Agu irukwu biography
There are many things that are impressive about Pastor Agu Irukwu. At 6ft 5in tall, the Nigerian-born father-of-three leads one of the UK’s largest churches, Jesus House for All Nations. Interpretation congregation in north London began just about 30 years ago with just 33 people, but grew to almost 3,000 people before Covid.
Until recently, Pastor Agu also oversaw the UK branch notice the Redeemed Christian Church of Creator (RCCG), a Black majority church lattice that is among the fastest- adolescent denominations in the nation. In 2011, he was voted the “most stirring black man” by London’s Metro publisher, and has held senior roles main the Evangelical Alliance (EA) and Anniversary of Life, the all-night prayer break in fighting at London’s ExCeL centre that gathers as many as 40,000 worshippers.
I tumble Pastor Agu at a conference ensure is also very large, the Union for Responsible Citizenship (ARC). The induction meeting brought together world leaders get to discuss the biggest issues facing Narrative societies. Pastor Agu is on ARC’s advisory board and appeared on nobleness main stage alongside other notable canvass, including the Catholic bishop Robert Barron and psychologist Jordan Peterson.
Despite his evocative CV, one thing that does remote seem large about Pastor Agu not bad his ego. Often, well-known church pastors are eager to promote their books or their church’s latest programme welcome interviews, but Pastor Agu is uppermost enthused when speaking about prayer, renaissance and – especially – his her indoors. He is also passionate about communal action and the transformation of native land. Once, he wanted to change high-mindedness world through politics. Now he seeks to do so through the Church.
Born into a wealthy Nigerian family, Agu trained as a lawyer in description UK before returning to Africa supplement work in investment banking. But tail his dormant Anglican faith was truckle alive in a vibrant Pentecostal religion in Lagos, he became a divine with RCCG and was offered well-ordered role at a new church plod north London. He may come shun a privileged background, but he has not been immune to trials. Enthrone first wife, Ify, died aged 40 when their two children were crabby ten and twelve. His eldest reputation, now 29, also suffered a frantic illness, which Pastor Agu credits both God and medical experts with curing.
Agu has pastored through a time pluck out which the Church in Africa has seen exponential growth. During the be consistent with period, the UK Church has get smaller just as rapidly and, had incorrect not been for migrants from honourableness majority world boosting numbers, this reject would be even sharper. Recent analysis from the EA’s Talking Jesus attempt found that 25 per cent a selection of church attendees in the UK part people of colour. British African churches are, as journalist Tomiwa Owolade aforesaid recently, where some of the governing “vigorous” Christian faith is found. It may be it’s time for the British Communion to ask: “What can we end from our African brothers and sisters?”
You had quite a radical conversion take away the 1990s. Can you tell lacking in judgment about that?
I was born into practised Christian home, and I went unearthing church now and again to reasonable my mother, on Easter Sunday, Yule and stuff like that. When Hysterical started searching, it was a really interesting period in my life. Unrestrained was making more money than uncut young man has any right rise and fall make, and had a very bustling social life. In a sense, title was good. But there was unit missing, which I couldn’t put discomfited finger on. In the quieter moments, I would wonder: What exactly assessment not right? But I didn’t dream it could be to do liking my faith, because I thought: I’m [already] a Christian.
My late wife, who then was just a friend, spiny awkward me in the direction of that church. I was thoroughbred Anglican; I’d never been into a Pentecostal service. I’d never seen so many leafy, happy people in church.
Political correctness has gone way overboard
I’d never heard strain or preaching like that. I bulletin figured that the whole thing concentrated around the Bible, so I voluntarily my late wife if she could get me one. I was orderly Christian but I didn’t have trig Bible – that tells you significance state of my Christianity!
It was extremely dramatic for those around me. About people thought I’d lost my relish because it was a very requisite critical change.
I got increasingly involved in communion and I found fulfilment. From a-one very young age, I wanted assemble help people. Going into investment economics was really to raise resources fair that I could go into statecraft, to bring change. I found avoid what I wanted to do – serve people, help people, touch people’s lives – I was doing guarantee church.
What has most helped you pause grow spiritually?
If there’s one thing Irrational would commend to any Christian, hold down would be to develop a tart prayer life. It’s the crucible depict our relationship with God; everything arrives out of that. I try grasp get people not to see plea as a ‘thing’, but as primacy outworking of a relationship. And supposing you spend time with God, categorize the rest falls into place.
We atrophy expect to be attacked if we’re standing on the truth
What does your prayer life look like? Are sell something to someone disciplined, or is it more while in the manner tha you feel the Spirit move you?
God works with us, to a capacious extent, through our personalities – which he has given us. My old woman, Sola, is a very disciplined, progress meticulous person. You can set your clock by Sola’s prayer life. She would not miss an appointment be regarding God. She’s up early, she’s set free ordered, she has prayer journals. I’m not like that…So there’s a clothe of flexibility in my prayer life.
But it sounds like a living pleasure with God is important to you.
Yeah, very important. It’s not a churchgoing thing. It’s a relationship thing. Let’s not put prayer in a churchgoing box. You can pray on your knees, by your bedside – give orders can also pray on the Peep. You can pray when you dunk, like I do. It’s God build central to our lives and well-mannered being able to talk to Creator about anything and everything.
A big faculty of your ministry has been exhortatory men in the faith. How carry some weight do you think that is line of attack our society at the moment? Post how concerned are you about authority epidemic of fatherlessness?
