Renowned evangelist and founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, has weighed in on the debate surrounding the viral gospel song Never Going Back by Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor.
In a passionate social media post, Bamiloye defended the song’s message and impact, urging Christians to focus on its spiritual substance rather than superficial elements.
The song, which fuses Yoruba rhythms with a bold declaration of Christian faith, has struck a chord with many young Nigerians, amassing over four million streams online. Despite its popularity, the track has attracted criticism from some Christian quarters, particularly for the artists’ unconventional appearances and vibrant dance routines featured in the music video.
Addressing the backlash, Bamiloye challenged critics to consider the transformative power of the lyrics, which include the line: “Ife Jesu lo wa mi ri, to gbami ku o” (“The love of Jesus sought me, found me, and died for me”). He emphasized that the song delivers the gospel in a culturally relevant way that speaks directly to today’s youth.
“Never Going Back – A Soundtrack for This Generation. So Never Going Back by Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor, hit the internet and it went viral, young people love it, but recently, I have been seeing videos of a pastor and some Christians criticizing the song and I can’t stop thinking about the message of the song and the reactions it has sparked amongst us Christians,” Bamiloye wrote.
He went on to highlight the challenges of reaching young people in a world dominated by secular influences. “Here’s the thing: teenagers and young adults today are some of the most difficult people to reach with the gospel. Why? Because they’re constantly being influenced by friends, social media, entertainment, and everything in between. In a world that glamorizes drugs, promiscuity, money-worship, and ‘love’ that fades faster than a Snapchat story, we finally get a song that boldly centers Jesus and personal transformation, that our youths are vibing to and some of us are criticizing it? What is wrong with us? Let’s take a step back,” he said.
Bamiloye expressed concern that the focus on external appearances—such as Gaise Baba’s colorful hair, blinking accessories, and Lawrence Oyor’s headband—was distracting from the deeper message of the gospel conveyed through the music. “That’s the gospel, in Yoruba rhythm and sound! Yet all some people can talk about is Gaise’s hair color, his blinks, the headband on Lawrence’s head and the dance steps in the song. Really?” he asked.
Quoting another line from the song—“I go narrow, dem think say I no know road o”—Bamiloye drew parallels with biblical teachings about walking the narrow path. “Isn’t that what the Bible teaches? Narrow is the path that leads to life. Didn’t Jesus say He came for the sick, the lost, the sinners? Will every gospel singer be Dunsin and Nathaniel?” he posed.
He urged Christians to shift their focus to prayer and support for youth-targeted gospel expressions. “Instead of focusing on the outward appearance of the ministers, what if we focused our hearts on praying that: Out of 4 million streams, at least 400,000 youths would genuinely surrender to Jesus. Another 400,000 who are still searching would encounter the Holy Spirit and find salvation. The rest would be stirred to rededicate their lives and stay rooted in Christ,” he wrote. “Wouldn’t that be worth celebrating?”
Bamiloye stressed the need for believers to recognize the battle for influence among youth. “Here’s the truth: whether we like it or not, someone is influencing your children, your teenagers, and your youth group. If they’re not listening to something like Never Going Back, they’ll be listening to something else and let’s be honest, a lot of what’s out there isn’t helping them know Jesus.”
He concluded his post with a call for unity, humility, and intentional support for gospel innovation. “When we publicly condemn songs like this, directly or subtly, we shut the door to one of the few tools actually speaking the language of the street with the heart of the cross. I’m not a pastor, but I know this: Jesus came and died for sinners. None of us regardless of titles, appearances, or backgrounds is better than another, we’ve all simply found favor of God and are trying to live a life that pleases our Heavenly Father. So rather than criticise, let’s pray. Let’s encourage. Let’s support gospel expressions that speak to this generation in their own rhythm.”
“Haba!! Some of us are still ‘saving the ark’ and we are not even aware of it. May God help us all,” he concluded.
