₦airaland Forum

National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, speaks to GABRIEL OSHOKHA about the security challenges facing the nation, what President Bola Tinubu should do to tackle killings and kidnappings, among other issues

You’ve spent many years leading the flock. What experience have you gained the hard way as a man of God?

I had the blessing and the privilege of being called by God very early. I was in my late teens, going to 19, when the Lord called me and gave me the grace to answer the call. That was some 50 years ago.

This has taken me to every corner of Nigeria, from one state capital to another. It has taken me to various parts of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, India, and some other parts of the world.


I give glory to God for sustaining me and for keeping me. I have seen it all; I have seen that there is nothing more important in life for any human being than a personal relationship with God. This is because we came from Him and we’re going to return to Him.

When the chips are down, we brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out of this world. You see, when people die in a hospital, the first thing nurses and those attending to them do is open their hands, because if they don’t open the hands and they become stiff, they won’t be able to open the hands unless they cut them. The message is that a dead person cannot hold anything, including his house.

How have you been able to manage fame and overcome the temptation that comes with being a popular man of God?


If you’re a genuine man of God, before He makes you great, He first brings you down and teaches you humility. Take note that humility is a virtue; it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and I pray for it every day. Each day, the cheers of friends or boos of opponents don’t bother me. I only dance to the tune of heaven, listen to the tune of God, and make sure I do what’s right at any given time.

God has told me that He gives grace to the humble, and that if He is going to give me the grace to cope with my enormous responsibilities, I must be humble. I am not bigger than any man on earth, no! We are all made in the image of God. I am just a chief servant to serve the body of Christ and to serve the people of God.

You are always seen in the church. How do you balance God’s work and family life?

Early in ministry, the Lord taught me to differentiate between my life in the church and my life at home. I give proper attention to my wife. We spend time together, we fellowship together, we trust each other, and we pray together.

Then, when we began to raise a family, to have our children, I sat my wife down and I said, ‘Mum, please, let me keep the church, give me support, that’s my job. You keep the home, and I will give you support.’ I won’t go around saving the whole world while the enemy is stealing my home.

So, my children are serving born-again Christians. My lastborn is our pastor in one of our churches in Lekki; he is serving God with the whole of his heart. So, God has blessed me and helped me to be able to balance my ministry and my home so that I don’t do ministry at the expense of my family. It is not worth it.

After God, the next most important thing in your life is your family. Only God is greater than your family. Your ministry is not greater than your family; we must never do ministry at the expense of our family. Ministry is richer, better, and more fulfilling. It enriches more people when you’re a godly example to more people. I thank God because He has blessed me with an amazing family.


Many feel that church leaders are living big, while most of their followers live in poverty. What is your view about this?

Generally, church leaders are not living big. No, church leaders are lifted; they are exalted because they lead a great flock that cares for them, because they care for the flock. For example, I can’t remember when I last bought clothes or any suits.

My people give me suits; they buy me clothes. They give me all manner of things—all manner of gifts—and they look after me. So, because church leaders lead a large flock, they are visible, and many people are committed to them.

So, they look like they are big, but every genuine man of God is a child at heart, meek, a servant, a humble man of God. That’s why we kneel before God to pray to be able to stand and minister and feed His flock.

Today, by the statistics available to me, we have over 65 million Pentecostals in Nigeria, and I am their National President. It is a big organisation; and big congratulations, but that does not make me big.

That has only given me a platform to serve the people of God, to serve the congregation of God, to serve the Church of God. I am their chief servant by the grace of God.

How has your church contributed to the growth of its members and society at large, especially in this current economic crunch?


We teach them economic empowerment; we bring experts to show them that to become born again is not enough—you have to survive in this world, and you have to prosper in this world. Deuteronomy 8:18 makes it clear that it is God who gives people the power to get wealth.

So, we bring people to teach our members about agro-economy, FinTech, and about things to do to survive in life and to have enough for themselves and their families. They appreciate this, and because they get such information, they remember the Church when God blesses them.

We are helping them in every way, and they’re doing well. Those that are still at the bottom of the ladder—at the end of the day, we provide them with raw food from time to time; we give them money, and we give them support.

But the point is that we don’t make a noise about it. Jesus Christ taught us that what your right hand is doing, don’t let your left hand know. This is because if we are making noise and attracting attention to what we are doing, Jesus said we have already received our reward. We don’t want to receive all the rewards on earth, but in heaven.

We give them money; we give them scholarships. For example, we have schools—primary schools, secondary schools—and we give children of ministers and missionaries great discounts, and we give scholarships to indigent children and a whole lot of things.


NEMA tests flood response readiness in Kano
The issue of payment of tithes has always been at the centre of discourse. What is your view on this burning matter?

