Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has revealed that he now contributes nearly 90% of his earnings as tithe, far exceeding the traditional 10% often cited in the Bible.
This statement came during RCCG’s October Holy Ghost Service, held on Saturday at Redemption City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. Pastor Adeboye took the opportunity to clarify recent remarks he made on tithing, which had sparked a flurry of speculation online, including claims that he advised Christians to stop paying tithes altogether.
Addressing the controversy, Adeboye expressed surprise at how quickly misinformation spread. He noted that while he had previously apologized for any confusion his comments might have caused, the false narrative that he instructed believers to cease tithing spread rapidly online.
“The subject of tithing became controversial, so I apologized for anything that may have been misunderstood,” he said. “But within an hour, it was all over the internet that I told Christians to stop paying tithes.”
Clarifying his position, Adeboye shared a personal story, explaining how his practice of tithing had evolved. He recounted an experience at Kenneth Hagin’s church, where a man testified about how his financial situation improved after deciding to tithe 90% of his income. Inspired by this testimony, Adeboye said he gradually increased his own tithe and now gives nearly 90%, far surpassing the usual 10%.
“I explained that it’s wrong to limit yourself to 10% when God can enable you to give more,” he explained. “As you grow in your faith, you should also grow in your giving, just as you grow in praising God and winning souls. For beginners, the minimum is 10%, but I encouraged them to give even more as they progress in their relationship with God.”
Adeboye also expressed frustration that his message was distorted online, with many focusing only on his apology. “Of everything I said, all they picked up was that Adeboye apologized, which they twisted to mean I no longer supported tithing. I made it clear that 10% should be the starting point,” he added.
