The interview granted by the General Overseer of
the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor
Enoch Adeboye, to Al Jazeera has stirred a heated
debate on the social media. Many are in support
while others are not happy with him.
"There are things you need, which you must
have if you are to be efficient. If you have to
oversee churches in 160 nations, you can't do
that on a bicycle," Pastor Adeboye had told
Mohammed Adow of Al Jazeera.
But what is the crux of the matter?
Pastor Adeboye is one of the increasing numbers
of Pentecostal pastors in Nigeria that have
acquired private jets for themselves. Many
Nigerians have criticised these pastors, arguing
that they are being insensitive to the poverty
among their members.
As would be expected, Pastor Adeboye's
justification for his ownership of a private jet has
divided Nigerians on various social networks as
some agreed with his opinion while many
opposed him.
Onyianyi, a member of a popular online forum,
Nairaland, argues that it was wrong for Adeboye
to own a private jet when the majority of his
members live below the poverty line and wallow
in abject poverty.
He says, "I'm not a member of any of these
Pentecostal churches but Adeboye is one pastor I
respect so much. This time around he got it
wrong, there's no reason for a man of God with
millions of impoverished followers to be cruising in
a private jet.
"After all, are they more committed in this
ministry than Jesus Christ? Our Lord Jesus never
used a private boat or a private camel during his
time. Yet he could easily command one to his
usage. Christ, though very rich, chose to live a
poor life so that his message can easily get across
to the poor."
Also commenting on the issue in Punch, a reader,
Zoemed, says Pastor Adeboye's defence was not
good enough. Hear him: "I had expected a better
defence rather than this 'I need a plane to do a
better job of supervising churches under my
ministry'! What are the roles of Subordinate
pastors? The Catholic Archdiocese of New York
alone could buy many jets for the Pope but they
spend most of their money on helping the poor,
providing hospital care and welfare for the
downtrodden.
"Our Pentecostal churches cannot even build
[free] hospitals and affordable schools to
supplement the little we have."
But rising in defence of Pastor Adeboye, another
reader, Adeola says the private jet is necessary. In
her words: "For a man to visit 160 countries in a
year is never a joke. Why shouldn't he have a jet
if his church can provide it? You and I know how
'sound' our aviation industry is. For a minister of
God who is billed to preach in a particular place
with other programmes following to have a flight
delay or outright cancellation without prior
notification, is a loss that cannot be quantified.
"Holding of crusade is different from political
gathering, which many of you understand better.
The mandate given to these ministers is urgent,
the time is short and it covers the entire world.
This is more than that of the President. Leave
them alone as they will give account of their
stewardship to God."
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