I promote whatever God says in His word. Whatever God opposes in His word and declares wrong in His word, I stand against it. Now, I am the national president, and I am asking everybody: let’s sheathe our swords, let’s come together as one body, one fellowship, and let’s stamp politicking out of PFN.

https://punchng.com/church-takeover-of-industrial-estates-sign-of-revival-pfn-president-bishop-oke/

Religious people are the worst. I don't care the religion you belong to.

He is high isn't he? An industry shuts down and people lose jobs. Value is lost. Church buys the building, how many people do the church employ?

More like a sign of deindustrialization and also a sign that we are losing a lot of jobs.

We christians should not use everything to rejoice.

Is it only me that noticed that the post is misleading?

Perhaps I need a better reader to highlight where the man of God mentioned the church taking over the Industrial Estate.



Tinubu, a bad man with good intentions

nairalanda1:
More like a sign of deindustrialization and also a sign that we are losing a lot of jobs.

We christians should not use everything to rejoice.

Is it the church that deindustrialized you and loose your jobs? So, church should not grow; they should slow down for other sectors when the level ground is for everybody to exploit? If the you see a sign of deindustrialization, then go and work hard and build more industries. How is that a problem of the church?

That can be interpreted as prefering government to roll out policies that will drive away multinationals so that they will take over their factories in industrial Estates

sreamsense:
Is it the church that deindustrialized you and loose your jobs? So, church should not grow; they should slow down for other sectors when the level ground is for everybody to exploit? If the you see a sign of deindustrialization, then go and work hard and build more industries. How is that a problem of the church?

Church should tell people

1. Not to steal money

2. Stop accepting money of dubious provenance

3. Stop inviting corrupt politicans to be guest of honor, and stop honoring such corrupt politicans

4. Stop encouraging people to vote for the same old jokers.

Yes, government should industrialize, but part of the problem is most of you want leaders that will share money today. That's not conducive to long term thinking that generates industrial growth.

Churches should be made to pay tax and provide jobs for their sheep if their sheep are giving them that much money to turn industries to church. They should be made to publish financial statements that prove their status as non-tax paying. Otherwise soon the sheep will eat them alive if after collecting their money, refuse to provide financial assistance.

Nawa Nlfpmod, how una go explai dis now ooooo. Soosi dey try no be small sah.

nairalanda1:
Church should tell people

1. Not to steal money

2. Stop accepting money of dubious provenance

3. Stop inviting corrupt politicans to be guest of honor, and stop honoring such corrupt politicans

4. Stop encouraging people to vote for the same old jokers.

Yes, government should industrialize, but part of the problem is most of you want leaders that will share money today. That's not conducive to long term thinking that generates industrial growth.

How many people hold meetings in your house that their monies are being stolen in the church? Is your family money among those stolen from church? Who among the politicians do you put label of "Corrupt Beware!" that church should not entertain? How are we sure that you are even more holier that those you want to label as corrupt without EFCC conviction letters? How should whom to vote for or not voté for be the concern of the church? Are they not parts of human beings that come to churches? Whom did Jesus reject from comming to him among old and young that you want that to be the concern of the churches? Is your Obi a young man or has he not served before as governor that he should go and rest as well to give room to others?

All these your junkies submissions are baseless until you can answer those questions I put to you or better go and setup your own church and keep putting label of Corrupt and not corrupt tags on politicians or send their conviction letters from authorized court of laws to churches ahead of their visits to know you are serious. I will advise you to first remove logs from your own eyes because even those you are castigating maybe holier than you in the presence of God

sreamsense:
How many people hold meetings in your house that their monies are being stolen in the church? Is your family money among those stolen from church? Who among the politicians do you put label of "Corrupt Beware!" that church should not entertain? How are we sure that you are even more holier that those you want to label as corrupt without EFCC conviction letters? How should whom to vote for or not voté for be the concern of the church? Are they not parts of human beings that come to churches? Whom did Jesus reject from comming to him among old and young that you want that to be the concern of the churches? Is your Obi a young man or has he not served before as governor that he should go and rest as well to give room to others?

All these your junkies submissions are baseless until you can answer those questions I put to you or better go and setup your own church and keep putting label of Corrupt and not corrupt tags on politicians or send their conviction letters from authorized court of laws to churches ahead of their visits to know you are serious. I will advise you to first remove logs from your own eyes because even those you are castigating maybe holier than you in the presence of God

Church should do all the above , dear boy.

And it is sad the church is making no impact on the moral aspect of this country

2mch:
Churches should be made to pay tax and provide jobs for their sheep if their sheep are giving them that much money to turn industries to church. They should be made to publish financial statements that prove their status as non-tax paying. Otherwise soon the sheep will eat them alive if after collecting their money, refuse to provide financial assistance.

