By General Evangelist of CAC Nigeria and Overseas Ojo Emmanuel Ademola

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Nigeria and Overseas stands at a prophetic crossroads—either we confront the entrenched altars of elite pride and doctrinal rebellion, or we forfeit the revival mantle entrusted to us by our founding fathers. The spiritual legacy of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola and the Unified Supreme Council is being desecrated by factionalism fuelled not by truth, but by ambition, generational disconnect, and the seductive influence of wealth. Educated elites, once expected to uphold apostolic order, now weaponise intellect against spiritual authority. Financially powerful individuals are ordained not by divine calling, ba ut by recognition politics—turning sacred pulpits into platforms of prestige. This is not merely administrative error; it is spiritual treason. The time has come to tear down these altars, restore prophetic submission, and rekindle the fire of unity. Revival will not come through negotiation—it will come through repentance, reconciliation, and a return to the Spirit-led mandate that birthed this movement.

Understanding the “Elite Sins” of Factionalism

The 1990 Forum Initiative marked a pivotal departure from apostolic submission within CAC Nigeria and Overseas, igniting a wave of elite-driven ambition that prioritised influence over spiritual integrity. What pretentiously began as a reformation dialogue soon unveiled its true colours—an orchestrated drift into doctrinal manipulation, recognition politics, and spiritual insubordination.

This initiative became the breeding ground for factional fragmentation, where educated and influential individuals, rather than submitting to the prophetic authority of the Unified Supreme Council, began organising intellectual blocs and parallel structures that directly challenged apostolic order. The seeds of factionalism were sown not in ignorance, but in calculated defiance—laying the foundation for the elite sins that continue to undermine unity, distort revival, and betray the sacrificial legacy of our founding fathers.

Rather than submitting to the spiritual legacy of the founding fathers—men like Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola who modelled brokenness, unity, and supernatural obedience—these forum leaders elevated personal ambition above collective revival. They reinterpreted doctrine to suit administrative agendas, dismissed ancestral spiritual legacies, and introduced recognition politics that prioritised wealth and influence over divine calling. The ordination of financially powerful individuals for visibility, not consecration, became a hallmark of this elite drift.

The Forum Initiative, though cloaked in reformist language, institutionalised rebellion and gave rise to splinter councils, doctrinal confusion, and generational disconnect. It was not merely a structural shift—it was a spiritual rupture. What began as a pretentious dialogue for reform evolved, with calculated precision, into the formation of the General Executive Council (GEC), led initially by Baba Faniyan, and later formalised under Baba Obafemi as its first President, with Pastor E. H. L. Olusheye serving as General Superintendent. This transition marked the crystallisation of elite ambition into an alternative power bloc, one that operated outside the prophetic covering of the Unified Supreme Council. The “Elite Sins” that followed were not accidental; they were deliberate acts of covenantal betrayal—strategic moves that eroded the prophetic unity entrusted to CAC by its pioneers and replaced apostolic submission with recognition politics and administrative self-preservation.

To confront this legacy is to call the Church back to its altar—to repentance, reconciliation, and the restoration of apostolic authority. The revival CAC seeks will not come through forums or factions—it will come through submission to the Spirit, honouring the fathers, and tearing down the altars of pride.

The Thought Processes Behind Factionalism: A Pentecostal Renewal Theology Perspective

Factionalism within CAC Nigeria and Overseas is not merely a structural or generational issue—it is a spiritual crisis rooted in distorted thought patterns that grieve the Holy Spirit and obstruct revival. Pentecostal Renewal Theology calls the Church to discern and confront these mindsets with prophetic clarity and biblical truth:

a. Intellectual Elitism

The belief that theological education or foreign exposure grants superior insight often leads to a dangerous disregard for prophetic authority. This mindset mirrors the pride condemned in 1 Corinthians 8:1—“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” True spiritual leadership is not measured by degrees, but by submission to the Spirit and the fruit of humility. The early apostles were “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13), yet they turned the world upside down because they had been with Jesus.

b. Generational Disconnect

When younger leaders feel alienated from the spiritual fervour of the elders, and elders resist innovation, the Church suffers a rupture in its prophetic continuity. Malachi 4:6 declares, “He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…” Revival demands generational reconciliation—not competition, but collaboration under the Spirit’s guidance.

c. Institutional Pride

Loyalty to factions, titles, and administrative blocs often eclipses loyalty to Christ and His Church. This is the very schism Paul rebuked in 1 Corinthians 1:12–13, where believers claimed allegiance to Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. “Is Christ divided?” he asked. Pentecostal theology insists that the Church is one body, and any elevation of structure above Spirit is idolatry.

d. Fear of Irrelevance

Some leaders resist reconciliation to preserve influence, fearing loss of status or control. Yet Philippians 2:3 exhorts, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Revival cannot coexist with insecurity. True relevance is found in obedience, not position.

