Pastor Charles Kpandei has taken over as the new head of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David parish in Lagos, replacing former Pastor Idowu Iluyomade.
Upon his arrival, Pastor Kpandei, who began his new role on Sunday, introduced himself to the congregation and delivered a sermon focused on the topic of heaven.
He encouraged church members to greet each other warmly, emphasizing the importance of community.
“Are you really happy to be in church today? For those of you who are just coming for the second service, it is important to tell you that I am called Pastor Charles Kpandei.
“You need that name because you are going to tell somebody that on behalf of Pastor Charles Kpandei, you are welcome to church today,” Kpandei said.
Before starting his main sermon, Kpandei prayed for God’s blessings on the City of David, referencing Nehemiah 13:14.
Meanwhile, the parish is undergoing an audit by a well-known audit firm. This audit follows the transfer of former Pastor Iluyomade on June 1, 2024, due to allegations of financial issues and resistance to a transfer.
Although a source within church had earlier disclosed that Iluyomade was only transfered and not suspended, reports suggest that the church’s Governing Council suspended him for three months and instructed him to report to the church’s headquarters.
Iluyomade, also known as PID, received his suspension letter two weeks ago and was promptly replaced by Pastor Kpandei from the church’s Resurrection Parish Region 11.
Iluyomade, who is the Special Assistant to the RCCG General Overseer on Christian Social Responsibility, faced scrutiny after a lavish celebration of his wife’s 60th birthday, which came shortly after the death of Herbert Wigwe, a key church member.
An anonymous church source revealed that the audit, conducted by KPMG, was necessary because RCCG auditors had not reviewed most provinces under the Apapa Family. This audit aims to address an alleged N320 million debt linked to the parish.
During the church service on June 9, a pastor announced that about N15 million was spent on the Trinity Tower construction between June 1 and 8, highlighting the parish’s financial challenges.
