- by Deborah Longe
- March 19, 2026
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The following is a transcription of On the Lord’s Side Podcast presented on GospelBellsRadio on March 19, 2026 by Olufemi Oguntokun. It may not fully match with the audio, but represents a near perfect transcription of the broadcast.
ON THE STORY OF THE PILGRIM IN MEDINA
And yes, good morning to you once again. It’s Thursday, the 19th of March 2026. The programme is On the Lord’s Side: Christian Perspectives on News and Current Events.
My name is Olufemi Oguntokun.
You can follow me on X at Olufemi OG, and Gospel Bells Radio at Gospel Bells Radio.
This morning, we begin with a story that has gone viral. A video circulating online shows a man allegedly attempting to strangle his sick father inside the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, claiming that if he died there, he would go straight to heaven.
This is now the second story this week relating to pilgrimage practices. Earlier, we discussed the case involving the Nigerian artist Asake attempting to touch the Black Stone in Mecca.
These incidents highlight a recurring issue: the belief that divine presence or salvation is tied to physical locations or objects.
As Christians, we must be careful. Scripture teaches us clearly that God is Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth.
We are not called to chase locations. We are not called to depend on objects.
We are called to faith in Christ.
The danger of attributing divine power to places is that it leads to:
• Idolatry
• Misguided actions
• Spiritual deception
We are reminded to live Coram Deo—in the presence of God—everywhere, not just in designated “holy places.”
ON NIGERIA, GLOBAL CULTURE, AND THE UK STATE VISIT
We move now to a different story.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, is currently in the United Kingdom on a historic state visit—the first of its kind in 37 years.
He is being hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, with full ceremonial honours.
During the state dinner, King Charles made light-hearted references to Nigerian culture, including jollof rice and the phrase “Naija no dey carry last.”
This moment reflects something deeper:
Ideas, culture, and expressions do not remain local. They travel.
What is said or done in one place can influence the entire world.
For believers, this is a reminder that:
• Our actions matter
• Our values matter
• Our words carry influence
We must be intentional about what we contribute to the culture around us.
ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Finally, we consider a landmark ruling by a Federal High Court in Nigeria.
The court has affirmed that citizens have the right to record police officers performing their duties in public. It also ruled that:
• Police cannot harass or arrest individuals for recording
• Officers must carry identification
• Anonymous policing is unlawful
This is a major step toward accountability.
However, beyond legal accountability lies a greater truth:
Every action, whether recorded by a camera or not—is seen by God.
Nothing is hidden from Him.
As Christians, our conduct should not depend on whether we are being watched by people, but on the awareness that we are always in God’s presence.
CLOSING REMARKS
I want to thank you for joining us this morning on On the Lord’s Side: Christian Perspectives on News and Current Events.
By the grace of God, I will be with you again tomorrow.
Whatever you do today, please remain firmly on the Lord’s side.
God bless you.
You are listening to GospelBellsRadio.com—the Christian internet radio with a mission to engage the culture with the mind of Christ.
Keep listening and invite others too.