Jimmy Odukoya, the newly appointed lead pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, has addressed the controversies surrounding his role as a clergyman.
The announcement of Jimmy as the lead pastor following his father, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya’s passing, stirred up debates on social media. Critics raised questions about his dreadlocks, tattoos, and involvement in movies.
In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, Jimmy explained that his appearance is supported by scripture, and he urged people not to judge him based on their opinions.
He stated, “God has called me into this new season of my life, and my entire focus is on the church. This new position comes with significant responsibility. Regarding my dreadlocks, many people may not know that I can justify everything I do with scripture.”
“As a pastor, I can tell you that in the Bible, God instructed Samson not to cut his hair, indicating that long hair is not inherently bad. Similarly, if you mention a pastor having a beard, I can point to the Bible where it is mentioned that during Jesus’ torment, they pulled hair from his face.”
“And if you bring up the topic of me wearing earrings, I can reference the Bible where it states that when the children of Israel left Egypt and wanted to create a golden calf, they contributed jewelry, including earrings and rings from their sons and daughters.”
“I urge you not to judge me based on your personal opinions. Distinguishing personal opinion from declaring something as sinful is essential. Everyone is free to make their own choices.”
“In 2009, I was ordained as a minister and became a pastor in 2012. I served as the lead pastor of the youth church until 2021.”
