Adeboye’s N550 billion Redeemed empire

Adeboye’s N550 billion Redeemed empire

 

 

 

 Arguably, the 72 year old Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye might not be the richest clergy in Africa like Bishop Oyedepo but he runs the biggest, most successful and fastest growing church in the world known as The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Though very humble, he sits atop over N550 billion empire widely known as RCCG. His grass to grace success story from a childhood of abject penury to a state of splendour is quite interesting. Since assuming the leadership of the church, Daddy Adeboye, as he is fondly called, has taken the ministry to an unbelievable level.

Sitting atop the world largest Christian camp known as Redemption Camp reportedly worth over 200billion, one million seater 1 kilometre auditorium worth N7.7 billion, a jet which currently put at N8 billion, a garden city tagged N1 billion, Redeemers University valued at N5 billion with its permanent site nearing completion, a reported N20 billion 3 million seater 3-kilometre auditorium, ultramodern branches scattered in over 125 countries pegged at N100billion, annual offering and tithe incredibly close to N201 billion from its over 10 million worshippers from over 15,000 branches and a host of others confirmed, that indeed he has taken the ministry to an enviable level.

He has the world’s biggest auditorium. The facility can accommodate more than a million worshippers at a time. The auditorium, which was opened by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, was built at a cost of $60 million (about N7.7 billion).The auditorium, which is floored with marble is sited on a vast tract of land within the Redemption Camp. The large auditorium is built with steel and cement fibres.

ENCOMIUM Weekly scooped that the vision for the new auditorium started immediately after the 1998 Holy Ghost Congress held at Lekki, Lagos, when Adeboye realised the need for a more spacious auditorium to accommodate the millions of worshippers who thronged Lekki for the programme. The new auditorium was built by a Chinese firm.

One camp that is as popular as Daddy G.O is the Redemption Camp, along Lagos -Ibadan Expressway.

It sits atop over 40,000 hectares of land and stretches as far as Sagamu, Ogun State. Its current worth is put at N200 billion.

Those in charge of affairs at the camp didn’t mince words about the fact that it is a Christian community. “This is the city of Christians,” says the Senior Camp Maintenance Director, Pastor Dapo Adesina. As such, everything is arranged to give effect to the Christian message of the glory and splendour of the Almighty. The streets, especially at night, breathe in unsullied air from the surrounding foliage, giving the Redemption City a quality of celestial bliss. From the lampposts by the roads, silver glow on top casts a bright hallow upon the estates of buildings erected by Haggai Saving Loans, a community bank owned by RCCG.

According to RCCG website, Haggai has been able to develop over 66 units of houses and another 22 units in addition to 150 units of various types of bungalows. Other banks within the camp include Access Bank, UBA, GTB, Zenith Bank, EcoBank, etc.

For a visitor, the residential and office areas are hardly distinguishable; the place is an open city. The estate comprises duplexes, bungalows, three and four-bedroom flats owned by members of the church. On the West side of the city are the offices that handle the bureaucracy. This includes the International Office, Camp Maintenance Department, Finance and Budget Department, Finance and Auditing Department, Pre-paid meter office, Security Unit, Redeemer Clinic, Directorate of Christian Education, Rehabilitation Centre, Electrical Department, as well as the Water Department. Right at the heart of the city is the sprawling Congress Arena measuring two-kilometer (length) by one kilometre (breadth).

According to the Redeemed Camp authorities, the auditorium accommodated more than two million worshippers during the last Holy Ghost Congress. During the congress, the camp metamorphosed into a mecca of sorts, accommodating about 6 million people. The congregants came from 130 countries where RCCG branches are located. But on other days, except first Friday of the month slated for the Holy Ghost Service, Redemption Camp is a somber city. When there are no big events in the camp, the auditorium is a sanctuary for the faithful who come to pray and make supplications to God.

Within the camp, there are several other structures like the main auditorium, the Redeemer University (RUN), The Redeemed Christian Bible College, Redeemer High School, International Guest House, post office, supermarket, power station, water treatment plant, among others.

The first foundation of the Redemption City, according to the church authorities, was laid in April 1983. Prior to that time, Pastor Adeboye, who had just retired from the University of Ilorin as the Head, Department of Mathematics and was living in Mushin, Lagos was said to have prayed to God for a house.

In response, God promised him a city. Adeboye’s wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, received revelation that the city must be built along the express road. But when a portion of land became available at Alagbado, the church could not afford the price. And since the church policy forbids borrowing, the authorities had to wait till the church could afford to foot the bill. Not long after, a portion of land near the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was available. The place was found out to be more accessible to members from other parts of the country. “And the rest, as they say, is history,” said Pastor Adesina, one of the RCCG’s officials.

Today, Redemption City is a tranquil home to a population of about 100,000 people. It is perhaps the largest Christian city in the world. Not even the Vatican City, established in 1929 and spread across 44 hectares of land, could boast of the population of the Redeemed City. Vatican City, according to CIA World Factsheet, is populated by 836 citizens, mostly priests. According to Pastor Adesina, though the Redeemed City is not patterned after the Vatican City, a sovereign entity within Rome, the city has aspiration to assume a political status in future. Residents of Redemption City participate in elections like other citizens in Ogun State, “but we do not allow political campaign in the city because we see ourselves as family members,” said Adesina.

Months back, he also embarked on a capital intensive project, the construction of N20 billion 3 kilometre auditorium which will include a light rail along the auditorium.

Furthermore, the clergy has a private jet reportedly gotten for him by some worshippers. The jet, a Gulfstream with registration no 707EA, is currently worth about N7 billion. It arrived Nigeria via the Bahamas on Sunday, March 8, 2014.

