Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has urged Christians to preach the love and compassion of Jesus Christ rather than emphasising hell when evangelising to Nigerians facing economic hardship.
Ibiyeomie said many Nigerians were already struggling with severe economic challenges, making messages focused solely on the consequences of hell less effective in winning them to Christ.
He spoke on Sunday while delivering a sermon titled, The Power of Compassion, monitored by Vanguard.
According to him, Christians should show compassion by assuring people experiencing hardship that God loves them and can transform their circumstances.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians; they are already in hell. There is no way you will preach hell to Nigerians and anybody will be born again.
“Just tell them God loves you; He can change your story. Come to Jesus. But if you say, ‘You’ll go to hell,’ the man will say, ‘The suffering wey I dey suffer now, na wetin e be?’
That kind of message can’t convert one soul. You go there and say, ‘If you don’t convert to Jesus, you are going to hell.’ The man will say he has not even seen food to eat, he has not bought petrol; already, he is in hell.
Ibiyeomie said compassion should motivate Christians to tell people that Jesus loves them regardless of what they are going through and that God can show them mercy.
“Compassion will make you tell them Jesus loves you. In spite of what you’re going through, He will show you His mercy. Compassion is the greatest tool that brings people to Christ. It is from your heart,” he said.
The pastor said God himself is compassionate and urged Christians to extend the same quality to others.
Citing Psalm 103:8, he said: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.”
He added that God does not treat people according to their past mistakes and failures, saying those who have received God’s compassion should also show compassion to others.
Ibiyeomie, who cited Ephesians 4:32, said: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
He described compassion as one of the most powerful expressions of God’s nature, stressing that it goes beyond merely feeling sorry for another person.
According to him, compassion involves three elements: seeing a person’s situation, caring about it and taking action.
He also said caring for people should not be reduced to giving money, noting that Christians could use their faith and other means to help those in need.
Citing Acts 3:6, Ibiyeomie said helping others could involve exercising one’s faith on their behalf, stressing that while financial assistance could be necessary, compassion goes beyond money.
