Pastor David Ibiyeomie has called for a more compassionate approach to evangelism, arguing that preaching primarily about hell may not effectively win Nigerians to Christ amid the severe economic hardships many are facing.
Speaking during a recent sermon, Pastor David Ibiyeomie stated, “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.”
He explained that Nigerians struggling with hunger, rising living costs, and other basic challenges may find little impact in being warned about future suffering when they are already experiencing what they perceive as intense hardship in their daily lives.
Instead, he encouraged Christians to emphasize God’s love, mercy, and ability to transform people’s circumstances. He argued that compassion should be at the heart of evangelism and that believers should show people that Jesus loves them regardless of what they are going through.
His remarks have sparked conversations about evangelism, economic hardship, compassion, and the different approaches Christians use when sharing the Gospel.
Pastor Ibiyeomie ultimately encouraged believers to make compassion a central part of their evangelistic efforts, describing genuine compassion as more than feeling sorry for people. He emphasized seeing their situation, caring about it, and taking action to help where possible.