Lagos, Nigeria – Bishop Bola Odeleke, founder of Christ Message Ministry, has cautioned pastors against involving the police in matters arising from the church, emphasizing that such actions do not glorify God. In a recent interview with Asabe Afrika, monitored by The Nation, Odeleke shared her views as she celebrates her 74th birthday and 50th anniversary in ministry.
Odeleke, who turned 74 on June 19, has witnessed significant changes in her journey since being consecrated as an Evangelist in 1974. Reflecting on recent events, she expressed concern over pastors resorting to legal measures, specifically addressing actions taken by the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
“I heard the story. I have been looking for an opportunity to see Pastor Olukoya. I know him as a man of God. But the stories circulating about him and the allegations should be treated with caution. We have only heard one side of the story,” she stated.
When asked about Olukoya’s decision to involve the police, Odeleke said, “Why don’t we release him to God? We have released him to the world when we bring the police into the matter. We have placed him under the authority of the world.”
Odeleke suggested that Olukoya’s actions might be driven by past experiences. “He probably doesn’t want what happened in the past to repeat itself, which is why he resorted to the police and the court,” she explained.
Addressing the allegations, she added, “If what is being said about Olukoya is true, he should repent. If it is not true, God will vindicate him.”
Bishop Odeleke advocated for handling internal church issues differently, recommending that those found guilty of misconduct should be relieved of their duties rather than taken to court. “If I know somebody is stealing, I will find out why and try to change their heart. If the person does not change, I would rather ask them to go. The moment the world intervenes in our matters, it becomes messy.”
Emphasizing the church’s responsibility to accommodate all people, she said, “A big ministry must have a way of handling issues like the MFM case. We have seen bad people who, after counseling and prayers, become mighty instruments in God’s hand.”
Odeleke urged Nigerians not to judge without knowing the full story and advised ministers to trust God with their problems. “Those who call the police do so because they can’t trust God to handle their matters,” she remarked.
She also warned against media attacks on Dr. Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of MFM, stating, “God will vindicate him if he is not guilty of the accusations.”
In her closing remarks, Bishop Odeleke, celebrating 50 years in ministry, called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to address the rising cost of goods and services. “Nigerians have endured enough. The government needs to take urgent action. Things are not looking up in the country. We keep praying,” she concluded.
