Of Leaky Roofs and Living Legacies: Shina Peters’ Graceful Reframe of a Preacher’s Parable
In a sermon meant to inspire congregants toward delayed gratification, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre crafted a parable of two choices. He contrasted veteran musician Sir Shina Peters, who he said used N20 million in 1990 to build a house—now facing repairs—with billionaire Jim Ovia, who allegedly used the same sum to seed Zenith Bank, now a sprawling financial empire across Africa. The lesson was clear: invest for legacy, not immediate comfort. Yet, in reducing a life’s journey to a single financial anecdote, the preacher ignited a firestorm, not of legal threats, but of a profound, spiritual rebuttal from the Afro-juju legend himself.
Responding with a dignity that turned the sermon’s premise on its head, Shina Peters issued a breathtakingly graceful condemnation. He dismissed legal action or malice, framing his defense not around bruised ego, but around the very legacy of Christ he felt the pastor had undermined. “God has really blessed me beyond words,” Peters declared, shifting the metrics of success from architectural footprints to divine favor and personal fulfillment. In a masterstroke, he extended blessings to Ashimolowo himself, transforming a public critique into a lesson on humility and the myriad, unseen ways God’s grace manifests. His final benediction, aimed at his global fans, served as a quiet, powerful reminder that true legacy is built not just in bank branches, but in the hearts of those you touch—a roof over one’s head, when that head rests in peace and gratitude, is no small kingdom.
