PROGRAMME

Why many teens are losing grip of their destinies, Teens/Youth coach, Tope Adebayo

January 15, 2026

As Alimosho Jesus Carnival gears up for a mighty manifestation of God’s raw power, its Lead Convener and renowned teens and youth coach, Pastor Tope Adebayo, shares with Christian Benefits the expectations surrounding the two-day event, which features a free medical and welfare outreach, revival sessions, and a powerful atmosphere of worship. He also recounts his personal testimony—how God delivered him from a wayward teenage life and transformed him into a passionate teens and youth coach, now transforming a generation of messed up teenagers and young people to a message of upright living in their generation. Excerpts below

How would you like to be introduced?

My name is Tope Adebayo popularly known as Pastor T. I am an Apostle to teens and youths with an apostolic mantle to revive a generation to God with fire. I am sent to help a generation become a message despite the mess of this age.

Briefly share your background and salvation encounter.

I am the third of a family of five. My parent are from Ile oluji, Ondo State . I attended St. Francis Catholic Secondary School before proceeding to Yabatech where I did my ND in Electrical Electronics, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) for Biochemistry and Unilag (Business Administration). I have my Certificate in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Fate Foundation, MBA from Lagos Business School, Daystar Leadership Academy, The Entrepreneurship Academy and many others. I grew up as a normal child until I was addicted to stealing, pornography and violence at a very younger age. While in secondary school, I was introduced to Junior confraternity and when I got to the University I just upgraded my membership to the senior cadre. My elder brother called me one day and told me that I will die if I go for that journey I was planning for the next week. One thing I feared most is death, so I ran from my life and there and then I knew my life needed a new redirection. My father would drive me to Redemption camp for Holy Ghost night back then and at every salvation call, they would ouch me out. One day, I visited a family and as I entered they told me that please Tope can you release the money you took. My blood became frozen, I had to run to God. I went to one of my dad friends house without access to anything apart from the toilet and sitting room. I prayed and fasted for three days until I saw a being like me leave me and I became light. There and then I knew I was delivered. I submitted to RCCG where I went through all the classes before moving on in the journey of destiny

You started ministry at a relatively very young age many years ago. Please, tell us how it all began.

I was a zealous teenager and started organizing teenagers and youths for programmes when I was serving in Kingdom of Light Ministries (KLM) under Dr. Samson Makinwa. I discovered many of them were not listening to their parents and already losing grip of their destinies. I discovered they will come to my house for music class, prayers, bible study and they would start asking me questions. We grew from 4 to over 20 in less than 2 months. I was praying one day when I heard go and teach them what I have taught you. Many people say what and how I speak, they are compelled to listen to me because I always have my Holy Ghost class – where the Holy Ghost teaches me in simple terms.

What informed your interest in teens and youth ministry, and how would you describe your experiences in this ministry over the years?

I missed it as a teen despite having prayerful parents – I missed God. I was connected back to God through the presence of many people including my elder brother, Apostle Adebayo Ademola who was intentional about our spiritual foundation in deep expression in faith and love. Who will help them if they don’t have somebody was the concern. The teens/youths ministry is not for everybody as I had gone to a meeting where we had over 2000 teens teachers and after my session, I made an altar call that if you know you were not called for the teens ministry and you are struggling in it, you should come out and repent, over 850 teachers came out and resigned that day. Some went through trainings, the fact I am trying to make here is this ministry is not for everyone. Not everyone speaks the language of teenagers and youths, some just confuse them the more. I have seen errors becoming miracles and miracles becoming errors because the accountability system was broken. The support given to teens ministry also is so weak as only few General overseers understand the need for this ministry.

Please, share how you received the call to ministry and the specific mandate of your calling.

I was serving as a minister under Pastor Lekan Elujoba of RCCG Chosen Generation parish and my Pastor would call me and tell me You know you are a pastor sent for global relevance – start praying towards that. I was sensitive to this and one day, I organised an event and invited Terry G because I was thinking your career can’t disturb your calling. That event happened in a night club and I invested money where Terry G promised to come. That night people were outside and they told me point blank they won’t buy ticket until they see Terry G. Terry G never showed up and I had to open the club for people to come in free. The club made serious money and I was in debt. I went home weak, exhausted and angry because I lost so much and I heard a silent whisper saying You can’t serve me with the ideology of mammon. I went to God and in the place of meditation and enquiry, He said I am sending you to make great message from the mess of this age – raise me a generation of fire. That vision went through a lot of fine-tuning over the years but we are here. My mandate is to raise a generation no matter their mountain of expression to be on fire and establish His glory everywhere.

From your experience in teens and youth ministry, what are the major challenges common among Nigerian teens and youths today?

