Founder and Senior Pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday Adelaja visited Ghana recently along with a business delegation from Europe from reports monitored online by Church Times
He used the opportunity of the visit to reflect on the war in Ukraine in a television interview in the country. Also, he preached at a forum organised by Dr. Joshua Oppong Sarfo, President of New African Concept.
War in Ukraine
In the interview, Adelaja reflected on the war in Ukraine which has been on for more than a year.
He said the war has brought about the loss of many lives and the destruction of property in the country.
On the effect of the war on his church, he said his church used to have about 400 branches in Ukraine but that almost half of the members have been scattered. He said the evil of the war is that it is taking place in Ukraine.
The war notwithstanding, he said members have continued to pray for about four hours every day using different online platforms since the war started.
He disclosed that many members of the church have lost their lives in the war while a good number have also joined the Ukrainian Army to fight in the war.
God told me to relocate
Adelaja in the interview confessed that God had told him to relocate to Africa 6 years before the war started; that his work in Europe was done.
He said, “When God told me to come back to Africa, I handed over the church in preparation for my coming back. But I still remained the Senior Pastor. But then I was concerned about what would happen to the church.”
It was in the course of being worried that God showed him a vision of lava spilling into the whole of Europe.
“God told me that the church is the lava I saw in the vision and that it will spill into the whole of Europe. That is what is happening now. Many of our members have been scattered across Europe. And they are all carrying the fire of God to wherever they are.”
While noting that God has a purpose for allowing the war, he said, “God’s purpose may not be clear to us now. But I know he has a purpose for allowing the war though we are suffering for it. I believe God is using the war to reset the global political system.”
Read also: Sunday Adelaja: The story of my life and the war in Ukraine: https://churchtimesnigeria.net/sunday-adelaja-ukraine-war/
Church repositioning
In his message at the forum organized by Dr. Offong, Adelaja talked about repositioning the church for strategic territorial conquest.
According to him, the Church has to be ready for some uneasy truth and challenging thought for it to be re-positioned.
He said, “When God asked us to go into the world and make disciples of all men, it goes beyond religion. God expects us to conquer the world with the ability he has given us. It is easier to make disciples of men when you succeed in your area of influence.”
Adelaja reasoned further that when Jesus asked us to baptise people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, it goes beyond immersing people in the water. The baptism I am seeing here is that I should influence people and immerse them in the personality of Christ, in the value system of Christ. If I am able to influence people to live out the characteristic of the Father, the holy spirit, that is the highest baptism. It is more effective than just putting people in water.”
Baptism
He said the way to baptise people is to teach people about the principles of the kingdom of God. “Make sure that the people you are relating with are being influenced to live like Christ. Influence people to love their enemies because that is what Christ taught.”
He gave his own example: “In our church, we don’t do evangelism. We teach people to know what God has called them to do and encourage them to follow the leading of their heart. Once they have encountered Christ, we encourage them to explore what God has put in their heart.
“If it is the love for business they have, we encourage them to impact the business world. When we come to Church we do less of church but more of teaching. For example, if they have a passion for young people, we teach them how to impact them wherever they are. Our goal is to teach what Christ had taught us so that they can teach others and impact them with the principles of Christ.”