Founder of the David Christian Centre and renowned relationship coach, Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, has defended his recently unveiled Bible-inspired tattoo, explaining that it was intended as a tool for evangelism rather than a fashion statement.
The pastor revealed the tattoo in a short video shared on his official Instagram page to mark his 50th birthday. The inscription, written in Roman numerals as “III: XVI,” represents John 3:16 — one of the most well-known Bible verses and a central message of the Christian faith, emphasizing God’s love and salvation.
The video, which opens with a voice-over reciting the scripture, quickly gained widespread attention across social media platforms, triggering intense public debate. While some critics questioned the appropriateness of a pastor having a tattoo, others applauded what they described as a creative and unconventional approach to spreading the gospel.
Responding to the controversy in a Facebook post on Sunday, Okonkwo said many critics failed to recognise the wider impact of the message behind the tattoo. According to him, while attention was focused on judging the act itself, the scripture had reached millions of people within 24 hours through blogs, social media discussions and online reposts.
He argued that the widespread circulation of John 3:16 amounted to mass evangelism achieved in a remarkably short time. “My religious brothers and sisters were busy judging over tattoo; they didn’t notice that the gospel was preached to millions in less than 24 hours by almost all blogs,” he wrote.
Okonkwo said he would provide a more detailed explanation during a church programme scheduled for later in the week. He also invited members of the public to attend a praise and thanksgiving service at the David Christian Centre in Lagos, describing it as a gathering marked by worship, joy and fellowship.
The pastor noted that the event would hold simultaneously at the church’s mainland and island centres, promising an atmosphere of celebration, praise and thanksgiving as he marks a new chapter in his life and ministry.
