Thelma Osatohanmwen
Sam Adeyemi, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, has revealed the reasons behind his recent relocation to the United States.
In a discussion on the ‘Mic On’ podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Adeyemi cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the EndSARS protests, and a series of troubling dreams as key factors influencing his decision.
During the virtual interview streamed on the Mic On YouTube channel, the influential pastor and motivational speaker detailed the sequence of events that led to his move. Adeyemi, originally from Kogi State but born in Niger State, explained that the onset of COVID-19 initially brought his family together in the US, where their children were already residing.
However, when Nigeria began to resume normal activities, the EndSARS protests erupted, leading to widespread violence and he decided to stay in the US a bit longer, intending to return to Nigeria once the situation calmed down.
“When the EndSARS protests ended in violence, we stayed back a bit. When we were ready to return to Nigeria, a different experience altogether happened,” Adeyemi recounted.
He described how both he and his wife had consecutive alarming dreams about returning to Nigeria, which they interpreted as divine warnings. Adeyemi shared a particularly vivid dream where he was attacked violently and had to call on Jesus Christ for help. This dream, coupled with his wife’s earlier dream, led them to take the matter seriously.
“We decided to take it seriously, especially considering a dream we had three days earlier,” he said.
The couple’s apprehensions grew after consulting with family members, who also expressed concerns. Adeyemi then sought guidance through prayer and informed the top leaders of Daystar Christian Centre via Zoom about his decision to stay in the US. The leadership team supported his choice, recognizing the potential dangers highlighted by his dreams.
Also, as the months in the US turned into years, Adeyemi observed that Daystar Christian Centre continued to thrive, thanks to its strong systems and investments in training. This realization allowed him to shift his focus from pastoring a local church to pursuing a global mission, leveraging technology to maintain the church’s operations.
Reflecting on this period, Adeyemi noted, “After six months in the US, I realized the church was thriving due to its strong systems and training investments.”