Also, the ministry has the highest record of ultra modern branches scattered across the globe. It is named the fastest growing church in the globe. Thus, in a move that was designed to catapult the ministry to greater heights in the USA, the RCCG in North America acquired a multi-million dollar property of over 250 plots in Texas. The project is arguably believed to be worth about N16 billion. And it’s just one of the mega parishes they have scattered across the over 12,000 branches. The properties are worth N100 billion, over the world. That includes a N1billion prayer garden.

Interestingly, he pastored a congregation of over 10 million members and they net in an average of N48 billion annually from the offering and 156 billion from tithe.

If the over 10 million worshippers scattered across the globe could pay N100 per week during Sunday services, the net worth annually is N48 billion and if 500,000 of them pay N1,000 weekly as tithe that’s over N156 billion per annum. That excludes special donations from its partners and several others who give generously. He also runs a Redeemer’s University and Christ the Redeemers College worth over N5 billion. And the schools allegedly generate averagely, N4 billion annually from its 4000 students.

Aside that, he rakes in an average of N1.2 billion and N1billion from tapes and books annually. Weekly, an average of a million worshippers buy his tapes , books and devotional book known as Open Heavens.

Pastor Mrs. Foluke Adenike Adeboye (Nee Adeyokunnu) is blessed with rare gifts of administration, planning, hospitality, counseling, mentoring, ministering comfort, care, and encouragement to many, bringing hope, love and succour to the hopeless. Endowed with immense initiative, and great capacity for hard work, a missionary and minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A powerful intercessor, Bible teacher and role model for lots of women. A pioneer of multiple projects, ministries and missions to the glory of God with a passion for planting Christian schools, she has made immense contributions to the Nigerian education sector, coordinating work in the field of Christian education, by starting a vigorous movement (Christ the Redeemer’s Schools Movement) that has led to the founding of several Christian education institutions caring for the educational welfare of children in Nigeria and Internationally.

She’s a dutiful wife, devoted mother and grandmother, a tireless evangelist, a hospitable and seasoned teacher with passion for excellence at all levels of education.

PASTOR (MRS.) BOLU ADUBI

Pastor (Mrs.) Bolu Adubi is Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s only daughter. She is a woman that adheres to the needs of young people. Based in Maryland, USA, she is a beacon of hope and knowledge to several young people across The United States. Being a pastor’s daughter, she understands the challenges and obstacles children in this category face. This passion led her to create The Royal Priesthood Ministry, which serves an avenue for pastors and ministers’ children to express themselves.

She is married to Pastor Akin Adubi and they are blessed with four children.

PASTOR LEKE ADEBOYE

With a motto, Heaven is the goal, Pastor Leke Adeboye is a soldier for Christ that hears the heartbeat of God. Often called a teacher, counselor and mentor, he is a clear voice on how to draw closer to God and understand one’s purpose. He is exceptionally gifted to train, the youths and young adults. He is a member of The Redeemed Christian Church (RCCG) Worldwide The Youth and Young Adults Ministry executive board.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and a masters in Engineering Project Management. Pastor Leke has previously worked for Accenture. He is an entrepreneur with several business establishments globally, such as AO3V, which touches millions through the production of The RCCG wristbands. He loves to break records and achieve change in all his endeavours. He was the youngest to ever attain the office of Assistant Pastor in RCCG in The United Kingdom.

His goal and dream was to manage and develop his own aerospace corporation but the Lord had other plans. He was called into the ministry, and is currently the Personal Assistant to The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide, Pastor E.A. Adeboye. He is married to Mrs. Titilope Adeboye and they are blessed with a daughter.

PASTOR ADEOLU ADEBOYE

Pastor Adeolu Adeboye is considered as a man on the go. Praised for several revolutionary ideas in the church, he devotes his life to establish and institutionalize the efficiency of all The Redeemed Christian Church of God’s (RCCG) processes and standard of operations. With a heart of service, his focus is to create a better worship experience for parishioners who attend RCCG’s headquarters, The Redemption Camp.

He has implemented methods to ensure that his ministry and department, Team Nehemiah, provides an eloquent standard of security and traffic control on the grounds of the Redemption Camp. He also has a passion for the introduction of fashion to the RCCG community in which can be seen through his numerous stores called The Wise Men.

He is married to Mrs. Tope Adeboye and they are blessed with three sons.

PASTOR DARE ADEBOYE

Commonly known simply as “Pastor D”, Pastor Dare Adeboye is one of the most influential youth pastors in The Redeemed Christian of God Worldwide. With posts previously in England (RCCG House of Praise Birmingham Senior Pastor), Kaduna (RCCG Kaduna 1 Provincial Youth Pastor & RCCG Region 8 Youth Pastor), and presently Abuja (North Central Youth Evangelist covering all the youths, RCF, RCCF, & PSF in the states of Niger, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and FCT), he understands and associates with the next generation of the church.

His various posts (RCCG Youth Affairs National & International Director of Programmes/Chairman Organizing Committee of 70hrs Messiah’s Marathon Praise, National Youth Convention and Northern Zone Abuja SHIFT) have enabled him to comprehend the landscapes of young people across the globe and how to increase the church’s influence. He dedicates his life to educating and inspiring young people on how to capitalize their faith in the environments they find themselves.

He creates mediums for young people to feel empowered and prepared to carry the mantle of the church and also carries the church’s mission and goals. His fire for God is easily transferred to the lives he touches. He is married to Mrs. Temiloluwa Adeboye and they are blessed with a beautiful and bubbly daughter.