The announcement last Saturday that the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, would build a three kilometre long auditorium in Nigeria has triggered outrage among Nigerians who call the humongous investment a waste and another cofirmation that Nigerian churches are veering off the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, announced during the Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp in Mowe area of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, that the existing auditorium which was built in 2000 with a capacity to sit one million people at once could
no longer accommodate millions of people who attend service there.
Adeboye said that the new auditorium which would be built at the mission’s camp ground at km 46, Lagos-Ibadan expressway would also be three kilometres wide. This will make the auditorium a humongous 9km square auditorium, and one of the top ten churches in the world in area size.
The Holy Ghost Service was one of the programmes lined up for the 61st Annual Convention of the church and Adeboye promised that the project will start soonest and will be completed before the 62nd Convention in August 2014. He solicited for donations from members toward making the project a reality.
According to Lookman, Adeboye should rather build a three-kilometre farm land and employ a million unemployed youths in Nigeria instead of wasting money on a building.
“So what impact will this have on the common man? More queues on Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, making life unbearable for travellers on Lagos-Ibadan route whenever programmes are going on,” said another reader.
“While I commend such vision, I think the billions of naira that will be used for such project could do the common man good if such is used to build affordable hospitals, schools, scholarships and provide basic needs for the common man,” he added.
According to Godson, Nigerians are hungry and unemployment rate is sky-high but churches are wasting their resources on buildings and other investments rather than tackling poverty.
“Why not use that money to build a non-profit organisation and employ our youths?” Godson queried.
To Naubiko, despite constant prayers, deliverance services and vigils in these big churches, Nigeria remains stuck in darkness and corruption.
“If they like, they should convert the whole of Oyo State and Ogun State to church there’s still nothing to show for it . No light. Even the General Overseer has more bodyguards than government officials and moves about in Helicopter / Private jet,” he said, adding that the road to Adeboye’s church is a death trap.
According to Ade, “building long auditourium means more tithe. For God’s sake these churches can industrialise Nigeria!”
To Moses, Ngeria needs job and not competing in being among the largest church in the world.
“We can see clearly that all the countries that have these large churches are economically stable in terms of infrastructure and job creation , unlike Nigeria that any idea by church only benefits the immediate people at the top . We read about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,they were all farmers creating jobs for their followers and not people that expand churches,” Moses said.
According to a reader who described himself as Folo, religion is the bane of Nigeria.
“I have said it time without number that religion is the bane of our country. Remove religion from the affairs of man and there will be peace. I have watched closely some of our colleagues who have been brainwashed to believe that prayers from the so-called men of God is all that is required to be saved,” he said, adding that church followers believe and swallow everything they are told by their pastors.
Mark Yaveli said he would not mind being given the contract for the fencing of the church.
To Ade Oolokun, it is good news Nigerians are waking up from spritual hypnotism.
“ They (Ngerian pastors) are worst than armed robbers. They are con artists who are not afraid of God’s punishment. Some of Nollywood actors and actresses have also dumped acting and joined these con artists because, it is more lucrative than acting or 419 business. ”
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In as much as it would have been good if the RCCG had invested this resources on what could have been good for the people directly, but i will like to stay here also the the RCCG is not the Government of Nigeria, they could try to provide all you guys have asked for, please talk to the government of the day water, electricity, good road, good education is primarily the responsibility of the government.
ReplyDeleteShameless hypocrity set of pplpe. God in d Holy Bible said' I will build my church n d gate of hell shall not preveil against it. U commentators can roast in hell,d auditorium must be build n gates of hell can't stop it. Jesus will reign foreva Amen. Remain bless daddy G.O
ReplyDeleteGood one. Judge not before the appointed time.
ReplyDeleteHaha ha the church will take over the world in Jesus Name. All satanic agent should still complain and keep their Lazy butts at home perpetually waiting for miracle to happen in their bedrooms and beer palour.
ReplyDeletePeople just make mouth over nothing.
