‘Nigerians Are Already In It’ — Ibiyeomie Says Preaching Hell May Not Win Souls

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Pastor David Ibiyeomie has called for a different approach to evangelism in Nigeria, urging Christians to emphasise God’s love, hope and the possibility of a changed life rather than focusing primarily on messages about hell.

The cleric made the remarks while addressing his congregation during a Sunday sermon, where he reflected on the realities confronting many Nigerians and how those realities could influence the way they respond to gospel messages.

According to Ibiyeomie, preaching about hell to people who are already struggling with difficult living conditions may not have the intended effect of drawing them to Christianity.

“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians. They’re already in it. There’s no way you preach it to Nigerians and anybody will born again. Just tell them God loves you. He can change your story. Come to Jesus.

“But if you say you will go to hell, the man will reply, ‘The suffering wey me dey suffer right now, wetin he be?’ That kind of message can’t convert all soul", he said.

Ibiyeomie’s comments centred on the importance of understanding the circumstances of the people being reached with the Christian message.

For many Nigerians dealing with economic pressure, unemployment, rising living costs and other social challenges, he suggested that a warning about future punishment may pale in comparison with the hardships they are already experiencing.

His recommendation was for Christians to lead with a message of divine love and hope, presenting faith as a source of transformation rather than relying solely on fear of punishment.

The pastor specifically encouraged believers to communicate the message that God cares about their struggles and can bring about a positive change in their circumstances.

“Just tell them God loves you. He can change your story. Come to Jesus,” he said.

The remarks have drawn attention to the wider question of how Christian evangelism can connect with people living under difficult social and economic conditions.

Rather than dismissing the reality of suffering, Ibiyeomie’s message appeared to encourage Christians to acknowledge those struggles while offering faith and hope as part of their outreach.

His comments also highlight a distinction between preaching that relies heavily on fear and an approach that seeks to persuade through compassion, encouragement and the promise of transformation.

Ibiyeomie maintained that the language and emphasis used when preaching to Nigerians should take their everyday experiences into account.

His position is that when people are already confronting significant hardship, telling them simply that they face hell may fail to produce the spiritual response expected from such a message.

Instead, he urged Christians to communicate a message centred on God’s love and the possibility of a new beginning through Jesus Christ.

The cleric’s remarks come amid continuing conversations among Nigerian Christian leaders about effective evangelism and how the church can address both the spiritual and practical realities facing its members and the wider society.

For Ibiyeomie, the message is straightforward: Nigerians need to hear that God loves them, that their circumstances can change and that they can find hope through Jesus.

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