned European Countries into our crusade ground Nigeria’s borrowing have escalated over the years and there is no looking back. When we were not going abroad for crusade the world borrowed from us and now we are specialists going abroad for crusade even the world bank and International Monetary Fund are weeping that Nigeria have borrowed its foundation and they will both collapse in a matter of time. With these casualties is it not better we focus on our local and domestic terrain rather than jump into the next flight in the name of going abroad to preach? In Nigeria, a government will use sixty million naira to drill a borehole and a drop of water will not flow from it but an individual will drill a borehole with five hundred thousand naira and it will serve him for twenty years. In Nigeria all our roads both federal, state and local government are in shambles yet we rush to Europe where they have all the best roads in the world to preach. In Nigeria, all our hospitals have turned consulting clinic and non-functional. Those running abroad to preach have every opportunity to ask where is the money budgeted for the infrastructure but they will never do that because of ethnicity, same church or cult members, political parties and so on but rush to Europe where hospitals function thirty-six hours daily. The Pastors even attend those hospitals in Europe thereby abandoning the dead ones provided by the government of the day at home.
Today rather than tell Nigeria leaders to stop looting the national wealth most of these General Overseas are clapping, dining and winning with the treasury looters only to travel to Europe where looting of government fund is an abomination. Rather than travel to countries with electricity, good standard hospitals, schools, transportation systems and good security environment ours should travel to places like Niger State, Kano State, Sokoto State, Plateau State, Kogi and other troubled some states to preach the gospel. Not quite long Oyo State was in the hot news but even though most of these General Overseas are from Oyo State they kept mute throughout the period of kidnapping of school children and killing of teachers in the state. Till date these preachers have not visited the communities where these kidnapping is taking place to preach. Those going to abroad to preach where all social amenities are available should face the reality by preaching in Nigeria so that our government officials can change for the better. It should be noted that in Europe those who are awarded government contracts do not wait for the holy spirit to talk to them before they complete such projects because failure is punishable having collected government money but in Nigeria these same preachers will encourage looting of government fund. A child of twenty years old will come to church with a car worth thirty million naira for dedication yet the pastor will not ask for the source of the fund and types of work the young man is doing. Going to Europe to preach is a misplace priority rather our focus should be on how to impact our nation with our preaching and not reverse.
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Joseph Esivwenughwu is the former Chairman of Okuetolor Community Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State Nigeria.
