Evangelist Isaac Josiah, the lead pastor of Reclaimers Ministry in Benin City, Edo State, has stirred widespread debate online after a Facebook video showed him handing out clothing items, including bras, wrappers, pyjamas, and similar garments during a church service.
The footage, recorded on September 14 and uploaded to the church’s official page, captures the preacher sharply criticizing what he called the “indecent dressing” of some female worshippers.
Seeking to discourage such appearances, Josiah distributed the apparels to ushers, directing them to give the items to any woman he considered inappropriately dressed and claiming that revealing outfits were distracting men during worship.
He said, “Those days when a believer told you, ‘It’s twelve o’clock, it’s twelve o’clock,’ it was because of the heart. Heart posture: if you have the right heart, you won’t wear something to seduce people in the church. Where are the ushers? Bring my apparatus.
“Brother Osase, Eric, and Chimere, you are at the door. From today, any girl who enters this church and we see her nipple, we will give her a bra and say, ‘We have discovered that you can’t afford a bra. So, on behalf of the church, we give you this.’
“If we can’t change you in this church, look for another church. Look at me, I’m a young man. I want to make heaven.
“Somebody called us last week and said a guy came to church and was distracted. People come from their homes to church, looking for where God will help them.
“If you give any sister whose nipple is showing a bra and she refuses, call her and ask, ‘How much is a tricycle to your house?’ So, Brother Eric, Osase and Chimere, on behalf of the church, we ordain you as our disciplinarians from today.”
During the sermon, Pastor Josiah also censured women who wore outfits he deemed revealing and warned male members against sagging their trousers or exposing underwear while in church.
He continued, “If God blesses you (Brother Eric, Osase, Chimere) now, we need the bras in different sizes. God will bless the ushering team.
“Also, if someone comes to church wearing a bra but her outfit is not decent, give her this white cloth. We are looking for angels in our church.
“When you leave your house in a mini skirt and start adjusting it in church, or you (a man) leave home without a belt, just call them and give them this white pyjama.
“Many pastors will not tell you what I am telling you. If we can’t change you in this church, look for another church.
“When we praise God and jump like this, a brother will say, ‘I want to praise God, but my manhood is reacting, how do I praise God?’ What some brothers have fallen in love with in this church are breasts and buttocks.
“They don’t love the girl; what they are looking at is not real.”
The clergyman further directed ushers to shield breastfeeding mothers who arrived with exposed cleavage, asserting that a nursing mother’s body is private and not meant for public display.
“We have serious issues with the people. When you come to church and your tight back is showing, or, as a guy, you enter church without a belt, we will buy one for you.
“We will buy belts next week. Just tell them, ‘Brothers, come. We made this special for you to wear. You’re a Reclaimer. Use this to reclaim the world.’ For some mothers here, their breasts are for their husbands and their children.
“If they come to church with their breasts exposed, cover them with this wrapper. If they want to use a handkerchief, say no it can’t cover it and tell them we have a wrapper for them.
“We are serious about this decision. I’m not joking. If I see such a thing again, I will not take it easy, because we’re raising disciplined people.
“If you are looking for a church where you can dress anyhow, not Reclaimers, you can go anywhere. Go and do that,” the pastor insisted.
