A letter to Pastor E.A Adeboye by Rev. Chinemerem Uche.

"DO NOT DO THIS TO THE BODY OF CHRIST:
OPEN LETTER TO G.Os OF FAST GROWING MEGA CHURCHES.

It is true that the church that was handed over to you was not spectacular. It is true that you were appointed under circumstances that clearly showed that God was at work. By all rights you were not supposed to be the G.O but God confounded the plans of men and graciously made you the leader of a church that has flourished under your dutiful and anointed leadership. The process of your nomination and appointment was what was obtainable then and nobody would much have questioned it because the church then was not quite attractive and the leader who handed over to you was not as enlightened and exposed as you are.

You know in every human being lies the old nature, crying for gratification; therefore do not be surprised if I say that your predecessor was not as greedy as you and we are. If he were, he would have handed over reigns of leadership to one of his children or his wife or a distant relation. Your predecessor was so sincere, selfless and honest to the leading of the Holy Spirit, out of the blues, you, a no strong member and dreamer to the office of G.O, was handpicked! God is indeed moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform!

Your leadership has indeed changed the landscape of the evangelical church. Your supposedly first class humility has endeared you to many. You have transformed a once local miniature church not just to a national church where politicians fall on themselves to get your approval, but also to an international church. When it comes to influence, you are one of the most influential ministers in the globe. It has somehow become obvious that any politician that kneels before you as a mark of endorsement will definitely get to Aso Rock. [Mind you, many of your contemporaries dreamed of this and are very jealous of you! Some may even drop hemlock in your water to ensure your influence wanes].

You have also transformed the method of doing evangelism. Your model has proved very successful that even many of the prosperity mongering mega churches in Nigeria are following your footsteps of decentralization and expansion of parishes within walking distance. You are a star, an enigma to be studied and an institution that has left huge footprints in the sand of time!

Permit me to ask you this question? Having taken over from a not much lettered G.O why have you not been able to make clear the path of succession in a 21st century church? Why are you still on this saddle even after you have crossed seventy years and almost eighty? Do not tell me that after all the office of the Pope is for life! It is very clear that you are not the Roman Catholic Church and you do not subscribe to their doctrine and if you have adopted their method, I do not think the internal wrangling and the growing discontent within your walls would be blossoming.

You boast like a thin god that you are not yet dying or that your death is still far away. Be that as it may, supposing the Lord in His unquestionable sovereignty decides to call you home tonight, what do you think would happen to this great empire you have built?

You also claim that you would announce the person the Lord has chosen to succeed you soon, does this mean that you have cornered the power of succession to yourself? It is true you were somehow appointed through a spontaneous decision which is clear the Hand of God was in it, but why have you not been magnanimous enough to carry your trusted lieutenants along so also to create a level playing field for unquestionable and legal fireworks free succession.

My advice to you is that you should nip the coming implosion in the bud by making a clear path for the election of a new General Overseer. This path must be entrenched through a recognized constitution so as to eliminate future manipulations through the instrument of “God said.” Many main line churches have remained afloat for centuries because they were able to fashion out a clear constitution that spelt out a succession plan. You too can save the church of God this embarrassment by tolling the path of sanity. I will be willing to be of assistance to you if invited to help you prevent this growing implosion that might leave this part of the body of Christ in bruises.

Let me remind you that the church handed over to you is not your own and that by His grace, you are not an absolute monarch with power to fire those who raise questions about the growing takeover and appointment to sensitive positions in the church by your direct family members. If your predecessor had allowed this sentiment to overtake his emotions, you would not have been where you are today. There are a lot of young men and women in your fold, a lot of vibrant elders and administrators in your church and all it needs is just a little constitutional adjustment to ensure that the constitutional path to growth and promotions within your hierarchies creates a temperate atmosphere to satisfy ambitions and entrench growth.

A word they say, is enough for the wise!"