Pastor Oladele Cautions Christians Against Idolizing Prayer Sites

Pastor Oladele Cautions Christians Against Idolizing Prayer Sites

The President of the Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele, has urged believers to guard against elevating mountains and historic locations to a place of spiritual significance that belongs to God alone.

He spoke during the International Convention of Christ Healing Evangelical Church in Ogun State, where the focus was on building a praying church. Teaching from Luke 18:1, he stressed that prayer must be rooted in faith and sincerity rather than attachment to specific environments.

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Pastor Oladele acknowledged that Scripture records occasions when biblical figures prayed on mountains. However, he clarified that such locations were chosen for quietness and reflection, not because they possessed spiritual power. According to him, believing that prayers are only effective on certain “holy grounds” risks shifting attention from God to geography.

He warned that overemphasis on pilgrimage destinations, including Jerusalem, could gradually blur the line between reverence and misplaced devotion. The cleric explained that Christianity centers on worshipping God directly, not venerating places, objects or historical memories.

Using examples from church history, he noted that some early believers attributed special potency to burial sites of martyrs. He described such practices as tendencies that can reintroduce pagan-style thinking into Christian faith if not carefully addressed.

To further illustrate his point, he referenced the biblical story of Jonah, who prayed from within a fish, showing that divine response is not determined by setting. What matters most, he said, is the posture of the heart.

Pastor Oladele also highlighted Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, emphasizing that prayer should be sincere and free from showmanship. He encouraged believers to cultivate humility, purity and faith, drawing from 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a guide for spiritual renewal.

According to him, a truly praying church is marked by selflessness, integrity and unwavering trust in God. He concluded by reminding Christians that meaningful communion with God can happen anywhere  at home, at work or in transit  as long as the heart is aligned with Him.