RismadarVoice Reporters, August 30, 2026
The Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has called on Christians to place greater emphasis on the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ when preaching to Nigerians facing economic challenges.
Ibiyeomie made the remarks during a Sunday sermon titled “The Power of Compassion,” where he argued that focusing only on messages about hell and punishment may not effectively reach people struggling with poverty, hunger and rising living costs.
According to the pastor, many Nigerians are already experiencing difficult living conditions, making messages centred solely on fear less impactful than messages that offer hope and demonstrate genuine concern.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians; they are already in hell. There is no way you will preach hell to Nigerian,s and anybody will be born again,” Ibiyeomie said during the sermon.
He urged Christians to communicate God’s love and ability to transform lives, encouraging them to tell people that “God loves you; He can change your story. Come to Jesus.”
The pastor explained that compassion should be the foundation of evangelism, noting that believers should first recognise people’s struggles, show concern and take practical steps to support them.
“Compassion will make you tell them Jesus loves you. Despite what you’re going through, He will show you His mercy,” he said.
Ibiyeomie referenced Psalm 103:8, which describes God as compassionate and gracious, and Ephesians 4:32, which encourages believers to be kind, compassionate and forgiving towards one another.
He further explained that compassion involves more than expressing sympathy, identifying three major elements: seeing people’s situations, caring about their challenges and taking action.
The pastor also noted that helping others does not always require financial assistance, saying Christians can support people through prayers, encouragement, faith and practical assistance based on individual needs.
Citing Acts 3:6, Ibiyeomie said genuine compassion goes beyond material support, stressing the importance of giving people hope and helping them overcome their challenges.
