Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has shared his thoughts on the trending afro-gospel remix of the hymn “No Turning Back” by gospel artistes Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor.
During the church’s 73rd Annual Convention, currently taking place at Redemption City in Ogun State, the 83-year-old preacher encouraged members to sing the song with deep conviction.
The convention, which is themed “The Overcomers”, began on Monday and is scheduled to end on Friday, August 9.
“We are going to be singing a song that we used to sing when I was young and has now been made popular by somebody who, how would I call it, he remodelled it,” Pastor Adeboye said.
“It’s a song that says I have decided to follow Jesus. You’re going to sing it with total determination. Let it be your song for the rest of your life.”
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While Adeboye refrained from criticising the remixed version, other clergy members have publicly expressed their disapproval. Among them is Pastor Kesiena Esiri of The Remnant Christian Network in Warri, who strongly criticised the appearance and style of the gospel singers involved.
According to Esiri, the contemporary rendition stripped the hymn of its spiritual depth, turning it into mere entertainment. He also condemned the visual presentation of the performers.
In his words: “The song on YouTube has over 4 million, but that is not what will cost you to follow Jesus. Not be singing the song. What pains me about that song is that the person singing the song is contrary to Jesus. A song that, if you know the story behind it, you will cry because it was an issue of life and death. Deny Jesus, or we’ll kill you.
“You need to see the young man who sang the song; there is nothing gospel about the music. If it is the gospel, it is another gospel and not the gospel of Jesus. When people sing, I have decided to follow Jesus; it is Luke 9:27 they are remembering.
“A young man is singing with yellow dyed hair and with chains, and the song is water down, reduced to nothing.”
Despite the controversy, the remix continues to gain popularity online, sparking conversations around the balance between cultural relevance and spiritual reverence in gospel music.
