I have learnt a great deal from my experiences and from the life of Apostle Arome Osayi.
I began listening to his messages around 2014/15 and went back to his 2009 messages on his website. I have listened to thousands of them, and they have been a blessing.
What first drew me to him was not only his piercing delivery and great utterance, but his boldness in speaking against fathers of faith and their ministries—how they were not being fair to the body of Christ despite their influence, power and resources. I once shared that view and was a ruthless critic of influential pastors I felt were not doing enough. I was bitter toward them.
God cured that bitterness through experience. When I became a little successful, I faced the same challenge of being fair to everyone. People increased around me, my influence and finances grew, and they expected help. Some pastor friends became enemies because of the breakthrough. They felt I had not shared resources fairly, grew bitter and envious, and even plotted my fall. I then understood that you cannot assume you know a room you have never entered, no matter how wide the door is open. I saw the real challenges that come with growth, influence and increased resources.
Apostle Arome Osayi is now a man of influence, expansion and great resources. I know his genuineness, yet the public pours the same venom on him. He recently spoke about revival, but people challenge his stay in the USA and use that blessing to discredit him, saying he has no right to call Nigeria a revival hub while he “fled” with his family for a better life. I know that is not the case, but the public is not buying it.
More criticism will come—not because he failed or ceased to be a good man, but because influence and expansion set you up for attack.
Daddy Adeboye, Oyedepo, Kumuyi, Chris Oyakhilome, Paul Enenche and others have faced the same because people expected more. They are doing their best, but an entitled public sees things through a different lens.
AAO withdrew from that habit long ago, yet some of his followers still run that race and are deaf to his whistle. They pull down, destroy and cancel those they disagree with. They will learn as they grow in grace, influence and resources.
The body of Christ has many parts with different functions. If you have understanding, another person’s function should not annoy you; it is still an addition to the body.
A man who is not against us should be left alone.