Prophet T. B. Gbadeyan, General Overseer of Christ Temple Church of God International (GTCGI), Oyo, speaks candidly in this exclusive interview with Kehinde Adegoke. The revered cleric opens up on a range of compelling issues within Christian community —including the unity of the Church – the essence of Christ’s love. He also addresses the long-rumoured ties with the late Senior Prophet T. B. Joshua while sharing profound revelations and experiences drawn from his over two decades in ministry.
Below are key excerpts from the interview:
As the number of churches increases, so does the crime rate. Can you share your opinion on this?
Thank you very much. I agree with you on the first question you asked. You see, in the last days, Jesus has already instructed us that when the time is coming to an end, severe calamities of all kinds and tribulations will happen. Therefore, we cannot say it is strange because our Lord Jesus Christ has already informed us that during this time, when it comes to an end, all these kinds of things will happen. It shows us that as Christians, Christ’s coming is already nearer than before because these are things the revelations already predicted; during the last day, when Christ arrives, all these kinds of things will happen. That is what is happening now. A believer must be watchful.
Is the relationship between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) a good one?
You know, Christ prayed in the Gospel of John, chapter 17. He prayed for the unity of believers, but the unity we see now is entirely different from what we commonly refer to as unity. If we consider unity from a spiritual perspective, those who began to believe in Christ or the believers of the past united because there were no denominations during that time. They were one, but according to the prayer of Jesus Christ, the mountain of Christians in this generation has turned it upside down, focusing on politics. Because I can experience wanting to join the CAN while starting the ministry. In my hometown, I visited the local government and the CAN association. I said I wanted to join the CAN. The CAN there said they couldn’t accept me. I asked, ‘Why am I not a believer?’ You, too, are believers. And Christ said we should be one. They said that is the Bible. They said the CAN is for politics. That is what they replied to me. They clearly stated that they were not practising what I was saying. They said what is happening is a political matter so that they can take advantage of the government’s opportunity. So they didn’t allow me to join them till today. So that is why I said, “I rise; I carry the Bible.” The Bible said we should be one. I saw CAC, ECWA, and Christ Apostolic there. All the remaining Churches are there. But because of the grace of God in my life, they cannot allow me to join. Until now, they haven’t allowed me. That proves to me that the unity Christ talks about no longer exists among Christians. They are just doing it. Even among themselves in the CAN, you will still see them fighting each other, fighting over members. If we truly are one, why should we fight each other? Look at men of God in social media; we will talk against each other. It’s supposed not to be if we are one. If there is unity within a Christian association, when you say ‘Christian association,’ you mean that Christ’s love is not present. If there is love of Christ, I will not preach against you. You won’t preach against me because we preach about only one person.
Is the fight between Iran and Israel religious? Some people believe it is spiritual, while others attribute it to the land border. How does the battle ultimately impact Christianity?
You know, in the beginning, even in the Bible, these two people you are talking about were never in peace. It’s in the Bible. They will never be in peace. So, now, if we say it is a Religion, on one side, we think of it in that way. On the other hand, they will say they are fighting against the border. However, the purpose lies within the people who are fighting. The purpose of this fighting is in their heart. It is only God who can see the heart, who can reveal what is the real purpose of this fight.
Now, will you admit that there is unity among Christian denominations today, as opposed to the unity obtained in the New Testament?
The name of any church, including my Church, isn’t recognised in heaven. What is recognised is the name of Jesus. But today, when you see denominations, even denominations you are talking about, it used to bleed my heart because people are no longer proclaiming Christ. People are proclaiming denomination. They are proclaiming the Church’s name instead of the name of Jesus Christ. So, that is causing problems in Christendom today. Watch very well. You will be saying, and a member will be saying, “I’m so-so-so-so.” I have seen some Christians that said they don’t claim they are a child of God any longer. They will claim they are a so-so-so-so-nomination. Instead, I’m a child of God. I’m a child of Jesus Christ, a believer. They no longer call themselves that. When you hear them, they will say,
I’m Christian without adding Church (denominations) I’m so-so-so-so. I’m an Anglican. I’m a Catholic. Instead of, I’m a believer. The denomination is often likened to an idol in many places today. The name of Jesus is no longer proclaimed. They are proclaiming the name of the signboard, which cannot be safe. Nobody can fight Satan with any denomination’s name. You cannot fight Satan with the name of the Church. You can’t fight Satan with Christ’s temple’s name. You can’t fight Satan with Christ’s apostolic Church, Baptist. You can’t fight Satan with the name of any church. We can only fight Satan in the name of Christ.
How do we foster unity among Christians when different denominations have emerged?
