By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Dreams and relocation: Why Pastor Sam Adeyemi moved to the US.
In a recent interview, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, founder and Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, explained the reasons behind his relocation to the United States. This revelation came during a virtual discussion with Seun Okinbaloye on the ‘Mic On’ podcast, focusing on leadership and the role of the younger generation in Nigeria. The interview, which lasted one hour, thirty minutes, and forty-seven seconds, was streamed on the Mic On YouTube channel on Sunday.
Earlier this year, Pastor Adeyemi urged older generations in Nigeria to improve the country’s situation, warning that the younger generation would soon demand accountability. He cited COVID-19, the EndSARS protests, and particularly troubling dreams about Nigeria as factors that led to his decision to relocate.
“When COVID-19 started, all our children were in the US, so we stayed with them. Just as services resumed, the EndSARS protests erupted. After the protests turned violent, we delayed our return to Nigeria,” Adeyemi shared. He recounted how a series of disturbing dreams prompted him and his wife to reconsider their plans.
“My wife dreamt she traveled to Nigeria and returned with a bad experience. I told her I didn’t like that dream. Three days later, I dreamt we both traveled to Nigeria and I was attacked violently. The Holy Spirit told me to call on Jesus Christ’s name, which I did, shouting out loud in real life.”
Adeyemi, who hails from Kogi State but was born in Niger State, noted that these dreams consistently arose whenever they planned to return to Nigeria. “My wife woke me up at 2:00 a.m. after I shouted in my sleep. We prayed fervently, sensing danger. Later, I had another dream where I was in a fight in Nigeria.”
He shared that family members in Nigeria also expressed unease about their return. “A few days later, we called family members, and they felt uncomfortable about us traveling back. We knew something was up. After 40 years as a Christian, I felt it was God speaking to us.”
Adeyemi then held a Zoom meeting with the top 120 leaders of Daystar Christian Centre to discuss the situation. The leaders supported his decision to stay in the US. “They trusted my judgment and agreed to keep the church running.”
Reflecting on his extended stay in the US, Adeyemi said, “Being away for almost three years was tough. I realized how strong our church systems were, thanks to our investments in training and technology.”
He concluded that this period allowed him to shift focus from pastoring a local church to a global ministry. “The Holy Spirit eventually guided me to focus on global work while maintaining Daystar through technology.”
Daystar Christian Centre, based in Lagos and inaugurated on November 18, 1995, now has branches across Nigeria. This experience underscored the importance of having robust systems to ensure the church’s resilience and continuity.
dreams, Nigeria
Dreams and relocation: Why Pastor Sam Adeyemi moved to the US