Former Redeemed Christian Church of God UK leader, Pastor Agu Irukwu, has explained why he voluntarily stepped down from several senior positions in the church in 2021, saying leadership should be judged by service and impact rather than titles.
Irukwu shared his experience while speaking at a programme organised by Pastor Poju Oyemade of The Covenant Nation. He maintained that relinquishing his positions did not diminish his ability to influence people or contribute to the growth of the church.
Before his departure, Irukwu served as chairman of RCCG parishes in the United Kingdom, chairman of the church’s Board of Trustees and Executive Council in the country, and Deputy Continental Overseer for Europe. He remains the pastor of Jesus House, the parish he established.
According to Church Times Nigeria, which reported his remarks on Wednesday, the pastor recalled that members of the church’s protocol team were unsure of the appropriate title to use for him after his resignation because he no longer occupied a senior administrative position.
He said he asked them to address him as they wished, noting that the incident underscored his conviction that genuine leadership is not determined by the office a person occupies.
Irukwu argued that effective leaders distinguish themselves through their capacity to inspire others positively, adding that Christian leadership should be rooted in service and the willingness to help others succeed.
He contrasted worldly leadership, which he said often emphasises status and self-promotion, with leadership in the Christian faith, where the priority should be nurturing people and producing meaningful results.
The pastor disclosed that he received several invitations to speak at ministry programmes after leaving the leadership positions. However, he said accepting every invitation would have reduced the time available for his pastoral responsibilities. He added that character remained more important than popularity or the size of a congregation.
Irukwu also called on churches and Christian ministers in the UK to take a greater interest in the country’s challenges and the welfare of its citizens. Recounting a five-hour prayer vigil where participants did not pray for the nation, he described the experience as “torture” and urged churches to embrace the concerns of their communities as part of their spiritual mission.
