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| Pastor Paul Sodeke |
The Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Ado Districts’ Church Council (DCC), Ibadan, Pastor Paul Sodeke, has admonished ministers-in-training to prepare for a new dimension of spiritual warfare as they transition into pastoral office, declaring that: “Different levels attract different devils.”
Ministering this morning at the 2026 CAC Pastoral Training held at the CAC Babalola International Memorial Prayer Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Pastor Sodeke spoke on the theme: “Strength for the Journey” (1 Kings 19:5–8).
Drawing lessons from the experience of Prophet Elijah under the juniper tree, he likened the pastoral calling to a wilderness journey that requires continuous divine strength and sustenance.
Addressing the trainees—many of whom had previously served as Elders and Evangelists—he emphasized that previous ministerial experience does not fully prepare one for the unique demands of pastoral leadership.
“You might have been an Elder or an Evangelist before, but to become a pastor is a new journey,” he stated, noting that the responsibilities and spiritual battles that accompany ordination are on a different level.
Pastor Sodeke warned ministers against burnout and encouraged them to rely on God’s grace throughout their ministry. According to him, a minister’s spiritual foundation determines how far they can go in ministry, while the measure of grace and anointing they carry often determines the intensity of the enemy’s attacks.
He also spoke candidly about the pressures of pastoral ministry on family life, observing that some marital challenges experienced in ministers’ homes are directly connected to the demands of the pastoral calling—challenges that might not have arisen if the husband were not in ministry.
Highlighting a profound lesson from 1 Kings 19:5–8, he noted that although the angel brought food to Elijah, the prophet still had to arise and eat by himself. This, he explained, illustrates that while God provides strength for the journey, ministers must also exercise personal discipline and take responsibility for their own spiritual nourishment.
Structured evangelism and church planting remain key components of the three-point agenda of the Church President, and this pre-ordination training exercise is expected to further strengthen the vision by providing more labourers for effective church planting and evangelism.
