By InfactNG
Sunday Adelaja has apologised for his hard criticism of Pentecostal pastors
I left Ukraine with only one shirt, he says
He says he does not need any sympathy from Nigerians over his current predicament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
His house is currently being occupied by Russian forces who wanted to arrest him
He is currently planning to obey the calling of God to return to Nigeria
The founder and Senior Pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations, Dr. Sunday Adelaja has apologised over his unrelenting criticism of Nigerian Pentecostal Christianity and some of the leading lights of the church in Nigeria including Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo.
Adelaja, who pastored the largest church in Europe until recently had gone hard on the brand of Pentecostal Christianity being practiced in Nigeria, his harsh criticism of revered men of God had pitted many against him with some attributing his recent travails following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his subsequent escape from the country to punishment for ‘disrespecting’ men of God.
However, in a live chat with the Network of African Christian Journalists, Adelaja said every Nigerian should learn from his predicament.
“I don’t need any sympathy from Nigerians,” Adelaja said in a firm tone. His face which had maintained a jovial look now dissolved into a serious mien.
“Everybody should just learn from my predicament. If people want to laugh at me, or come at me for speaking out against the pastors, it is okay. I have stepped on a lot of toes, I might have offended a lot of people, might have overdone things.
“I won’t say I was right on all I did, but I am a man on a mission to sanitise the church in Nigeria, did I do anything wrong, did I overdo some things, yes.
“I ask for apology and forgiveness from all people who felt insulted and wronged by my approach, language and method. I sincerely apologise but not for the mission or message, “he said.
Why Putin saw me as an enemy
Days after the invasion of Ukraine, Adelaja was forced to leave Ukraine and his church behind and ‘flee for his life.’ According to Adelaja, he had information that Russian President, Vladimir Putin has compiled a list of those who were wanted and his name was on that list.
“I was told by the leadership of Ukraine that the Americans intercepted a list from Russia about people they need to take care of. So they told me to be very careful,”Adelaja said.
But the pastor’s problems didn’t start with Ukraine crisis, it dated back decades before Adelaja was declared a personal non-grata in Russia. And the problem stemmed in the kind of Christianity practiced by Adelaja.
“We had over 100 branches in Russia before Putin came to power and when he did, he felt my influence was too much. He didn’t understand the kind of church that would have politicians, military people and celebrities and he thought that was Western influence.
“Putin said I was bringing Westernisation into Russia and I must be helping the West, so he banned me from the country and declared me a personal non-grata. Putin was not actually anti-Christian but he wanted the traditional Orthodox Church that has been around for over 25 years, so he actually put an end to church growth in Russia.
“Of course, I took Putin and the Russian government to court but what happened was that the KGB (Russia’s Secret Police), came to the court and ordered everyone out, they also took all the papers about the case. That was the end of it, I never had any good relationship with Putin.”
My house has been taken over by the Russians
Adelaja who ran out of Ukraine just as Russian forces were breaking down the gates to the city said he has lost a lot to the war. Currently out of the country in hiding, he has not been able to bring his family all together and his church lay in disarray.
“I am out of the country now, but my children are all over Europe in college, so I am alone here, “he said refusing to disclose which country he is currently. But did he foresee what was going to happen before it did?
“In 2009, a man of God came to minister in our church and he said exactly what is happening, he was so sure that he asked for the contacts of both leaders of Ukraine and Russia and told them what to do to avoid it. Of course, they disregarded the instructions. We prayed about it but I have learnt that prayer does not resolve everything, one still needs to obey God.
“In 2014, I had an encounter where I saw military people entering Kiev, they entered my house and took over my church. The last I heard was that my house has been taken over by the Russians, they searched everywhere for me, but thank God I had left.
“My house is worth $4million and the church is worth $10million but I left Ukraine with only one shirt.”
In Part 2, Adelaja dissects the Russia/Ukraine war and why you should not blame Putin
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