PASTOR ADEBOYE RECALLS HIS BOXING DAYS, SHARES POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS ON HARD WORK AND DIVINE INVOLVEMENT
PASTOR ADEBOYE RECALLS HIS BOXING DAYS, SHARES POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS ON HARD WORK AND DIVINE INVOLVEMENT
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has shared a deeply personal story from his past, linking his experience as a boxer to life’s journey of hard work, discipline, and the need for divine involvement. Speaking during the August Thanksgiving Service, themed “The Winning Team”, Pastor Adeboye gave a rare glimpse into his early years and the lessons that shaped his resilience.
He revealed that in the 1960s, long before becoming a renowned global preacher, he was once a boxer. Recalling one memorable incident, Pastor Adeboye said he and his teammates once confronted their coach over his rigorous and exhausting training methods. “We asked him why he was pushing us so hard when we were not training to join the army,” he narrated. The coach’s response left a lasting imprint on him: “What’s wrong with you, stupid boys? The strength I’m building in you, are you going to transfer it back to me when you leave?” That statement, Pastor Adeboye said, became one of the greatest life lessons he ever learned.
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He explained that a coach’s role is not to make you comfortable but to push you beyond your limits. While friends may accept you as you are, a coach sees potential and refuses to let you settle for average. “Normal effort won’t guarantee victory,” he emphasized, referencing Proverbs 22:29, which says that the hardworking will stand before kings. “You must be extra strong and go beyond average if you want to win in life,” he added, echoing the Word Snippets shared during the service.
Pastor Adeboye went further to stress that hard work alone is not enough to secure success. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 9:11 and Romans 9:15, he reminded the congregation that divine involvement is essential. “In life, the one who reaches the top isn’t always the brightest. Whether you win or lose ultimately depends on God,” he said. He explained that success in life is 100% dependent on God’s will, and when He decrees victory, no one can change it.
Reflecting on his years of tough training, Pastor Adeboye expressed gratitude for his coach’s uncompromising approach. The discipline and strength he developed as a young boxer prepared him to face life’s toughest challenges, equipping him with the resilience that has carried him through decades of ministry and leadership.
He urged believers to embrace hard work, diligence, and divine guidance as keys to a victorious life. “If you do what the average person does, you’ll only be average,” he said. “But if you go the extra mile and allow God to lead you, your victory is certain.”
The August Thanksgiving Service, held at Redemption City from August 4–10, continues to draw thousands of worshippers seeking inspiration, breakthroughs, and the assurance that with God’s help, they belong to the winning team.
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