I don’t want to see any of my pastors looking like fellows from the training camps of Al-Qaeda - Pastor E. A. Adeboye

According to a report on Vanguard, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has taken a very dim view of pastors who try to follow fashion trends and grow their beards. He said: "I don’t want to see any of my pastors looking like fellows from the training camps of Al-Qaeda." He said older people who try to go along with the times rather than set an example for the younger ones cannot command their respect.


He said: "They often look up to their fathers for direction but if a father himself does not know what he is doing then there something wrong. 

“The youths don’t respect an elder that looks like them. You are supposed to be their guiding light after they have fooled around."

He also spoke on the issue of pastors who try to import tribalism into the church and impose Yoruba songs on the congregation. He said such people should leave the church or die like Annanias and Sapphira while emphasising the need for pastors in other parts of the country to encourage the locals to sing and rejoice in their local dialects.

Pastor Adeboye who seems worried at reports of disruption arising from arranged marriages decreed that no RCCG pastor should be seen to be involved in arranging marriages among brethren in the church.

It will be recalled that Pastor Adeboye had earlier counselled youths of the church on marriage, saying “don’t ever marry outside the church and you have no reason to marry outside RCCG. The reason is that if you are both from the same church even when trouble comes it is easier for the pastors to handle it! 

“Don’t marry a girl simply because she can sing! In the choir there are some people that can sing but they are fallen angels! Marry a prayer warrior! If a girl cannot pray for one hour, don’t marry her.

“Don’t marry a girl who is lazy! Don’t marry a girl who cannot cook, she needs to know how to do chores and cook because you cannot afford to be eating out all the time.

“Don’t marry a girl who is worldly! If you do, you have carried what you’ll worship for the rest of your life!” he advised.

The 74-year General Overseer also enjoined all pastors in the church to regularly do a medical check up to avoid unnecessary and sudden deaths that can be avoided with proper care.