The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has attributed the survival of British-Nigerian boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, in a fatal road accident to what he described as the mercy of God.
Adeboye made this assertion on Sunday during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service, where he spoke extensively on divine mercy and preservation, citing the boxer’s recent accident as an example.
Joshua was involved in a road traffic accident last Monday along the ever-busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, an incident that claimed the lives of two of his friends, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Speaking while expounding on the biblical foundation of God’s mercy, the cleric referenced the Book of Lamentations to explain why, according to him, Joshua survived the crash.
He said, “Lamentations 3:22-23 says it is by the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed. We are alive because of the mercies of the Lord, not because of cleverness.”
Adeboye disclosed that Joshua reportedly exchanged seats with another occupant of the vehicle shortly before the crash — a decision that proved crucial.
“I read in the newspapers yesterday that our boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, exchanged seats with someone before the accident.
“The people he exchanged seats with died. I don’t know why, but the mercy of God said someone would still be alive today,” he said.
The accident led to the deaths of two of Joshua’s friends, Ayodele Kelvin, a 36-year-old Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, also 36, a British citizen.
The tragic incident has continued to generate reactions across the country, especially among religious leaders and fans of the world-renowned boxer.
Taking his sermon from Psalm 89:1, Adeboye emphasised the personal nature of divine encounters, noting that the Psalmist, David, often used singular expressions to highlight issues of deep personal importance.
“I have informed us in the past that whenever something is very important to David, he uses the singular to express himself,” Adeboye said.
“When you hear him say, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,’ it is personal.”
He urged worshippers to internalise the message of divine mercy rather than see it as a general teaching.
“I want you to take this message personally. Maybe one or two people can join me in attaching meaning to it. I am talking to myself,” the revered cleric added.
