Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, the suspended clergyman from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has officially launched his own church, named Family Fellowship. The former senior pastor of RCCG’s City of David Parish took this step after facing suspension due to controversies surrounding his wife’s extravagant birthday celebration.
Iluyomade’s new church is located in Victoria Island, Lagos, and its inaugural service took place on Sunday, January 19th. Footage from the service has since circulated on social media, showing the pastor dancing with his congregants as they worshipped and gave thanks to God. The joyful celebration was marked by a sense of unity and gratitude among the attendees, who expressed their excitement for the new beginning.
However, one notable absence from the footage was Iluyomade’s wife, Siju Iluyomade. While she had been involved in the controversy that led to her husband’s suspension, there was no visible sign of her during the church’s inaugural service. Her absence raised questions about her involvement in the new church, but the specifics of her role or position remain unclear.
The suspension of Pastor Iluyomade followed a public backlash over the lavish birthday celebration of his wife, which some members of the RCCG community deemed inappropriate for a man of the cloth. The event, which included significant displays of wealth, sparked debates about the standards of conduct expected from church leaders and their families, leading to the pastor’s temporary removal from his position.
