RismadarVoice Reporters
May 23, 2026
The Pastor in Charge of Youth Province 1 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Oluwagbemileke Adeboye, has advocated a shift in church focus towards structured social impact initiatives as a pathway to strengthening both community development and church relevance.
Speaking at the RCCG YP1 CSR Summit 2026 held in Lekki, Lagos, Adeboye said churches must move beyond traditional outreach models and adopt more organised, measurable social responsibility programmes that directly respond to community needs.
Citing Matthew 25:35–36, he stressed that Christian service should reflect practical expressions of faith through consistent engagement with vulnerable populations and underserved communities.
He argued that community-based interventions should no longer be treated as optional church activities but as central components of ministry strategy.
The summit, which gathered pastors, ministry leaders and development stakeholders, focused on repositioning churches as active contributors to social welfare through structured Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) frameworks.
Also speaking at the event, Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province CSR, Pastor Martins Olusakin, said the initiative is designed to institutionalise church-led interventions beyond occasional charity activities.
He disclosed that RCCG Youth Province 1 had committed over ₦37 million to weekly feeding programmes reaching more than 3,500 people over the past 11 months, alongside ₦18 million invested in scholarships, education support and other empowerment schemes.
According to him, the long-term goal is to build sustainable systems that address education, health and economic challenges within communities.
The National Coordinator 2 of RCCG CSR, Pastor Detola Akinremi, also called for a broader definition of church growth, saying it should include both spiritual development and measurable social impact.
He noted that CSR-driven initiatives have contributed to increased engagement and attendance across participating church units.
Akinremi further revealed ongoing multi-million-naira projects, including a 750-seat theatre at Redeemer’s University and an Intensive Care Unit in Osun State, as part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity.
He added that future church outreach should prioritise long-term social infrastructure such as rehabilitation and empowerment centres rather than short-term relief efforts.