These mindsets form echo chambers that perpetuate division, even when the Spirit is calling the Church to repentance and unity. Pentecostal Renewal Theology demands that we tear down these mental strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4–5) and return to the altar—where brokenness births revival, and unity releases power.

The Sin of Financial Recognition Over Spiritual Ordination

One of the gravest distortions afflicting CAC Nigeria and Overseas is the invitation and ordination of financially wealthy individuals not for their spiritual maturity or divine calling, but for their economic status and public influence. This practice, often masked as strategic partnership or honouring benefactors, desecrates the sacred altar of ordination and undermines the authority of the spiritual fathers who laboured in prayer, fasting, and sacrifice to uphold the Church’s prophetic legacy.

Pentecostal Renewal Theology warns against mammonic infiltration—where the Church begins to mirror worldly systems of patronage, elevating wealth above consecration. The early CAC fathers, including Apostle Babalola, never bowed to financial pressure; they upheld the integrity of the Spirit’s calling, often rejecting material comfort for spiritual purity. Today, however, some assemblies ordain the rich for visibility, not for ministry, thereby diluting the prophetic voice and confusing the flock.

This trend breeds factionalism as financial elites become power brokers, influencing decisions, challenging spiritual authority, and even sponsoring parallel councils or blocs. It also alienates true servants of God, who feel dishonoured and displaced by those whose credentials are bank balances, not brokenness before God.

Pentecostal Renewal Theology

Pentecostal Renewal Theology offers a piercing lens through which to interpret the elite-driven factionalism within CAC Nigeria and Overseas—not merely as organisational disunity, but as a spiritual rupture that grieves the Holy Spirit and obstructs revival. At its core, Pentecostal theology affirms that the Church is birthed and sustained by the Spirit’s sovereign activity, not by human credentials or institutional ambition. The early Pentecostal fathers, including Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, modelled radical submission to divine authority, prophetic unity, and sacrificial obedience—values now eclipsed by intellectual pride and administrative self-preservation.

Renewal theology insists that revival cannot coexist with rebellion; the Spirit flows where there is brokenness, humility, and unity. Thus, the elite sins of doctrinal arrogance, generational exclusion, and spiritual insubordination must be confronted not with policy but with repentance. The pathway to restoration lies in rekindling apostolic fire, re-embracing prophetic leadership, and re-aligning every faction under the Lordship of Christ. Only then can CAC truly embody its Pentecostal heritage and become a vessel for national transformation.

Prophetic Solutions for Revival and Unity in CAC Nigeria and Overseas

Restoring the Church to its apostolic mandate demands more than structural reform—it requires spiritual realignment, doctrinal purity, and generational reconciliation. Pentecostal Renewal Theology affirms that revival flows only where there is repentance, unity, and submission to the Spirit’s order.

1. Spiritual Reconciliation

Factionalism within CAC Nigeria and Overseas is a deep spiritual wound that demands healing through repentance and prophetic humility. This restoration begins with public repentance by factional leaders who must acknowledge their rebellion and pride, as urged in Joel 2:12–13: “Turn ye even to me with all your heart.” It must be followed by prophetic convocations that foster healing and reconciliation, echoing James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another.” Crucially, the Church must reaffirm the Unified Supreme Council not merely as an administrative body, but as the divinely appointed spiritual authority, in obedience to Hebrews 13:17: “Obey them that have the rule over you.” Only through this Spirit-led posture can CAC reclaim its prophetic mandate and walk in true unity.

2. Doctrinal Alignment

Revival cannot thrive in doctrinal confusion; it demands clarity, conviction, and a return to the spiritual roots that birthed the movement. CAC Nigeria and Overseas must revisit the foundational teachings of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola and the early fathers, whose lives embodied holiness, unity, and supernatural obedience. As Jeremiah 6:16 exhorts, “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,” the Church must rediscover the apostolic doctrines that once ignited national transformation. To safeguard this rediscovery, a doctrinal review committee comprising representatives from all blocs should be established to harmonise teachings and restore theological unity. This echoes Paul’s plea in 1 Corinthians 1:10: “That ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.” Only through such Spirit-led alignment can CAC reclaim its prophetic mandate and walk in sustained revival.