How many of church members are crying in your house that their pastors are stealing their moneys? Don't forget that Christianity remains most educated and richest religion on earth, so many richest men and resourceful men and women in the churches than your own religion.

Majority of people in the churches are more educated and richest than you, so if their monies are being stolen, you will hear their cries everyday. Many pastors don't touch tithes in the church, they have accountant, elders who take proper accountability. If churches beging to pay tithe will never be a problem to churches or stop pastors from being rich, it your religion with many wives that will suffer more poverty because ones it Christianity, it will affect yours too

nairalanda1:
Church should do all the above , dear boy.

And it is sad the church is making no impact on the moral aspect of this country

You see your life, you are running away. Tell us why it is the responsibility of the church to label members or politicians as corrupt or not corrupt? Show us if Jesus did that to any or even reject any. Where is the certificate of more holier about you that will make us be rest assured you are more holier than those you are castigating ?

If the church is not making moral impact, present 50,000 people that you have morally impacted in life and put them open for public attestation. If the churches are not making morally impact, you will not even be able to leave in this world or even in Nigeria because those people that were once very wicked but now born again and become totally changed morally would have made life difficult for you in this world. It is people like you that failed morally, but pointing fingers at others why you are worse; but you failed to see your own rotten behaviour why castigating others. Churches are not your problems, they are doing their parts. Hold your government responsible or your family for failing in their own duties

sreamsense:
You see your life, you are running away. Tell us why it is the responsibility of the church to label members or politicians as corrupt or not corrupt? Show us if Jesus did that to any or even reject any. Where is the certificate of more holier about you that will make us be rest assured you are more holier than those you are castigating ?

If the church is not making moral impact, present 50,000 people that you have morally impacted in life and put them open for public attestation. If the churches are not making morally impact, you will not even be able to leave in this world or even in Nigeria because those people that were once very wicked but now born again and become totally changed morally would have made life difficult for you in this world. It is people like you that failed morally, but pointing fingers at others why you are worse; but you failed to see your own rotten behaviour why castigating others. Churches are not your problems, they are doing their parts. Hold your government responsible or your family for failing in their own duties

It is kind of sad that while the church grows, all sorts of vices and corruption and so forth grow.

Food for thought.

Church in Nigeria needs to clean house.

Good morning.

sreamsense:
How many of church members are crying in your house that their pastors are stealing their moneys? Don't forget that Christianity remains most educated and richest religion on earth, so many richest men and resourceful men and women in the churches than your own religion.

Majority of people in the churches are more educated and richest than you, so if their monies are being stolen, you will hear their cries everyday. Many pastors don't touch tithes in the church, they have accountant, elders who take proper accountability. If churches beging to pay tithe will never be a problem to churches or stop pastors from being rich, it your religion with many wives that will suffer more poverty because ones it Christianity, it will affect yours too

They are asking me everyday, crying for help. Pastor, ensure you provide your sheep that you have brainwashed, jobs. Before you feel entitled to any first fruit. Stop writing story here. And if you are expanding bigger than conglomerates, you are a profit generating company and need to be taxed heavily.

A lot of you will be doing service during the week, when you don’t have job. But demanding your sheep who are trying to hustle to leave their jobs to come and keep you company in church. Find decent paying job to keep your passion for God and stop ruining people lives to feed your stomach.

nairalanda1:
It is kind of sad that while the church grows, all sorts of vices and corruption and so forth grow.

Food for thought.

Church in Nigeria needs to clean house.

Good morning.

The pastors and imams are the ones that have ruined Nigeria. With their promise of fast wealth and other schizophrenic ideas which are not realistic or compatible with decent society. So materialistic and soaked in demonic preachings.

2mch:
They are asking me everyday, crying for help. Pastor, ensure you provide your sheep that you have brainwashed, jobs. Before you feel entitled to any first fruit. Stop writing story here. And if you are expanding bigger than conglomerates, you are a profit generating company and need to be taxed heavily.

A lot of you will be doing service during the week, when you don’t have job. But demanding your sheep who are trying to hustle to leave their jobs to come and keep you company in church. Find decent paying job to keep your passion for God and stop ruining people lives to feed your stomach.

Bring out their lists and their verifiable signatures and contacts, so that we can confirm you are not worse off as liar than those you are abusing. You started with a lie to hide face means you are worse. Far worse than those you are insulting. No pastor forces anybody to do anything in the church or forces any person to pay. Bring your verifiable evidences that they do. If we can see close to half of all churches in Nigeria doing what you are saying means you are right, but if we can not; then you are worse and only bittered and , if they do; church will not be rich worldwide than your religion