I like this question very well. We can do this through love. If the love of Christ is reigning in our hearts, this is the only way. We should return to love. Christ preached love. Christ didn’t preach denomination. But Christ preached love. I will not criticise you if I love my fellow Christians and neighbours. If I criticise you, it means I’m not living in love. Because Christ said we should not blame ourselves. He said, ‘Don’t criticise your fellow neighbours.’ Don’t criticise your fellow Christians. So, if there is love of Christ in my heart, I see you; whether you are a man of God or a believer, we should embrace each other as one. Why? Because we were born into the same Father and Spirit. We are carried along with the same Holy Spirit. So, if the Holy Spirit is in you, the Holy Spirit is in me; the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit must not be fighting each other. That is why I said the love is not there. Those who do not dwell in the love of Christ are the people you see scattering unity among Christians. Holding ministers accountable for God’s message, use it against them. This means that the audience you are preaching to has already nicknamed the person you are preaching against Satan. And if you said this man is Satan, how can you expect people to believe in him or in what he is preaching? So, this love is what we should build again. Love of Christ, not love for materialism.
Will you subscribe to the use of Sharia Law in the Southwest, where there are traditional worshippers and the number of Muslims and Christians is almost the same?
Christ did not send me to preach Religion. This is the area that Paul referred to in the Bible. When Paul says that God gave him the grace to preach to the beggars, It Is Evident That Religion cannot save. It is God who saves. Religion may uphold its doctrines and traditional ways of doing things, but one should not cause problems if one truly lives in Christ. Why am I saying this, Sir? The reason is we can’t fight for God. It is God who fights for himself. And the God who will fight for himself won’t create any religion. What kind of Religion can you see during the life of Abraham? Abraham believed in God. That is what people proclaim. So, each person may say, “This is my Religion.” I’m not sent to preach Religion; I’m sent to preach Christ. That is why I cannot condemn. If I were a Christian, I would practice my beliefs. I’m practising what I believe. That one should not cause any problems. That’s my own belief. There will be peace as long as you cannot force me to practice what you believe, and I cannot force you to practice what I believe. Only God will now judge who is on the way. That’s why I say to people, when you come to my ministry, I don’t preach Religion. When you see what the one I’m preaching is doing, you will be convinced that he is the Savior. So, I don’t condemn Religion and its practice. Why? I’m not God. God must be the judge. When we appear before him on the resurrection day, God will tell those who practice this Religion that we are on the way. God will say, “Those who practice this one, you are on the way.” The Bible says, “Let love lead your life, not Religion lead your life.” It is not all Christians that love each other, and it is not all the different religions that love each other. So, let love lead, and practice what you believe.
Now, Sir, how many years have you been in this ministry?
It’s been more than 25 years now.
Please share your experience with us. How has it been? The beginning, now, and your plan for the ministry in the future.
Thank you very much, Sir. I started this ministry under the Evangelical Mission of Africa (EMA) pastors in the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA). So, that is my background. So, that’s where I started. I never attended school or participated in seminary school. My seminary is in my heart. My university is in my heart, and my lecturer is the Holy Spirit. So, I began with them, and by the special grace of God, I spent three months with them. Miracles began to happen when the Lord’s grace shone, and people received blessings, healing, and deliverance. ECWA said this is not their doctrine. And for this sake, I should leave their denomination. That is how I began my ministry in February 1999. When I started my ministry in 1999, I had been ministering for 10 years with just one member. I began in February 1999. I ministered to one person inside the Church for 10 good years. So, that one member is the one I minister to every day, not just a week. Every day, I go to Church, preaching to him.
What is the name of that person?
The person’s name is Mr. Olaoye.
For 10 years?!
For 10 good years. People mocked me, and people made jest of me, but I still waited for my call. So, after 10 years, a masquerade festival exists. (18:34) So, during that festival, they came to my Church, they said, people should not go out, why should I go out with a lady? That very lady came for deliverance. So, they came to my Church, they beat me, the masquerades entered the Church, and they beat me, destroyed everything. So, the town king said I should leave. I should leave their town.
What was the name of that town?
Idofin in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State. So, that’s how I started preaching and revival, and now I’ve landed in Edidi, as the Spirit led. That’s how I started 15 years ago. So, when I started there, with one person, again. The person is Tope, one of my juniors from my hometown. So, when I started working with him, God began to grow the Church daily, day by day.
Does that mean you have faced lots of persecution?
Haaa! I cannot tell you, Sir, the persecution was too much. Before I left that place in Edidi, the persecution was too much. It’s too much from ECWA and others, especially the traditionalists. – that is the last one that I faced. And you still fight ahead through the grace of God. People mocked me: what are you doing? For 10 years, you have been with one member. I said I’m waiting for him. So, by the time they finished beating me and destroying everything, the king said I should leave their town if I could not bow down to their God. So, I left the city. I started again in my hometown with just one person. Suddenly, God made His promise come to pass, and the Church began to grow gradually until the crowd we see now.
Sir, how were you called?