ReplyDeleteThey forget the free excellent maternity care RCCG renders to women who ordinarily would have spent thousands of naira to deliver their babies, something the government of the day should have done.
They forget the thousands of people employed by the church as staff who run the staff office
They forget the thousands of Midwives that have been trained to help provide maternity services for our communities (bet you didn't know that)
and many schools different parishes have rehabilitated, people that they have helped and reformed.
Yet the church is not the government, the government should take care of their responsibilities too and we would be a better nation for it.
By the way, I am not an RCCG member.
Is Adeboye Jonathan or Fashola? Is RCCG PDP or APC? U are all fools
ReplyDeleteMost people that gullibly accept the messages from these men of God don't really know God. The gospel that Jesus proclaims is not for the rich neither is it for building expensive buildings; the gospel is simply for the poor. Woe unto the rich. To hell with all the rich men in the world either they are business owners or pastors/imam because you are rich as a result of the marginalization from the poor.
ReplyDeleteYou are all nonentities and gangantual hipotaratus. Be informed the word of God stands 4 ever.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the business of Baba Adeboye with the primary functions of the government?
You better go and wash ur dirty stinky mouths
Maybe before anyone comments about the 3km church they ought to go and see the existing structure that accommodates the 1m. It is a roof with held by intermittent pillars on cobblestone floors. Church provides wooden benches, generous people donate plastic chairs. My point, this is not a monument to one man who wants to build some mighty fine structure just so he can point his finger at it as his accomplishment. Maybe you should have been at the service on Friday where thousands of people sat on the floor all over the auditorium and it was people of all ages and classes. As far as I know, there is freedom of worship in this country and no one is compelled to attend the services. If the man of God is moved by the plight of his people and doesn't want to see this occur next year, who is anyone to judge him. Watch yourself first, what good have you contributed to your own compound, let alone street?
ReplyDeleteOh and it is the duty of the govt to ensure that roads are in good condition, not the church. After all the social services the church provides, you want them to also provide infrastructure? Those who were paid to fix that roads have not touched it so for that the church should waddle in? No doubt there are money making entities disguised as churches out there, the bible already said false prophets would be a sign of the end times. But please don't mix up your issues and blindly condemn all. The ability to find information, analyse and make valid judgements is a sign of education, not just passionately following one argument which supports your POV without looking at other factors.
ReplyDeleteIf any one of you has attended one of the RCCG conventions @ the camp site, you'll understand the need for a bigger auditorium. The overflow of people on the outside is almost as much as the people inside the auditorium. People sit on d road outside. Imagine what it would look like when it rains like in 2009, even the people inside the auditorium got drenched.
ReplyDeletePastor Adeboye wanting to build a bigger auditorium is not for his personal gain, it is for everyone of us, and besides, it is not being built with stolen money or government funds, people of like minds are giving towards the cause. It is not his church and it is not his building, if he dies today, the ministry will continue. Anyway, it is a good thing people criticise the move because no great thing was ever achieved without great criticism. All the comments I've read so far are selfish and nobody has come out to proffer a solution to the real problem: providing a roof over everyone's head @ the RCCG conventions - a simple and basic roof, not an air conditioned enclosure!
The big question is this? What are they loooking for? God,Who dwells in their hearts but they neither know nor understand He wants a PERSONAL and intimate relationship with them? Jesus has the RESPONSIBILITY to build His Church and He said so. The Church is not buildings or physical strucures but the organic Body of Christ which Christ,as the Head,is building to conform to kingdom values and standards like christlikeness,obedience,righteousness,humility,love,forgiveness,death to self,patience,endurance,selflessness,perseverance,etc. God's intention is to showcase His church,built with LIVING STONES,to powers and principalities that He has people on earth who can still defy those powers and live in obedience to His commands and do the Will of God in representation of Him. The religious church of today is not about kingdom VALUES visible in individual lifesyle but about numbers,power,prosperity,deliverance,wealth,miracles,meeting of needs,rules and regulations,man-worship,materialism,competition,avarice,greed,HYPOCRISY,lust and things that GRATIFY the FLESH at the expense of inner spiritual growth and development in God. The focus is on the EXTERNAL that is seen while the unseen INTERNAL is rotten in the sight of God who SEARCHES the HEART!
