Popular
Nigerian pastor, Sunday Adelaja’s church is currently enmeshed in an
adultery scandal following allegations that he had extramarital affairs with at
least 20 women in his church.
Adelaja,
founder of one of Europe’s largest churches, Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of
God for All Nations Church in Kiev, Ukraine, is now under fire to step down as
the spiritual head of the church.
The
pastor however denied all allegations levelled against him, saying it is an
attempt by some people to take over the church from him.
“That
is not true at all; I have read what people are saying about me. The funny
thing is that nobody asked me for any information; no interview was granted to
anyone,” he told SUNDAY
PUNCH in an email.
In
a statement on its website, the Russian Union of Christians Evangelical Faith
stated that Adelaja, at a meeting of pastors and board of elders of the church,
confessed to having committed adultery with his female parishioners and that he
had repented.
According
to a letter posted on the website of the Spiritual Council Russian Union of
Christians Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), written by one Apostle Toff
Ulissis, a clergyman said to be providing spiritual care to the Nigerian
pastor, Adelaja was urged to “seek psychiatric help in Kiev and the United
States.”
Ulissis
said, “Pastor Sunday mentioned that he had a relationship with 20 or 30 women;
probably, the number was more than he could remember. Also, I talked with many
women (married and unmarried), as well as with their husbands, and they shared
with me their pain and described how the pastor manipulates people, who work for
him. All the stories were equally horrific, disgusting and depressing. People
are very sorry about the current situation with the pastor and wanted him to
have psychiatric help.
“I
made it clear that my aim is not to destroy either the Embassy of God, because
many people have found help in the church or Pastor Sunday as a person. I
wanted to make sure that everything has been done to these women and the
couples have received care, reconciliation and redeeming restoration.”
Also,
a bishop in Adelaja’s church, Anatoly Belonozhko, has resigned from the church,
saying the embattled pastor was not willing to seek help.
“We,
as church elders, began to create new projects and exercises to heal and
restore the church, a new structure, and of course, help our pastor. But Pastor
Sunday in writing categorically rejected our help, humiliating us and saying
that we have no power to tell him what to do and how to do it and that he knows
how and what to do.
“For
22 years in the Church of the Embassy of God, of which 14 years in the rank of
bishop, I have always been faithful and responsible before God and people for
their service. Taking this opportunity, I want to refute the lie that I knew of
pastor’s sin for a long time. I found out about the moral fall of Pastor Sunday
in the middle of December 2015 through the pastors of the Apostolic Council.
After I learned about it, I talked to Pastor Sunday, trying to help. Remaining
in the church in the most difficult time for all of us to save and restore the
church and souls of men. But as I understand it, the pastor does not need my
help,” Belonozhko said.
Debunking
all allegations against him, Adelaja stated, “It is actually an old story that
was cooked up by some disgruntled members of my leadership team when they knew
of my decision to hand over the church because of my plan to return to Africa.
“So,
it’s a leadership tussle from those whose desires for church leadership were
not granted. I’m happy with my wife. The church here in Ukraine is doing well.
So I thank God that their stories though believed by some without confirmation
is still false nevertheless.”
Source: Sunday Punch
Tags
Society