RCCG Pastor Collapses, Dies While Preaching At Funeral

A funeral ceremony in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, turned tragic on Friday when a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Deacon Steve Eyo, reportedly collapsed and died while delivering a sermon.

Eyo, the Resident Pastor of the RCCG in Aleto, was preaching before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed while rounding off his message.

The sermon, titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond,” reportedly began at about 1:10 p.m., with the cleric speaking about the inevitability of death and urging mourners to live with the consciousness that no one knows when death will come.

While illustrating his message, Eyo reportedly compared life to a visit to the market, explaining that while some people leave early, others stay longer, just as some people die young while others live to an advanced age.

However, about 15 minutes into the sermon, at approximately 1:25 p.m., the pastor suddenly collapsed.

His fall initially caused confusion among the mourners, some of whom reportedly thought he was demonstrating a point from his sermon about the suddenness of death.

It soon became apparent that the situation was serious as church ministers, choir members and other mourners rushed to assist him. Prayers were offered while people with medical knowledge reportedly attempted to administer first aid.

He was later rushed to a nearby medical facility in the ambulance that had been hired to convey the remains of the deceased person whose burial ceremony was taking place.

Eyo was reportedly pronounced dead at the hospital, after which his remains were deposited at a mortuary.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death have not been publicly disclosed, and no specific medical cause of death had been established in the reports available.

The incident left mourners and members of the Aleto community shocked, particularly because of the subject of the pastor’s final sermon.

Shortly before he collapsed, Eyo reportedly urged the mourners to “number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime.”

The funeral, which had begun as a solemn ceremony to bid farewell to one person, consequently became another occasion of mourning following the sudden death of the minister delivering the sermon.