Widow of the late son of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Dare, Temilade, poured out her heart yesterday.
She said that her husband did not die, but only slept.
Mrs. Adeboye spoke during an “Evening of worship and tribute” service held in honour of her late husband at RCCG House of Favour, Redemption Camp, Kilometre 64 – 48, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.
Dare passed on last Tuesday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. He was 42.
The service was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Pastor Dolapo; former Ogun and Ondo states governors Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; wife of former Imo State Governor Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) President Bishop Wale Oke, among others.
The Pastor-in-Charge of Lagos Region 35 (LP35), Pastor Bisi Akande, presided over the service.
Speaking during the service, Mrs. Adeboye said: “I do not mourn him at all. I weep because he left me. He slept, he did not die. My husband said, ‘if I die today, I know I am fulfilled. I’ve done what the Lord has asked me to do’.
“Pastor Dare, my husband, was a wonderful person. He was amazing in every sense of the way. I do not mourn him at all. I weep because he left me. He slept, he did not die and I know, I am sure, because on the resurrection morning, he will rise again and we will see him in glory. I am sure because he was saved. I am sure because he believed in Christ. His salvation was sure, it was certain.
“It is not a matter of how short, it is not a matter of time, but how well and he lived well. He lived a good life, He lived to the glory of God. He lived, he served God. His life was dedicated to Christ and that is why I am sure that he is in Heaven. I am sure that he made it.
“I want to say brethren today, if you are not sure of your salvation, if you are not sure if you sleep tonight, you might not wake up tomorrow.
“You are not sure of where you will be in eternity. You have not given your life to Christ at all. If you are here today, you heard and perhaps you just came to see: Yes, It’s true, he is sleeping in the Lord. But are you sure of yourself? Are you sure of where you will be? Are you sure of eternity?”
Osinbajo described the late pastor as one who understood the dynamics and urgency of reaching the younger generation with the gospel, adding that the deceased lived a life filled with zeal and speed.
He pointed out the importance of doing what was important and needed to be done at the right time.
Describing the attributes of the late pastor, Osinbajo said: “He knew what was important to do and to emphasize and he worked very hard, everywhere, with the zeal and speed of one who knew that we don’t have all day.
“He understood the dynamics and urgency of reaching young people with the gospel, especially because of their fundamental role in the sustainable growth of the church of God.”
According to him, the deceased was in many ways, a representative of the future of Christian ministry, “a new generation birthed in a period of great turbulence in ideas and doctrines, a surfeit of distractions, but committed to ensuring that the unvarnished gospel is preached to that generation.”
He further went on to say that despite the late pastor’s position of privilege, “he was deeply and unpretentiously respectful, not just of elders and those in authority, but of everyone, even his subordinates.”
Osinbajo noted that “everyone has a story to tell of Dare’s warmth, compassion, friendliness and his open displays of affection for others.”
The vice president once again extended his condolences to Pastor Dare’s wife, Temiloluwa; his children, Oluwatishe, Ireoluwa and Araoluwa; the general overseer, his wife Pastor Folu Adeboye, the late Dare’s siblings, family members and the entire RCCG family.
Also yesterday, Muslim prayer group – Nasru-Lahi- L-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), commiserated with Pastor Adeboye over his son’s demise.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary AbdulHakeem Yusuf, NASFAT said the group was shocked at the news of Pastor Dare’s death.
The statement added that the group prayed that God would grant the family and the RCCG the fortitude to bear the loss and overcome it.
Yusuf quoted NASFAT’s President Niyi Yusuf as describing the deceased as an energetic and dynamic cleric dedicated to the works of God.
The spokesman also quoted NASFAT’s Chief Missioner, Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, as saying: “We all came from God and to Him we shall all return.’’ adding that the cleric prayed that God would comfort the entire RCCG family.
