Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has shared a poignant story about an unamed traditional ruler who refused to repent despite several appeals—and eventually died without accepting Christ.
Speaking during a recent church service, Pastor Adeboye recalled how the encounter began while he was lecturing at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He explained that he was working on a mathematics problem in his office when he felt a divine prompting to reach out to a particular chief.
“Suddenly, I heard God say, ‘Son, I want you to write a letter to Chief so-and-so,’” Adeboye recounted. “God told me, ‘Tell him I love him. I know all his faults and everything he has done wrong, but if he surrenders his life to me, I will forgive him and take him to heaven.’”
Although he did not know the chief personally or have his address, Pastor Adeboye said he obeyed the instruction and mailed the letter with only the chief’s name written on the envelope. Miraculously, the letter was delivered within three days.
Shortly afterward, the traditional ruler visited him at UNILAG, and Adeboye used the opportunity to urge him to accept Christ. However, the chief hesitated.
“I explained the message God had sent me to deliver, but he said he would think about it,” the 83-year-old pastor said. “I respected his decision—salvation cannot be forced.”
For the next three years, Pastor Adeboye continued to visit the chief every two weeks, repeating the same appeal. Yet the ruler continued to postpone his decision. Then one day, the chief suffered a massive stroke.
Before losing consciousness, he reportedly asked those around him to call Pastor Adeboye. By the time the pastor arrived, the chief was near death. Adeboye prayed fervently, asking God to grant him one more chance to speak with the man.
“In less than an hour, he was completely restored,” Pastor Adeboye said. “I told him, ‘Chief, God has shown you uncommon mercy. Will you now give your life to Christ?’ Again, he replied that he would think about it.”
That, Pastor Adeboye said, was when he knew his efforts had reached their limit. Not long afterward, the traditional ruler passed away.
