Pastor E A Adeboye

The life of Enoch Adejare Adeboye is a fulfillment of the scriptures in Zechariah 4: 10 which declare, “despise not the days of small beginnings.” Born in 1942 into a humble family in the village of Ifewara, Osun State located in the South-western part of Nigeria Enoch Adeboye often humorously states that his family
was so poor that even the poor people called
them poor. As a matter of fact, he unashamedly
tells his congregation that he never owned
shoes until he was eighteen years of age. What
he possessed though were physical intangibles
such as focus, consistency, diligence, ambition,
a brilliant mind and a determination to succeed
in life.
In 1956 Enoch Adeboye was admitted into Ilesha
Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State , Western
Nigeria and as a youth he discovered a passion
for books, and an aptitude for science and in
particular the field of Mathematics. This led to
an academic journey in the field of Mathematics
against incredible odds including but not limited
to finances, the Nigerian Civil War and academic
politics. By the time he was done, Enoch
Adeboye had obtained not only a Bachelors
(BSc.) degree in Mathematics from the University
of Nigeria, Nnsukka, Nigeria in 1967, but also a
Masters (MSc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics and a
Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics,
both from the University of Lagos, Lagos,
Nigeria in 1969 and 1975 respectively.
One of the motivations for these academic
achievements was Enoch Adeboye’s passionate
desire to become the youngest Vice Chancellor
(University President) of any one of the frontline
Universities in Nigeria. It did seem that his
academic ambition would be realized as his
academic career flourished. However, this was
not to be as a greater career awaited him in the
service of the Lord. In 1967 Enoch Adeboye got
married to his beloved wife Foluke Adenike
Adeboye (nee Adeyokunnu) .
Growing up as a nominal Anglican
(Episcopalian), Enoch Adeboye had a vague
knowledge that God existed in heaven but did
not have or know that he needed to have a
relationship with him until 1973 when together
with his wife he walked into a most
unimpressive building seeking divine
intervention from personal challenges. This was
the only premises at the time of The Redeemed
Christian Church of God (RCCG) . The church
RCCG was founded by Revd. J. O. Akindayomi, a
man who though was illiterate had been
supernaturally endowed with the ability to read
the Yoruba (a native Nigerian dialect) version of
the Holy Bible (translated from the Authorized
King James Version). Even though both the
environment and the Pastor (the founder
himself) seemed unlikely to have anything to
offer to a man of his status, Enoch Adeboye was
unusually inspired and touched by the Word and
also by the presence of God. On that very day,
Enoch Adeboye committed his life totally to the
Lord Jesus Christ and has since not looked
back.
In 1973 Enoch Adeboye received the Lord Jesus
as his personal Lord and Saviour, joined RCCG
and became baptized by immersion in water.
Unknown to him though, the Lord had already
informed the founder that “a man of books” (a
highly educated man) would soon join RCCG
and eventually take over the mantle of
leadership from him (the founder) whenever he
passed away. As Enoch Adeboye joined and
became an active member of RCCG, the founder
began to personally mentor and groom him for
the future assignment he was totally unaware of.
He initially served as the sermon interpreter to
the founder (from the native Yoruba dialect to
the English language) and later was ordained a
Pastor.
In 1977 when he was ordained a Pastor in
RCCG, Enoch Adeboye manifested an incredible
passion for the work of the Lord, pioneering
Bible Study meetings, Crusades, Revivals,
Outreaches and the evangelistic programs
known as the Congress. These were very
successfully conducted in various cities all over
southwestern Nigeria.
By the time the founder passed away in 1980,
RCCG had about 42 Parishes and this in those
days was a great achievement. Although the
founder left a sealed document pronouncing
Enoch Adeboye as the succeeding General
Overseer, his transition into office was not
smooth but met with some resistance. In 1981
Enoch Adeboye was ordained the General
Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of
God. With time, Enoch Adeboye’s results could
not be denied. With a childlike faith in the
efficacy and power in the Word of God, his
passion was to live a life of holiness and teach
others to likewise live holy lives.
Of course the appointment as General Overseer
immediately terminated all academic ambitions
and Enoch Adeboye set his heart on taking
RCCG to the next level of ministry. He
introduced innovations into the ministry and in
particular sought means whereby the elite in the
society and professionals could experience
ministry in a manner to which they were
accustomed without compromising in the
worship of God in Spirit and in truth. This led to
the establishment of the “ Model Parishes ”
through which countless millions in the upper
echelons of the society have come to know the
Lord. The poor, needy and downtrodden have
not been ignored, as Enoch Adeboye has a deep
compassion for souls .
