International Mothers’ Day: Adeboye urges parents to train children for future peace

By Latona Olayinka

Lagos, Nigeria – Marking International Mothers’ Day, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has called on parents to take seriously the “non-negotiable” responsibility of intentionally training their children in the ways of the Lord, warning that neglecting this duty can bring lifelong sorrow.

In the church’s daily devotional, Open Heaven, released Sunday, March 15, 2026—observed globally as Mothering Sunday—Pastor Adeboye emphasized that effective parenting is crucial to the stability and future wellbeing of the family.

Drawing from biblical scripture, the veteran cleric contrasted the outcomes of diligent training with negligence. He cited Proverbs 17:21, noting that “the father of a fool has no joy,” and Proverbs 10:1, which states that a wise son brings gladness while a foolish son is “his mother’s heaviness.”

“God expects parents to intentionally train their children so that the children can give them rest,” Pastor Adeboye wrote. “Intentionally training children yields many benefits, but it is disastrous when parents don’t train their children in the right way.”

The devotional, titled The International Parent (1), stressed that training begins with filling children’s hearts with the word of God. Pastor Adeboye lamented a growing decline in practices such as Scripture memorization within the Christian community.

Reflecting on his own experience, the 84-year-old pastor explained that memorizing the Bible has been vital in his ministry, especially during travels to countries with restrictions on religious materials. “It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks,” he said, cautioning that parents cannot impart spiritual wisdom if they themselves are not immersed in God’s word.

In honor of Mothering Sunday, Pastor Adeboye dedicated the devotional’s prayer point to women worldwide, praying for their strength and preservation.

The message serves both as a tribute to mothers and a call to the global Christian community to recommit to faith-based child-rearing, ensuring the next generation grows in wisdom and righteousness.

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