The General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, popularly called Daddy GO, has clocked 80 years age.
Pastor Adeboye, a renowned Nigerian minister of the gospel, born into a humble family on March 2, 1942, in Ifewara, near Ile-Ife, in Osun State, Nigeria, was a Mathematician before his divine call into the ministry, with the headquarters of his church located at the Redemption Camp, Ogun State.
He has been celebrated worldwide for the simplicity he brought into the Christian faith and ministration in the past decades.
Thanking God on the occasion of his birthday, Pastor Adeboye made a random post on his social media handle, saying: “For 80 years of Divine Mercy. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Lord.
For 80 years of Divine Mercy.
Thank You Jesus
Thank You Lord#EAA80 pic.twitter.com/B6EqQXHqKS— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) March 1, 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari, had, on Tuesday, joined the teeming members of the RCCG, and the entire Christian community in Nigeria and abroad, to celebrate with the globally revered man of God.
In his celebratory and congratulatory message, Buhari, in a statement signed on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘President Buhari rejoices with Pastor E.A. Adeboye on 80th birthday,’ congratulated the clergyman for dedicating his life to the service of God, and humanity.
Adesina said: “President Buhari felicitates with the wife, Pastor Foluke Adeboye, family members, friends, and relations as the General Overseer turns an octogenarian, with clear evidence of walking the path of a righteous man by dedicating his life to the service of God, and humanity.
“The President recalls his private and public meetings with the renowned preacher and teacher of the Bible over many years, most remarkably the visit when he was recuperating in London, 2017, appreciating Pastor Adeboye’s warmth and friendliness, which he also extends to leaders and others from all walks of life.”
He further stated that, President Buhari said he believes Pastor Adeboye’s contributions to the betterment of Nigeria and other countries stand out clearly as testimonies of his divine calling, impacting greatly on education, health, and infrastructural development, which include many urban and rural roads.
Today, the name Adeboye is what almost every Nigerian identify with irrespective of their faith. As put by the Entrepreneurs in his biography, the cleric was described as “a humble, easy going and soft spoken Nigerian pastor,” saying: “As a matter of fact, he is ranked as one of the most influential and highly respected figures in the world.”
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The mathematician turned pastor is the national president of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF, an interdenominational fellowship in several higher institutions in Nigeria). He is the founder and president of Christ the Redeemers Ministry (CRM). In addition to that, Enoch Adeboye is also the founder of Redeemers University, Ede Osun State, established in 2005.
Adeboye’s background
Enoch was born on the 2nd of March 1942 in Ifewara, Osun state to a family of six. At the time, his father was a peasant farmer. Young Enoch began his education at Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State. Thereafter, he gained admission into the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka to study mathematics but, due to the Nigeria civil war, he couldn’t complete his education there.
He then proceeded to University of Lagos where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1967. Thereafter, he went further to obtain a masters degree in hydrodynamics from the University of Lagos. Not only that, he holds a PhD degree in Applied Mathematics from University of Lagos. Also, Enoch Adeboye holds the position of professor in mathematics at the University of Lagos.
He got married to Foluke Adenike in 1967 at the age of 25 and they are blessed with four children who have also become great men and woman of God today. They are : Pastor Adeolu Adeboye, Pastor (Mrs.) Bolu Adeboye, Pastor Dare Adeboye and Pastor Leke Adeboye.
Adeboye’s career
Before delving into ministry, Pastor Adeboye had a lecturing career going on smoothly for him. In fact, he had the dream of becoming a Vice Chancellor because of his love for education. He worked as a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Lagos and University of Ilorin.
Adeboye’s journey to ministry
His Journey Into Ministry
Pastor Adeboye gave his life to Christ on 29th July, 1973 when he joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He served in the church as an interpreter to Pastor Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi who could only preach in Yoruba Language. Later, in 1977, he was ordained a pastor.
Thereafter, he became the General Overseer of the church in 1987 after the passage of Pastor Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi. For 3 years, he juggled the position with his part time lecturing job in Unilorin. But, he eventually quit the job to pastor full time.
Since he assumed the position of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, God has used him to bring about tremendous growth to the church. For a start, he purchased a massive piece of land on Lagos Ibadan expressway which is known today as Redemption Camp, where the Holy Ghost congress service is being held annually.
The Holy Ghost Congress
Record has it that the first RCCG Holy Ghost congress held at Lekki-Lagos and it was attended by over 7 million people in 1998. Thereafter, in 1999, the annual congress was moved permanently to the Redemption Camp.
Today, RCCG has several branches all over the world in more than 196 nations. According to Pastor Adeboye, he wants to plant a Redeemed Church within five minutes walking distance in developing cities and five minutes driving distance in developed cities.
It is worthy of mentioning that Enoch Adeboye is a mentor to millions and spiritual father to Presidents, Head of States and renowned leaders all over the world.