DeleteI don't normally comment on news from dis site, but on seeing d above publish, I can say dis people are jst mere fools against d will of God.
ReplyDeleteWhat is d primary aim of d religious leaders? Isn't it to bring more people to God?
What is d primary aim of d gov? Isn't it to provide d necessary tyns for d people?
Den,wat are u now sayin. Wat is more important dan all of us gathering to waorship God so dat at d end we wud knw we goin somwhr
Do u knw hw many hospitals, schools, employment, redeem alone has used to contribute to Nigeria? What den are u saying.why not turn redeem to a political party so that he can lv it primary aim and face its political aim
Those dat made comment in d publish are mere fools and enemies of God. Nd am sure dey are not redeemers. If d biggest auditorium is in Nigeria,wat shud we be gud 4?
Enemies of progress!
Ride on baba E.A adeboye, God will be wit u (Amen)
Not sure of 2009, but it rained in 2010 - the Friday Holy Ghost Service.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I smile and shake my head...someone said in a comment above, "Jesus said He'll build His church..." The church of Jesus Christ is an invisible church made up of the saints, He doesn't dwell in a temple made by mortal hands!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad some of us know that building of schools and hospitals are primaly d responsibilies of the govt,yet these same churches decided to meddle with govt businesses and build schools and hospitals, and their fees even beat that of d govt.
And I really wish all these 'millions' of ppl are regenerated in their hearts...as in they are born-again...but immediately after d service what do u see? Hatred amongst so-called christians...a car owner drives past someone on foot who asked for a ride to d gate, he refuses!
My point: it is not about d building (afterall fire and brimstone cometh), it's about d ppl...teach them uncompromised Word of God, lead their hearts to repentance by the Word of God, turn away from evil yourselves (G.O and his officials) and stop making women preachers(among other errors), the Bible clearly forbids it! (1Tim.2:11-12, 1Cor.14:34-35)
To mi is beta he build industries were graduates 4rm hiz church can benefit..buildin of churches is nt a garantee 2heaven o
ReplyDeleteTrue Christians do not go on the pages of the Internet to rain abuses and curses on those who criticize them or condemn their choice of approach to the worship of the Most Feared Almighty God. As Christians, you bless and pray for the forgiveness of others as well as the forgiveness of your sins. God does not dwell in buildings. God dwells in the hearts of men. It is the heart that worships God not the lips or the buildings, no matter whether they are large or small. I pray all of you, who claim to be Christians but are not, to seek God and turn away from your evil ways. Remember, it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of The Living God and moreso, God is no respecter of any man. Take heed. Peace be unto you all.
ReplyDeleteAnd He always speak in parables, so that the wisest human wisdom will never understand. "They may look and look, yet not see; they may listen and listen, yet not understand..Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. You are the Church, You are the Temple. Whether acquired or built a building in all Nigerian Land and name it a Church or Something, that, won't change what your body should be and why you existed here on this Planet.
ReplyDelete"Listen, then, if you have ears!"
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWill be DECIEVED, not DECIEVE
DeletePeople should mind what they say to the Man of God for the wrought of God not to bestowed upon them.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely ridiculous! Maybe people do not understand how big this is! 9km square is 17 times bigger than the current place they have... it is almost as big as the whole town of Loburo that the camp is located in!!!
