10 most common things church members tell their pastors

by Thom S. Rainer Pastors are like information sponges. If they aren’t studying, they are receiving a regular deluge of information from church members. I asked twenty-two pastors to share with me the most common items they hear from their church members. In the past, this information came in the form of letters, in-person conversations,... Read More

Church, congregation, Pastors

January 12, 2013

“Can SaharaReporters barge into a mosque?” – Mountain of Fire Ministries explains why SR publisher was arrested and detained

by Akan Ido The Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) has responded to allegations of molestation and detention of two citizen journalists, Omoyele Sowore and Segun O’Law of the New York-based online news media, SaharaReporters. The church explained that due to the security challenge presently being battled in the country, it is incumbent upon it... Read More

Church, cross over service, Idowu Ajanaku, lagos, mfm, mosque, Oladele Bank-Olemoh

January 11, 2013

He’s done: Pastor Chris Okotie rules out future marriage plans [DETAILS]

by Daniel Essien Pastor of the Household of God church, Oregun and former pop star Chris Okotie has ruled out any further wedding bells in his future. He made this decision public during the church’s evening service on 9, January 2013 and an official release was posted on the Household of God’s Facebook page. This... Read More

Chris Okotie, Church, divorce, Household of God, stephanie henshaw

January 5, 2013

Photo of the Day: You’ve been warned… run for your life!

by Isi Esene With a sign such as this one can deduce that ONLY loyal members of this church continue to attend service weekly – we admire their resilience. Now, we run for our lives! – This photo was sent in by loyal YNaija reader, Uwa Odefa. Hat Tip!

Church, Photo, Religion, sign-board

December 29, 2012

Opinion: The curse of the Nigerian ‘Big G’ God

by Oluwafunmilayo Oyatogun The narrow, dirt streets in southern cities like Aba and Port Harcourt are lined with zinc and wood structures with motorcycles parked in front of them and worshipers dancing to praise songs in traditional languages with their white handkerchiefs. On the wide, tarred major roads, gigantic churches – beautiful by all standards and filled... Read More

Church, pastor

December 26, 2012

Opinion: Why I (desperately) wanted to pray this Christmas

by Ann Hood This prayer, though, was different. It was a prayer from my girlhood, a prayer for peace and comfort and guidance. It was a prayer of gratitude. It was a prayer that needed to be done in church… Back when I was 8 or 9 and wanted to be a nun, I would... Read More

christmas, Church, gratitude, prayer, protection

December 26, 2012

Gruesome: Gunmen kill 5, burn church in Yobe attack

by Isi Esene About five people were killed at a church in Peri, Yobe State. The church building was said to have been burned down and several other buildings in the area was also affected in the attack which happened on Christmas Eve. The pastor of the church was also among the dead. Peri is... Read More

Ayo Oritsejafor, boko haram, CAN, christmas eve, Church, Peri, Potiskum, Sanusi Rufai, yobe

December 13, 2012

The Cross and the Crossroad – Leke Alder’s thoughts on the ongoing church controversy

At the heart of the ongoing debate is the nature of church economics. Why do people give to churches in such huge figures? Why would a Pastor take money from the poor? Recent events in the Church have generated social fervor about the lifestyles of men of the robe and the governance structure of the... Read More

Christianity, Church, Leke Alder, sam adeyemi, Taiwo Odukoya, Tony Rapu, Tunde Bakare

December 13, 2012

Sad song: Chorister arraigned for raping another church member

by Akan Ido Chukwuma Iheme, 25, was today arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly attempting to rape a fellow church member (names withheld). Iheme and the victim were both choristers at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Goshen Parish, Ogudu, Lagos. The accused reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges of... Read More

chorister, Chukwuma Iheme, Church, Donjor Perizi, Ogudu, rape, rccg, victim

December 9, 2012

Apology not accepted: Comedian Princess “regrets” going to Poju Oyemade’s church

by Akan Ido We don’t think the comedienne, Princess will be quick to attend another service organized by Poju Oyemade’s Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos. Princess, also known as Damilola Adekoya, tweeted that one of the church ushers prevented her from sitting in the front row of the church ostensibly because she is not married.... Read More

christian, Church, princess, single

December 7, 2012

Ralph Jones: Why is religion so afraid of women?

