The growing concern over unity, cooperation and mutual trust among Christian leaders has come into focus in Taraba State, with the General Overseer of Daystar Covenant Assembly, Apostle Tony Dorofi, warning that greed, jealousy, selfishness and unhealthy rivalry among pastors are undermining the growth of Pentecostal churches.
Key Highlights
- Apostle Tony Dorofi says greed, jealousy and rivalry among pastors are hurting Pentecostal churches in Taraba.
- He also warns against tribalism and nepotism in the Pentecostal community.
- Archbishop Charles Yohanna urges pastors to complement, not compete with, one another.
- Evangelist Philip Mulip calls on Christians to reject idleness and embrace legitimate businesses.
Dorofi’s warning comes amid renewed calls for Christian leaders to move beyond public preaching about unity and demonstrate genuine brotherhood in their relationships, ministries and engagements with fellow clerics.
Speaking during the Mezuzah 2026 programme and the ninth anniversary celebration of Daystar Covenant Assembly, the cleric expressed concern over what he described as a growing tendency among some pastors to discredit fellow ministers in a bid to attract followers and gain recognition.
According to him, the pursuit of personal interests at the expense of collective progress has become a major challenge to the development of Pentecostal churches in Taraba State and Nigeria at large.
“What is destroying development in Pentecostal churches is greed, selfishness, pull-down syndrome and jealousy among pastors,” Dorofi said.
His remarks placed the spotlight on the need for introspection within the Christian community, particularly among church leaders whose influence extends beyond their congregations to families, communities and the wider society.
Tribalism, Nepotism In The Church
Beyond personal rivalry, Dorofi also raised concerns over the alleged influence of tribalism and nepotism in the Pentecostal community, warning that such tendencies could weaken the bonds of fellowship that Christianity seeks to promote.
He accused some clerics of spreading unfounded claims against fellow pastors, describing efforts to undermine other ministers for personal advantage as detrimental to the spiritual and institutional growth of the church.
For Dorofi, the challenge is not simply the absence of unity in Christian teachings, but the apparent gap between what some clerics preach from the pulpit and how they relate with one another.
“We pretend to talk about unity, we preach unity, but yet unity is far from us,” he lamented.
The cleric therefore urged pastors to return to the fundamental teachings of the Bible and emulate the example of Jesus Christ by demonstrating humility, love, tolerance and mutual respect in their dealings with one another.
He stressed that building a stronger Christian community would require ministers to abandon divisive tendencies and recognise that the progress of one church or pastor should not be regarded as a threat to another.
‘Complement, Don’t Compete’
Supporting Dorofi’s position, the guest speaker at the event, Archbishop Charles Yohanna, called on pastors and Christians to reject unhealthy competition and embrace cooperation as a means of strengthening the body of Christ.
Yohanna argued that competition driven by envy and the desire to outshine fellow ministers could create divisions, hatred and suspicion within the Christian community.
“In Christendom, we should not compete, but we should try as much as possible to complement one another, because engaging in unhealthy competition will breed hatred and envy among pastors,” he said.
His position reinforced the message that the church’s collective mission should take precedence over individual ambition, particularly at a time when religious institutions are expected to contribute to moral guidance, peaceful coexistence and community development.
The call for cooperation also highlighted the importance of recognising the contributions of fellow ministers rather than viewing their achievements as a challenge to personal influence or congregational growth.
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Christians Urged To Embrace Productive Work
While Dorofi and Yohanna focused on unity among church leaders, Evangelist Philip Mulip drew attention to the economic responsibilities of Christians, urging them to reject idleness and embrace legitimate businesses and productive activities.
Mulip expressed concern over inactivity among some Christians and encouraged them to take advantage of lawful economic opportunities to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national development.
He maintained that Christianity should be reflected not only in religious observances but also in responsible citizenship, productive engagement and a willingness to contribute to the common good.
The evangelist further urged Christians to support government efforts to strengthen the economy of Taraba State and Nigeria, warning against actions capable of frustrating development initiatives.
According to him, believers have a responsibility to become active participants in the development of their communities rather than remain passive observers of economic and social challenges.
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