By Adeola Ogunlade The Nation
In this revealing interview with Adeola Ogunlade, Prophet Michael Adegoke, President of Gibeon Intercessory Ministry, calls for urgent spiritual reform within the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) Church. Drawing on decades of ministry and corporate leadership, Adegoke lays out a bold vision for revival, youth empowerment, and a return to righteousness and sound biblical teaching. His mission is now taking shape as an interdenominational movement set to officially launch this August in Ontario, Canada.
CAN you tell us about yourself?
My name is Michael Adegoke. I was born in Ghana but raised in Nigeria, where I attended both primary and secondary school. I later returned to Ghana for university and pursued further studies in the UK. My ministry journey began at a young age in Nigeria, where I served as a youth coordinator and pastor.
I come from a family deeply rooted in the church. My grandfather founded the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) Church in Ghana. Although we were born into the Christian faith, our family originally had a Muslim background.
After my father passed away, I moved to Ghana and continued in ministry. I served under Solomon Adegboyega Alao, the head of the Unification Church of C&S, as a training officer and ordained prophet. I played an active role in youth development and helped establish our youth department several years ago in one of our branch.
Professionally, I have gathered over 25 years of experience. I started with Chevron in Nigeria, then moved to Ghana where I worked in companies like Jetlink, Energy Bank, Blue Ghana, E-Transact, and ICS—where I eventually became CEO. In 2017, I founded MG Business of the Shadows and later launched M. Gibbs College and All Honour Quest Institution in Canada.
What’s your take on discipleship? How important is it to you?
I wasn’t personally disciple by anyone. But the foundation I had gave me direction. At 19, I picked up my mentor’s book—Your Vision and Your Purpose in Life—and it changed my life. That book became my compass. Through it, Bishop David Oyedepo became my mentor. Even though he doesn’t know me, his books and messages have mentored me for years.
That’s why I tell young people today: you need a mentor. You can’t get to the top without one. A mentor gives you structure. When I speak, when I preach—you can hear him in me. His voice, his mindset, his discipline is in my spirit. Faith became my engine because of him.
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Bishop Oyedepo?
Not yet but I have seen him speak live. I have prayed to meet him personally. I know that one day, by God’s grace, it will happen. His books, his works, even his photos, they have shaped me. Just to meet him and say “thank you” would mean everything to me.
What do you think is broken in the C&S Church right now and what needs urgent fixing?
Let me be honest. One of the biggest problems in C&S is the lack of grounding in the Word of God. We pray. We fast. But we fall short when it comes to knowing the Word—and living in righteousness.
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I recently visited our Surulere branch. What I saw troubled me. Youths getting each other pregnant. A breakdown in discipline. Yes, other churches have their issues too, but it’s worse here because of neglect. The prayer fire is there but righteousness is missing. The sound teaching of the Word of God is missing. That’s what we are bringing back. We want to help young people build their lives spiritually and morally, not just shout “Hallelujah” without direction.
Why did you leave C&S to join Living Faith (Winners) and later RCCG?
When I got to Ghana, I joined the C&S church again. But things changed when it was revealed I was meant to succeed my grandfather as pastor. My uncle and his family, who were managing the church, began to see me as a threat. Eventually, it got so tense that I fell seriously ill.
Despite revelations that I should return to lead the church, God clearly told me to step away. I obeyed and moved on. The nearest church to me at the time was Winners Chapel. I had already been reading Bishop Oyedepo’s books, so I felt connected. From there, I also engaged with RCCG.
How did those experiences shape your ministry?
They shaped me immensely. Both Winners and RCCG are well-structured ministries. You don’t just become a pastor overnight. You go through rigorous training, exams, seminars, and spiritual development. Before you can grow up to become a pastor, you have to go through a lot of trainings that discipline helped shape who I am today.
At what point did God ask you to return to C&S?
I had been hearing that message from God to return to C&S for seven years, but I kept ignoring it. I was comfortable where I was preaching in Canada and Ghana, doing evangelism, and running my businesses. But eventually, I saw the vision myself. I couldn’t run from it anymore.
What does Nigeria—and C&S in particular—stand to gain from your return?
I believe the C&S church is unique, with a strong foundation. My mission now is to focus on the youth and on empowerment. We need to help young people understand that spiritual growth and personal development go hand-in-hand. I plan to create symposiums, events, and training programs to build a stronger generation.
What exactly makes C&S unique and worth fighting for?
Prayer. No other church prays like we do. If we can just add the Word of God and live righteously, we will move mountains. The problem isn’t our doctrine—it’s the lack of discipleship and discipline.
We don’t need more anniversaries and ceremonies. What we need is revival. Less celebration, more transformation. That’s what will make the C&S Church relevant again—and impact the world.
Are you ready to face opposition within the church, especially since you emphasize teaching and righteousness over rituals?
I’m not here to fight anyone. Anyone trying to fight me is essentially fighting God. I’m here on assignment, not for positions or recognition. I live in Canada. I don’t want to take over anyone’s church. I just want to fulfill God’s mandate.
There are many churches. If I want to hold a service, I will. If not, I won’t. But the goal is clear, to put smiles on a million faces over the next five years.
Can you tell us more about that mission to impact one million lives which starting in August?
The first and most important form of empowerment is spiritual empowerment. We believe the spiritual controls the physical. Before you expect anything from God, you have to walk right with Him.
Our mission is to build young people spiritually. The initiative is focused on empowering believers, particularly the youth, spiritually, mentally, and physically. “This is not a church; it’s a prayer mountain. It is to help young people understand God. When I was young in Surulere, every school holiday we were in church. We had lecturers from UNILAG and LASU teaching us about the future. Pastors and prophets also trained us spiritually. That foundation stayed with me. It helped shape who I am today.
We were taught, mentored, even sponsored, fees paid, visions supported, and purpose guided. That’s the kind of empowerment we want to offer now. If we weren’t helped, we wouldn’t be where we are today. So now that God has given us the grace and resources, we must pass it on.
That’s the heart of it all and is adding value to lives. I was helped along the way by others. Now it’s my turn to help as many people as I can.
We are building this impact through education, mentorship, and social media outreach. I’m an educationalist at heart. Through our schools and programmes, we provide tools and training that help people change their lives. We’ll launch several initiatives in Nigeria, starting soon, perhaps two major programmes a year.
What message do you have for Nigerians?
One message: only God can truly judge. You need God for everything. My life is built on righteousness—not because I earned it, but because God gave it. Once your foundation is solid in Him, everything else can follow.
When can people start connecting with your ministry online?
I’ll be live daily starting this August on TikTok—@ProphetMichael. It’s all about preparing the ground to reach more people. We’re ready to get to work.
What’s your message to young people—and to the church?
One message: only God can truly judge. You need God for everything. My life is built on righteousness—not because I earned it, but because God gave it. Once your foundation is solid in Him, everything else can follow. Young people must walk with God. It’s not about positions or titles. It’s about truth, righteousness, and knowing your purpose. If we don’t build the next generation with the right values, the fire will go out.
But I believe the revival has started. And we’re not stopping until we see one million lives transformed in five years.