Helen Ukpabio Rejects Birthday Wishes, Calls “Happy Birthday” a Devil’s Language
Calabar, Nigeria – Evangelist Helen Ukpabio, founder of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries, has stirred controversy after urging her followers to stop using the phrase “happy birthday,” which she described as “the devil’s language.”
The remark came during a church service in Calabar, where the popular preacher addressed her congregation in a now-viral video. Speaking on her 60th birthday, Ukpabio explained that she does not celebrate birthdays in the traditional sense and prefers the phrase “thanking God at 60.”
“I’m not somebody that does birthday every year like a zombie,” she said. “I don’t sell out my soul to the devil like that. Don’t use the language of the devil.”
The evangelist criticized modern birthday practices, calling them a form of spiritual ignorance and modern-day idolatry. She claimed that birthday celebrations, especially the popular “happy birthday” greeting, have pagan origins and should be avoided by devout Christians.
“You see people saying happy birthday! Happy birthday!! Who is giving you happy and birthday? These are pleasantries from modern-day idolatry,” she said.
Ukpabio also rebuked the practice of singing birthday songs during church services, stating that such actions carry unintended spiritual consequences.
“You can even see a Christian singing ‘happy birthday to you’ on the pulpit. Then after that, you say it doesn’t mean anything. It does. Energy you don’t vest spiritually—don’t say it.”
She concluded by warning her congregation not to adopt what she described as “unbiblical cultural language”, insisting that such phrases are Satanic tools intended to dilute Christian doctrine.
“All these things are idolatry—Satan giving us a language. And the Bible says we should not speak their language,” she added.
Helen Ukpabio is known for her controversial teachings, particularly those related to spiritual warfare, deliverance, and the supernatural. Her latest comments have reignited debates within religious circles about the appropriateness of birthday celebrations among Christians.