One of the common challenges among teens and youths today is what I coin as the parental – lacuna theory. This theory states that most teens and youths have people who have birth to them but never nurtured them. The scripture says train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he won’t depart from it. This is a very fundamental point of reference because once the nurturing and taming is not done at the child level, the old stage would suffer. Many of today teens and youths never had the trainings from purposeful parents. It is glaring. Another challenge is what I term the Saul – Samuel dash – when mentors are no longer followed. Saul was anointed as king yet didn’t follow the instruction as stipulated by Samuel. I say this everywhere When accountability is lost your immunity is lost. Another challenge is what I called the David spectacle – a perception challenge. This states that a Jesse might have a king as a son but leave him at the wilderness to take care of sheep. Many teenagers and youths have greatness in them but they are wild on their today and it takes a man that has the patience of grooming to be able to make them see their true potentials. The last one for the sake of this interview is what I called the Goliath Sword Theory – reward system that encourages participation. David went to the temple and asked for a sword and the priest answered the only sword available is the one of Goliath you killed. David didn’t kill Goliath for fun despite having the mandate to be the king, he killed because the rewards was encouraging. We must create a reward system that is glaring with mark up objectives when goals are met.

To what extent do you think churches are addressing these challenges and providing solutions?

Many Churches are waking up to this challenge and providing solutions. Paul told us a balance in Christ – the power and wisdom dimension. Most Churches introduce only the wisdom dimension to their teens and neglect the power dimension and others vice versa. Churches are now in a trajectory of providing these two as the wholesomeness of God. I have been involved in many strategic sessions with churches for their teens and youths church and one thing I always ask the General overseers of such ministries is “is this the way the kingdom business was introduced to you, the way you were introducing to this generation? Churches are now involved in the total mechanism of the teens. When a life is based on right understanding of the word of God and baptized by the holy ghost and fire – that life is unstoppable. Don’t introduce them to fun, introduce them to Christ because life is warfare and not funfare.

Please, tell us about the forthcoming Alimosho Jesus Carnival. What are the expectations?

Alimosho Jesus Carnival is a signature of worship where we show the world the worth we have for and in Jesus. We gather worshippers all.around to come to the open square to praise Jesus unashamedly and unapologetically. This year we would be having medicals and welfare on Saturday where we plan by the riches of God to give to 200 families. The medical team would be catering for over 100 people.The Sunday would be the carnival proper where we do say it is a revival that looks like a carnival. The past editions we witnessed power, deliverances, healings and many other package in God. This year won’t be an exemption as we would see the raw power of God in manifestation.

How will this program impact teens and youths, who are the core focus of your ministry?

Alimosho Jesus Carnival beyond a spiritual template is also an organisational initiative. We have teens and youths who are involved in the planning and they have a depth in project management and execution. We have series of meetings where ideas are generated, profiled and the nest executed. This has helped some teens and youths to be project oriented. In the larger frame, Alimosho Jesus Carnival is a gathering where we evangelise for God openly, where lives are transformed, where you see music ministers that you look up to minister giving you a belief that you also can become great in God. We look forward to.many youths and teens like always giving their lives to Jesus and making a decision to impart their space no matter the size of the impart.

Finally, as a young but vibrant minister, are there leaders you submit to, and how are they impacting your ministry?I have accountability figures over my life and I submit to them wholeheartedly. Pastor Wole Oladiyun of CLAM whom I refer to as Abba is a father that I am naked before. I was with him one time and somebody reported something I did years ago to him in my presence, he listened and was writing and told the person that I had already reported myself to him and he said som you see you must make sure such never happens again. I am a son to Abba and proudly represent him without shame. Abba Wole Oladiyun impart in my life and ministry cant be expressed fully with words – he gave me access to his life, access to his platforms, he has given me money, given me recognition, placed me on prayers and fasting, helped me during times of depression, haaa words are too casual to help me relay well his deeds in my life. Abba Wole Oladiyun is not just a father, he is an oracle in my life. His presence has comforted me many times. Everybody knows how I value, honour and esteem Abba. God bless him more and more. Daddy James Akanbi of GOMERM is another father I submit to. I met Daddy James Akanbi through Pastor Wole Olarinde and that day he spoke words into my life accurately. I remembered one day I chatted Daddy up concerning a concern and he sent a prayer and two minutes later, I received an alert. Daddy James has made me better by been focussed on what matter. Daddy would quote over 40 scriptures in his message without opening the Bible – these are encounters I need. I have read almost all the books by both Abba Wole Oladiyun and Daddy James Akanbi and I can tell you as I do say a life without accountability is a life without immunity and a life without immunity would end in shame.