Nigeria is bedevilled with ‘all varieties of power without a human face, demanding blind loyalties and disregard for the diversity of human life, all working for a false kind of unity or solidarity’ and spirituality. Dr Olu Onagoruwa in one of his papers, ‘Poverty, Corruption and Democracy – Strange Bedfellows?’ pictured the extent to which corruption has gripped this country called Nigeria. Onagoruwa asked ‘why should a country, with a democratic constitution be so stepped in corruption? Our politicians no longer regard it as corruption but as a “commercial venture.” Onagoruwa’s reference to a former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo casting ‘a morose look at the organiser of pilgrims … These agents have loaded their pockets with ill-gotten money … they were too corrupt to serve well’ points to the curse of our age in Nigeria in dire need of revival. True revival is surrendering and allowing the living God sovereignly to ‘powerfully break into human history with the good news of His salvation. True revival begins with God’s people coming under deep conviction of sin and turning from that sin in genuine repentance. It always involves a recovery of biblical truth, especially the truth about how sinners are reconciled to a holy God. Therefore, it also involves a recovery of the centrality and authority of God’s Word over all of life. The renewed sense of God’s presence, power, holiness, and truth then inevitably spills out of the church and into the world, resulting in many genuine conversions.’

Revival is God’s thing. His work. His will and good pleasure, all resting of God’s sovereign will. Revival not only gives spiritual cohesion to a society, it instils discipline and love for others. Nigeria is under ‘a toxic mixture of religion that has become inhuman, economic power sustained at massive human cost, and the technologies of destruction that can be used by armies and by terrorists alike for impersonal killing.’ Nigeria, bedevilled by political imperialists, the get-rich-quick syndrome mentality among the youth are becoming cancerous. The good news is that, all hope is not lost over Nigeria. There are several factors and elements that give spiritual and moral cohesion over a nation. One of such factors that Africa, and especially Nigeria have in common is not only loyalty to the monarch. We have respect and loyalty to trusted church leaders. An example of such church leader in Nigeria that not only commands respect and honour but equips people and national space for the rest of society is Pastor Adejare Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, and his wife.

Papa Adeboye continue to voice hope and thirst for revival as he marked his 80th birthday. For Papa Adeboye, old age does not sounds ugly nor causes fear. For Papa Adeboye, old age is not just the seat of wisdom, old age is the thirst for national revival. For the body of Christ in Nigeria, especially with the RCCG, Papa Adeboye at 80 is a significant age. Like in other church hierarchy, for example, Pope Francis and ‘many of the over-80 cardinals have active ministry schedules and continue to travel the world on behalf of the church, their bishops’ conferences and Catholic agencies and organizations.’ Papa Adeboye at 80th is a moment to reflect on mission-packed journey of a scholar and a General Overseer, so often defined by his personal charisma, humility and spontaneous gestures. Papa Adeboye’s leadership of the RCCG is far more than just about him, it is a missional leadership that continues the legacy of the RCCG founder, Pastor Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi.

Our experience in Nigeria is not a smooth progression but the ministry and leadership of Papa Adeboye continue to give and develop a way of keeping power spiritual and human. Papa Adeboye at 80 with the support of his wife, Mummy G. O, Pastor Foluke Adenike Adeboye points to missional leadership that shares the vulnerability of ordinary Nigerians. Pastor Adeboye at 80 expresses the personal depth of a missional leader in truth and spirit. Using the words of Rowan Williams, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, Pastor Adeboye at 80 to Nigerians is a sign and a model of ‘the humanity at the heart of power, a sign that we can be held together not by the furious rivalries of theory or ethnic exclusion but by acknowledging the common debt of our humanity to its maker and redeemer.’ Papa Adeboye’s theology and logic points to the Christian recognition of Jesus Christ as King of kings and the Lord of lords. Papa Adeboye at 80 provides a human face to Nigeria systems and processes, a spiritual and human symbols that helps so hold us together against the poverty, corruption and democracy of strange bedfellows. Papa Adeboye at 80 is about thirst for global revival and prayers to ‘resist the great public inhumanities that still menace us all,’ in Nigeria, in Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the world in general. Lack of human fellowship and love points to our poverty, wars, corruption and democracy of strange bedfellows. Papa Adeboye at 80 is an example of human fellowship with potential and capacity to grow in grace, unity, and love into eternal fellowship with God.

Papa Adeboye at 80 provides a passionate global quest for the explosive experience of worldwide Pentecost again, especially with the Holy Spirit coming to live within Nigerians in a very signs-and-wonders kind of way as prophesied by Pa Elton. Papa Adeboye at 80 invite Nigerians to be struck by the genuine experience reality of the Holy Spirit – prophecy, repentance, conversion, miracles, national transformation, radical hospitality and generosity, momentum, movement, and national growth.

Papa Adeboye at 80 summons Nigerians to a fresh awakening by the Holy Spirit to overcome the works of the flesh. History of revivals reminds us about revivals such as the 1930 Oke Oye, Ilesa Revival led by Apostle Ayodele Babalola, Azusa Street Revivals, or the Olivet Revival, or the Asbury revival, or the revivals led by John Wesley, George Whitefield, Amy Semple McPhereson, and Maria Woodsworth-Etter. Papa Adeboye at 80 calls Nigerians to thirst after righteousness, doing what is right. God said, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Is 55:1). Papa Adeboye at 80 calls Nigerians beyond denominational affiliations to feed upon the bread of life, the bread that has come from heaven that nourishes the soul and fills the human spirit. Papa Adeboye at 80 is not about applause of men which can be deafening and hypocritical. Papa Adeboye at 80 invites Nigerians to receive and make Jesus Christ as our Saviour and priority in order to be righteous.

Baamii, Happy renewing 80th birthday celebration to you. More grace sir.