The General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Sam Aboyeji, has advised Nigerians not to abandon their faith amid the country’s economic hardship.
The cleric, who said this at the first District Convocation and District Anniversary of Foursquare Gospel Church, Pleasure District, in Lagos recently, urged citizens to remain steadfast and continue to trust God for better times.
Represented at the event by the Ikeja Axis Coordinator, Rev. Ayomide Abraham, the cleric also called on Nigerians to cultivate gratitude for God’s benevolence.
He acknowledged the pressure caused by high petrol prices but encouraged Nigerians to recognise positive developments, including improved infrastructure and access to student loans, while continuing to pray for economic recovery and an end to insecurity.
Aboyeji also urged members to remain faithful to God and prioritise the development of younger generations, saying the future of the church depended on its ability to prepare and attract young people.
The cleric inaugurated the elevation of Pleasure Missionary District to a full-fledged district and declared Rev Charles Fashola as its District Overseer.
He described the development as an expression of God’s faithfulness, noting that the district had surpassed the required 1,000-member benchmark, with its membership rising to about 1,500.
He noted that the growth recorded in one year was unprecedented, adding that creating new districts and churches remained part of the church’s strategy for sustained growth and expansion.
He stressed the importance of attracting young people, explaining that the church had introduced Grand Assembly churches to provide an environment and worship experience suited to the younger generation.
“The next generation is critical to us, and that is why we are planting churches,” he said, stressing that the church’s doctrinal foundation remained central to its mission.
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Fashola said attaining full-fledged district status had ushered in a new phase requiring greater commitment, discipline and strategic planning.
“Sincerely speaking, I feel that the time for bigger work has started. My excitement is not just about attaining the status, but about how to sustain it,” he said.
Rev. Charles Fashola, the new District Overseer, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman in Council, McPherson University, urged Christian institutions not to reject emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence but to develop responsible guidelines for their use.
“The world is changing. Everything we do now has technology behind it. We cannot take the younger generation back to the way we studied. Their generation is faster, and we must understand the trend,” he added.
He attributed the district’s progress to God’s grace and clear priorities, saying sustainable growth required understanding expectations, defining areas of intervention and measuring progress.
The District Secretary and Chairman of the Convocation Planning Committee, Rev. Ibukun Ayanwale, said God’s faithfulness inspired the theme after a year of growth and church planting.