“My Father Was Not A Good Example. If I Followed My Father, My Life Would Be Totally Miserable” – Pastor Otabil Reveals

In a sermon titled “Jesus: Dispelling Darkness,” Pastor Mensa Otabil, founder of the International Central Gospel Church, did a teaching on the power of the Bible in overcoming life’s challenges and breaking generational cycles of negativity. 

Speaking during the fourth installment of his series on “Jesus,” Pastor Otabil shared personal reflections on his upbringing and the need to seek divine guidance when human examples fall short.

“My father was not a good example. If I followed my father, my life would be totally miserable,” Pastor Otabil candidly admitted. He recounted how his father’s flaws—ranging from alcoholism to irresponsibility—left him without a positive role model. “It’s difficult to grow up into adulthood, look back at your life, and say, ‘What is the number one lesson I learned from my father?’ and find almost zero,” he said.

Faced with what he described as a “poverty of example,” Pastor Otabil turned to the Bible for guidance. “I decided, God, you have to teach me how to do life. So, I’m going to allow your word to come into the darkness of my relationships, the darkness of my thinking,” he explained.

He urged congregants to follow biblical principles, even when it’s difficult, stating, “If the Bible says this is how to do it, no matter how hard it is, I’m going to do it.”

Pastor Otabil also addressed the challenge of overcoming negative tendencies inherited from flawed role models. “The only way I can stop it is the light of the word of God must come into every darkness of my life,” he declared.

He emphasized that the light of Christ can dispel any darkness, enabling individuals to become better versions of themselves. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can’t hold it down,” he proclaimed.

Concluding his message, Pastor Otabil encouraged believers to allow Christ’s light to manifest in every area of their lives, ensuring victory over bad habits, wrong choices, and negative influences. “May the light of God win in your life,” he prayed, “and may His light shine in every compartment and department of your life.”