Soon after the innovations came the Holy Ghost
Services in the mid nineteen-eighties which
featured a night of Praise, Worship, Prayer,
Soul-winning, Deliverance, Testimonies and the
Word once a month . Initially held on the
premises of the Headquarters in Lagos space
constraints required a change in location. This
led to the purchase of a massive piece of
uninhabited forest land located on the outskirts
of Lagos, a haven of highway / armed robbers
and kidnappers with a great company of pythons
and wild animals. Enoch Adeboye moved his
family to this “wilderness ” he called the
Redemption Camp, constructed a large
auditorium and began to hold the Holy Ghost
Services there.
To the glory of God, these services have been
consistently held for over twenty years now and
today, the crowds in attendance run in the
millions every month. From the Redemption
Camp, Enoch Adeboye faithfully travels many
miles to work in Lagos and also ministers all
over the world.
On 18 December 1998 , Enoch Adeboye hosted
the very first Holy Ghost Festival (open air
meeting) in Nigeria with an attendance of over
seven million people (CNN estimate) . This most
ambitious project in the form of an open air
Worship Service was carried out in Lekki, Lagos,
Nigeria and in attendance were over seven
million people as confirmed by the CNN aerial
satellite. Not one person was lost or died in that
throng and this feat was repeated the following
year. In 1999 though, there were no less than
twelve million worshipers present. This program
has since been replaced with the annual 3-day
Holy Ghost Congress held every December at
the Redemption Camp. In addition to this is a
Special 3-day Holy Ghost Program held in the
first weekend of March yearly. At each and every
one of these events, miracles, signs and
wonders have become commonplace as the
power of God moves freely to set free, heal,
anoint, deliver, bless and empower.
Enoch Adeboye’s trade mark of humility is
disarming and this endears him to people,
enabling him to easily share his testimony of
the Gospel. His passion for soul-winning feeds
his passion for church-planting and through
this, countless thousands have been inspired to
follow him and likewise serve the Lord in the
ministry. From that unimpressive building he
walked into in 1973, the Lord has today through
Enoch Adeboye built a Mission of over five
thousand Churches all over the world (Nigeria,
almost all the nations of Africa, the US, the UK,
Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe,
Australia, India, China, Hong Kong, the Far East
and even the Middle East). In the United States
alone there are over five hundred Parishes and
still increasing.
For several years, he has been honored to serve
as Pastor and / or spiritual counselor to Heads
of States, Ministers, political leaders and
national decision-makers. At the same time, he
endeavors to travel to minister in unreached
places where others will not go.
To date, all over the world Enoch Adeboye has
been conferred with several honorary degrees
and national merit awards in appreciation of his
contributions to humanity. In the 2009
Newsweek Elite Edition (January 5, 2009), he
was listed as one of the Fifty Most Influential
People In The World (No. 49 to be exact). For
example the following are note-worthy:
1999 – Received honorary citizenship and key
of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
2000 – Dedicated the first chapel in the
Nigerian Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
2005 – Received honorary citizenship and key
of Dallas, Texas, USA.
2005 – Received honorary citizenship and key
of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
2008 – Awarded a National Honor (Order of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria) by the Nigerian
President
2009 – Led the Pre-Summit Prayers at the 64th
General Assembly of the United Nations,
Headquarters, New York.
2009 – Named one of ‘The World’s Fifty Most
Powerful People’ by Newsweek Magazine (USA).
2009 – Awarded honorary doctorate degree –
University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
2009 – Awarded honorary doctorate degree –
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
2010 – Awarded a National Sports Honor
(Spiritual Pillar of Nigerian Sports)
Though the above achievements are
phenomenal, Enoch Adeboye never fails to give
glory to the Lord, claiming that there are greater
things ahead that the Lord will yet do.
To date, Enoch Adeboye’s profile includes:
Strategic casting of the worldwide vision of
The Redeemed Christian Church of God
General Overseer with ultimate responsibility
for over 12,000 churches in over 120
nations.
Author / Writer of the popular, globally-
distributed daily devotional manual – Open
Heavens .
Host / Convener / Main Preacher at the
annual December three-day Holy Ghost
Congress (open air meeting) in Nigeria with
an average attendance of over six million
people
Host / Convener / Main Preacher at the
annual March three-day Special Holy Ghost
Service (open air meeting) in Nigeria with an
average attendance of over six million people
Host / Convener / Preacher at the monthly
Holy Ghost Service (open air meeting) in
Nigeria with an average attendance of over
one million people
Host / Convener / Preacher at the quarterly
Festival of Life (indoor revival meeting) in
London, UK and various cities in the US with
an average attendance of over fifty (UK) and
seven thousand (US)
Host / Convener / Preacher at the Annual
RCCG Conventions in Nigeria, UK and the US
with an average attendance of over two
million (Nigeria), twenty thousand (UK) and
seven thousand (US)
Ordination of Pastors / Deacons during the
Annual RCCG Conventions worldwide.
Convener of quarterly / annual RCCG
Leadership and Discipleship Conferences
and Retreats all over the world.
Author of over forty books published all over
the world.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

eaadeboye.com