A recent sermon by Pastor Fatoyinbo Biodun, leader of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), has ignited heated debate within Nigeria’s Christian community following controversial remarks about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
In a now-viral clip, Fatoyinbo praised Babalola as “anointed… so anointed,” yet claimed that “all the grace just went like that” because he “had no money.” The COZA pastor also recounted a story in which a python allegedly dried up after crossing Babalola’s leg.
“I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected,” Fatoyinbo said in the sermon. “What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed. Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So all the grace just went like that.”
The comments sparked outrage, prompting the CAC to issue a strongly worded statement on Thursday, signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode. The church accused Fatoyinbo of promoting a “misleading and biblically flawed” link between ministerial success and material wealth.
“Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms,” the CAC said.
The statement referenced a portion of Fatoyinbo’s message where he not only spoke about Babalola’s supposed lack of wealth but also asked, “Where are his children?” a remark the church described as “insensitive and ill-informed.”
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed,” Alawode stressed, citing Luke 12:15: ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’
Seeking to “set the record straight,” the CAC maintained that Babalola was far from destitute. According to the church, he lived in a befitting home, owned one of the best Ford Jeeps of his time, and cared for many beyond his biological children.
“When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in February 1956, Apostle Babalola was among the honored guests. Would a man in rags be granted such recognition by a colonial government? Certainly not,” Alawode stated.
The CAC also addressed Fatoyinbo’s question about the evangelist’s children, clarifying that Babalola’s two surviving children are “blessed, fulfilled, and quietly serving the Lord in their respective churches,” describing them as neither loud, ostentatious, nor greedy.
The church urged ministers and believers to focus on biblical definitions of success rather than worldly standards, warning that material wealth should never be the measure of a man’s spiritual legacy.
