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Adeboye Enoch Adejare Adeboye
By: IMPACT360 Date: June 13, 2015, 4:02 pm
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Adeboye
Enoch Adejare Adeboye
General Overseer R.C.C.G
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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 18th 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.
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