By Toyin Adeniyi
The Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has marked its first year under the leadership of Pastor Yemi Davids with a a call for reconciliation, inclusiveness, and stronger engagement with the public as part of its drive toward the church and national transformation.
The leadership made this known at a press conference in Lagos on August 26, 2025, during which is also reviewed the past year’s efforts as well as set new priorities for the fellowship.
We have built trust
The Chairman of the body, Pastor Yemi Davids, said the administration has worked to rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and position PFN as a unifying voice in the church and the nation.
He said, “We discovered there was a huge communication gap that had created misinformation and doubts about PFN’s relevance,” adding, “Over the past year, we have worked to bridge that gap by engaging with the media and ensuring transparency.”
According to Pastor Davids, reconciliation has been a central part of the fellowship’s agenda.
He noted that communication and dialogue have helped restore relationships with churches and pastors who had previously distanced themselves from PFN.
“Our goal has been to close gaps and build trust again. On our agenda, we had reconciliation, which had to do with loving each other and collaboration.” he said
Leadership development
He stressed the importance of leadership development as a necessity. “A transformative leader will transform people,” he said, pointing to a series of training sessions held to equip church leaders to guide their members and speak to the nation’s challenges.
Also, there are plans to have Town Hall meetings for leaders where issues can be discussed with the PFN giving their stance on any doctrine or issues about the fellowship as a body.
Past year score card
The fellowship underscored its involvement in social interventions over the past year, citing different examples like the sponsorship of surgery that cost the fellowship N8 million and most recently, the Benue Relief which saw the distribution of food and materials to victims of the Benue crisis as examples of PFN’s contribution to national welfare. The Benue intervention cost the fellowship over N40 million
But fellowship leaders said beyond charity, the message must reach communities through deliberate communication
Evangelism tool.
Dr. Dele Ajayi, Chaplain of Church of the Light Chapel, said at the conference that evangelism has been used as a tool to transform lives at the grassroots.
“When we evangelise and touch hearts, there will be transformation. We go to the streets, to the young people, even to the unlikely people to share the gospel.
“We found out that one of the best ways to intervene in human lives is to reorient minds and position people aright. When people have relationship with God and have the right values the country will be a better place.” He said..
Politics
On politics, PFN clarified that it is not partisan but urged Christians to actively engage in governance.
Pastor Akin Akinpelu said the fellowship is relying on media platforms to promote civic responsibility and amplify its values.
“We can be practical and proactive,” he said. “PFN is a spiritual mission, and we are also extending it to national transformation.”
Younger generation and women
The Deputy Chairman of the fellowship, Rev. Mrs Janet Onaolapo added that the new orientation is already reaching younger generations. Through programs on politics, sexuality, and social issues, PFN is working to “catch them young. We are not leaving any stone unturned,” she said.
For the Women’s Wing, the past year has been about visibility and awareness. Coordinator of the wing, Apostle Josephine Asiwaju said communication has made PFN’s work more visible.
“We want people to know what PFN is doing,” she said. “That has been achieved, and we are hoping that the next year will be bigger.” She explained further that the women of the fellowship are becoming more aware of their role in the society and are now willing and able to speak up.
Strike balance in your message
Looking ahead, Pastor Davids urged pastors to strike a balance in their messages by combining spiritual guidance with calls for social responsibility.
“The situation of Nigeria does not rest solely on the government,” he said. “The people also have a role to play, and we must all speak up to bring awareness and drive change.”
The press conference brought together PFN executives, pastors, and stakeholders, who reflected on both achievements and challenges.
Leaders agreed that communication whether through media, evangelism, or leadership training will remain central to PFN’s mission of reconciliation, inclusiveness, and national renewal.