3. Generational Bridging

Revival is generational, and its sustainability depends on the reconciliation of hearts across age and experience. In CAC Nigeria and Overseas, the spiritual disconnect between elders and emerging leaders must be healed through intentional mentorship and prophetic collaboration. As Paul exhorted in 2 Timothy 2:2, “Commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also,” seasoned ministers must invest in younger ones—not merely through instruction, but through relationship and spiritual impartation. Likewise, Malachi 4:6 declares, “He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,” revealing that generational unity is a prerequisite for divine visitation. Youth revival summits that honour apostolic tradition while embracing Spirit-led innovation can become catalytic platforms for this reconciliation, ensuring that the fire of revival does not flicker out with one generation, but burns brighter through many.

4. Strategic Communication

Unity within CAC Nigeria and Overseas must be declared with conviction, not passively assumed. The Church must speak with one voice, prophetically and publicly, to dismantle the echo chambers of division and restore the bonds of peace. This begins with unified media messaging that boldly promotes reconciliation and revival, echoing Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful… are the feet of him that publisheth peace.” Such messaging must not only proclaim unity but embody it—through shared declarations, coordinated outreach, and Spirit-led communication. Equally vital are the testimonies of restored relationships, which serve as living proof of God’s healing power. As Revelation 12:11 affirms, “They overcame… by the word of their testimony,” these stories of reconciliation will inspire hope, dismantle suspicion, and ignite a fresh hunger for revival across generations and assemblies.

5. Mobilisation for Revival

Revival must be pursued intentionally, not passively awaited. CAC Nigeria and Overseas must return to the altar with urgency and collective resolve. This begins with a Spirit-led season of fasting and prayer across all assemblies, as commanded in Joel 2:15–17: “Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people…” Such sacred mobilisation rekindles brokenness, unity, and prophetic expectation. Alongside this, the Church must launch a bold “One CAC” campaign—featuring visual resources, devotionals, and outreach materials that declare unity and inspire reconciliation. Psalm 133:1–3 affirms this divine strategy: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity… for there the Lord commanded the blessing.” Revival will not descend upon division; it must be cultivated through intentional submission, strategic mobilisation, and a return to the altar of unity.

A Prophetic Call to Restore Ordination and Apostolic Authority in CAC Nigeria and Overseas

The Spirit of the Lord is summoning CAC Nigeria and Overseas to a sacred reformation—a return to the sanctity of ordination and the authority of the fathers. The altar has been polluted by mammonic ambition, and the pulpit compromised by wealth-based recognition. This must end. Let the leaders repent publicly and prophetically, denouncing every practice that elevates financial influence above divine calling. As Ezekiel 44:23 declares, “They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane…”—so must our leaders restore the spiritual criteria for ministry, not the commercialised standards of men.

The Unified Supreme Council must be reinstated as the spiritual gatekeeper, not a ceremonial body. Ordination must flow from heaven’s mandate, not earthly manipulation. The Church must be educated—through doctrinal teachings, revival messages, and leadership retreats—on the dangers of mammonic infiltration that corrupts the priesthood and fractures the prophetic legacy.

It is time to build a firewall of accountability, where ordination processes are transparent, prayerful, and overseen by seasoned spiritual elders who fear God more than titles. As Paul charged Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:22, “Lay hands suddenly on no man…”—so must we guard the altar with discernment and reverence. This is not a suggestion; it is a prophetic summons. The revival we seek will not come until the priesthood is purified and the fathers are honoured once again.

Conclusion: The Altars Must Fall for Revival to Rise

The altars of elite pride must fall—completely, decisively, and without delay. As long as recognition politics is exalted above repentance, and ambition is allowed to eclipse apostolic submission, the heavens will remain shut, and the revival we cry for will be withheld. CAC Nigeria and Overseas cannot negotiate their way into restoration; they must travail their way through repentance, truth, and unity.

This is not a call for cosmetic reforms or ceremonial reconciliations. It is a summons to break the altars built on ego, entitlement, and mammonic influence. The Spirit is not seeking titles—He is seeking truth. The legacy of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola was not built on prestige, but on prayer, purity, and prophetic obedience. To reclaim that legacy, we must return to the Spirit-led mandate of our fathers with fearless resolve.

Now is the time to rebuild—not on the shifting sands of factional ambition, but on the unshakable foundation of truth, humility, and divine order. Let every leader, every assembly, and every generation hear this call: the future of CAC depends on our willingness to break what man has built, and rebuild what God has ordained. Only then will the fire of revival fall again.