I Had A Wild Past, And My Ex Was Surprised I Became A Pastor’ — Adeboye Opens Up About His Life Journey

The respected cleric made the remarks on Saturday while ministering on the fifth day of the Holy Ghost Congress 2025, themed “God of All Flesh,” held at Redemption City along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. Addressing a large congregation that included traditional rulers and worshippers from across the country, the 83-year-old preacher described his life as a clear demonstration of God’s ability to transform anyone, regardless of their past.

Adeboye admitted that he is not proud of his former lifestyle, stressing that his story should serve as encouragement to those who feel that certain individuals are beyond redemption. He recounted an incident involving a former girlfriend who once came looking for a pastor and was visibly shocked when he introduced himself as the one she had asked to see.

In his message, he challenged the audience to rethink their assumptions about people, noting that many had doubted not only his salvation but also the possibility that he could ever become a minister of the gospel. He also shared a light-hearted but reflective moment involving a former university classmate whom he met years after graduation, both expressing surprise at how his life had turned out.

The RCCG leader further narrated a childhood experience in which he played a role in a serious family dispute involving his uncle and aunt, an incident he said later ended in reconciliation. He added that, years afterward, the family reunited, and the children from that home are now serving as pastors within the church.

Adeboye concluded by reaffirming that no one is beyond God’s saving grace and urged believers not to give up on anyone, insisting that even the most broken lives can be restored and turned into vessels of honour through divine intervention.