By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona
AS the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, quietly mark the 30th anniversary of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye’s assumption of office as the General Overseer, Christian leaders have extolled the virtues of the man who was voted by Newsweek Magazine, as one of the 50 most influential individuals in the world.

Pastor Adeboye (at the age of 38) was officially consecrated as the successor to the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, on January 21, 1981 after the demise of the founder.

Among the religious leaders who spoke to Vanguard on the anniversary were the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Spiritual Leader of the St. Joseph’s Chosen Church of God, Apostle Hayford Alile and the LAWNA Territorial Chairman and National Vice President, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Olutola.

Oritsejafor, in his response, described the RCCG General Overseer as a colossus that had contributed immensely to development of the country and Christendom in Nigeria and beyond.

In a telephone interview, Pastor Oritsejafor also used the occasion to extol the virtues of the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rev. Akindayomi, describing him as a true man of God, because at the time he made his choice of successor he may have offended several persons in the church.

Spiritual Head of St. Joseph’s Chosen Church of God, SJCCG, Apostle Hayford Alile also congratulated Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Adeboye, saying: “It is just like yesterday you mounted the pulpit as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and these three decades have seen the RCCG experience great positive transformation from the struggling multitude to a major voice of evangelism in the propagation of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ not only in Nigeria but also the globe.

The  LAWNA Territorial Chairman and National Vice President, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Olutola thanked God for the life of Pastor Adeboye “because when he started 30 years ago, he was very young and people thought that as a young man in the ministry he might not be able to perform and naturally looked down on him. But to the glory of God, he has been used mightily by the God who called him to the ministry and he has also achieved a lot to the dismay of people. He started very well and I pray that he will end well in Jesus’ name.”

Continuing, the TAC helmsman said Adeboye submitted himself to the call and the purpose of his calling has made great changes in Christendom both here in Nigeria and internationally, “my congratulatory message to him is that he should keep the flag flying, not relent in its efforts and I pray that the Lord will continue to use him more for His glory. There are other important  things that he is still going to embark on in The Redeemed Christian Church of God.”