Since today is Sunday it is only befitting to highlight an African who has a Global Voice in the religious arena. Ukrainian Pastor Sunday Adelaja is believed to head the largest church in Europe based in Kiev. Sunday Adelaja was born in the village Idomila in southwest Nigeria who are considered Yoruba. He was born on 28, 1967 and was primarily raised by his grandmother.
Mr. Adelaja, 43, arrived in the Soviet Union in 1986 as a college student, then stayed after the Soviet collapse in 1991, later moving to Kiev. He married his wife, Bose, who is also Nigerian and together they have three children. They speak fluent Russian, which is the native language for many there and is understood by most speakers of Ukrainian, the country’s other main language.
Pastor Sunday Adelaja is the founder and senior pastor of the church “The Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations”, which is located in the capital of Ukraine – Kiev city. Pastor Sunday Adelaja is one of the most dynamic preachers and founders of churches around the world, and is considered to be the most successful pastor in Europe. Beginning with former alcoholics and drug addicts, and to politicians and millionaires his church has a high percentage of Europeans (98%) and many also point out that the church has no racial discrimination in a country that still has racial tensions.
Africans with Global Voices: Sunday Adelaja
The Embassy of God Church has opened 700 branches in 35 countries. There are 217 active rehabilitation centers that have helped 5000 people to obtain freedom from alcoholism and drug addiction. They have 600 social organizations and charitable funds, 105 educational institutions and social work is being carried out in 26 educational institutions. The church is working with 108 orphanages and boarding schools to reach children and also ministers in 35 nursing homes helping 65 thousand elderly people constantly. The church helps in 27 hospitals, embracing up to 30 thousand people. They have opened churches in 30 prisons, counting more than 10 thousand members. The Embassy of God Church touches the lives of more than a million people daily through its activity, and more than 5 million people personally every year.
He launched his religious career shortly after arriving in Ukraine in 1993 and his church now boasts 2.5 million members, including 100,000 weekly churchgoers. Sunday Adelaja has been recognized by many including the United Nations and the U.S. Senate and the Clinton Global Initiative.
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9 responses to “Africans with Global Voices: Sunday Adelaja”
Wow, who knew a black man in Russia could make a difference in a place that does not value people of African descent.
Sheri
What a success story. He is certainly changing the lives of many. A contrast to American pastors who would like to fly around in expensive private jets, wearing gator shoes and 100K watches. These same pastors who have the audacity to yell at congregants and call them lazy for being unemployed all the way having made money through speaking engagement paid by the offerings of the poor peasants who support their extravagant lifestyles.
American Evangelical
Amen Anonymous
what else can one says ,than to say pastor sunday adelaja is a gift to humanity
God is using someone like Pastor Adelaja in a place where the gospel of truth seems to be failing and dispised. May the God of heaven increase His work the more in your hands, to proper you in the vineyard of the gospel and through your ministry add more souls to His kingdom IJN Amen.
allo pastor,
Keep up the good work man of God, Rev Sandra and Rev Arie http://www.messiahstream.tv
Glory be to God!
wow. this is one of the men who have given themselves fully into the work of the ministry. thanks be unto God!