The deaths of some notable Nigerian preachers in the first half of the year 2021 reminds me of the biblical story when a gathering of preachers in Israel were thrown into pandemonium after they discovered the very pot that served as their lifeline had death looming all over. These men of God were reported to have cried to God, who instructed Elisha on what to do in order to eliminate the threat of death.
Similar to the Israelite situation, death has crept into the clergy pot in Nigeria leaving bitter taste for many Christians who never saw it coming. Even though, the Christian belief does not rule out the place of death in the life of a Christian, death remains a stranger that has overstayed his welcome on earth! The renowned Christian preacher of all times, the apostle Paul, was one Christian leader who looked forward to death all the time. In fact, he purposely declared in one of his sermons that, “For me to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
However, the series of deaths recorded across different church denominations have left many Christians with sour feelings, and none of these feelings projects Paul’s ideology of death being of gain in any way.
The year began with the Coronavirus, ravaging the land, leaving behind many tears and broken hearts among the Christian community. Many Christians classified the ravaging virus as the ‘devils finger’ because the virus claimed many lives and was able to lockdown not just secular institutions, the spiritual/religious centers of worship were forced to a lockdown. Eventually, the announcement of a vaccine brought some relieve.
While the world celebrated the arrival of COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) as a path through the woods of obliterating consequences of the deadly virus, the church especially the Nigerian church reacted mostly with suspicion. As some Christians struggled with conspiracy theories surrounding the spiritual implications of jabbing the church. Then, the death of Rev. John Ornguze of Christian Center Makurdi was announced to the public. Shortly after Ornguze, pastor Dare Adeboye was reported dead by The Redeemed Christian church of God. His death also struck the Christian community like a bolt of lightning. Many Christians began asking unanswered questions to God as to what the meaning of his death at a time when he was needed most would mean. What was God trying to say to the church?
The question quickly was replaced by a more vindictive one that read, what has the church done to God? When the cold hands of death swooped through the land and found the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet TB Joshua at the zenith of his ministry. Prophet Joshua’s death had sent ripples of mixed feelings throughout the Christian community. Some mourned him as a colossal loss; others opined it was an end to an error. While the Christian community was counting its losses, barely a week after, the death of the General Superintendent of Redemption Ministries, Worldwide, Rev. Stephen Akinola was announced!
These cases of sporadic deaths within the Nigerian church has created among the clergy that same ancient fear that had gripped the community of prophets in Israel which pointed to a staggering reality that there was death in their pot of ministry. Perhaps, it is time to call on God from a sincere heart of penitence and absolute devotion, if the Church and most especially, members of the clergy would learn the art of managing effects of Thanatophobia (an intense fear of death or dying), to which apostle Paul delighted in.