…though the Church likes to avoid the issue, there are numerous biblical commands and injunctions for women to be raped and treated like property. The latest in a long line of upsetting news for women, and women in religion, has hit us square in the face in the past 24 hours. The Christian Union at... Read More

bible, Bristol Christian Union, Christianity, Church, Conversations On Campus, Religion, Sexism, UK Universities & Education News, Women Bishops

November 25, 2012

Jaji bomb update: 10 people reported dead and more injured in twin car bomb attack on church

by Isi Esene There are indications that the explosion which occurred earlier today at the military protestant church within the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, near Kaduna, was caused by two cars rigged with powerful explosives. Reports say at least ten people have been confirmed dead in an attack which happened... Read More

boko haram, Bola Koleoso, Church, Jaji, terrorism

November 18, 2012

Opinion: Prayer Warriors: Between a prosperous church, mosque, and a backward nation

by Obinna Akukwe Some prayer warriors of Nigerian extraction have effectively prayed self out of poverty, lack, sickness, madness, infertility etc while the nation is still backwards, sliding deep into, poverty, insecurity, inequality, injustice and despair. The Nigerian praying system enthrones a prosperous church while the nation is in a state of backwardness. Some... Read More

Church, Obinna Akukwe, povertuy, prayer warriors, prosperity

November 12, 2012

Opinion: On pastors and jets – Let’s not get carried away as Christians

by Olayinka Olorisade Criticisms are flying all over the place and emotions are running high, but bottom line is, many think that ‘pastors’ have become day-time robbers. I think that people need to re-evaluate themselves and I have a few (maybe not a few) questions I want us all to answer. There has been so... Read More

Christianity, Church, corruption, nigeria, Private jet

November 4, 2012

Fence your churches – Police advise Jos residents

by Hauwa Gambo The Nigerian police authorities have stepped up their efforts to protect citizens in crisis-prone areas of the counrty. For one, it has advised churches and mosques in the attack-prone capital of Plateau State – Jos – to begin building concrete fences around their premises. According to the state police commissioner, Emmanuel Ayeni,... Read More

Church, jos, mosque, police

November 3, 2012

Eddie Iroh: “Bishop” Oyedepo and the rest of us

by Eddie Iroh Before I say another word in this article, let me quickly state that I have already put my neck on the chopping block for the guillotine, slipped a hangman’s noose round my neck, and tied myself to the stake ready for the firing squad. I say this in acknowledgement of the fact... Read More

bishop, Church, eddie iroh, Oyedepo

October 28, 2012

Report: Another bomb blast hits Catholic Church in Kaduna

by Isi Esene Reports coming in indicate that a suicide bomber has hit St. Rita Catholic Church at Ungwar Yero area of Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State. The attack which seriously injured the Reverend Father in the church was reported to have happened earlier this morning during the Catholic mass Eyewitnesses told newsmen that a lone... Read More

boko haram, catholic, Church, JTF, kaduna, Nigeeria, security

October 26, 2012

Opinion: Prayer will not change Nigeria

by Emeka Oparah Meanwhile, some European countries, where less than 15% of the population recognise the existence of any gods and never bother to go to any place of worship, be it Sunday or Friday, are doing good, showing love and prospering as a people. In their famously controversial book, The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx... Read More

Church, europe, Mohammed Buhari, nigeria, prayer, Religion, Yakubu Gowon

October 18, 2012

TICKER: Abuja Demolition: RCCG, Winners Chapel Estates, 35 More To be demolished – FCTA

Despite the controversy generated by the demolition of over 500 housing units by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s department of development control in Lugbe 1 Extension, Gosa, recently, the FCT A says 37 more estates have been pencilled in for demolition. There is no going back on the demolitions of the “illegal” structures,... Read More

Abuja, Church, FCTA, rccg, winners chapel

October 11, 2012

TICKER: “Can a man rob God?” Man arraigned for stealing computers from church

The police on Thursday arraigned one Paul Ogor before a Kubwa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on a two-count charge of house-breaking and theft. Police prosecutor, Sandra Oparaugo, told the court that one Immalusi Silas, a security man at St. Bartholomew Anglican Church, Kubwa, reported the case to the police on October 1. Oparaugo said... Read More

arraigned, Church, computer, steal

October 2, 2012

It is finished: Bishop David Benenoch announces divorce – for “spiritual reasons”

by Akan Ido There are unconfirmed reports that the Founding Pastor of the Communion Church and the President Bishop of Communion Church Worldwide, Bishop David Benenoch has decided to divorce his wife, Esther Benenoch. He said he was putting a stop to the marriage which has lasted twenty years and produced three children due to... Read More

bishop, blogger, Church, Communion Church, David Benenoch, divorce, Esther Benenoch

