PORT HARCOURT: The Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has urged Christians to emphasize the love and compassion of Jesus Christ when preaching to Nigerians, rather than focusing heavily on messages about hell.
Ibiyeomie made the call on Sunday while delivering a sermon titled “The Power of Compassion,” where he argued that the economic hardship confronting many Nigerians makes messages centred on hell less effective in winning people to Christ.
According to the pastor, many Nigerians are already dealing with severe economic difficulties, including struggles to afford food, fuel and other basic necessities.
He said preaching about the punishment of hell to people facing such challenges could make them less receptive to the message of salvation.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians; they are already in hell. There is no way you will preach hell to Nigerians and anybody will be born again,” Ibiyeomie said.
He advised Christians to instead tell people that God loves them and can transform their circumstances.
“Just tell them God loves you; He can change your story. Come to Jesus,” he said, adding that a person struggling with basic needs may not respond positively to warnings about going to hell.
Ibiyeomie said Christians should approach evangelism with compassion by reassuring people experiencing hardship that Jesus loves them and that God can show them mercy.
“Compassion will make you tell them Jesus loves you. In spite of what you’re going through, He will show you His mercy. Compassion is the greatest tool that brings people to Christ. It is from your heart,” he said.
The cleric described God as compassionate and urged Christians to demonstrate the same quality in their relationships with others.
Citing Psalm 103:8, he said, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.”
He further noted that God does not treat people solely according to their past mistakes and failures, urging Christians who have experienced God’s compassion to extend similar kindness to others.
Quoting Ephesians 4:32, Ibiyeomie said Christians should “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
He described compassion as a powerful expression of God’s nature, stressing that it involves more than merely feeling sorry for someone.
According to him, genuine compassion involves three things: seeing a person’s situation, caring about it and taking action to help.
Ibiyeomie also cautioned against reducing compassion to financial assistance alone.
He said Christians could support people through prayers, faith and other forms of assistance, noting that helping others does not always require giving money.
Citing the biblical account in Acts 3:6, he said Christians could also exercise their faith on behalf of people in need.
While acknowledging that financial support could sometimes be necessary, the pastor maintained that true compassion goes beyond money and should reflect genuine concern for people’s circumstances.
