By OLADIPO Oluwatosin ]
In the dusty streets of Odo-Owa in the 1930s, a man knelt by a rock, praying as though the world’s survival depended on it. His name was Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola — the fiery revivalist whose prayers, they said, could shake kingdoms and whose tears could water a desert. He had no mansion, no convoy, no Instagram followers. But he had Jesus — and the nation knew it.
Fast forward to 2025. The church buildings are bigger, the sound systems sharper, and the pastors wear Italian suits. Private jets replace the bicycles of the old preachers, and conference posters shine brighter than crusade altars. The pews are full, but the prayer mountains are empty. It’s no longer just “Jesus saves”; now it’s “Jesus pays.”
The Shift Nobody Talked About
In Babalola’s time, revival was the currency. People trekked miles to hear the gospel, sometimes barefoot, carrying mats to sleep on open fields during week-long crusades. Demons trembled at the mention of Jesus’ name. Ministers fasted until their belts hung loose, not for weight loss, but for souls.
Today, ministry has a business arm. Many churches have financial departments that rival corporate banks. While stewardship and structure are important, the heart of the message has shifted in some quarters from salvation of souls to multiplication of seed money.
The Prosperity Legacy
Let’s be clear: prosperity is not a crime. Abraham was rich, Job was wealthy, and Solomon’s splendor was unmatched. The problem? When the gospel becomes a product and Christ is reduced to a brand ambassador for wealth creation.
We now have “kingdom influencers” more than “kingdom intercessors.” Pastors can gather $100,000 for a new church LED screen but struggle to gather 100 believers for an all-night prayer meeting.
The Cost of Losing Jesus in the Chase for Gold
- Shallow Discipleship – Churches are growing in number but not in depth. Many believers can quote business principles but not the Beatitudes.
- Moral Compromise – When wealth is the ultimate proof of blessing, shortcuts and manipulation creep in.
- Loss of Revival Power – Without consecration, the miracles fade and the presence of God becomes a memory.
The Babalola Blueprint
If Babalola could speak today, perhaps he would tell us: “Don’t throw away holiness for comfort. Don’t replace the altar with the office desk. Use the gold, but keep the God.”
His legacy was not in bank accounts but in transformed communities. He built no empire, yet his name still burns in Nigeria’s spiritual memory almost a century later.
The Way Back
- Re-center on Christ: Wealth should serve the Kingdom, not replace it.
- Train Ministers in Prayer and Integrity: Bible schools must produce revivalists, not just entrepreneurs.
- Balance the Message: Teach prosperity and repentance, faith, and holiness.
- Accountability: Ministry leaders should submit to spiritual and financial oversight.
Final Word
In Babalola’s day, they had Jesus without much money — yet they shook the land. Today, we have money without much Jesus — and we can barely shake our streets.
Prosperity is a blessing, but without Christ, it’s just shiny dust. The revival we need will come when ministers marry the fire of Babalola’s altar with the resources of today’s church — when the bank account is full, but so is the prayer room.
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