In what seems to be a clapback to critics, one of the frontline Christian preachers in Nigeria and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has finally explained theologically why he lifted “a rod” and asked congregants to behold it, in one of the past conventions. According to his explanation, even though the critics had said that “such an act was in contrast to his will (perhaps, they meant the written word of God),” it’s still rooted in the Word of God.
It would be recalled (according to records) that during the RCCG 65th Annual Convention held in August 2017, Pst Adeboye had brought out a rod (a wooden staff) and asked all congregants to focus on it while he raised three specific prayer points.
This had consequently drawn sharp criticisms; examples include that of a social media user, Ashem Timothy by name, who succinctly said that he remembered he was at the Holy Ghost Service Night during the convention that year when Pst Adeboye brought out what he would describe as a “magic wand” which he (Pst Adeboye himself) had called a miracle rod.
He said, it happened on the last day of the Congress, Pst Adeboye brought the rod and told them that it belonged to the founder of the church, Reverend Akindayomi and that since it was handed over to him, it had never seen the light of day. He then raised it up and asked everyone to look at it even as they make their prayer requests.
The social media user who along with another person had called it “pure idolatry” said that after the service, he began to have mixed feelings. “Why should Pastor Adeboye ask us to look up to a rod when the Bible says we should look up to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith?” He had asked.
However, speaking during the RCCG June 2026 Holy Communion Service at the Church auditorium in Redemption City, Pst Adeboye clarified that the rod was never Jesus even as the fiery serpent made with brass by Moses in the wilderness was never God.
He said, “Some time ago, the Almighty God told us to lift up a rod to lift up a rod for us to look on during one of the conventions. There were some people who said we have turned a rod to Jesus Christ, that we are doing something completely contrary to the will of God, we did not quarrel with them, we did not argue with them because we were doing what God told us to do”.
While giving a theological explanation on why he lifted the rod, he said that it is very established in the Bible that if everyone would praise God, then God would bless us and the whole earth would tremble before him. He said, God is aware that when we gather together for a convention, somebody has come expecting the fruit of the womb, another has come expecting healing, and another has come expecting financial breakthroughs. Therefore, when prayers were to be made, it is difficult for everyone to be in one accord, so in order that everyone may focus, be in one accord, God told him to lift up a rod, and ask everyone to focus on it before you pray. Just so that everyone can be in one accord.
Pst Adeboye thus used John 3:14 and Numbers 21:9 as a theological explanation for lifting up the rod while he asked all to focus on it.
Citing further the use of handkerchiefs, he concluded that the RCCG did not regard those things as “gods.” It is just an act of simple obedience. Simple faith.
