Stop Inviting Nigerian Pastors to the West
By Osoria Asibor, Canada
Many years ago, during the height of Boko Haram’s reign of terror in Northern Nigeria, I noticed a disturbing trend that carries an eerie resemblance to something I now see unfolding within the body of Christ—especially in the Western world.
Here’s what I observed: whenever local communities in Northern Nigeria reported terrorist hideouts to the military, the Nigerian Armed Forces would swiftly respond. With firepower and tactical precision, they would descend upon those villages and dislodge the terrorists. But here’s the problem—they would always leave afterward, assuming the job was done.
Sadly, these communities lacked the capacity to hold down their territory. The military’s presence was temporary, but the terrorists were persistent. Not long after the soldiers departed, the insurgents would return—this time more brutal, more vengeful. The aftermath was almost always tragic: villages burned, families shattered, lives lost.
Now, hear me clearly: this same pattern is repeating itself in the Church—only this time, it’s spiritual.
A Spiritual Parallel
In recent years, many churches in the West have begun inviting firebrand ministers from Nigeria—men and women of deep spiritual insight and prophetic authority. These anointed vessels arrive with holy fire in their bones. They preach, pray, prophesy, and war in the spirit. And yes—territorial spirits are dislodged.
But just like the Nigerian military, they leave.
And when they do, what remains is a local church that often lacks the spiritual fortitude to hold the ground that was taken. There is no discipleship system in place. There is no structure of intercession. No strategic follow-up. The members, having tasted glory, go back to their empty routines. What happens next is as predictable as it is devastating.
The spirits return.
The Words of Jesus
Jesus already gave us the blueprint for this in Matthew 12:43–45 (KJV):
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first…”
Let that sink in.
Jesus didn’t just warn us about the return of the demon—He told us why it returns: because the house was empty. It was clean, yes. It was decorated, yes. But it was empty.
Deliverance is not enough. Infilling is required. A vacuum will always be filled—either by the Spirit of God or by something far worse.
Before You Invite Fire, Build an Altar
Churches in the West must understand a hard but necessary truth: hosting powerful ministers is not a substitute for building spiritual structure. Before you expose your congregation to intense warfare, you must equip them with weapons of their own.
Yes, these Nigerian ministers often draw crowds. Yes, their presence boosts visibility. But if your goal is only church growth and not soul growth, you are preparing your flock for a counterattack they are not ready to withstand.
This is not just about guest ministrations. This is about territorial warfare. When demons are dislodged from a city, they seek reentry—often with reinforcements. If the host church isn’t ready to sustain spiritual momentum, the people may become worse than they were before.
Stop Inviting Nigerian Pastors to the West Without First Building Spiritual Capacity
Build Capacity Before You Host Power
Before you invite an anointed vessel known for intense deliverance, ask yourself:
- Have we trained our intercessors?
- Do we have a discipleship system in place?
- Are our members spiritually mature enough to defend what God deposits?
- Is there a plan to follow up on what the man or woman of God will unleash?
If your answer is “no,” pause the invitation and build. Warfare requires structure, not spectacle. Victory without continuity is a set-up for defeat.
Final Thought
It’s time for the Western church to stop outsourcing spiritual authority without building local capacity. Deliverance is only one phase. Discipleship and dominion must follow. Until then, don’t open the gates of battle if you’re not ready to occupy the land.