In light of the recent report of the collapse of a prominent pastor at a public function, Women’s Editor, TEMITOPE OJO, takes a look at possible reason for this incident and why more ministers of God may suffer this fate if precautions are not taken.
One of Nigeria’s most outspoken pastors, Tunde Bakare, recently collapsed in Lagos while giving a lecture to a gathering of investors. According to reports the Latter Rain Assembly (LRA) overseer collapsed due to exhaustion.
Bakare, TheNiche gathered, became light-headed and collapsed as he delivered the lecture during Capital Investors’ Dinner at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos. A witness said there was a swelling on his forehead after he fell. He was rushed to Reddington Hospital in Lagos. Treated and discharged, one source said he is resting at home.
TheNiche gathered that Pastor Bakare had been making a whirlwind of lectures recently. He was said to have attended the graduation of one of his kids in the United States and also held several meetings in the week preceding the incident. A statement by LRA, released on social media affirmed this report after a few days. According to the statement by the church’s executive council, the outspoken pastor was said to be “hale, hearty and in good spirit, though in need of rest.”
While thanking his followers and admirers for the outpouring of love and concern, the church said the influential social activist and critic needs “the space and time to fully recuperate over the next few days”.
Bakare has since returned to his duty post, as he was reported to have preached during last Sunday’s service.
A member of the church told TheNiche that though co-pastors urged Bakare not to speak for long, he however mounted the altar few minutes after 11am and was practically ‘forced’ off after noon. “On a normal day, Pastor Bakare preaches for over one hour, so it was difficult for him not to do the same that day,” she said.
She however revealed that the man of God was given a clean slate of health at the hospital, but was told he was just stressed and needed rest.
Last year, The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi was reported down with health challenges. The man of God’s poor health emanated during the Deeper Christian Life Ministry’s national Easter Retreat. He was said to have broken down during one of the sessions.
The Church through its Secretary, Pastor Jerry Asemota, later announced through a satellite broadcast that the leadership of the church had to “plead” with Kumuyi to rest for the early morning and afternoon sessions, after it was clear the work was taking its toll on him.
Like Bakare, who was said to have been overwhelmed with myriads of activities, Kumuyi was similarly said to have travelled to Kwara, Oyo, Imo, Taraba states and also Togo and Benin Republic in quick succession, where he preached three messages per day in usually three-day-long revival programmes.
Nigerians, especially the Christian community, have continued to react to the fact that pastors seem to neglect their health despite the fact that they take on so many duties aside their pastoral calling It’s a fact that many clerics, especially in the Pentecostal fold, have also gone into running non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses, schools and even authoring books, which sometimes keep them awake all night. In fact, to say that they are super-busy is an understatement.
“We (pastors and other believers) live by His grace. Pastors are also human,” said Uloma Kalu, when asked her reaction to this trend. “The problem with today’s Christians, including our pastors, is that they are not sincere with themselves and especially their body. To the best of my knowledge, that is the reason it seems as if following Jesus is difficult.
“We are human with blood and if we fail to take care of ourselves, we can be sick. Timothy lived with an ailment (Paul wrote a letter to him and said take a little wine for your stomach sake). I don’t know among us who is better than Paul or Timothy. Even Paul had a thorn in his flesh.
Kalu’s stand is also backed up by Festus Delano, a Christian Religious Knowledge teacher, who believes that pastors, because of reasons best known to them, take on too many duties more than they naturally should.
Some of these pastors head almost all sections in the church. So you find them moving from in and out of one meeting or another; organising vigils and other special programmes, visiting members to ensure they don’t lose them and also caring and catering for their families. Even when they delegate, they still want to be a part of the process.”
While also admitting that pastors nowadays take on too much, Oyedetun Oyedele, a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, stated that this is due to lack of good discipleship and followers not willing to pay the price for greatness, according to biblical injunction.
Citing the story of Moses in the Bible, who also got to a point of exhaustion before God rescued him by anointing 70 elders, thereby transferring part of the anointing on Moses onto them.
“The Lord therefore said to Moses, ‘Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone’” (Numbers 11:16-17).
Oyedele added that pastors must begin to preach true discipleship and also entrust things unto others.
Said he: “The problem of pastors taking on too much can be viewed on two sides: spiritual and physical.
“Spiritually, I believe some pastors are not preaching discipleship, and so they lack knowledgeable followers. Some pastors don’t trust that the church can run without them. They’ve so structured the church in such a way that they are the one overseeing every section.
“Also, followers are not willing to pay the price for greatness, and so they bombard their pastors with so much to do on their behalf. Followers must realise that without paying the necessary price, a Christian cannot achieve much. God knows we have needs, but He has asked that we seek first the kingdom of God “and all these things which ye seek shall be added unto you”, as recorded in Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:3.
On the physical side, Oyedele stated that “many pastors do not do regular medical check-up, they don’t exercise, do not go on vacation and some don’t even take time out to be with their families. All they think of is how the church will operate without them.”
He stated that though 1 Timothy 4:8 states that “For bodily exercise profiteth little”, everything must be done in a balance.
He added that ministers of God must realise that it is their covenant right with God to be in good health as stated in 3 John 1:2, and that the body is needed for anyone to fulfil God’s purpose for one’s life, and there is a general need to enjoy life.