The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is set to meet on September 27 to address the increasing public concerns surrounding a viral testimony from a member of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, which has stirred heated debate.
The testimony in question involves a woman who claimed divine intervention during an exam for the Nigerian Navy, Army, and Air Force. According to her account, an elderly man miraculously appeared in the exam hall, providing her with answers to a challenging question. She then shared these answers with another candidate sitting nearby.
“We had completed the main questions, but then came ten specific ones: ‘Name 10 Francophone countries and their capitals.’ None of us had the answers. So, I lifted my question paper and boldly declared, ‘I am a Chosen! I am a Chosen!! I am a Chosen!!! This question, who are you? Where is the God of my pastor’s power?’ Then, suddenly, an old man dressed in white appeared beside me. He said, ‘My daughter, start writing,’ and I immediately started,” she narrated.
The woman went on to say that invigilators, noticing something unusual, removed her church apron, at which point “the angel” vanished. She also recounted how she discreetly shared the answers with a fellow candidate from another denomination, claiming that only the two of them successfully completed the exam out of the 102 participants. Her testimony was met with applause and excitement in the church.
In response to the growing controversy, Stephen Adegbite, Lagos State Chairman of CAN, revealed that the association will convene to thoroughly examine the matter. He expressed concerns not only about the viral testimony but also about the broader issue of questionable statements made by Pentecostal leaders on social media.
Speaking on the incident, Mr. Adegbite expressed shock that such a testimony was permitted within the church, describing it as nonsensical. He warned against the promotion of falsehoods in the Christian faith, stressing that such claims must be verified before being shared publicly.
“She is free to say whatever she wants, but we need to hear from others present in the exam hall to verify her claims. From an outside perspective, it’s a ridiculous statement, and no church should entertain such testimonies,” Adegbite said. He further cautioned that testimonies like these should be carefully scrutinized before being shared with congregations.
“There are certain stories you simply cannot tell to people with common sense,” he added. “This kind of testimony belongs in a fairy tale. God doesn’t operate that way. I have a Ph.D. – which God of Chosen appears in an exam hall to give you answers? The real God encourages hard work, study, and preparation. There are no shortcuts to success.”
Adegbite also revealed that CAN’s upcoming meeting would address other troubling behaviors seen among some Pentecostal pastors. He expressed deep concern over the spread of what he called “madness” within some sections of the religious community.
Earlier this year, testimonies from the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries went viral online, prompting widespread debate and even leading to a social media challenge. These testimonies often included claims of miraculous interventions after the phrase “I’m chosen” was invoked.
In response to the growing backlash, Chidi Louis, the church’s Head of Public Relations and Media, dismissed the viral videos as manipulated and misleading. He clarified that the woman’s story occurred in a dream, not in real life, and urged the public not to believe everything they see online.
“Nigerians should ignore these doctored videos. If you want the full story, visit our church’s official platform. The testimony was about a dream, not reality. Many bloggers distort facts to mock the work of God, and these individuals are driven by malice,” Louis stated.
As CAN prepares to meet, many await the association’s stance on how the church should handle these controversial testimonies and whether any actions will be taken to prevent the spread of misinformation within religious communities.
