Evangelist Isaac Omolehin, President and Founder of Word Assembly Ministries, has stirred nationwide debate after a sermon clip of him addressing the pursuit of wealth in Nigerian churches went viral.
In the video, Omolehin openly challenged the priorities of many Nigerian clerics, contrasting the personal fortunes of individual pastors with the global standing of their churches.
Speaking during the sermon, Omolehin noted that Nigeria dominates the global list of the wealthiest pastors, yet does not feature among the richest churches in the world.
He pointed out that five out of the ten richest pastors worldwide are Nigerians, but none of the ten richest churches globally is Nigerian. This, he reteirated, raises critical questions about how wealth is accumulated and distributed within the country’s religious institutions.
Omolehin went further to highlight the paradox between the Catholic Church’s global financial standing and the personal lifestyles of Nigerian clergy.
He stated that the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church are regarded as the richest in the world, yet the Pope does not own a private jet. By contrast, several Nigerian pastors reportedly own multiple private aircraft — a reality he argued reflects misplaced priorities in modern ministry.
The pastor stressed that the unrestrained pursuit of wealth has overshadowed genuine worship and ministry in many churches, shaping the ambitions not only of established pastors but also of aspiring ministers.
“You are going to patiently listen to me because some of the things I want to say, you will not be comfortable with,” Omolehin cautioned before delivering his pointed remarks. “Out of 10 richest pastors in the world, five of them are Nigerians, but out of 10 richest churches in the world, none of them is Nigerian.”
WATCH HIM SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW
The viral clip has sparked widespread discussion across social media, with many Nigerians debating the role of material wealth in religious leadership and the ethics of pastors amassing personal fortunes while their churches lag behind on the global scale.
Religious commentators note that Omolehin’s comments tap into a growing conversation about accountability, transparency, and the spiritual mission of the church in an age where prosperity often overshadows piety.
