LAGOS, Nigeria — Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has denied claims that he brandished a firearm, describing a viral video suggesting otherwise as “false” and motivated by clickbait.
Speaking during a Sunday, June 8, 2025, sermon at the church’s headquarters in Lagos, Adefarasin said he was “shocked” and “hurt” by the widespread claims, which he believes were driven by financial motives.
“Several persons called me. I was shocked. I was hurt. I’m human,” he told his congregation.
“What we have had to witness was clickbaiters just looking for money. I probably wasn’t even their target; their target was to make more money.”
The video in question circulated on social media over the weekend, with some commentators alleging that the pastor was seen pointing a pistol at a content creator during a public exchange.
@pauladefarasin @HouseOnTheRock
— Le 💯 meilleur (@le_meilleur00) June 7, 2025
Addressing the incident directly, Adefarasin said: “I was falsely accused of pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance. I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm. And I pointed no firearm at anybody.”
He did not specify what object, if any, was in his hand at the time of the incident captured on video.
The pastor also stated that his church would not engage in public rebuttals to defamatory claims.
If you must address a non-issue, borrow this page from Pastor Paul Adefarasin. Down to the last 10 seconds of this video. pic.twitter.com/EO3Rx5vABI
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) June 8, 2025
“It’s our policy not to dignify hate speech and false accusations. We believe God is bigger than that,” he said, referencing the Bible verse Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
House on the Rock, a prominent Lagos-based church known for hosting the annual gospel music concert “The Experience,” has not issued an official statement beyond the pastor’s remarks.
The identity of the content creator involved has not been disclosed, and there has been no official comment from law enforcement regarding the video.
