Former senior pastor of the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, has opened his church in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.
On Sunday, January 19, videos from Iluyomade’s church emerged on social media. A series of clips showed the clergyman dancing with his members as they appreciated God during the Sunday service.
Iluyomade, who left RCCG in 2024, now owns a church in Lagos named “Family Fellowship.”
However, the pastor’s wife, Siju Iluyomade, was not spotted in the videos trending online.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recalls that Iluyomade was replaced at the City of David parish following public criticism of his wife’s extravagant 60th birthday party.
The party came a few days after the tragic death of Nigerian businessman Herbert Wigwe, a prominent member of the church.
Following the criticism, in June 2024, the RCCG Governing Council suspended Iluyomade for three months and replaced him with Pastor Charles Kpandei of RCCG Resurrection Parish.
RCCG then appointed a new pastor, Kayode Pitan, to replace Iluyomade at the City of David Parish in Lagos, marking the end of the latter’s tenure.
Many social media users have continued to respond and listen intensely to the news. Meanwhile, some people criticised the growing trend of churches being seen as business ventures.
Jarvis Olamide expressed, “They can’t do anything afterwards because they know all they gotta do is brainwash people to drop money. They got their own lifestyle.”
Others, like Emelda Ifeme2, seemed more accepting, writing, “Business must continue,” while Precious Capable echoed the sentiment, stating, “Business must be made.”
This launch comes amid ongoing debates over the role of churches in society, with some questioning the legitimacy of Pastor Iluyomade’s new project.