I like this very significant question. This is the question that many people are debating. They asked, ‘Who is my mentor?’ So, the first question ECWA asked me was, ‘Who was my mentor?’ Some said I went to the synagogue to get power from TB Joshua. So, they said, I went there because of the grace inside my father in the Lord, of blessed memory, Senior Prophet TB, Joshua. The grace he had is the grace God gave to me. The way he stretches my arm, the way they see me stretch my arm. The way the evil Spirit rolls people down, the way cancer heals, and the way HIV heals is the same process I use here. Truly, I went to synagogue. But, the man of God during that time, in 1996, that was when I went to synagogue. The man of God didn’t know me; a crowd was present there. I’m not one of the workers. I’m not one of the disciples. I went there to worship. Just as normal people go to Church. So, by that time, people saw that I was going to synagogue, and the grace of God started from there. They said I got power from there. So, I’m using the synagogue power. How can somebody go to Church and get power? I was called on a date I can never forget, February 5, 1995. That is the day I can never forget in my life when the Lord Jesus called me. He appeared in my heart by my faith. According to Ephesians 3:17, He said, ‘Let Christ dwell in your heart by faith.’ So, that is when I was called. Calling is not a matter of saying because I don’t go to school. We don’t call to go to school. We are being called to serve God. The God who calls you must be inside your heart. When people ask, ‘Who is my mentor?’ Who is my mentor? My mentor is the Holy Spirit. It’s my teacher. That is, my life is inside the Bible. If you want to know the secret of my power, search the Bible; you will see the secret there. The man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua, didn’t know me by physical eyes. But I agree if people say he is my mentor. Anyone who is in front, I know that he is the father of those who are coming. But he didn’t know me. The same person who trained him trained me. Because the Holy Spirit is one. The same Holy Spirit baptises us. So, when I started this ministry, people asked me the same question: Who’s your mentor? Who called you? When have you been called? You can’t know when God calls a human being. It is a personal activity. God calls me, and He is inside me. He is my teacher, according to the Bible. Who will teach God? People believe that today’s calling is to attend school. No! That is not Biblical. This is my belief. It’s not Biblical.
If you are being called to serve God, let God teach you because teaching must be within your heart, according to 1 Corinthians 3:10. He said we were being trained, being taught, not by ink or by a physical master, but by the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit didn’t live in school. The Holy Spirit dwells within a person’s heart. And the doctrine of Jesus Christ is, when I go, it is the Holy Spirit that will teach you. So, when people are arguing, who is my mentor? How am I receiving my call? You can’t know how any man of God gets the call, but Christ is in my heart. He works as He wishes. He teaches me what I’m doing. He trains me what I’m doing. We are born not of the flesh but of the Spirit. So, the Spirit is my teacher. He’s the one who calls me. He’s the one who trains me. He’s the one who teaches me. He’s the one I rely upon. And He’s the one who performs miracles. I am not doing miracles. The Holy Spirit is doing it. This is what Christ taught us. And this must be the belief of every believer. We should stop fighting each other about calling or mentoring. Christ is our mentor. Everyone who says, I am a divine minister of God, Christ must be your mentor.
Sir, I learned that you used to heal people who have cancer, HIV, and many other terminal diseases. How true is this?
Thank you, Daddy. I’ve repeated it many times without numbers that it’s not supposed to be new among Christians. If, indeed, the same Christ we proclaimed yesterday is the one we proclaim today, it should not be surprising that cancer and other major ailments are healed. No disease is complex for God to cure. Christ healed in the past. Christ, who healed in the past, is the same Christ we serve today. If Christ cannot heal cancer today, people must question me: why is your own Christ not healing cancer again since he was big like that in the olden days? The Bible says Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, if I call myself a divine minister of God, and my Christ cannot heal cancer, cannot heal HIV, I must be questioned. They’re supposed to read that verse to me that the Christ we know cannot heal cancer and every disease. The Bible says that everyone came to him, and they went home freely. So, if that is the same Christ we are serving, there should be no problem about how cancer is being healed. Different kinds of cancer have been healed in the ministry, not by power or might, but by the Spirit of God. Any place you see God, where cancer can be healed, is not a mystery. Miracles are not tricky. The absence of a miracle is the absence of the Holy Spirit.
Sir, are you saying that if, as a Christian, I attend a particular Church and spent a few years there, I cannot point to any specific miracle that has happened to me or somebody in the Church? Does that mean Christ doesn’t live in that Church?
Let me answer that question strictly. The Presence of God is the presence of God’s power. The Absence of God is the Absence of God’s power, according to the Bible. In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 4, Verse 20, the Bible states that where God is present, freedom must also be present. The Absence of liberty in any denomination, in any Churches, is the Absence of God’s Spirit. Because what does God’s Spirit stand there for, to do? That’s the question. If we say, Holy Spirit,