Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) has retracted and apologised to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) for remarks he made about the church’s first General Evangelist, the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
In a viral video, Fatoyinbo described Babalola as “anointed…so anointed” but stated that “all the grace just went like that” since he “had no money.”
The CAC accused Fatoyinbo of propagating a false link between ministerial achievement and financial prosperity in a strongly written statement signed on Thursday by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode.
In response, Fatoyinbo published a statement on Thursday, acknowledging the CAC’s concerns and apologising for any harm caused.
He emphasised that he did not speak ill of Babalola’s children and maintained that his church was “a place of honour”.
“Let me state, however, that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of Faith in a bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online, and this can be verified.
“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of same,” he said.
Fatoyinbo described Babalola as a “highly revered father of faith” whose ministry had shaped many churches, including his own, and prayed that the late evangelist’s legacy “continues to grow in leaps and bounds.”
“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates.
“I will never disrespect or speak of them in that manner either publicly or privately.
“I pray that this puts to rest the entire episode, and we pray that the CAC and the legacy of our father, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, continue to grow in leaps and bounds,” he concluded.
In the recent sermon, he had recounted an incident in which a python allegedly dried up after crossing Babalola’s leg.
He said, “I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed.
“Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So all the grace just went like that.”
The statement issued by CAC to respond to the clergy partly read, “Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.
“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’—a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” — Luke 12:15.”
