Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly has apologised to the Christ Apostolic Church after a public outcry over remarks he made about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
In a viral sermon clip, Fatoyinbo praised Babalola as “anointed… so anointed” but claimed “all the grace just went like that” because the evangelist “had no money.” The Christ Apostolic Church, in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, criticised Fatoyinbo for linking ministerial success to wealth.
The church said, “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.”
In his statement on Thursday, Fatoyinbo acknowledged the CAC’s concerns and apologised for any hurt caused. He insisted he never spoke ill of Babalola’s children, saying, “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.”
He added, “I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of same. 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.”
Fatoyinbo described Babalola as “a highly revered father of faith” whose ministry influenced many churches, including his own. “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 said.
In the sermon that sparked the backlash, Fatoyinbo also recounted a story that a python allegedly dried up after crossing Babalola’s leg. He compared Babalola’s ministry to that of British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth, saying if Babalola’s works had been well documented, “people would be coming here for pilgrimage.”
