You might have come across that video on Youtube, of Evangelist and Pastor Rev. Isaac Imolehin of the Word Assembly Ministries, saying “The Nigerian Church has no fathers.” The video clip went viral a couple of months ago and was greeted with divergent reactions from believers across denominations.

While some people condemned it, others praised him for his courage in speaking out about a seeming void in the leadership of the Nigerian Church at this moment.

In this editorial piece, Kingdom Times is not taking any side but would examine Rev. Imolehin’s remarks in the context of the state of the Nigerian Church today.

It is true that various denominations of the Church in Nigerian have produced leaders who qualify to be described, in human terms, as exceptional. This is given their records of achievements in advancing the Kingdom and spreading the Gospel in and outside the country.

And these ministers of God deserve to be honoured and, indeed, celebrated, at least by people of this generation and subsequent generations of Pentecostals who trace their journey and growth in the Faith to these trail blazers.

But let’s take a moment and reflect on the big question. Are there leaders who can be described as fathers in the Nigerian Church today?

Let’s begin by first looking at what could possibly qualify or make any minister of God stand out as a Father in the Nigerian church.

We believe every leader of any denomination, whether as founder, elected or appointed, can be rightly considered as the father or mother (as the case may be) of that Church denomination. This is because he or she is responsible for the spiritual and, in some cases, material care of that group of believers.

But to emerge as a father in the Nigerian Church requires that such leaders step out of their denominational circles and take up the burden of the general body of Christ across the country, irrespective of their denominations.

We know that in practical terms, the burden of providing material care for all believers across the country by a single person or group of people is impossible.

However, we believe one thing can position a Christian leader to play that father figure role in the Nigerian Church. It is having the burden to protect the body of Christ from wolves within and outside the fold, at any costs to them. And this is not because they desire to be seen as religious celebrities but just being “jealous” for the Body of Christ.

That qualification is the gumption, the courage and capacity to speak out on any matter that affects believers across the country, using any platform that is available to them. And as far as we know many ministers of God in this country can boast of such platforms.

And concerning speaking out on behalf of the church, several men and women of God have made and have continued to make their voices heard. Prominent among them are Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prophet Isa El-Buba of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries, John Cardinal Onayeikan, a prelate of the Catholic Church, and Dr. Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Centre.

There are also several others who are known to stand in defence of the Faith, as leaders of various Christian associations and groups.

The list would include Bishop Wale Oke of The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayap of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, who is a regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations and who recently drew international attention to the mindless killings in Plateau State.

But let’s face it. Can you remember the last time any Christian leader stepped out of their denominational cocoon and became a rallying point for the Church in Nigeria?

Perhaps, the only man that comes to mind is the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa of the Church of God Mission International.

In fact, Archbishop Idahosa’s voice re-echoed recently in Dr. Enenche’s outburst against the statement made by Sheikh Yahya Jingir against Christians in Nigeria at a public event in Kano, where he described Christians as “infidels”. Enenche’s response reminds one of the kinds of response such comment would have elicited from the late Archbishop Idahosa.

We are aware that several other ministers have responded to Jingir in like manner. In fact, before Enenche, Prophet El-Buba handed out his rebuke, also in a recorded video almost immediately after Jingir’s comment.

Indeed, every church leader may not fit the mold of Archbishop Idahosa or Dr. Enenche or El-Buba. And that is not to say that those who are not known to speak truth to power are not serving the people of God or carrying out their ordained call. But it’s important to emphasise that there is a need for new kinds of fathers to step up to the game in the Church.

The Nigerian Church needs national father figures who will stand for the Body and not just for denominations, who will not only speak truth to power when the need arises but refuse to compromise their moral authority.

Fathers who will not chase crumbs from the people in power and bury truth. They are fathers whose commitment to truth is anchored on the timeless creed of the biblical Esther: “If I perish, I perish”. And that was the whole point made by Rev. Imolehin.

Here is why this has become critical at this point. The world is fragmenting; things are falling apart. And it does not matter how much people preach peace or pretend to be committed to peace; things may no longer be the same again. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said this.

Shortly before He ascended to heaven after His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples about a series of disastrous events that would take place in the world before His second appearing: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulations” John chapter 16 verse 33.

While we commend people and organisations, such as the United Nations, who are committed to peace globally, let’s face it: if God said it, it would come to pass.

In these last days, there are people who have sworn not to make life peaceful for their fellow human beings. For this reason, fathers must not only speak out but make their voices loud, to counter words spoken in public deliberately to rubbish the Church.

Words shape lives as well as atmospheres because they carry creative power. Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” While Christians are instructed to always speak words that bring comfort and healing, it is also important to counter utterances that have potential for negative outcomes.

When Goliath the Philistine said: “I defy the armies of Israel this day,” and young David responded, “…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God,” they were not mere words spoken into the air. They were spoken to shape the atmosphere and determine the outcome of the battle in the physical realm.

Let the fathers in the House stand up.