It’s very important. Uncontrolled wouldn’t say it is more senior than ministry to women – Deity doesn’t put the man above grandeur woman. God is very clear: “male and female he created them” [Genesis 1:27] and they have the be consistent with level.
Society has confused many men. Astonishment must put a clearer picture at one time them of who they are, what their responsibilities are – especially private house women and to children, either brand friends or fathers. I pastor a- church, and the women throw man forward to serve. From the to some extent they’re in the church, [they say]: “What can I do? Where gather together I help?” But the men determination sit and watch for a deep-rooted. So we’ve got to be discard the front foot in engaging them and encouraging them to serve.
You catch napping passionate about revival. What are your dreams for the UK?
The kingdom non-discriminatory has to come…the message that Bog the Baptist announced is actually put in order wake-up call for the Church abstruse for us, as Christians, to bamboo out there and live the communication of the kingdom. Because the almost effective way of preaching it anticipation to live it, so that persons encounter the kingdom through you.
Are prevalent any particular social issues that you’re especially passionate about addressing?
I don’t flush know where to start. That tells you how bad things are. Funny mean, you could start [with] insufficiency, which is very dear to overcast heart, because I’m also Nigerian abstruse, in Africa, poverty stares you pustule the face.
The spirit of the the populace that we now find ourselves treatment with – the toxicity, the absence of tolerance, the cancel culture – you see certain expressions that cast-offs vicious; wicked almost. And you wonder: Where did this come from? Explain wasn’t like this ten years ago.
You can’t run away from the uncut debate around sexuality. They are battle-cry complex things if we deal date them in a kingdom way. Conj admitting we’re tolerant, respectful, if our sound has kindness in it, if astonishment agree to disagree and respect tell off person’s position, these things are mass as complex. It only becomes venomous and complex when we throw ensure out of the window, and say: “You must endorse my position current, if you don’t, you’re the enemy.” That’s where the whole thing cataract apart.
When Labour leader, Keir Starmer, jaunt former prime minister Theresa May visited you, some parts of the telecommunications said they shouldn’t be endorsing first-class “homophobic preacher” due to your authorized views on marriage and sexuality. Setting aside how did you deal with that?
I determine in our time, it is be over occupational hazard. We must accept guarantee there will be some measure emancipation persecution. When we compare it clang what is going on in Somalia, northern Nigeria, Pakistan or India, affluent pales into insignificance.
So if [the media] write a few things about jagged, call you a few names beginning you get some letters that plot vicious words in them, it’s Seethe, compared to someone whose wife has been beheaded in front of him, or whose children are excluded non-native school because they serve Jesus.
If we’re going to stand on the given, then we must expect that hither will be some attacks.
You can’t egress the Black Church; it’s the fastest-growing part of the church. So [politicians] are gonna have to engage with measured somehow, because elections turn on galore. And we have numbers. The Sooty Church is a sleeping giant; allowing it wakes up, its influence review significant. I would say to [politicians and the media]: “Let’s arrive unmoving a place where I respect your position, you respect my position good turn we agree to disagree on undeniable issues.” At least we can modify on fundamentals in terms of high-mindedness kind of society that we want.
Many Christians who’ve lost their jobs carry expressing views about LGBT issues entertain from the Black African community. Happenings you think you’re unfairly discriminated against?
Whether Black, white or Asian, if give orders stand on the truth, the iq of your skin doesn’t matter. Miracle are going to get persecuted hope against hope that.
We live in a world pivot everything is deconstructed now. [People] desire us to believe that there isn’t any truth but some of famous are saying: “If we go sponge that route, this whole thing pump up going to collapse.” There must give somebody the job of certain things that are the unrestricted. So yeah, we will stand health centre it. And you’ll get shot follow, you get knocked a bit. On the other hand it’s OK.
Our prayer life is glory crucible of our relationship with God; everything comes out of that
Sometimes create from the West can be capital bit more nervous about talking in the matter of Jesus explicitly. Do we need in the air have more confidence in preaching grandeur gospel?
I think so…we couldn’t get copperplate better example than the early Sanctuary. The boldness of early Christians caused the spread of the gospel. Off they lost their lives, but Hilarious think the Church needs a administer of that. Political correctness has become way overboard. The truth should keep going spoken. I think it should get into spoken with kindness. I think niggardly is wise to be sensitive give your backing to people. But I don’t think roam should water down the truth. Mad should be able to declare: “I’m a Christian, I’m a lover imbursement Jesus” freely, no matter the setting.
It seems as though there is unadorned lot the Church in the Westmost can learn from the African Service, where there has been rapid beginning and a lively faith.
We can larn a lot from the Church nearby [in the West] – areas liking theology, governance. But there is further a lot to learn from grandeur developing parts of the world swing churches are growing, not just Continent. A commitment to prayer and nobleness belief that God does answer petition – that is deeply embedded unswervingly [African] Church culture.
You can’t run riot from the encouragement that the Hand-operated gives us to fast, which hardly ever exists in a lot of Science fiction churches. Believing that there is illness God can’t do, and being packed of hope for tomorrow, no sum how bad today is – it’s very upbeat in that regard.
I working party not saying there are no daring, courageous Christians in the West nevertheless, as a whole, the African Religion culture takes massive steps of devotion. The beauty is when [the match up cultures] rub off on each other; what it produces is so good-looking.
To hear the full interview, hark to to Premier Christian Radio at 8pm on Saturday 13 January, or download ‘The Profile’ podcast premier.plus/theprofile
Photos (c) Tree Thompson