Founder of The Word Commission International and The Word Assembly Churches in Ilorin, Kwara State, Evangelist Isaac Omolehin, has tendered an apology to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, COZA, Christ Apostolic Church, and Christ Embassy after controversial remarks he earlier made about their congregations.
Earlier, Evangelist Omolehin had sparked controversy with a scathing rematks, openly dismissing the teachings and practices of other prominent ministries.
In a sermon, he openly criticized churches such as Winners Chapel, COZA, and Christ Embassy, saying he pitied members who attended them.
He said, “People need to see you and without thinking (say) that this is Baba Omolehin’s (child). They need to see you in church and recognize that these are members of WORD ASSEMBLY.
“There are some others too that if you see them, you will know that ahhh these are ‘Winners’… These are COZA Members…
“The Churches of the likes of what’s this his name… Oyakhilome that will take the feathers of Parrot and Aluko bird and pocket them (fetish).
“These are people from that side. You will know that these are members from that side. And I feel sympathy (pity) for those that attend those churches because when the founders of those places are gone, the rubbish legacy they laid is what they will be doing.
“Listen, if you gather all of us (ministers) together, none is my Oga (superior) in ministry among them. (Members clapping) Ask them, what year did you start preaching? I started mine 50 years ago (1975) and we are still counting. I have a goodly heritage. I didn’t meet it in the hands of the fathers that taught me. I never saw the wife of (Prophet) Obadare. I never saw the wife of Baba Ariye, that the madam will wear trousers… elderly woman.
“And you will say you can’t see them all these mothers doing rubbish, shameless adults (adulterous women). Those who tutored us gave us matured food. You can’t see them in immorality (doing rubbish). We have a goodly heritage.”
However, in a recent video shared online, the cleric retracted his words and offered apologies to those affected, stressing that the word of God remains the true foundation of believers’ faith.
Quoting scriptures, he said, “I looked back to things I’ve said and the kind of hurt it has caused; it brought pains to most of my friends and the hurts are so deep and very painful to me.
“So I am using this opportunity to apologize to my friends and to different churches that have been hurt. I want to apologize to the Christ Apostolic Church. When our church was burnt, CAC sent a delegation to come and commiserate with us and gave us money. That’s not the kind of church you want to hurt no matter what you feel is going wrong somewhere.
“I apologize to my friend, Baba Funso Akande in Ede, Osun State, who was also very hurt. When I preached for him and he heard that our church was burnt, he gave us money. That’s not the kind of person we want to hurt. I apologize to Prophet Ezekiah; he came here and visited me some time ago. That’s not the kind of friend you want to hurt no matter how you feel.
“I also saw a video that was sent to me about what I said about Winners’ Chapel, that I sympathized and pitied people who go to Winners Chapel, COZA, Christ Embassy. So, I also ask for forgiveness from them all.”
His emotional apology ended with a heartfelt prayer, as the cleric sought divine healing and restoration of unity among the churches he had previously spoken against.
“Lord I pray for forgiveness, I pray for our friend, I pray for Funso Akande in Ede to whom I have apologized, God I pray heal their wounds. I pray for CAC to whom I have apologized, Lord heal their wounds. I pray for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, COZA, Christ Embassy, Winners Chapel and bring us to fellowship again.,” Omolehin stressed.
