I think some people completely missed my point in the first post, so let me clarify this carefully.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN ACCELERATE A PERSON’S FORMATION. I would never want to put God in a box and tell the Holy Spirit exactly how many years He must take before He can use somebody. God is sovereign, and His dealings with His servants are not identical. My concern in the Tonto Dikeh situation is therefore NOT that God cannot use someone who has been saved for one year.
My concern is the difference between CALLING AND LEADERSHIP QUALIFICATION.
Those are not automatically the same thing.
I can believe that God has called you and still believe that you need to be formed before you are entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding other people.
And this distinction is extremely important.
When Paul encountered Christ, his conversion was radical and his calling was extraordinary. But even Paul did not simply go from Damascus to immediately establishing himself as an apostolic authority over the Church. He describes seasons of withdrawal, learning, and eventual fellowship with the apostles. In Galatians 1:17–18, he speaks of going to Arabia and then, after three years, going to Jerusalem to meet Peter. Later, in Galatians 2:1, he speaks of another visit occurring fourteen years later.
My point remains, however: PAUL’S CALLING DID NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR FORMATION.
And this is where I believe we need to have a serious conversation about the IMMEDIATE CELEBRITY VALIDATION CULTURE that has developed in Christianity.
Someone famous gets born again and almost immediately, we want to put a microphone in their hands.
They become a Christian today, and tomorrow we are calling them a preacher.
Then an evangelist, Then a prophet, Then a spiritual father or mother.
Then, before we have even watched their doctrine, character, consistency, humility, marriage, relationships, handling of money, response to correction, and ability to submit, we have given them a platform and thousands of people to lead.
WHY ARE WE IN SUCH A HURRY?
Imagine somebody becoming a doctor after one year of medical training because they had an extraordinary testimony of why they wanted to become a doctor.
We would never accept that.
Not because we don’t believe in their calling.
But because FORMATION MATTERS.
A teacher requires atleast 3-4yrs training.
A doctor requires atleast 7-10yrs training.
A lawyer requires atleast 5-7yrs training.
And yet when it comes to SHEPHERDING SOULS, sometimes we suddenly become comfortable with the argument, “But the Holy Spirit can use anybody.”
Yes He can.
But BEING USED BY GOD IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING QUALIFIED TO GOVERN GOD’S HOUSE.
Paul gives qualifications for those who would oversee the church.
1 Timothy 3:6 (NKJV)
“Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.”
That word novice is important. Paul is warning against putting someone who is spiritually inexperienced into a position of oversight prematurely.
Why?
Because INFLUENCE WITHOUT FORMATION CAN BECOME DANGEROUS.
And this is especially important when the person is already famous.
A normal new believer may need years to gather a hundred people.
A celebrity can gather thousands before they have even learned how to interpret Scripture responsibly.
That means the greater the platform, the greater the need for DEEPER FORMATION.
This is why I am not attacking Tonto Dikeh.
In fact, I am saying the opposite.
I WANT HER TO WIN.
I want her to genuinely know Christ.
I want her to be deeply rooted in Scripture.
I want her to be discipled.
I want her to have people around her who can tell her, “No, this is not biblical.”
I want her to be accountable.
I want her theology examined.
I want her character tested.
I want her to learn how to shepherd people before she has to carry the weight of shepherding thousands.
Because if God has truly called her to lead a church, THERE IS NO HURRY.
What God has called you to do will not become less glorious because you took time to be formed for it.
Even Jesus spent a minimum of 3yrs with His disciples before entrusting them with the mission that would eventually take the Gospel to the nations. The point is not that Jesus was constrained by a particular three-year rule; Scripture simply shows us an extended period of intentional formation, teaching, correction, observation, and commissioning.
That principle is everywhere.
FORMATION TAKES TIME.
And I am not saying everyone requires the same amount of time. Some people mature faster in certain areas. Some have years of biblical exposure before conversion. Some experience remarkable transformation. Some are discipled intensely. Some have extraordinary grace upon their lives.
But THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO CHARACTER.
There is no prophetic impartation that instantly gives you pastoral wisdom.
There is no conference that instantly teaches you how to handle people.
There is no anointing that exempts you from learning Scripture.
There is no celebrity status that replaces discipleship.
This is why I would have a very different concern if she were serving as a branch pastor under an established and accountable leadership structure. There would still be questions of qualification, of course, but there would be an existing structure providing oversight, correction, and accountability.
PIONEERING IS DIFFERENT.
When you pioneer a church, you are not merely preaching occasionally. You are establishing culture, doctrine, leadership structures, discipleship systems, financial systems, pastoral practices, and spiritual expectations for other people’s lives.
You are not only carrying your own spiritual development anymore.
YOU ARE HELPING SHAPE THE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
That requires enormous maturity.
So no, my position is not:
“Tonto Dikeh has only been saved for one year, therefore God cannot use her.”
That would be an argument Scripture does not permit me to make.
And if we are truly raising an army for Christ, then LET US NOT CONFUSE MOBILIZATION WITH FORMATION.
Let people come.
Let them preach Christ.
Let them testify.
Let them evangelize.
But let us also SIT THEM DOWN AND DISCIPLE THEM.
Because the goal is not merely to produce people who can gather crowds.
THE GOAL IS TO PRODUCE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE JESUS.
