The Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has taken a significant step by directing the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries to review the way its members share testimonies during church gatherings. This decision comes in response to backlash over a recent testimony that many considered misleading and sensationalized.
The controversial testimony that sparked this reaction involved an unnamed member of the Lord’s Chosen church. She claimed that during an examination, an old man appeared to her and provided her with answers to the exam questions. After receiving this divine assistance, she reportedly shared the answers with another individual from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, who was also present in the examination hall. This extraordinary claim quickly went viral, attracting widespread attention and criticism.
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Chairman of the Lagos CAN, publicly condemned the testimony, labeling it “an utter fabrication.” His strong words highlight the concern within the Christian community about the potential implications of such claims. Adegbite emphasized the need for churches to ensure that testimonies shared by their members do not mislead the public or harm the reputation of Christianity.
In response to the uproar, Adegbite announced that a meeting would be convened with the leadership of the Lord’s Chosen church to address the issue of testimonies and the standards that should be upheld.
During a recent interview, Bishop Adegbite provided an update on the meeting, which took place at the CAN secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. He confirmed that church representatives attended the meeting, where they were urged to be more cautious and to reconsider how testimonies are presented in the future.
“We had the meeting last Friday, and it was attended by representatives from the church. We told them to be careful and review the pattern of their testimonies. It is only a madman who would think otherwise,” Adegbite stated.
The meeting was comprehensive, including leaders from the five blocs of CAN and coordinators from all 57 local government areas in Lagos. More than 100 people were in attendance, demonstrating the seriousness of the issue at hand.
At the meeting, there was a unified agreement among the attendees regarding the importance of sharing reasonable and sensible testimonies. Adegbite stressed, “We reject vehemently any testimony that is not reasonable and sensible, which can be misleading and bring disrepute to the name of Christ. We reject it in its entirety.”
Church leaders were instructed to ensure that they vet what their members wish to share publicly. “We told the leaders to ensure that they ask their members what they want to say before giving them the microphone. If what they want to say is not good for public consumption, it should be disallowed,” he added.
Bishop Adegbite’s statements reflect a commitment to uphold the integrity of Christian teachings and the importance of honesty in sharing personal experiences of faith. He concluded by reaffirming that while God does perform miracles, it is essential to stick to the truth in all testimonies shared within the church community.