Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has disclosed the arrest of one of the church’s pastors abroad over a greeting considered discriminatory. The pastor was reportedly detained for addressing a congregation with “Ladies and gentlemen,” which authorities deemed exclusionary of other gender identities recognized in the host country’s culture.
Adeboye revealed this during the church’s monthly Thanksgiving Service at RCCG’s Throne of Grace in Lagos on Sunday, in a sermon titled “My Father’s House.” He used the incident to emphasize his concerns about the moral and spiritual decline worldwide, which he described as signs of the end times.
He said, “One of my pastors abroad was arrested for simply addressing a gathering as ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ Some people reported him for discrimination, asking, ‘What about those who are neither ladies nor gentlemen?’ This is a wake-up call that the end is nearer than we think.”
The cleric also recounted another instance involving a woman who referred to her dog as her husband, further expressing dismay at what he called a moral erosion in contemporary society. “She said, ‘I took him to the vet before coming. He doesn’t talk,’ referring to her dog as her spouse. These are troubling signs of the times we are living in,” Adeboye stated.
Adeboye urged Christians to hold firm to their faith amidst growing societal changes, warning against compromising biblical values. He added, “God is holy. Those of you already in Christ, take this matter seriously. Do not let anyone weaken your stand. Jesus is coming back.”
RCCG Enforces Conservative Standards
In line with his conservative stance, Adeboye recently banned RCCG church workers from wearing braided hair, false eyelashes, and heavy makeup while officiating on church altars. Speaking at the church’s 72nd Annual Convention in August, he expressed disappointment at what he described as an erosion of discipline and modesty within the church.
The convention, themed “Heaven,” ran from August 5 to August 11 at Redemption City, Ogun State, attracting thousands of worshippers from across the globe. Adeboye’s remarks emphasized the importance of upholding traditional Christian values in the face of growing cultural influences.
