By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Christ Apostolic Church Youth Fellowship (CACYOF), Ibadan Centre, Babalola region, has held its Leaders’ Retreat 2026 at Christ Apostolic Church Agbala Itura, English Assembly, Olode, Ibadan.
The retreat, themed “Leading Through His Word,” held on Saturday, January 17, 2025, bringing together youth leaders and church officials across the Ibadan Centre to reflect on biblical leadership principles and spiritual responsibility in contemporary times.
The programme had in attendance the DCC Superintendent, CAC Agbala Itura, Pastor Abraham Akinpelu; Director of Youth Affairs, CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Peter Olanrewaju; CACYOF Babalola Regional Coordinator, Pastor Ayobami Ojo; the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Pastor M.O. Adeshina; and the Immediate Past Coordinator, CACYOF Ibadan Centre, Pastor S.O. Okeowo.
In his charge, titled “The Tool of God for Revival,” taken from Acts 6:4, the CAC Youth Director, Pastor Peter Olanrewaju, described leadership as a mandate from God rather than personal ambition, urging leaders to commit themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
He emphasised that every leader would encounter moments of “Jordan and Jericho,” noting that victory in leadership crises comes from divine instructions discovered through the Word of God. He also challenged participants to engage the Scripture to know God personally, understand His principles, discover His purpose, embrace His promises, and walk in His power and authority.
The guest minister of the retreat and Academic Dean of Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS) Ile Ife, Ibadan Campus, Pastor Sunday Dare Ajayi (PhD), Dean of the , delivered a comprehensive lecture titled “Leading Through His Word,” drawing his text from Joshua 1:1–8.
In his delivery, Pastor Ajayi described leadership as the act of guiding followers towards defined goals, noting that Christian leadership must be rooted in total dependence on the Word of God.
He warned against alternative leadership mechanisms such as human philosophy, ungodly counsel, political mindset, diabolical power and self-will, stressing that these often derail leaders from divine purpose. According to him, leading through God’s Word produces leadership that is Christ-centred, transformative, revelational, inspirational and illuminative, adding that any leader disconnected from the Word risks spiritual darkness.
He further charged leaders to live by the Word they teach, noting that “good success is not defined by manipulation but by obedience to God’s principles.”
Pastor Ajayi encouraged youth leaders to adopt biblical models such as Ezra’s devotion to the Word, the Bereans’ daily search of Scripture, David’s internalisation of God’s Word, Paul’s disciplined study, and Joshua’s meditation on divine instructions as pathways to effective and enduring leadership.
A major highlight of the retreat was the induction of new executives for the CACYOF Ibadan Centre who were prayed for by the Superintendent, CAC Agbala Itura DCC, Pastor Abraham Akinpelu. Ex-officio members include, Pastor Jide Johnson Oyewole, Pastor Olusegun Alomaja, Pastor Nathaniel Adeshina, Pastor S.O. Okeowo, and Pastor Ayobami Ojo.
Newly inducted officers are: Mrs Florence Adeniji (PRO 4); Evangelist Ademuyiwa Samuel (PRO 3); Evangelist Joseph Adekanmi (PRO 2); Pastor Afolabi Lawrence (PRO 1); Pastor Obaloluwa Babatunde (Choir Coordinator); Mrs Ayoola Adekemi (Assistant Welfare Secretary); Pastor Matthew Olafimihan (Welfare Secretary); Mrs Adewole Adeola (Assistant Organizing Secretary); Elder Oluwasegun Oluwadare (Organizing Secretary); Mrs Akin Tunrayo Ajibade (Assistant Sisters’ Coordinator); Deaconess Oluwatoyin Oladele (Sisters’ Coordinator); Pastor Sunday Jaiyeola (Media/ Evangelism Secretary); Evangelist Oluwatosin Samuel (Assistant Prayer Secretary); Pastor Timothy Babatunde (Prayer Secretary); Pastor Obaloluwa Babatunde (Choir Coordinator); Evangelist Oluwatosin Ilori (Financial Secretary); Bro. Tayo Adedeji (Treasurer); Pastor Ebenezer Joseph (Assistant General Secretary); Pastor Agbo Adediran Daniel (Secretary); Pastor Joseph Oluwatobiloba Odedina (Assistant Coordinator); and Pastor Michael Olayera (Ibadan Centre Coordinator).
The retreat concluded with prayers and a charge for youth leaders to uphold Scripture as the foundation for effective leadership and generational impact within the church and the society at large.
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