Lack of landmark Christian teachers fuels immorality in church — Olaniyan

…RCCG Region 53 holds annual Sunday School Teachers’ conference

Timothy Olaniyan, the pastor in charge of Region 53 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has emphasised that the dearth of landmark teachers was the reason many supposedly born again Christians are derailing from the faith.

Olaniyan, who was the keynote speaker at the 2025 RCCG Sunday School Teachers’ Conference themed; “Landmark Teachers” held on March 29 said that the church began to miss it when it started to neglect Sunday school ministry.

“A landmark teacher is someone who instructs others in biblical doctrine. Lack of good Christian teachers is the reason many supposedly born-again Christians are derailing today,” he said.

He highlighted some of the characteristics of a landmark teacher such as being faithful to God’s word, having passion for teaching, strong moral character and integrity, commitment to life-long learning and effective communication skills, among others.

Olaniyan stressed that the responsibilities of teachers in the body of Christ include to preserve the integrity of the doctrine, teach with authority and understanding, and the ability to mentor and discipline others.

He reminded the teachers of the benefits of being found faithful in the teaching ministry such as having a closer relationship with God, personal spiritual growth and maturity, divine favour and blessings, and eternal rewards and heavenly recognitions, among others.

Steve Jaiyeoba, the pastor in charge of Lagos Province 69 who spoke on the topic; “Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Christian Education”, said Christian education has evolved over the years, with a predominant focus on spiritual anointing and divine gifts, overlooking the teaching ministry.

However, he said visionary leaders such as Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who possess an impressive academic background with PhD, have understood that true empowerment comes from harmonizing education with spiritual calling.

“Pastor Adeboye’s commitment to raising leadership standards and developing comprehensive training frameworks has significantly transformed RCCG. His initiatives not only equip pastors to face contemporary challenges with confidence but also strategically position the church for meaningful growth and a vibrant future.

“This blend of intellectual rigor and spiritual depth serves as a foundation for a new era in Christian education, one that fully embraces the tools and knowledge of our time, including the advancements brought by artificial intelligence,” he said.

Jaiyeoba said that AI has the potential to improve access to a wide range of Christian resources, including Bible texts, and scholarly articles, which can be synthesised and tailored to meet individual needs.

He emphasized that the teaching ministry is experiencing significant transformation due to advancements in artificial intelligence, leading to fundamental changes in operations and community service.

“The influence of technology on ministry presents both opportunities and challenges as highlighted in Revelation 11:7-10, such as global visibility via televisions and cables, among others,” he said.

Earlier, Johnbull Ihiale, the region 53 Sunday School coordinator in his welcome address enjoined the teachers to move from ordinary to extraordinary vessels in God’s hands through the knowledge from the conference.

“We cannot continue to do things the old way and expect a better result in this New Year. Our regular old way that has yielded little or no results has to go, and give way for the new that will give us landmark miracles and blessings,” he said.

Yemi Oladimeji, the pastor in charge of Powerline zone in Lagos Province 14 speaking on “The Making of a Great Sunday School Teacher”, said a Sunday school teacher is a specially called person ordained by God to seek, keep, impart, clarify, propagate, monitor and replicate the virtues of the word of God, in truth and by example, in the lives of students.

“The primary task of a teacher is to systematically teach the word of God, specifically for changing lives. To reach that objective, the teacher needs to be the kind of teacher who will make a difference, maintain the right goals, teach the way students learn best, and rely on the work of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Oladimeji emphasized that a great teacher must be diligent, accountable, faithful, and irreproachable; bearing in mind that every great work has its reward and fulfillment.