One of the children of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide, has died at the age of 42.

Pastor Dare Adeboye, who was a pastor of one of the branches of the church, reportedly died in his sleep on Wednesday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

His death was confirmed by the spokesperson of the RCCG, Olaitan Olubiyi, on Thursday morning.

“It is true. The incident happened in Eket where he was based. I don’t have the details for now. Maybe before the end of today, we will issue a statement,” he was quoted to have told Punch newspaper.

We gathered from reliable sources in the church that the deceased, who was the Assistant Pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35, had ministered the previous day.

He was said to have retired to his bed and did not wake up.

“He was not sick and did not complain of anything before the incident. Pastors in the church were summoned to pray for him, all to no avail,” a source added.

Several leaders of the church, who confirmed the incident, said they could not comment on it.

Pastor Dare would have been 43 years old next month, June.

Last year, Pastor E.A Adeboye described the deceased as his first “miracle child.”

“We pray that God will keep his miraculous working power in your life and all those who need a miracle today, will use you as a point of contact for their own in Jesus’ name. (Amen) love from Dad, Mom, and the whole Adeboye dynasty,” he wrote on his Facebook page while celebrating his 42nd birthday.

One of the deceased’s brothers, Leke Adeboye, also a pastor, wrote on Facebook Thursday that “the righteous man perishes (at the hand of evil) and no one takes it to heart; faithful and devout men are taking (sic) away while no one understands that the righteous person is taken (to be spared) from disaster and evil.”

Popularly known as ‘Pastor D,’ the deceased was regarded as one of the most influential youth pastors in the RCCG.

According to Pastor Adeboye’s personal website, some of the deceased’s previous roles in RCCG included a senior pastor at RCCG House of Praise in Birmingham, England, and provincial pastor at RCCG Kaduna 1.

RCCG confirms death

“It is with a deep and heartfelt sense of loss we announce the departure of our beloved son, brother, husband and father, Oluwadamilare Temitayo Adeboye. Who went to be with the Lord on the 4th of May, 2021,” RCCG public relations department said in a statement.

RCCG said Pastor Dare’s life was well lived as he served the Lord without reserve, giving effortlessly and leading fearlessly.

“Though shaken, our anchor remains Jesus Christ in whom we have the assurance that we will one day meet in a place where there is no pain,” RCCG said.

“It is the wish of the family to be left alone at this moment, and we pray the Lord keep you as you honour this humble request.”

The 42-year-old was the third child of Pastor Adeboye.

President Buhari Mourns

President Muhammadu Buhari also commiserated with Pastor Adeboye, his family and members of his church.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President urged them to find comfort in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that those who have chosen to serve God faithfully will see Him as He is in eternity.

“The President prays God Almighty to grant the departed rest in His everlasting kingdom and comfort grieving family, friends and associates,” Adesina said.

Many prominent personalities have continued to pay glowing tributes to the deceased.

It is well, Pastor Adeboye breaks silence on son’s death

Pastor Adeboye, who preached at the May 2021 edition of the church’s Holy Ghost service, urged everyone to always thank God and say ‘It is well’ even in the face of crises rather than ‘blame and question God’.

He said: “Whatever we have is given to us by God, be it wealth, wife, husband, children e.t.c and if it got taken away by God, all we can do is give God glory for actually giving us the privilege to enjoy those wealth or kids temporarily and it is not for us to complain, blame and question God.”

With biblical reference to Ezekiel 24:16, he said, “God took away Ezekiel’s wife and asked him not to mourn over her”.

“What we see as sorrows might be joy in the sight of God, I mean His ways and thoughts are not the same with ours, we shouldn’t forget that both good and bad happen at God’s command. (Lamentations 3:38).

“Finally in all things let’s learn to say thank you father and It is well. God bless all of you in Jesus’ name,” Adeboye said.

The RCCG overseer further stated that peace is one of the blessings only God can give saying “There is a peace that passes human understanding. It is only God that can give that peace. I thank God that I have that peace.”

Adeboye also allayed fears on over possibility of a third wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, saying it was due to the prayers of Christians that COVID-19 did not take a detrimental dimension.

“We need to pray against all the problems we are facing, and God will answer when we pray,” Adeboye said.