Adeboye retires two members of RCCG hierarchy, makes new appointments

The Gener Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has announced some changes in the church hierarchy with the retirement of two members of the council after attaining the retirement age as stipulated by the constitution.

A statement issued yesterday by the head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, said that after a meeting of the Governing Council of the church, two officers retired.

He gave their names as Pastor Oluwalogbon and Pastor C.O. Osho.

According to Adegbiji, two members of the church who have served the church meritoriously have been appointed to replace them. They are Pastor Johnson Funso Odesola who had served the church for 40 years and Pastor Remi Akintunde following 38 years of meritorious service.

The statement further explained that the Governing Council, the highest organ of the church is made up of 18 members with Pastor Adeboye as chairman. Other members now include Pastors Kuo, Ezekiel Odeyemu, Elijah Daramola, Gbadebo Lawal, Joseph Obayemi, Johnson Odesola and Remi Obayemi.

The number of special assistants to the General Overseer has also been increased from 12 to 19 with the inclusion of seven other members including; Pastor Kola Bolanta in charge of South America; Pastor James Fadele in charge of North America; Pastor Agu Irukwu in charge of United Kingdom and Pastor Olowu in charge of Europe. Others include Pastor Tosin Macaulay in charge of North Africa; Pastor J.K. Loaded in charge of Region 10 Abuja and Pastor Charles Adegoke on his way to the Middle East.

Adeboye also announced the constitution of a World Advisory Council which is expected to meet every December to give proposal for the consideration of the Governing Council. Members include all former members of the governing council and all special assistants to the G.O. The foreign outposts have been restructured as follows: Europe which has been divided into three smaller regions with headquarters in Holland, Spain and Sweden. North America has been divided into Canada -one region and USA - five regions. UK has been divided into four regions including Wales, Scotland, Northen Ireland and England.

Similarly, Asia/Middle East has been divided into Malaysia and United Arab Emirate. This came just as the church announced tremendous growth in Nigeria within the last two years as the church planted 28,582 parishes in the year 2012-2013and 32,036 parishes in 2013-2014.

In Nigeria within the period under review, a total of 332,800 souls were won for Christ in 2012-2013 and 507,472 others gave their lives to Christ in 2013-2014. Consequently, six new regions have been created in Nigeria, making the number of regions in the country to 24 just as 28 new provinces have been created. New deacons and deaconesses were, yesterday, enjoined to be of good character, one of the cardinal qualifications of a minister who is determined to succeed in the vineyard of The Lord. The charge was made by Rev. Charles Achunwa at the end of the ordination ceremony of 8,622 deacons and deaconesses at the Arena of the Redemption Camp. Preaching a short sermon to adminish the new ordinands, the Senior Pastor/founder of Doulos Ministries who was born again in 1971, and is also renowned in his music ministry, enjoined the new ministers to remember always that the ministry believes in revelation.

According to him, anyone who lobied to get ordained should not forget that God would ensure that such a one would be found in the loby when the trumpet is sounded, warning that as ministers they must be above board at all times because the people of the world rather mirror the Church through the behaviour of the ministers and no longer the Bible. He further warned then against eye service, because 'if a man promotes you, a man can also bring you down. It's only God's promotion that isermanent. You are ordained because you believe in the Holy Spirit and the call of God is upon your life. We want you to grow in wisdom, not forgeting that character is the foundation of success.' He stressed that they most endeavour to be scandal-free at all timse, noting 'if you want to make progress in the realm of the spirit, power is it and power can only be derived from the Holy Spirit.'