•Reveals A Lot About Her Late Husband
•The Many Things My Husband Told Me
Last week, late Pastor Dare Adeboye, the son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, was laid to rest amid tears. It was one funeral no member of RCCG saw coming. Not even in 30 years!
The late Pastor Dare Adeboye was the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region 35 (Youth) and he was said to have conducted a service on the day he died. He was not just the son of the highly respected General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, he was also regarded as one of the brightest and intelligent pastors in the ministry. And he was enormously loved by all and sundry, which explains why his death shook the very foundation of the ministry and shattered everyone who knew him.
Family members and few family friends on Monday paid glowing tributes to the deceased. In an emotional service of songs and tributes at the RCCG House of Favour Parish on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, the congregation described the 42-year-old as a leader who devoted his life to the service of humanity.
The service of songs and tributes was attended by dignitaries that included the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; and his wife, Dolapo; the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke; and his wife, Tokunbo; former governors of Ogun and Ondo States, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Dr Segun Mimiko, respectively; among others. Several hymns of praise were raised as family members and friends of the deceased were called to read several Bible passages.
The homecoming songs made tears well up on the faces of the congregation, including the deceased’s widow, Temiloluwa. Temiloluwa, in her tribute, said her husband was not afraid of death, adding that he lived a fulfilled life.
The very beautiful and surprisingly calm and strong mother of three adorable kids said, “Pastor Dare, my husband, was a wonderful man. He was amazing in every way. I do not mourn him at all. I wept because he left me. My husband 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 and certain. He said if I die today, I know I am fulfilled. I have done what the Lord asked me to do. He was not afraid of death. 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 served God. His life was dedicated to Christ and that is why I am sure he is in heaven. I am sure he made it.”
But what perhaps shocked many the most was Temi’s incredible strength and unshakable faith in God. Many had expected to see a visibly shattered and inconsolable wife who would’ve sat through the entire ceremony looking forlorn with eyes reddened with unending tears. But not Temi. Her remarkable faith and trust in God helped her pull through it all. Many were stunned when she turned the tributes session into one of evangelism. She began to reach out to those who were yet to give their lives to Christ because, according to her, her husband, Pastor Dare, is with the Lord, “he is sleeping in the Lord,” she said.
The spirit-filled widow went on to say to the congregation: “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?
You haven’t given your life to Christ or perhaps you did and took it back from Him, I want you to raise your right hand this evening.”
More than a few in the congregation raised up their hands. The rest were speechless. They looked on in awe and admiration of this incredible woman who was giving strength and offering hope of salvation to those who had come to mourn with her.
She added: “If you are not sure of your salvation, you are not sure you are going to sleep in the Lord, you are not sure of where you are going to end up!
You are afraid to die because you are not living a holy life, if you are afraid to die because you are not saved, because the devil is still in control of your life, I want you to raise your right hand up this evening. Wherever you are, just raise your right hand up.
Raise it up and let the Lord save you today.
Don’t be ashamed, don’t be shy. You are not going to die. I want you to be saved just like my husband was saved. I want you to make it. I want you to be sure of yourself.
I want you to live your life fully for Jesus.
I want you to rededicate your life to Him if you were once saved.
I want you to tell Him, “Lord Jesus, I come before you today, save me. I want to surrender my life back to you. Help me because I cannot do this on my own. That if you come before tomorrow morning, I will reign with You in Your Kingdom.” In Jesus name we have prayed.”
“Thank you everyone that has come to honour God in his life. Thank you for coming and I pray that the Almighty God will reward us all in Jesus name. Praise the Lord.”
As she finished her powerful tribute, the entire congregation rose its feet to give her a standing ovation and a resounding applause that lasted till she left the podium and was accompanied back to her seat where her three beautiful children were waiting for her. Temi left no doubts in anyone’s mind that she had done exactly what her dear departed husband would’ve loved her to do for him – celebrate God in his life and mourn him with an unshakable faith in God.
The church had announced the death penultimate Thursday, May 6, and also confirmed that the pastor’s death was not due to COVID-19 infection, adding that “he was in good health before he went to bed and died in his sleep.
He was an energetic man of God. He was hale and hearty with no known health condition. Tuesday was Bible Study and he attended. So, when the wife raised the alarm that he did not wake from his sleep, top RCCG pastors and prayer warriors gathered in their house and started praying. It lasted for hours.
Dare, the third child of Pastor Adeboye, was reported to have died in his sleep on Tuesday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where he was based with his wife and three children.
-WALE LAWAL
