{"id":2328,"date":"2025-04-05T19:43:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T18:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/?p=2328"},"modified":"2025-04-05T19:43:08","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T18:43:08","slug":"why-i-changed-apapa-familys-name-adeboye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/?p=2328","title":{"rendered":"Why I changed Apapa Family\u2019s name \u2013 Adeboye"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Pastor Enoch Adeboye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has given an insight into why he changed the name of the Apapa Family to the Favoured Family.<\/p>\n

Adeboye, had last Sunday pronounced the change in the name while ministering at the City of David Parish in Lagos, which serves as the headquarters of the Apapa Family, said he was directed by God to change its name.<\/p>\n

He said he got the divine direction to change the name the way he did some years ago when he changed that of the Ikeja Family to the First Born Family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I talk of the old Apapa\u2026the new Apapa is great oh but we need a new one. I had prayed before I came here this morning. I had prayed that the Almighty will give me the grace not to cry because I know the old. I am grateful for the new but there is a lot of difference, which is why God asked me to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many families in the Redeemed Church of God. The first model parish is Ikeja. It started very well In less than one year, we had a congregation of about a thousand people. In those days, that was a miracle. But then something happened and the congregation of 1,000 was reduced to 15. Then one day, because somebody decided to do something, then I cried to God \u2013 what have I done wrong? What do I do now? And then he asked me to do something. He told me that Ikeja, the name has to do a little bit with fighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know God knows all your history. And He asked me to change the name of Ikeja to First Born Family., which I did. And today all over the world, you have First Born Family behaving like first born.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord has sent me here this morning to change your name. From today on, you will no longer be called Apapa Family, you will be called the Favoured Family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

About Apapa Family<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 1991 with about 50 members, the Apapa Family now has over 45 parishes within and outside Nigeria, including the City of David.<\/p>\n

The City of David has been presided over by about four pastors since its inception. They are Pastors Tony Rapu, Eskor Mfon (deceased) and Idowu Iluyomade and Kayode Pitan.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Pastor Idowu Iluyomade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iluyomade left last year under controversial circumstances. He was allegedly suspended<\/a> and transferred over issues in connection with the death in a plane crash of one of the prominent members of the City of David,\u00a0 Herbert Wigwe.<\/p>\n

Wigwe, a popular banker and CEO of Access Holding Plc, was killed in a plane crash in the United States on February 9 alongside his wife, Chizoba, son, Chizi, and others.<\/p>\n

Adeboye, who arrived the church on Sunday morning accompanied by his wife, Folu, he was in Europe when God directed him to come to the Apapa Family to change its name to the Favoured Family.<\/p>\n

Divine direction <\/strong><\/p>\n

Adeboye had told the cheering congregation that he was in Europe when God asked him to visit the Apapa Family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not supposed to be here today. I am not supposed to be in Nigeria until tomorrow evening. It wasn\u2019t in my plan to be here today. As a matter of fact, when daddy (God) said to me that I will be here this morning, I reminded him that I am supposed to be in Europe today. And He told me that was your plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I arrived from Europe yesterday (Saturday) because God says I am to be here this morning. That is why I have a rough idea that the destiny of someone is about to change,\u201d the revered pastor told the cheering congregation.<\/p>\n

Family discussion, salt offering<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although, he said he was not going to deliver a sermon to hold a family discussion, Adeboye, who took his text from 2 King 2: 19-24, spoke about the effectiveness of salt, which he said was a fertilizer and a sanitizer.\u00a0 He also made reference to Job 6:6.<\/p>\n

He therefore urged the congregation to give special offering, which he termed \u201csalt offering\u201d in order to attract favour and keep away demons.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must give a special offering that will be regarded as salt offering. Every member must give a very special offering, pass it to their pastors, their pastors must pass it to the Apapa Family head and then they will bring it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cYou need that to keep demons away from you. Not only that. Ask the scientists, they will tell you that salt is a fertilizer. It makes thing grow more rapidly than normal. \u00a0Write this day down; you give God a salt offering, your progress will become so rapid that you will be amazed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adeboye went down the memory lane to narrate how the City of David Trinity Towers was acquired by the church.<\/p>\n