ReplyDeleteThe church needs to get it's priorities straight! While I do agree that it is not the church's responsibility to provide infrastructure (that's one of a few things the government is supposed to do), I do not see the point of building this ginormous building that will be used once, maybe twice a year. The money can easily be used to fulfill the great commission for example. Which one will glorify God more; 3000*3000 people coming to Christ because of a missions trip or a 3000m*3000m building? Why not create the world's largest network of missionaries instead of the world's largest building? What of all the poor and widowed and orphaned? You think because you have 1 or 2 orphanages therefore all the orphans in Nigeria are taken care of? If you have the opportunity to build a gigantic building, how much more the money to build 300 small orphanages all over Nigeria?
Maybe it's because of all of this nonsense in the church that God is allowing the church in Nigeria to be persecuted.
How many missions have you supported in your own little way?
DeleteIf a man was to set up a club house of this size, he will be applauded. That is the extent of man's depravity. Thy dislike anything good. God penalizes such people by keeping good things away from them.
ReplyDeleteTalking about hospital, I remember the original write up mention something about the number of children been delivered weekly. Peharps the writer thinks they are given birth to in a bathroom. Rather than condemn him, i think he deserves pity.
The writer also overlooked the fact that there has arisen a need to accommodate the number of worshippers. Prophet Elisha was confronted with similar need. He didn't take over the government's responsibility by constructing roads and NEPA station. This same church runs a university in the same camp.
Please stop writing if you have nothing to write. Some people dare things angels and even demons are afraid to do. Pray for forgiveness for saying God should not have an adequate place to be worshipped. I am recommending this because I love and sympathize with you- AJ
Any thing that brings undue hardship to peace loving people is un-Godly and devilish. Check out the level of suffering presently along the road at KM 46 whenever there is a service in the church. In other climes the whole church should have been pulled down to make way for more roads instead of even thinking of expanding the so called church. By the way,things of God is not about number,quantity or size. It is about quality of faith, mind and how practical one lives the gospel message. If the pastor wants he can as well build the Tower of Babel. God is watching all of Us. O to, Chi ke na. Uka agwula.
ReplyDeleteIt is better for el matosky to remain in his mask forever as it will save him the embarrasment of being identified as the man always with grammatical and intellectual blunders
ReplyDeleteDaddy EO Adeboye I love you'cos God is with you. For all the pple that are wondering how the money will come ,know that God is able to do exceedingly and abountantly more than your imaginations for the earth is His and the fullness thereof . As for that money in your account , don't worry , we won't have need for it. So don't tear your your singlet .
ReplyDeleteDaddy EO Adeboye I love you'cos God is with you. For all the pple that are wondering how the money will come ,know that God is able to do exceedingly and abountantly more than your imaginations for the earth is His and the fullness thereof . As for that money in your account , don't worry , we won't have need for it. So don't tear your your singlet .
ReplyDeleteGet this straight I am not a member of RCCG. Pastor said that they want to build 9km length church auditorium for pple to worship GOD not some personal mansion and all ds noise?. And wen did pastor became president, governor or local govt chairman, hw many pple are aware about many road project in d time past dt d church wanted to build dt d govt official will say no or dt they shld bring d money for d project? Hw come we don't show ds same concern and demand accountability from our political rulers or going out to vote dem out? No pastor and church are d easy target.am so sori for some pple and their children generation.repent now for the kingdom of GOD IS @ HAND. To before warned is to before armed? Are u armed with JESUS. Today is ur day SALVATION. Tommorow may be TOO late. ACCEPT CHRIST TODAY... Odun Tutu
ReplyDeleteWhy not have sessions using what you have now? must all who worshipers with the redeem church attend a service once? one million capacity and it’s not ok. do you see the traffic problems encountered by road users on what you have now? so what happens when you build a three kilo arena? pls in whatever you do be considerate. PHIL 2:4(consider ppls interest, not yours only)when Moses could not handle issues concerning the isrealites(huge numbers of cases) he was asked to delegate to reduce the number of cases that came to him to a manageable size. ppl are suffering being robbed, wasting valuable time and resources coping with the hold up as a result of what is on ground and you are talking about increasing size. if you were not attending that church and you are held up in what is usually hrs of traffic jam would you insist on increasing the problem? some other churches hold conventions and they arrange a manageable size of crowd in each section. i hope this is not about being one of the biggest church building in the world. Or would they control traffic better if they build a bigger auditorium?
