Pastor Warns Of ‘Spirit Of Antichrist’ Amidst Christian Persecution In Nigeria

Ikenna Agugua, a senior pastor at Spring of Life Restoration Ministries in Owerri, has urged Christians to persevere and remain steadfast in the face of the ongoing persecution they are experiencing across the country.

Pastor Agugua, who also serves as the current Zonal Secretary for the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) South, among other positions, emphasised that tribulation and persecution are inherent aspects of Christianity and should not discourage or demoralise true believers.

He made these remarks during a media interview on the eve of a church program held recently at their headquarters.

The program served as a prelude to their 2025 annual convention, themed “Moving Forward by Divine Communication.”

Bishop Maxwell Korie and Bishop Abba Abdulkarim Shalom, along with other esteemed religious figures, were guest speakers at the event.

According to Agugua, those who serve God with sincerity and integrity will inevitably face challenges, as the enemy will attack them on all fronts.

“We are pursuing righteousness, and this entails fighting numerous battles, both physical and spiritual. In fact, persecution was instrumental in the widespread propagation of the Gospel in the early days,” he stated.

He continued, “If we return to God in complete repentance, He will fight our battles for us. In 1 John, chapters 3, 4, and 5, it states that the spirit of antichrist is already in the world.

The spirit of the antichrist, not the antichrist himself, is actively at work. Therefore, the persecution and tribulation occurring throughout the country and beyond will eventually pass, and the Church of God will ultimately triumph.”

“However, the truth is that there is a powerful force plaguing the earth, and the antichrist himself is involved. This is the spiritual dimension of the issue.”