By Sodiq Adewale Chocomilo

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has announced some changes in the leadership of the church, following the retirement of some familiar faces.

Several sources while confirming the changes disclosed that it was announced at the end of the Church’s Ministers’ Conference on Sunday.

Adeboye reportedly stated that a formal announcement of the full list could be made by the administration department of the church.

Among the changes are the retirement of the Church’s National Overseer, Pastor Joseph Obayemi and other pastors who are over 70 years old.

Pastor Adeboye explained that the retirement age for all RCCG pastors will now be pegged at 70 years, but some of those on retirement could be given lesser roles. A source said the General Overseer is under “clear instruction (from God)” to inject younger persons into the leadership of the church.

Pastor Sunday Akande is to replace Obayemi as the RCCG National Overseer, while Pastor Kalu Ndukwe will serve as the Overseer of the Africa Continent.

The position of national overseer of the church will now be on a two-year tenure basis, while the pastor occupying the position will operate from the redemption camp.

All churches in the camp would henceforth report to Akande, who will also represent Pastor Adeboye on special assignments.

Also affected by the changes is Pastor Johnson Odesola, who was in charge of Administration and Personnel of the Church.

His twin portfolios will now be taken over by Julius Olalekan to be in charge of Personnel, while Pastor Dele Balogun takes charge of Administration.

An elder of the church, which brims with top professionals and academics, described Dele Balogun and Julius Olalekan as “vibrant and dynamic pastors both born in 1968. Pastor Balogun, for example, was a professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University, who has dropped his academic titles to serve the Lord.”

Pastor Adeboye reiterated that although God has not revealed the next General Overseer to him, he has the confirmation that he would be a young person.

As part of the changes, he also said the Redemption Camp will henceforth carry the tag of a city, just like the Vatican City; and the ring road in the Camp was named after the founder of the church, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi. Some other roads were named after some retired pastors of the church.