Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly has withdrawn his earlier remarks and apologised to the Christ Apostolic Church over comments about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the church’s first General Evangelist.
In a now-viral clip, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo described Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola as “anointed… so anointed” but suggested that “all the grace just went like that” because he “had no money.”
Reacting in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the Christ Apostolic Church, through its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, criticised Fatoyinbo for creating a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.
In his own statement on Thursday, Fatoyinbo acknowledged the church’s concerns and apologised for any offence his remarks may have caused.
He insisted 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 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 of manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of same,” he said.
He 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, continues to grow in leaps and bounds,” he concluded.
In his recent sermon, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo recalled an incident in which a python was said to have dried up after crossing Apostle Joseph Ayo 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 Fatoyinbo 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.”