September 30, 2012

Explosions in Kaduna, as grenade kill Sunday School boy in Nairobi, Kenya

by Isi Esene The Joint Military Task Force on Sunday morning shot and killed two suspected Boko Haram militants who were suspected to be planning an attack on some churches in Zaria, Kaduna State. After the killing, witnesses say a loud explosive sound suspected to be a powerful bomb was heard in the Gaskiya area... Read More

Al-Shabaab, boko haram, Charles Owino, Church, Gaskiya, Islamic militants, Joint Task Force, JTF, kaduna, Kenya, Nairobi, NEMA, nigeria, somalia, Sunday School, Zaria

September 30, 2012

“Men of God harrass me sexually,” says Tope Alabi, “You better name names,” responds PFN

by Isi Esene Tope Alabi, the hugely popular contemporary gospel singer recently granted an interview revealing that she gets hit on by many pastors who make sexual advances towards her. The beautiful singer said many of them try to get her using all sorts of means but she has continued to resist their advances saying... Read More

Church, Faith, gospel, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Tope Alabi

September 23, 2012

SAD PHOTOS: Some victims of the Bauchi church suicide bombing (GRAPHIC)

by Isi Esene These are the pictures of some of the victims of the St. John’s Catholic Cathedral in the Batyan Gari Area of Bauchi, Bauchi State. Six people were reported dead in the suicide attack but many victims sustained varying levels of injury. “When the suicide bomber targeted the church, he was prevented by... Read More

Bauchi, boko haram, Bomb, Church, St. John's Catholic Church, suicide, terrorism

September 23, 2012

Update: Church bomb kills several worshippers in Bauchi

by Isi Esene Unconfirmed reports say that the bomb which exploded in Bauchi State at St. John’s Catholic Cathedral directly across from the Bauchi Township stadium killed several christian worshippers earlier this morning. The explosion reportedly occurred a few minutes after 9am this morning during Sunday church service on Murtala Mohammed way in the Bayan... Read More

Bauchi, boko haram, Bomb, Church, JTF, terrorism, worshippers

September 6, 2012

Ore Fakorede: Sectarianism – The bane of contemporary christianity (30 Days, 30 Voices)

It appears that Christianity is no longer all-embracing, with ‘hugs’ now reserved for card-carrying members of the church club and their well-connected friends. I grew up in a proper Christian home; one in which family prayers were hour-long events that couldn’t be missed (if only for the fear of the promised wrath of God upon... Read More

Christianity, Church, God, Ore Fakorede, tolerance

September 3, 2012

Opinion: Why the “HIV pastor” is likely to strike again, and again

by Dr. Boyce Watkins Ladies, please take a good look at this man, because the fact is that you probably know him. He’s the nice, smooth, good-looking man that makes you want to get naked on the third or fourth date. You trust him because you’ve been raised to believe that a man of God... Read More

Church, Dr Boyce Atkins, hiv, pastor, police

August 17, 2012

TICKER: Offering time: Bishop says churches need to install bank card machines

A church service wouldn’t be a church service without the sight of a collection plate or bag being passed down the aisles during a hymn. But such a method of raising funds may be nearing the end of the line as religious institutions wake up to the realities of the 21st century. According to one... Read More

bishop, card payments, Church, collection, offering, technology

August 13, 2012

Teenage mother dumps baby in church, leaves note

by Mayowa Salami You can imagine the shock that hit parishioners of the Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibusa, Delta State, when they were greeted with an abandoned baby girl in front of the church while filing in for morning mass over the weekend. The new born baby girl was said to have been abandoned by... Read More

abandon, catholic, Church, delta state, Ibusa, Ogechi

July 29, 2012

Remember notorious robber Shina Rambo? He is (supposedly) now a pastor, and he hosts a crusade in August – See details

by Hauwa Gambo In the 90s when robbers and 419ers were superstars in Nigeria and you heard everyday of the exploits of Eze Ego and Fred Ajudua, one name stood tall – Shina Rambo. He was a famous armed robber all over the South-West, seemingly immune to arrest or punishment, even as he killed and... Read More

armed robber, Church, lagos island, Prison, prophet obadare, shina rambo