ReplyDeleteFor all those who have made comments, I wish you were at the last programme of the RCCG to see people seated on pavestones and bare ground under the open sky. What if it rains with millions of children in the rain? Or the stampede that may result?
ReplyDeleteIt is wise to put a covering over worshippers head to protect them physically, even if the Church only has an auditorium and not a building.
God will speedily purnish those raining curses and steering tensions against the man of God as in the days of Elijah and Elisher in Jesus name! I declare now divine purnishment against you all for desecrating the annointing of the Holy Spirit i Jesus name.
ReplyDeleteYou can hear people with jealousy, envy, hatred, strife and bitterness toward the church of God. Especially d so call Christians. Why do d nations rage? Sambalath and Tobiah did d same in the Bible, and God silent them. What is wrong with private jet? To whom much is given, much is expected.
ReplyDeleteLagos Ibadan express was constructed over 30 yrs ago with the same 4 lanes u stil there today. Wat was the number of vehicles then and now?. Yet govt deemed it fit to change. Even if u remove all d worship centres wil dt change dt increase d in adequate 4 lanes? Wil dt improved d road potholes wich has causing accident on daily basis? We like chasing shadows in Nigeria. Has anybody thot of hw dangerous dt axis wuld be e.g armed robbers etc if such facilities were to be absent with dos potholes still on d road
ReplyDeletePLS IF YOU U DONT HAVE WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW PROJECT U BETER KEEP QUITE SO AS NOT TO PUT THE WRATH OF GOD ON UR SELF.THE MAN OF GOD IS ALWAYS DOING THINGS BY THE INSPIRATION AND DIRECTION OF GOD.HE WORK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.RCCG IS A CHURCH THAT JESUS WILL MEET ON EARTH.MEANWHILE IF YOU YET TO KNOW THE JESUS WE SERVE,U BETA DO NOW BECAUSE HELL IS REAL!
ReplyDeleteThe earlier the better you appreciate the nan of God, what he has contributed to the economy of this nation is not small in terms of job opportunities and health center.Make your findings and see how many employees in the RCCG pay roll. I pray may the Good Lord forgive you. IJN
ReplyDeleteefizyprincipal!!
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit is working and people that lack knowledge wants to rubbish its Work and Ascribe its GLORY to mammon!!!!
EVERY SIN, EVEN AGAINST THE SON OF MAN CAN BE FORGIVEN
BUT!!!!
THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN!! EITHER ON THIS EARTH NOR FOREVER.(Live to come)
I WONDER WHAT YOUR STORY WILL BE ON THAT GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY.
THE IRONY OF IT ALL IS,.....!!!!!!
YOU CANNOT WITHDRAW YOUR STATEMENT(S) NOW!!! ENJOY YOUR FOLLY WHILE IT LAST.
MY PEOPLE PERISH COS THEY LACK KNOWLEDGE.
Hmmm. May the good Lord help us all.
ReplyDeleteTHE LORD SHALL SUPPLY ALL MY NEEDS AND NOT ALL MY DESIRES/WISHES.
Gone are the days when Men of God normally first take their desires to God for approval (just like David did when he desired to build a house for God) before inviting brethren to participate.
Indeed, many now refuse to be led by the Spirit. They are now led by their own spirit.
With the influence RCCG has all over Nigeria, one would have expected in the least to have the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as one of the best roads in Nigeria in terms of safe/convenient passage. But alas! No Way!!. Talk about Social Responsibility.
Has RCCG really used it's influence within the Country wisely just as Elisha, Nehemiah, Daniel or Mordecai.
