Pastor opens up on voluntary resignation from RCCG UK leadership

Former Chairman of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s UK parishes, Pastor Agu Irukwu, has explained his decision to voluntarily resign from his leadership positions in the church in April 2021.

Irukwu reflected on his decision at a recent programme hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade of The Covenant Nation, saying his departure from the positions reinforced his belief that leadership in God’s kingdom is about influence rather than titles.

Apart from serving as chairman of RCCG parishes in the United Kingdom, Irukwu was chairman of the church’s Board of Trustees and Executive Council in the country, as well as Deputy Continental Overseer for Europe.

He relinquished the positions but retained his role as pastor of Jesus House, a parish he founded.

According to a report published by Church Times Nigeria on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Irukwu said the church’s protocol team was unsure how to address him after he relinquished his leadership positions because he no longer held a strategic office in the organisation.

He said he told the team to address him however they wished, using the situation to illustrate that genuine leadership goes beyond official appointments.

“What distinguishes a genuine leader from leaders with corrupt tendencies is their ability to influence people positively,” he said.

Irukwu cited Jesus’ descriptions of Christian influence as yeast, light and salt, arguing that these could not fulfil their purpose when confined to a closed container.

“Kingdom leadership means influence. A title can make a boss, but genuine leaders are leaders whether they hold an official appointment or not,” he said.

He contrasted leadership in the secular world with leadership in God’s kingdom, saying the latter should be characterised by service, fruitfulness and the growth of others rather than self-promotion.

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“In the world, leadership is built on position. But in the Kingdom, leadership is built on service and fruitfulness. In the world, the leader promotes himself; in the Kingdom, the leader grows the people,” he said.

The pastor also disclosed that he received numerous invitations for ministry engagements after stepping down, adding that accepting all of them would have left him with little time to pastor his church.

He maintained that genuine influence comes from a relationship with Jesus, stressing that character was fundamental to effective leadership.

“We are easily excited by numbers, but heaven is looking for weight. Character is the platform upon which true leadership stands,” he said.

Irukwu further said he had told God from the beginning that he wanted to make a meaningful impact through his ministry and would rather not live in the UK if he could not achieve that purpose.

He urged people aspiring to minister in the country to develop a genuine concern for its people and national development.

Recalling a five-hour prayer vigil at which no time was devoted to praying for the nation, he described the experience as “torture”.

“If you take on other people’s burdens, God will carry yours,” he said.

He urged churches in the UK to demonstrate a genuine burden for the country, expressing the belief that this would help bring about the revival they seek.

“If our churches carry a real burden for the land, the revival we are praying for will happen in no time,” he said.