The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has credited British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s survival in a deadly car crash to what he described as the mercy of God.
Adeboye made the remarks on Sunday during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service, using Joshua’s accident to illustrate the role of divine mercy in preserving life.
Joshua narrowly escaped death in the road accident that occurred on the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway last Monday.
The crash, however, claimed the lives of two of his friends — Ayodele Kelvin, 36, a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, also 36, a British citizen — while several others sustained injuries.
While highlighting the importance of God’s mercy in preservation, Adeboye said, “Lamentations 3:22–23 says it is by the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed. We are alive because of the mercies of the Lord, not because of cleverness.”
“I read in the newspapers yesterday that our boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, exchanged seats with someone before the accident.
“The people he exchanged seats with died. I don’t know why, but the mercy of God said someone would still be alive today,” he added.
Drawing from Psalm 89:1, the cleric explained that the singular expressions in the Psalms highlight personal significance.
“I have informed us in the past that whenever something is very important to David, he uses the singular to express himself. When you hear him say, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,’ it is personal.
“I want you to take this message personally. Maybe one or two people can join me in attaching meaning to it. I am talking to myself,” he said.
