General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, recently opened up about how he drew inspiration from renowned gospel evangelist Rev. Uma Ukpai during one of the most challenging periods of his life—the loss of his son.
The renowned cleric shared this emotional testimony on Friday at a special service held at the International Worship Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to honour Rev. Uma Ukpai on his 80th birthday.
While addressing the congregation, Adeboye reflected on his grief and the unwavering faith that sustained him.
He remarked, “If you really, really want to serve God, then you must be ready to serve Him whether things are pleasant or not.”
He went on to recount the tragic loss of his son, “In the darkest moment of my life since becoming a Christian — when I lost my son without notice — my son called me on a Sunday evening and said, ‘Daddy, the weekend programme was extremely successful. Glory be to God, thank you for your prayer support.’ The next thing I heard on Tuesday night was that my son was gone.”
Despite his immense sorrow, Pastor Adeboye revealed he had to preach just days later.
Drawing strength from Rev. Uma Ukpai’s example, he said, “I had to preach on Friday, and one reference point that gave me strength was Uma Ukpai. I know he lost more than one child in a day, yet he did not waver. He kept on serving God. He gave me strength at a time when I needed it most.”
The heartfelt testimony highlighted not only the resilience of faith in adversity but also the impact of Rev. Uma Ukpai’s unwavering dedication to God’s work, serving as a source of encouragement for many.
