1 week Ago By Rapheal
By Funsho Arogundade With a personality just as infectious as his smile, former senior pastor of the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Idowu Iluyomade speaks with powerful conviction. With his ‘non-traditional’ pastor demeanour, the atmosphere on the second floor of the Civic Centre along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday January 19 was electric. Iluyomade, on that day, launched his own church named ‘The Family Fellowship’.
The event featured singing and dancing, drawing friends, families, and loyalists from their time at RCCG. During the inaugural service, Iluyomade urged the congregation to rededicate their lives to God and commemorate their spiritual rebirth as a “second birthday.” They say challenges make the man or woman, as the case might be.
But one man who understands the true meaning of the above line is Iluyomade, who had tendered his resignation from the church after he was suspended by the RCCG highest body following his wife, Siju’s lavish 60th birthday party few weeks after a prominent member of the RCCG City of David Parish and key financier, Herbert Wigwe and several others died in a helicopter crash in California, United States on February 9. Public responses to Iluyomade’s situation were divided as some church members voiced strong support for the man, criticising the RCCG for what they see as a pattern of sidelining influential pastors. Others, however, criticised the couple for their perceived extravagant lifestyle, insisting that going ahead with the party despite such an unfortunate situation was insensitive.
There is no gainsaying that the Iluyomade dedicated years to building the ministry at RCCG. But the couple indeed faced significant challenges after the incident, leading to their exit from the church. Amidst this turmoil, they simply went underground for a while but the hubby continued to keep in touch with his core loyalists.
He kept sending messages on his social media, giving the notion that something was about to come out from his stables, a church, to provide a fresh start and a platform to further his vision. At the beginning of the New Year, Iluyomade started sharing a new set of messages on his social media handles to announce their readiness. And finally, last Sunday, they unveiled their ‘new baby’ with scores of loyalists in attendance.
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