Pastors’ Claims of Seeing Jesus Divide Christian Leaders Over Authenticity, Money

Claims by some pastors that they have visited heaven, encountered Jesus Christ and received divine instructions have sparked debate among Christian leaders in Nigeria, with some defending the possibility of supernatural revelations while others warn that such testimonies could mislead worshippers.

The debate followed the circulation of videos featuring the founder of Remnant Christian Network, Apostle Arome Osayi, recounting what he described as encounters with Jesus Christ. In one video, Osayi claimed Jesus appeared to him and spent nine hours “crying and complaining” about the state of the Nigerian church.

In another account, the cleric said he had asked Jesus for the power to raise the dead and reverse autism but was instead instructed to send ₦5m to another pastor. The claims drew criticism from other church leaders, including Power City International founder Pastor Abel Damina, who reportedly described such accounts as “wild stories and fables”. Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries International also questioned claims by pastors that they had repeatedly visited heaven.

However, the President of the Nigeria Council for Theological Studies and Christian Education, Prof Olowookere David, defended the possibility of supernatural encounters, arguing that the Bible contains accounts of divine revelations. He shared his own experience of being in a coma after an accident, during which he said he saw angels singing in what he described as a beautiful place before regaining consciousness in hospital.

The rector of the Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu, Very Revd Bamidele Adedeji, said he would not rule out the possibility of pastors having spiritual or physical encounters with Jesus. He argued that greater attention should be paid to the messages people claim to receive rather than dismissing their experiences outright.

“I will not rule out the possibility of pastors having a physical or spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ. Rather, it is the message they bring back that we should query,” Adedeji said.

Other clerics raised concerns about the financial and publicity incentives that could accompany extraordinary religious claims. An Ilorin-based pastor, who spoke anonymously, alleged that some testimonies were designed to attract followers, increase public attention and encourage financial contributions. He called on the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to clarify their responsibilities in addressing teachings considered misleading.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lagos, the Most Revd Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, also warned that some pastors might make questionable claims for financial gain or to grow their congregations. While acknowledging that Christian scripture contains accounts of revelations, he urged believers to assess extraordinary testimonies critically rather than accept them without question.

PFN National Secretary Bishop David Bakare said regulating claims about personal supernatural experiences would be difficult because such encounters could not easily be assessed through general rules. However, he maintained that claimed revelations should be examined against biblical teachings and should not be used to establish doctrines or impose beliefs on other Christians. Lagos State CAN Chairman Bishop Stephen Adegbite added that the organisation could advise pastors but faced practical limits in monitoring sermons across its many affiliated churches.