The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has reacted to the increasing spate of scandals involving Pastors in the country, latest of which bothers on two respective rape accusations against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) by celebrity photographer, Busola Dakolo and another victim (who preferred to be anonymous) in separate interviews with Y!TV recently.

Related: Long Read: When did the Nigerian church become scandal?

He explained to the congregation shortly before his sermon on Friday at the church’s monthly ‘Holy Ghost Service,’ themed Born to be Great, that he is under the authority of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with duly constituted leadership. Hence he kept silent about Pastor Fatoyinbo’s rape scandal since both associations (to which the RCCG is a member) had reacted, ‘spoke his mind on the subject.’

Related: Finally, CAN reacts to Pastor Fatoyinbo’s rape scandal

The 77-year-old preacher however, remarked that he felt compelled to say some things, majority of which were excerpts from the bible to those that are young, up and coming ministers (of the gospel).

Outlined as four major points, laced with intermittent references to proverbs and old sayings, the message was strong enough to drive home his point that young ministers and the body of Christ at large, have bulk of the roles to play in ensuring that abuse of all forms and allegations become unheard of in the Church of God.

Related: ‘We will not shield any Pastor who crosses the line’ – PFN reacts to Fatoyinbo’s rape scandal

Here are the points as noted from the live broadcast of the service:

1. There is nothing hid that shall not come to the open or made manifest. [Mark 4:22]

“It doesn’t matter how long you think you’ve done something and it’s covered…(hoping) that it will never come to the open, then you can go and throw away your bible.”

Noting that he has been adjudged to be old-fashioned, he stressed that Jesus who he aspired to be like isn’t fashionable and never changes irrespective of time, adding that he preferred to remain that way.

2. Sooner or later, your sins will surely find you out if you continue in sin under the guise of grace.[Numbers 32:23]

“If you given your life to Christ, the blood of Jesus will wash away all your sins. But after giving your life to Jesus and you continue in sin under the guise of grace; As the Lord lives, your sins will find you out.”

3. Abstain from every appearance of evil. [1 Thessalonians 5:22]

“The elders say: They want to burn you, you rubbed yourself with oil and sat near fire. You’ve made the job easy. They are calling you a thief and you are playing with the child of goat. What you are not going to eat, don’t smell.”

4. When you find yourself facing youthful lust, flee! [2 Timothy 2:22]

“The bible says if the devil comes to you face-to-face, stand and fight. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. But when you find yourself facing youthful lust (tempation), don’t wait to fight. Flee! Run as a terror.”

“…Don’t say I’m a great man of God, highly anointed; ask Samson,” he said.

Exhorting the ministers on how he has successfully stayed away from sexual scandals since he was ordained as a Pastor in 1975, the former academician said he has stuck to his principle of not appointing a female staff as his private secretary.

“I know you will say he has come again. He is an old fashioned man, I agree. That’s what they said, when i say I’ll never have a private secretary who is a woman.”

“…I’m old fashioned, but I’m still surviving since I was ordained; it’s better to be old fashioned and live than to be modern and die,” he added.

Related: This is bigger than Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo and COZA

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Although Adeboye has seized the opportunity of the trending cases of rape allegations against Pastor Fatoyinbo to subtly pass his message to the COZA Senior Pastor and young ministers of the gospel within and outside the RCCG fold, it is a collective desire that the Church in Nigeria will go beyond reactions, to ensuring that faith-based associations as CAN together with its affiliate bodies ‘grow’ to become an institution that stands (through timely actions and programmes) for victims of sexual abuse (within and outside the church).

‘There will also be joy in Heaven’ to see the Church in Nigeria evidently purge itself (through disciplinary measures  and sundry means) of individuals and groups that inadvertently seek to bring the name of God and the finished works of our Lord Jesus Christ to disrepute.