The Archbishop of Calabar and Spiritual Leader of God’s Heritage Global Mission, Archbishop Josef Bassey, has issued a strong appeal for a spiritual realignment within the Church, warning that the gospel of comfort now widely embraced bears little resemblance to the faith of the early Apostles.

Delivering a passionate prophetic message at the weekend, Archbishop Bassey called on Christian leaders and congregations across Nigeria and beyond to return to what he described as “the old paths where the saints of old walked”—a path marked by sacrifice, consecration, and uncompromising truth.

He expressed concern over what he termed the widespread dilution of Christian doctrine in favor of ease and materialism, stating: “The Christianity that costs nothing will ultimately produce nothing. We have traded the fellowship of His sufferings for the comforts of convenience. But Jesus said, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.’”

Referencing Philippians 3:10 and Luke 14:28, the Archbishop argued that true faith is not shaped by pleasure but by perseverance. He noted that the early Church was birthed in trials and propelled by the resolve of believers who understood the cost of discipleship.

“This generation must remember that we are not called to blend into the culture but to confront it. We are not entertainers; we are envoys,” he declared, adding that the Church must reclaim its foundations of prayer, holiness, and self-denial if it is to fulfill its mission in a society facing moral decline.

Archbishop Bassey stressed that the Church must once again become the nation’s moral compass, urging pastors to lead the return to spiritual authenticity.

“A revived Church is the only hope for a dying world. We must return—not to legalism, but to authenticity. Not to rituals, but to righteousness. Then, and only then, will the Church again become the nation’s compass,” he said.

His message resonates at a time of growing concern over the state of national morality and the perceived weakening influence of the Church in shaping values and confronting societal ills.