The account by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, “The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church,” was more than a lamentation; it was a revelation. It told of a funeral in Ise-Ekiti where mourners, instead of finding comfort, witnessed the commercialization of grief.
Yet, beyond the walls of that Anglican church lies a story that stretches from Lagos to London, from Ado-Ekiti to Atlanta , the decline of moral and spiritual authenticity within the body of Christ.
We are in a time when the sacred has become for sale.
The pulpit, once a place of brokenness, humility, and grace now echoes with the sound of transactions. What was once the sanctuary for the weary has turned into a marketplace of manipulation.
A generation that should be leading a moral revival is instead walking away, disillusioned by the greed and avarice of those who claim to represent God.
In a nutshell, the story about the burial ceremony of Kehinde Ajifolawe is told by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, he wrote and l quote verbatim;
“Kenny’s two nieces — barely out of their teens — were called forward to represent her children. They nervously announced a donation of ₦200,000 to the church. Instead of showing gratitude, the reverend frowned and said it was “too small.”
I was horrified. The young girls froze in shame. I had to get up, take the microphone, and add to the donation — just to save them from further embarrassment.
But it didn’t end there. The reverend then asked every mourner to come forward, one after another, to announce their donations publicly.
That was when the crowd erupted.
“Why are you doing this?”
“What are you selling here?”
“Are we here to mourn or to buy?”
Voices rose in anger. The congregation rose up in unison and began to walk out. Women shouted that the church had already collected ₦100,000 “for diesel,” plus several other charges just to hold a one-hour service.”
Ironically, the decline began in the very nations that brought Christianity to Africa. Across Europe and North America, cathedrals that once vibrated with worship now stand empty.
According to Pew Research, over 60% of young adults in Western nations no longer attend church services. In the United Kingdom, more mosques are being built than churches.
In America, the fastest-growing faith group is called “the nones” ; people who identify with no religion.
Their reason is not unbelief, but disappointment.
They see preachers who promise prosperity yet ignore poverty, who build empires but neglect empathy.
They see gospel shows replacing gospel truth. And like the mourners in Ise-Ekiti, they are rebelling not against God, but against greed wrapped in priestly robes.
Sadly, the churches in Africa, once known for fire and faith, are catching the same disease.
We are witnessing a dangerous drift from mission to mansion, from compassion to competition.
The missionaries who first came here preached salvation and built hospitals, schools, and orphanages.
They gave their lives without asking for payment. But today, we charge gate fees for revivals and sell “miracle oil” with price tags.
The result is painful: our churches overflow, yet our communities remain morally bankrupt.
Offerings multiply, but compassion diminishes.
The altar is polished, but the heart of service grows cold. When pastors become celebrities and worship turns into entertainment, young people quietly exit — seeking God elsewhere or in silence.
Someone once described Christian faith in Nigeria as “300 miles wide, 3 inches deep”.
Of a truth, youth are not faithless,
they are just disillusioned.
It is wrong to say that today’s youth have no regard for God. They crave spirituality, but they reject hypocrisy. They are looking for sincerity, not showmanship; for compassion, not competition. Many have not lost faith in Christ, they have lost faith in the institutions that bear His name.
When a church humiliates mourners over donations, it is no longer a church but a showroom.
When a pastor measures success by the number of cars in his convoy rather than souls in his care, the message of Christ is mocked before unbelievers. It is no wonder Jesus Himself overturned the tables of money changers, declaring, “My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer.”
The time has come for repentance. Not from the world, but from the Church.
The revival we need is not another crusade with flashing lights, but a return to conscience. True revival is not measured in offerings but in transformed lives.
It begins when preachers stop performing and start shepherding; when churches stop competing and start caring.
This awakening must begin with leaders who will humble themselves, confess the rot, and rebuild trust.
It must also continue with congregations that demand integrity over entertainment. It must restore the church as a refuge, not a revenue centre; a house of mercy, not a hub of marketing. The media must also re-examine it responsibility as the watch-dog, not only of the politicians but also of both the Christian and the Islamic faith.
Let me be clear, Christianity is not in crisis because God has changed, but because His representatives have drifted.
The early Church conquered the world through sacrifice, not show. It healed the sick, fed the poor, and comforted the broken. That is the church the world longs to see again; a church whose light is brighter than its luxury.
Read Also:CAPRO:Taking the Bible and Christ back to the Church
*The Real Revolution Nigeria Needs: Dismantling the Cabals, Not Burning the Streets*
Ojulari: True, true, na face alone we fit see…
If we fail to return to that ancient path, we risk raising a generation that loves the idea of God but distrusts the institution of faith. But if we repent, renew, and rediscover the simplicity of the gospel, then the same youth who are walking away today will run back tomorrow, not to be entertained, but to be transformed.
The rebellion of mourners in Ise-Ekiti was not blasphemy; it was prophecy. It was a warning to a complacent Church that the world is watching. The altar must once again become a place of compassion. Only then will the church recover her lost moral authority, and the Spirit of God, long grieved, will once again dwell among men…
For as Scripture says:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
Olusegun Oyero Olurin is a senior pastor with Real Life Bible Church, Ota, Ogun State.
#Faith #Revival #Nigeria #GlobalChurch #SpiritualAwakening #YouthAndFaith #Leadership
