The daring are frequently made better by challenges, particularly when God’s grace is present. Following a lengthy incident that resulted in their forced departure from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Pastor Idowu and Dr. Siju Iluyo made the decision to follow God’s call and establish their own congregation.
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After being falsely suspended as the leader of the City of David Parish and facing accusations against him and his spouse, Pastor Iluyomade faced numerous difficulties. Thankfully, he was exonerated of everything. But for reasons that are shrouded in secrecy but evident to the church’s inner caucus, the RCCG’s parent body suspended and essentially expelled the Iluyomades after his wife, Siju, celebrated her 60th birthday a few weeks after Herbert Wigwe, a prominent member of the RCCG City of David Parish, lost his wife and son in a California helicopter crash.
The RCCG disapproved of the couple’s choice to celebrate Siju’s birthday even though the parish, led by Pastor ID, as he is affectionately known, held services in commemoration of the deceased’s souls. They later had to leave a parish they had created from the ground up. As outsiders examined the matter, the pair experienced conflicting emotions while on suspension.
Others believed that the RCCG had a tendency to irritate powerful pastors, while others asserted that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the RCCG General Overseer, intended to replace Pastor Iluyomade with his son because of the parish’s notoriety. As The Family Fellowship, the newly berthed church of the Iluyomades, grows into one of the fastest-growing Christian ministries in the world, what was once a humiliation is gradually becoming an attractive grace. The Church has only recently acquired a place in Lagos Atlantic City, which was given by a well-known family friend and member.
At the same time, work is being done to construct a spectacular building that will be larger, better structurally, and have a greater view than the Trinity Towers they left behind. At the Civic Centre Banquet Hall, which it currently temporarily occupies, the Family Fellowship’s Sunday services continue to draw large crowds.
The church used the Oriental Hotel’s Banquet Hall for a special service last week. In attendance were well-known gospel musician Mike Abdul and Pastor Tola Odutola from the United States, who created a wonderfully fulfilling atmosphere. Pastor Idowu and Dr. Siju Iluyomade’s leadership in the Lord’s vineyard is clearly well received by the congregation.
This week marks the return of Dr. Siju’s weekly Handmaidens Women in Leadership (WiLs) program, and the charming duo is committed to succeeding by reiterating the tactics, strategy, style, and high level influence they used to put the City of David in a class of its own. Among the initiatives that put the City of David ahead was the yearly Arise Women program run by Siju Iluyomade.
The 16th edition will be held at The Family Fellowship this year, and preparations are well underway. Iluyomade encouraged the congregation to recommit themselves to God and celebrate their spiritual rebirth as a “second birthday” during the last ceremony. Last Sunday’s service included praise and worship as well, and they were joined in celebration by friends, family, and supporters.
