Rev. Aboyeji took over as General Overseer from Rev. Felix Meduoye in 2019, following nine years of service by Rev. Meduoye. At the recent election held at the Ajebo Lagos-Ibadan Campground, Rev. Aboyeji received an overwhelming vote of 1,931 out of 1,979 delegates, securing a 97.6% majority to lead the church for another five-year term commencing November 2024.
The electoral (Affirmation) committee, chaired by Rev. Prof. James Nda Jacob, announced Rev. Aboyeji’s re-election on April 8, coinciding with a special convention preceding the church’s International Conference for Ministers and Leaders themed “Making Disciples.”
The church’s constitution mandates a simple majority vote by delegates for the renewal of the General Overseer’s mandate after the expiration of the initial five-year term. Part IV, Section 2 (h) stipulates that the General Overseer serves for an initial term of five years, renewable for another final term of five years through a secret ballot of “yes” or “no” at a Special Convention held in April.
Rev. Aboyeji is the 5th indigenous General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, a church founded in the United States in 1923 by Canadian-American evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, which was established in Nigeria in 1955. The church currently has over 4,700 branches nationwide.
Under Rev. Aboyeji’s leadership, the church has focused on minister training, healthcare/welfare enhancements, youth engagement and empowerment, and outreach programs. Prior to assuming office as General Overseer in 2019, he had a successful career with Shell before transitioning to full-time ministry in 2010, having worked at Nigerian Stock Brokers Limited earlier in his career.
Following his re-election, Rev. Aboyeji expressed appreciation for the peaceful conduct of the Affirmation election and emphasized the church’s commitment to its evangelical and Pentecostal mission in Nigeria. He reaffirmed the church’s dedication to its Inreach, Outreach, and Nextgen focus, aiming to fulfill its evangelistic and mission thrust while ensuring the welfare of its ministers.
Rev. Aboyeji, who succeeded Rev. Felix Meduoye as the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in 2019, has been reaffirmed for another term during the recent church election held at the Ajebo Lagos-Ibadan Campground. Prior to his tenure as GO, he served as the church’s Midwest regional Coordinator.
During the election, Rev. Aboyeji received an overwhelming vote of 1,931 (97.6%) from the 1,979 delegates present, securing his leadership position for another five-year term starting from November 2024. The re-election announcement was made by Rev. Prof. James Nda Jacob, the chairman of the electoral committee, on April 8.
This special convention coincided with the church’s International Conference for Ministers and Leaders, focusing on the theme “Making Disciples.” According to the church’s constitution, the General Overseer’s term can be renewed for another five years through a simple majority vote of “yes” or “no” at a Special Convention, which took place in April.
Rev. Aboyeji is the 5th indigenous General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, which was founded in 1955 and has over 4,700 branches nationwide. Over the past five years, his administration has prioritized minister training, healthcare/welfare improvements, youth engagement and empowerment, and outreach programs.
Before assuming the role of General Overseer, Rev. Aboyeji had a successful career with Shell, serving for nearly 20 years before transitioning to full-time ministry in 2010. He expressed gratitude to the delegates for their peaceful conduct during the election and emphasized the church’s commitment to its evangelical and Pentecostal mission in Nigeria. He also pledged to continue focusing on ministry development, welfare enhancement for ministers, and evangelistic initiatives.
HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BELOW;
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the salvation of my soul and my entire family, and for counting us worthy to be in the ministry. “A noble theme stirs my heart as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” (Psalm 45:1 NIV). I consider it an honor and a great privilege to be asked of God to continue to lead His precious people at a time like this in the annals of our Movement – The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria. The scripture says that no man taketh this honor unto himself. Still, he that is called of God (Hebrews 5:4). It is with humility and a great sense of responsibility that I accept this spiritual task conferred on me through you by God’s divine arrangement. I feel greatly humbled by the event that has just taken place – giving me the renewed mandate to continue to lead this Movement for another term of five years. I, therefore, accept the AFFIRMATION conferred on my leadership of this great organization as the will of God for this dispensation.
APPRECIATION
All the glory, honor, power, dominion, and majesty be unto the King of kings and the Lord of lords for the peaceful and orderly conduct of this year’s affirmation election and its outcome. I appreciate every one of you for reposing confidence in me and my leadership as demonstrated by this renewed mandate. What has happened here today is in keeping with the statutory requirement for occupying the Office of the General Overseer as spelled out in our Constitution and Statement of Faith, to which we are bonded as a spiritually responsible and law-abiding organization.
Permit me to specially recognize and sincerely appreciate my esteemed colleagues on the Board of Directors, my elders on the Board of Trustees, the cooperative and dynamic members of the National Executive Council, National Ministerial Council, all our resourceful Zonal Superintendents, Pastors, Members, and Worshippers for your unwavering support, goodwill, benevolence and prayers for us over the past five years of our stewardship and most recently, for the success of this process.
The Church Council, Leaders, Members, and Worshippers of the National Headquarters Church, Yaba are highly commended and appreciated for their warmth, hospitality, cooperation, spirit of unity, and oneness with which they have continued to receive us as General Overseer and Senior Pastor of the National Headquarters Church.
My special thanks and appreciation go to my dearest wife, friend, sister, mother, confidante, and prayer champion, Rev. Mrs. Olabisi Aboyeji, who has stood by me in ministry for close to forty-five years and over thirty-five years of blissful, peaceful and beautiful marital life to the glory of God. Our wonderful and Godfearing children are also appreciated for their cooperation, support, and uncommon sense of understanding of the assignment committed into our care by the Almighty God.
I acknowledge the efforts of the Affirmation Committee ably led by our respected Regional Coordinator for the Northern Region and the District Overseer of Kubwa District, Rev. Prof. James Nda Jacobs. I must commend you all for your dedication to this assignment, for the sacrifice of your time, talent, and treasure, and your faithful discharge of this task. May the Almighty God adequately reward you and your families in Jesus’ name.
I wish to also recognize and appreciate the leadership of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, dynamically led by our International President, Rev. Dr. Randy Remington, and the Vice President of Global Operations, Rev. Dr. Ted Veil for their friendship, partnership, and cordial disposition to my person and the leadership of the Nigerian Church.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
As we herald the second half of our Decade of Soaring, I earnestly covet the fullest cooperation and participation of all ministers, leaders, workers, members and well-wishers, even as we trust God to reinvigorate our enthusiasm towards fulfilling His mandate for His Church. Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria will not relent in playing its God-given pivotal role as a frontline evangelical and Pentecostal Movement in our country. Our Inreach, Outreach and Nextgen focus will continue to guide and shape our policies and procedures in meeting the demands of ministry. The welfare of all our ministers will be further enriched as we accelerate the pursuit of our evangelistic and mission thrust.
CONCLUSION
Once again, my appreciation goes to every one of you for being part of this epoch-making event.
Long live the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Psalm 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Shalom!
