Insecurity: Pastor Adeboye charges Pentecostal leaders to take action

By Abiodun Lawal

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged African Pentecostal leaders and scholars to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity.

Adeboye, represented by his Special Adviser on Administration, Prof. Dele Balogun, stated this on Thursday, while declaring open the International Conference on African Pentecostalism 2026, at the Redemption city on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The conference, themed “African Pentecostalism and the Politics of Insecurity in Nigeria”, attracted participants from within and outside the country.

He described Nigeria as a blessed nation facing a defining moment, but expressed confidence that the country would fulfill its destiny through God’s help and citizens’ cooperation.

The RCCG General Overseer listed kidnapping, insurgency, farmer-herder clashes and communal violence among the nation’s major security challenges requiring urgent collective attention.

Adeboye said African Pentecostalism had continued to play significant roles in Nigeria’s religious, political, economic and social development despite prevailing challenges.

He urged participants to use the conference to critically examine the causes of insecurity and develop practical, implementable solutions rooted in Christian ethics and theology.

According to him, pentecostalism should go beyond preaching peace by promoting actions capable of producing lasting security and national transformation.

Adeboye cautioned participants against treating the conference as merely an academic exercise, urging them to ensure that deliberations translate into policies and practical interventions.

He expressed optimism that the conference would produce robust recommendations capable of strengthening the role of African Pentecostalism in addressing Nigeria’s insecurity.

“You will agree with me that we are at a defining moment in the history of our nation, Nigeria. By the special grace of God, Nigeria is a blessed country. But whether the enemy is happy or not, as we cooperate with God, I believe that Nigeria will fulfill her divine destiny. Today, Nigeria is confronted with numerous security challenges, including kidnapping, insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, communal violence, and many other forms of insecurity. Yet, despite these challenges, one major force that has continued to play a pivotal role in the nation’s economic, political, and religious spheres is African Pentecostalism. You will agree with me that African Pentecostalism does not merely preach peace or simply spiritualise every issue. Rather, it seeks to translate faith into practical action so that, in our time, tangible solutions can emerge to address the problem of insecurity,” he said.

In his remarks , Pastor Sunday Akande, National Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), says African Pentecostalism can provide solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity and governance challenges.

Akande, represented by Dr Josiah Bolarinwa, Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development RCCG, urged Nigerians to embrace truth, faith and divine guidance as pathways to freedom, deliverance and national transformation.

He described religion and governance as inseparable in African society, saying pentecostalism promoted spiritual values that could positively influence politics, security and community development.

He said African Pentecostals should actively support community security, encourage members to serve in security agencies and uphold ethical leadership through Christian values and spiritual commitment.

In his welcome address, the Provost of Redeemed Christian Theological College (RCTC), Dr Rotimi Oti, called on scholars and church leaders to provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges through research and collaboration.

The provost said the gathering was a partnership with the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, and Redeemers University, Ede.

Delivering his keynote address, Prof. Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary, U.S.A, urged churches and other faith-based organisations to complement prayers with practical actions to address insecurity in Nigeria.

Adogame said that insecurity required the collective efforts of government, religious bodies and citizens. The guest lecturer argued that excessive attention to national security had overshadowed human security, including poverty reduction, job creation, economic empowerment and improved welfare for citizens.

According to him, churches and other religious organisations have focused more on spiritual security while paying insufficient attention to tackling poverty and other socio-economic conditions fueling insecurity.

He maintained that prayer alone would not solve Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing that meaningful change would come through prayer backed by deliberate action and collective responsibility.

NAN