Always judge RCCG by it's Mission and Vision Statements. It is presently lagging behind in all of them. Today, several types of Politicians are invited to speak at same Altar that sincere Men of God are to minister to the needs of the people under the unction of the Holy Spirit of God. They minister on Altar already polluted with strange fires. Even the President of Nigeria should not be allowed on the Altar expect the Holy Spirit permits it since God is not a respecter of persons.
Since greed is a basic human instinct, it’s always easy to dangle carrot of blessing before most people and you will see them jumping straight at it. It’s unfortunate that the common man in Nigeria is an object of extortion and exploitation even by the Church. It’s difficult these days to see individuals that have the sincere interest of the common man at heart in Nigeria. Even the various arms of the Government are busy exploiting Nigerians.
Let us cast our minds back to Lekki 1998. It was indeed a Time of Divine Visitation. Let us remember how the Man of God went about provoking God for a Divine Visitation. The simple step was like that of David, all the Man of God simply did back then was take his desire to God and God was really impressed with it and God indeed supported him.
It would have been wonderful if the Man of God has not lost this touch. But I am afraid, it appears, we are having a Samson scenario on our hands and we don't know there is already a problem.
Remember the Boko Haram Declaration by the Man of God during is 70th Birthday. He gave Boko Haram just two weeks or so, but alas, Boko Haram is still kicking almost 2 years after the declaration. What was the issue; it was simply a declaration by the spirit of the Man of God and not by the Spirit of God.
No Man of God can love the people more than God that both created them and also decided to save them.
The right person who really knows that need of the Church is the Lord Jesus (the owner of the Church) and He also knows the perfect timing to provide such needs. I am sure there would have been no need for any one to start arguing if the story of this expansion goes thus; the Man of God at the time the telling the people about his feelings for a larger auditorium also indicates whether he had first touched base with the owner of the Church (i.e. the Lord Jesus) on his desire to build a larger auditorium and whether the Lord has given the go-ahead and how it will be or should be funded. This tiny but crucial bit would have indeed made a lot of difference to even a Non-Christian.
Going forward, my advise is that we really need to help our Men of God by reminding them continually that they can only lead us into ultimate breakthroughs if they are always careful in first consulting the Lord on things they desire for the Church He has given them the unique opportunity of leading.
For example, many Men of God should by now have started organising special fasting and prayer sessions towards upcoming elections to ensure that God gives Nigeria God fearing and progressive leaders within all levels of governance in our dear Country. That is what I will call having a sincere feeling for the people.
May the Holy Spirit continue to teach us on how to perfectly walk with Him and also work for Him in Jesus name, Amen.
Have u ever thought of the gargantuan commerce and employment opportunities that these faith based organizations (FBOs) have provided to the Nigerian communit?. Do you know how much Dangote as a company + other cement factories and the building industries as a whole stand to gain? Have u ever thought about how many masons, electricians and other artisans benefit from these projects. When services are held and even routinely (though on a smaller scale), do you know the contribution of all these FBOs to water, bread, food stuff, drinks, oil etc,etc commerce. Do you have an idea of the number of professionals in the employ of these FBOs (ranging from lawyers to doctors, to architects, accountants lecturers, clergy, teachers, nurses, etc)? Are u aware of projects sponsored in science research and facilities in same only available in Nigeria at some of the institutions started by some of this FBOs and made available sensibly to the Nigerian academic community? Did you ever know that every year these organizations spend so much on real corporate social responsibility and good community works in stark contrast to the lip service paid to these things by multinational companies? Has it ever occurred to you that a collapse of some or all of these organizations as some people may angrily desire will impact on Nigerian GDP in its combined ultimate effect?
ReplyDeleteIf at all we are not spiritual, should we not be objective as literate beings. If you happen to be the CEO of a multi- billion naira investment or concern, would you likely be concerned with grow and expansion or as it occurs in most part of Nigerian life will u continue mediocre performance at previous levels? In this case the expansion is necessary and inevitable in the light of the mammoth crowd of last convention that the present arena could not cater for. It is the heart of a caring shepherd!