Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, headquartered in Auchi, Edo State, Apostle Johnson Suleman, recently addressed the reasons pastors often move with security personnel.
He shared this during a sermon that was later posted on social media, offering a deeper insight into his experiences and decisions.
In his words, “Let me explain this to you, people say pastors carry policemen, pastors carry security men, why do they carry policemen if they should believe in God to protect them. You are very daft if you think that way. You are very myopic.
“Who can kill me? Nobody can kill me. I know when I will leave this world and I am not close, I know the year I am going to get home. God has told me. I have not even got half of it. So, I’m not bothered when you say anything.”
Apostle Suleman went on to recount a dramatic incident that shaped his understanding of the importance of security.
He recalled ministering at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, where a miraculous healing led to an overwhelming and chaotic response from the crowd.
“But why do we do that, I was preaching in Ekpoma, Ambrose Ali University in Edo State, I was ministering and walking to the crowd, the young woman said her daughter was mad, and as I was preaching walking to the crowd, she put her hand on me and I touched the child and the child became normal.
“When she gave the testimony I never knew I was in trouble. That day I could not leave that hall, they beat me. I was on the ground, a crowd was on top of me.
“I couldn’t breathe. When I opened my eyes my mouth was swollen, my nose was swollen. They took healing and gave me sickness. My head was swollen.
“I got back to my hotel room I started pressing. Imagine a man of God pressing to make heaven.”
Despite the ordeal, Apostle Suleman returned the following day, determined to minister again. However, the chaos escalated.
“The next day I still came. They said let’s give you protocol I said no. Nothing will happen. This time they didn’t carry me, they carry the car, lifted it up the Mercedes Benz and dropped it on the ground. Glasses shattered. Windscreen shattered.
“I said what is this, so when you see us with security is to prevent the mob.”
He then drew a parallel to Jesus Christ’s own ministry, highlighting how even the Son of God needed assistance in managing crowds.
“Why do you think Jesus was going about with the 12 Apostles? Jesus Christ son of God. Can anybody kill him? He had 12 men following Him to control the mob.
“We didn’t know Peter was carrying sword until he cut off somebody’s ear and Jesus didn’t say throw away the sword He said keep your sword. He still have more ears to cut.”
Apostle Suleman underscored that the presence of security is not a lack of faith but a practical necessity in a world often overwhelmed by uncontrollable crowds.
