Christ Apostolic Church Calls for Holy Spirit Enduement and Ministerial Integrity at Pastors Conference

Olawale Perfect,
Lagos, Nigeria – September 25, 2024

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), hosted a pivotal conference for CAC pastors and ministers on Wednesday 25 September 2024, focusing on the necessity of spiritual empowerment and safeguarding the integrity of the church’s doctrine. Pastor S.O. Oladele, President of CAC, delivered a profound message on the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in ministry, addressing a large gathering of pastors, ministers, and media professionals.

One of the highlight of the conference was the press conference hosted by Journalist for Christ in which Christian journalists were privileged to engage the President in a media chat online via zoom platform.

In his address, Pastor Oladele reiterated the command given by Jesus to His disciples, instructing them not to embark on evangelism until they had received the Holy Spirit’s power. “The Holy Spirit is the very power behind the Church,” he asserted. “It is delusional to think that ministry can be done effectively without the power of the Holy Spirit.”

He traced the roots of the CAC to the Holy Spirit’s work, citing the pivotal moment when Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola encountered God audibly along the Ilesa-Ikeji road over 108 years ago. This moment, Pastor Oladele noted, was foundational to the church’s existence and remains a reminder of the power the Holy Spirit holds over CAC. Countering certain theological claims, he added, “One of my theology professors said the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today, but that is not true. The Holy Spirit wants to do now what He did in Bible times.”

Pastor Oladele further emphasized that ministry is not sustained by material resources but solely by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Our ministry is not powered by fuel, diesel, or wine, but by the Holy Spirit,” he declared, calling for ministers to avoid abusing the church’s name, which has been built on magnanimity and spiritual integrity.

In a forward-looking message, Pastor Oladele expressed his commitment to laying a solid foundation for future generations of ministers, with particular emphasis on the youth. He described the youth as the future of the church and encouraged them to remain faithful to the spiritual legacy of the CAC while being filled with the Holy Spirit.

On the subject of ministers publicly criticizing one another, especially on social media, Pastor Oladele expressed concern. “We live in the days of free speech, and free speech is fire,” he noted, highlighting the potential for misuse in such platforms. While he acknowledged that he has control only over CAC ministers, he urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to take proactive measures to address the issue. He emphasized that some discussions are meant to be kept within the church, stating, “There are messages meant for in-house and should not be let out of the church.”

Pastor Oladele also announced new rules for CAC pastors regarding the invitation of non-CAC ministers. Going forward, any pastor wishing to invite an external minister must first obtain written permission, preceded by a 90-day notice. This period would be used to examine the invited minister’s character and doctrinal stance to ensure alignment with CAC’s values.