The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries has vigorously responded to recent online criticism of its members’ testimonies. The Church has denied accusations of falsifying testimonies and criticized the misleading nature of some viral videos.

In a statement released on Monday, the Church has urged Nigerians to exercise caution when consuming online content and to critically evaluate what they read. The Church has also directed its criticism towards specific bloggers, branding their actions as ‘devilish’ and accusing them of distorting statements for sensationalism.

The controversy was sparked by the circulation of videos featuring testimonies from Church members. One particularly contentious testimony claimed that a member had ridden on a lion. The Church has stressed that these testimonies are genuine expressions of faith, not concocted tales. They have urged the public to disregard negative comments and to consider matters thoughtfully.

One member said something entered their back, lifted them, and carried them like an airplane. When it let me down, I turned to look and saw it was a lion. The lion then led me to a safe location and said goodbye.

Another video that went viral showed a woman who said she fought off robbers and took their AK-47 rifles. A man said he survived a kidnapping, machete attacks, and gunshot wounds without getting hurt.

The Lord’s Chosen Church said the videos had been edited. Pastor Chidi Louis, who handles PR and media for the Church, said the videos attempt to discredit the Church’s work. He suggested that Nigerians check out the Church’s official platform for the full testimonies. He also clarified that the lady’s story about fighting robbers happened in a dream. The Church’s media department also said the viral footage was fake and asked people not to believe it. The Church’s TikTok account has also released the full version of the lady’s testimony, which clarifies that it took place in her dream.