The pastor, who said he was visiting the towers for the second time, said it was owned by a bank before the church acquired it.<\/p>\n

According to him, the RCCG only rented some section of the building and was also owing millions of naira before God helped it to acquire the entire towers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be the second visit. When we paid the first visit to this edifice, we were mere tenants in this place. Many of us didn\u2019t know. But this building actually belonged to a bank,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the time we met last, many of you can\u2019t believe how much money we owed the day we came to dedicate this place. We were not dedicating the building; I am not sure we were dedicating\u2026 because we were owing millions. I mean practically unbelievable, unbelievable to me when I heard. But today, by the grace of God this building is ours. And when I say this building is ours own, I mean from top to bottom.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Trinity Towers City of David<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIf we were to go by the amount we were owing last time, maybe we would have said \u2018maybe this auditorium will be our own.\u2019 Where the children and the offices are didn\u2019t belong to us. But from the time I came and now, God has moved. Several things are going to happen to your life this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difference between the old and the new Apapa Family<\/strong><\/p>\n

While praising the Apapa Family for its achievements and development, Adeboye, however, lamented that it has deviated from what it was known for.<\/p>\n

According to him, the Apapa Family, when established, was known for its remarkable contribution to the growth of the entire RCCG and identifying with his vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cApapa is doing well, glory be to God. But anybody who knows the old Apapa, anybody who has seen the original house, as the Bible says when it was talking about the house of God \u2013 when they built a new house of God, they were rejoicing. The elders said, \u2018we saw the original house, the new one that Solomon built, the new house cannot be compare to it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me go a little bit into the past of Apapa. How come Apapa Family suddenly overshadowed all the other families vis-\u00e0-vis their relationship with the General Overseer? How come that there was a time every family, including headquarters was jealous of the relationship between me and the Apapa Family? I will tell you a little bit, I won\u2019t be able to cover it all.<\/p>\n

Relationship with Apapa Family<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adeboye also dwelt in the relationship he had with the Apapa Family.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cHaa! The original Apapa Family was completely committed to spoiling the general overseer. That is the only way I can put it. Christmas came and they visited me at the camp. \u2018Daddy, we want to give you a Christmas present.\u2019 I said, \u2018Okay, thank you very much. What is it you want to do? \u2019Well, if you know my house then, it was just concrete on the floor. \u2018Thank you.\u2019 And they did. Then came New Year. They said, \u201cDaddy, we want to give you a New Year present.\u201d I said, \u2018haa, you just gave me one.\u201d And they bought me a Mercedez Benz, Tokunbo o<\/em>! I said, \u2018thank you, you are working so hard.\u2019 They said, \u2018You need a holiday. We will arrange a holiday for you and you will go on a cruise.\u201d I have never seen inside a boat before. They organised the original cruise from there. From that time onward, they said \u2018every year, you must go on holiday, we will pay for it.\u2019 Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know that as far back as 23 years ago, the Apapa Family bought me a brand new Rolls Royce? I found it difficult to believe. That is the truth. You say, \u2018where is the Rolls Royce?\u2019 I used it for three years and I sold it because I needed money in the ministry and so on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still remember as yesterday, my son of blessed memory—I always love to forget his name when it comes to occasions like this — (Pastor) Eskor. He was in hospital bed in London and I went there to go and pray for him. And he said, \u2018your leave is near.\u201d I said, Yeah! He said, where are you spending your leave this time around?\u2019 I said, \u2018don\u2019t worry about my leave now, just get well.\u2019 He said, \u2018Of course, I will get well. Where are you going on a cruise? When are you going?\u2019 I said, \u2018I am going to Singapore.\u2019 He said, \u2018when are you going, which airline will you use? I said, \u2018I have already bought the ticket.\u2019 I said, \u2018someone did.\u2019 He said, \u2018It\u2019s okay, which hotel will you like to stay in Singapore?\u2019 I said, oh, oh oh!\u2019 He said, \u2018Daddy, what happened? What are you trying to do?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was on hospital bed and he was still thinking of where I will spend my holiday. I said, \u2018somebody has already paid for the hotel. He said, \u2018Daddy, what have we done? Then, he said, \u2018Okay, I know what to do.\u201d And he arranged behind my back to send someone all the way to Singapore to carry Nigerian food so that they can take care of me properly in Singapore. The fellow they sent is here. I don\u2019t want to embarrass her. I would have asked her to stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving reciprocal <\/strong><\/p>\n

