The Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has urged Christians to emphasise the love and compassion of Jesus Christ rather than focusing primarily on messages about hell when evangelising to Nigerians facing economic hardship.
Ibiyeomie made the call on Sunday while delivering a sermon titled “The Power of Compassion,” arguing that many Nigerians are already grappling with severe economic difficulties, making threats of hell less effective in winning them to Christ.
According to him, Christians should approach people struggling with hardship with messages of hope, love and transformation, assuring them that God loves them and can change their circumstances.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians; they are already in hell. There is no way you will preach hell to Nigerians and anybody will be born again,” Ibiyeomie said.
He explained that a Nigerian struggling to afford basic necessities such as food and petrol may find a warning about eternal punishment disconnected from the hardship being experienced in everyday life.
“Just tell them God loves you; He can change your story. Come to Jesus,” he said, adding that messages centred on condemnation may not convert people who are already overwhelmed by their present circumstances.
Ibiyeomie urged Christians to make compassion a central part of evangelism, stressing that believers should demonstrate Christ’s love to people regardless of the challenges they are facing.
“Compassion will make you tell them Jesus loves you. In spite of what you’re going through, He will show you His mercy. Compassion is the greatest tool that brings people to Christ,” he said.
Citing biblical passages including Psalm 103:8 and Ephesians 4:32, the pastor described compassion as an expression of God’s nature and encouraged Christians to extend kindness, forgiveness and practical help to others.
He noted that compassion goes beyond merely feeling sorry for people, explaining that it involves seeing their situation, caring about it and taking action.
Ibiyeomie also stressed that helping people should not always be measured in financial terms, saying Christians could deploy their faith and other means to assist those in need.
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