Pastor Enouch Adejare Adeboye has retired as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria.
He announced the decision on Saturday morning at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving of the Church in Shimawa, Ogun State.
Pastor Joseph Obayemi, former Special Assistant to the General Overseer (SATGO) on Finance was named as the new General Overseer.
Adeboye, popularly called Daddy G.O by Church members also named Pastor Johnson Odesola, who was the Special Assistant on Administration and Personnel, as the church Secretary. Pastor Adeyokunnu will also serve as Treasurer of the Church.
NAN reports that Adeboye was born on March 2, 1942, in Ifewara, Osun State.
Pastor Adeboye had his B.Sc. in Mathematics at University of Nigeria Nsukka, and subsequently got his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Lagos, and worked as a lecturer in Mathematics at the universities of Lagos and Ilorin, before going into full time priesthood in 1984.
After joining the RCCG in 1973, he began working to translate the sermons of its then Pastor and founder, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, from Yoruba into English.
In 1981, Adeboye was appointed General Overseer of the church.
He took over from Papa Akindayomi, who had died the previous year.
For three years he performed the role part-time, still lecturing at Ilorin.
He finally gave up his university position to preach full-time.
The church, which was not well known prior to Adeboye’s ascendance has grown phenomenally, to become Nigeria’s biggest, with branches globally in about 190 countries, including more than 14,000 in Nigeria.
Adeboye has stated that his aim is to put a church within five minutes of every person on Earth.
He married Adenike, now 68 in 1967. She was born on 13th July 1948.
– Adeboye remains General Overseer Worldwide – RCCG –
Despite the appointment of a new General Overseer for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Nigeria, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye remains the General Overseer, Worldwide of the church.
A statement signed by Leke Adeboye, the clergyman’s last son and Personal Assistant said the clarification is in response to alleged misrepresentation of Pastor E. A Adeboye’s announcement at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving held at the redemption camp on Saturday that the Church in Nigeria is now to be led by Pastor Joseph Obayemi.
The statement clarified that the latest development is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council of Nigeria (FRCN) guiding all registered churches, mosques, and CSOs.
The regulation according to the statement stipulates that “heads of non profit organisations like churches now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations while in retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families.”
Leke Adeboye added that Pastor Funsho Odesola, will now serve as the new Church Secretary while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu, is the new Church Treasurer.
He advised all members of RCCG to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning.
He also appealed to members to educate people around them and not spread inaccurate information stressing that Pastor E.A Adeboye remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.
– “New Overseer Obayemi has been prepared by God”, says Adeboye –
AHEAD of his 75th birthday in March this year,The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Saturday appointed a new General Overseer (GO) for the church as he retires.
Reports have it that the new GO is Pastor Joseph Osuolale Obayemi as the GO (Nigeria) while the new church Secretary is Pastor Johnson Folorunsho Odesola and the treasurer is Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu.
Pastor Adeboye who revealed that he remains the GO (Worldwide) for the church which has presence in over 192 countries in the world added that new GO – Obayemi will oversee the Nigerian arm of the church, adding that, “this will also affect other General Overseers including David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church aka Winners’Chapel; Kumuyi of Deeper Life; Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire Ministries, among others.”
He described the new GO as an experienced administrator who has been prepared for years by God for the task. Prior to his appointment as the new General Overseer for RCCG, Nigeria Obayemi’s has been part of the mission’s Salary Review Committee as well as member of the church’s In-Land Mission, which has also represented RCCG at Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) activities across the country. Further reports says that Obayemi was appointed the new GO at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving at Shimawa, in Ogun State. The newly appointed GO was the former Special Assistant to the General Overseer (SATGO) on Finance.
Notable things about Pastor Joseph Obayemi
The new Head, Pastor Joseph Obayemi was picked from Lagos state, as he was the clergyman in charge of Lagos Province 28, Region 2.
As one of the prominent ministers of the assembly, he has been one of the decision makers as a member of the governing council of RCCG.He also seems to be a trustworthy fellow to have been picked by Pastor Adeboye as he was a deputy in charge of Finance.
The incoming GO also headed the board of governors, House fellowship of the RCCG body. His selection may also have been based on the fact that he was a special assistant to Daddy GO on Finance Pastor In Charge of Region (PICR) in the region where he was the pastor. In 2015, he laid the foundation of the place of worship of the province, although it was a temporary site. Obayemi was appointed at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving at Shimawa, in Ogun State. He is now the General Overseer of RCCG Nigeria as Pastor Adeboye remains the Worldwide General Overseer.
He is a confidant of Pastor Adeboye and at many times represented Daddy GO at programmes. He is happily married with children Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye declared that 2017 will be a “Year of Suprises”. Little did members of the church know that the surprises will begin with them.
Pastor Adeboye who was ordained as General Overseer (most senior pastor) of RCCG in 1981 affirms that the new GO, Pastor Obayemi will not stop him from carrying out this functions or drive him away from the camp.
As spiritual head Adeboye will still be allowed to conduct RCCG’S ‘Holyghost’ services as well as visit RCCG churches.
Order of Succession in England and America In the Church of England only adultery and divorce can disqualify Charles or any other person in line of succession from the queen. This is so meticulously planned that when these conditions are met, the next person takes over, not only as the King of England or the head of the Anglican Church as the defender of faith according to Parliament decree. UIn this way, he fills the role given to the history he shares with the church of England.
In America, where the Apostolic Faith predominates, a person taking over the leadership has to be the next in line to the retiring Bishop. This is so because the Bishops are the best organ through which the Church continues in its apostolic voyage on earth. This is indeed transmitted from the Apostles by each generation laying hands on the in-coming Bishop or successor.