Pastor Wale Babatunde is the Senior Minister of World Harvest Christian Centre (WHCC) in the United Kingdom. In this interview with TAOFEEK LAWAL, he says the church must do a lot to empower the less-privileged in the society.
How do you think the church can tackle the ills in the society especially the one Nigeria finds herself in today?
As long as there are problems in the society, there is work for the church. The church is never known to be in the four wall corners, the church building as we have it on Sundays, Wednesday or any other day is to be a training centre and outward looking. If we are to follow the footsteps of our load Jesus christ, the church is supposedto change lives.There are the disabled, orphans, people who are dying of diseases. It is the duty of the church to deal with all these problems. As long as these problems are there, the church should borrow a leaf from Jesus who everywhere he went to, he solved problems. Frankly speaking, a church that is not solving problem should close down.
If we may go secular, the government of the day in Nigeria has come with change mantra as its slogan, what aspect of the society do you think the government need to change to really make an impact?
Like I said about the role of the church, the government no doubt also has a role to play in the life of her citizens because it is God that instituted the government. But I talk more about the church because it (church) has a lot of resources we claim to be sent by God and I believe the church must be relevant. The reason I am laying more emphasis on the church is that the church is Nigeria is resourceful and don’t forget that Nigeria is about the largest black nation in the world. Although I live in England but I know there is a lot of money here in Nigeria particularly the church. Remember the missionaries were here and they established for us the Anglican, Baptist and others. They provided us with free education and I believe today there are many denominations in Nigeria who like the missionaries can provide free education, free healthcare and many other things. We have rich and influential people in the church that can single-handedly sponsor a lot of down-trodden in the society and in the villages and change their lives. Our value system must change and the leaders must set good examples for the led to follow. If we are ready, everybody will be educated if truly we care for ourselves like the missionaries did for us without knowing where we came from or knowing our background. The Christians can a have meeting where issues like this will be discussed to change humanity for good. We believe that God will use us (World Harvest Christian Centre) to change the world and establish our branch here in Nigeria. We just sow a seed in the life of a young orphan, Christiana and by God’s grace we want to see her through to the university. But we are not just going to build a church here; we want to build schools and clinics. We want to through our members come to the aid of the needy and give them all the basic necessities of life. People don’t need to be dying needlessly when we can save lives.
What do you want to say about pastors or men of God who live ostentatious lives while the members suffer?
I don’t want to get into trouble. But the question to ask here is that are we ready to take care of our members during their hour of need. Why is a pastor riding a private jet when his flock languish in abject poverty and are swimming in abject poverty? I want to advise that we should tone that the way we live our lives after all Jesus catered for the needy and it is high time we emulate him and I think there are lot of things that need to change in the church. Pastors have become Hollywood stars and they revel in displaying their wealth to the world. Jesus was very simple during his time here. The church has become a place of business today and don’t be surprise that pastors now ask for honorarium for them to attend your programme and talk to people. This must not be so. Any God-fearing pastor should not demand for anything to preach the gospel.
What do you want to say about the involvement of the church in sport especially football?
Honestly, it is good. We are also thinking along that line too. By next year, we are bringing people down from England to start a football club. Football is one of the most powerful tools to fight all sorts of vices.
It cuts across religious barriers and sects and I trust God that in 2016 we’ll be able to empower our people.
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