The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has lamented the arrest of one of the church’s pastors abroad.
He said the pastor was arrested for addressing those in attendance at a programme “Ladies and gentlemen.”
Speaking during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service at the RCCG Throne of Grace in Lagos on December 1, Adeboye explained that the statement was considered discriminatory because it excluded other gender identities recognized in the country where the pastor was serving.
“The end is nearer than you think. Things are getting worse, and this is a wake-up call. One of my pastors abroad was arrested for simply addressing a gathering as ‘ladies and gentlemen,’” Adeboye said. “Some people reported him for discrimination, asking, ‘What about those who are neither ladies nor gentlemen?’”
Adeboye, who did not name the arrested pastor or the country where the arrest took place, also shared another story that he found troubling, about a woman who referred to her dog as her husband. “I took him to the vet before coming. He doesn’t talk,” the woman reportedly said when asked about her spouse.
He warned that these incidents reflect a broader moral decline and serve as signs of the end times. “Those of you already in Christ, take this matter seriously. Do not let anyone weaken your stand. God is holy. Those still playing church—singing, clapping, and enjoying things without genuine commitment—remember, Jesus is coming back. The devil wants to harvest you, but you must not give him the opportunity. I want to see you in my father’s house,” Adeboye urged.
Adeboye recently criticized certain fashion trends among church workers, including braided hair for men and false eyelashes and heavy makeup for women.
Speaking at the RCCG’s 72nd annual convention in August, he expressed disappointment over these styles, making it clear they would no longer be allowed on RCCG altars.
RCCG churches are present in 197 countries and territories with over 9million members and over 50 thousand parishes worldwide according to information on the church’ website.