The general overseer explained that the relationship between him and the Apapa Family was just that of receiving. According to him, he loved them so much that the relationship became reciprocal and a \u201ca two-way traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me tell you a story. One of them was having a birthday party in London. They told me about a year before. I said, \u2018I\u2019ll be there.\u2019 I was travelling abroad but because of our relationship I said I will attend the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd before the service began, we were sitting in the waiting room and some of his friends came there. One of them looked at me and said, \u2018Daddy, you are well dressed today. I said, \u2018Yaa, my son is celebrating.\u2019 I didn\u2019t know where they were going. He said, \u2018I like your tie.\u2019 I said, \u2018Okay, after the service follow me to the car, I can give you the tie.\u2019 He shouted for joy. The second said, \u2018I\u2019m not interested in your tie, it is your jacket I want.\u2019 I said, haa, my jacket is not your size.\u2019 He said, \u2018who is talking of size? I\u2019m looking for any special miracle I can wear anytime I\u2019m looking for a special miracle from God.\u2019 I said, \u2018follow me to the car after the service.\u2019 The third one said, \u2018Daddy, you know that your shoe size is my own size.\u2019 I said, \u2018Okay, as soon as we finish, follow me to the car.\u2019 After all, where the plane was parked they know me so well that they allowed me to drive to the plane.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe finished the service and they followed me to the car. The one who wanted the tie got the tie; the one who wanted the jacked got the jacket; the one who wanted the pair of shoes got the pair of shoes. And I was saying to God, \u2018thank you, nobody said I wanted your socks.\u2019 That is our relationship. That is not ordinary relationship. That is not relationship between the general overseer and a member of the congregation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Running with vision, funding programmes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adeboye said members of the old Apapa Family ran with his vision, adding that all he needed to do at the time was to tell them what he wanted to do and they will grab it from him and run with it.<\/p>\n

He recounted how the Apapa Family supported and funded various programmes of the church.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cThe first major programme we had in Lagos was at TBS (Tafawa Balewa Square). The programme was entitled, \u201cThe Battle of gods.\u201d The older ones know what I am talking about. The moment I say I want to do something they will ask for the details about getting permission. Apapa Family did it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first Holy Ghost service we held in Abuja, they did it all. The first Holy Ghost service we held in Port Harcourt, they did it all. The first Holy Ghost service we held in London, which they called \u201cFestival of Life\u201d they did it all. The old Apapa Family! Will you believe it? You have heard of \u201cLekki 98,\u201d Apapa organised it. They couldn\u2019t finance it because it was something big. I raised the money but they organised it, everything, including getting the stage ready. The night before, I wanted to be on the ground very early in the morning. The night before, I spent it in Adesanya\u2019s house. They organised it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has given an insight into why he changed the name of the Apapa Family to the Favoured Family. Adeboye, had last Sunday pronounced the change in the name while ministering at the City of David Parish in Lagos, which serves as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"source_name":"","source_url":"","via_name":"","via_url":"","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"","parallax":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":""},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ministry","category-news"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2329,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328\/revisions\/2329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechristian.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}