The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Ebola or no Ebola, we’ll continue to commune

    Contrary to measures taken by some churches to minimise physical contacts to fight the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) among worshippers, the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN) has vowed to continue its activities without restraint.

    The CPFN, a bloc in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) comprising of all apostolic churches said worship activities will continue without caution because its members are immune against the Ebola virus.

    It added that it has educated its members on how to protect themselves and will not be taking further preventive measures.

    Lagos State chairman of the body, Pastor Joshua Ibidapo, stated these while speaking with reporters ahead of convocation with the theme: Apostolic fathers’ blessings slated for August 24.

    It holds at the Apostolic Church head office LAWNA, Ketu.

    Speaking on how Christians can overcome the spread of the virus, which has killed over 1,000 in West Africa, Ibidapo said: “God gave us the privilege to trample and sicknesses so such is not our portion if we live a life of holiness.

    “God will soon drive the virus away from the country and it will be a thing of the past just like He did other diseases just as bird flu and polio.”

    Giving a rundown of the programme of events, the cleric added that it will feature prayer sessions to bring about good tidings in the nation, state and church as a whole.

  • ‘Lessons I learnt in my ministry in 28 years’

    ‘Lessons I learnt in my ministry in 28 years’

    The general overseer of Holy Ghost Christian Centre Lagos, Pastor Amos Fenwa, went down the memory lane to evaluate his ministry on full-time in the last 28 years with Sunday Oguntola. Excerpts: 

    It’s been 28 years in full-time ministry. How would you sum up your experience so far?

    Well, I will say it’s been glorious and challenging. I have been privileged to be blessed in the ministry because I was born in a mission house. My father was a pastor and that gave me a head start in ministry work. I didn’t plan to be a pastor; it was not part of my dream because when you are born in a mission house, you know everything.

    Ministry is not about aspiration or ambition but calling. It is something that takes one’s life. But I will say it’s been glorious. I remember after my Secondary School, I worked for like two years. First, I was at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in their monitoring station in Ogbomosho. Then, I went to Ilorin as a manager in a hotel.

    From there, I wanted to go to Adeyemi College of Education Oyo to study History Education. I just wanted to be a teacher and train people. I love to see people starting from nowhere to becoming great in life. But as I was about resuming, my father called me that I should not waste my time doing secular studies because I had been called into the ministry….

    …Was it easy for you to believe him?

    Yes, it was because I knew him as a pastor and prophet. I had seen him prophesy and it came to pass. So, I had to suspend the admission to the College and proceeded to Trinity College in Aba where I was trained. When I finished, he called one of his friends to get me a church to work and that was how I came back to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) as an associate pastor.

    Originally, I was supposed to serve in Bida but God spoke to me to come to Lagos. I told my father who informed his friend that brought me to Lagos. That was how I continued running under the man for some years. When he was transferred, I served with another pastor there. From there, God started talking to me about starting the ministry. By June of 1995, I left to start my ministry without knowing how it would function.

    For six months, I was not in any church because I needed to hear God clearly. I thank God that I understood what He was saying. By January 7, we launched Holy Ghost Praying Centre now Holy Ghost Christian Centre (HGCC).

    Was it easy for you to receive the call knowing you grew up in a mission house where you must have seen your father struggling?

    No, it was not because I saw my father lacking. That is one of the troubles with pastors’ kids. They don’t want the kind of life that their parents live. It was the same for me. When I entered the ministry in 1986, it was like a signature to poverty. If you told someone you were going into the ministry then as a young man, they would consider you mad.

    I knew my dad struggled to send us to schools. He was living on welfare. I never wanted to live on charities. But I was clear God wanted me to serve Him. I am the last child in the family; we are five boys and three girls. I was the first to heed the call to the ministry.

    When I was going to the pastor’s school, our eldest brother wondered why I was leaving my paid job but I said God called. None of them wanted to have anything to do with ministry but today they are all with me in the ministry. I happen to be their senior in the ministry even though I am the last child because I accepted the call before them. God helped me to be able to start on time. Up till now, I still tell young people to be sure God calls them before they come into the ministry.

    Ministry is very attractive now but it was very tough back then. You see general overseers with cars and you want to join the train. But even then, before you become attractive you must have paid your dues. Someone might  see me today and want to say I am okay but I have put up 28 years. If I was a cleaner in the Federal Civil Service, I believe I would have been better now.

    How did you get over the conservative mindset of the CAC from where you started off?

    If you see me, you know I am still conservative. But what helped me was the Trinity College I attended. It is an affiliate of Trinity College California. We had five American missionaries as lecturers on full-time. They trained us to see ministry like they will see and do it.

    So, when I was starting the ministry, I was able to see it from another dimension than the CAC. Though when I was there as an associate pastor, I followed the guidelines in CAC. But in my foundation when I started my ministry, the training helped me. That is why today when people come to our church, they hardly can trace CAC in how we do things except in our prayer patterns.

    How did the mental reengineering occur? It must have taken a while to take roots, right?

    Yes, it took a long while. I joined CAC in 1988 and when I returned from College, It was tough to get back into the church culture. But God exposed me to international travels and I garnered a lot of experiences there. I started travelling since 2001. I ministered everywhere and saw how people do things differently. I attended seminars and I started changing my orientation back to what I was trained. That accounts for what you will see in our church today.

    But I believe as Africans, there is a way you have to minister to Africans. That is why our prayer pattern is very aggressive. We preach the typical American kind of gospel but knowing where we are coming from, we embrace prayers a lot and do more of warfare.

    You believe African churches need to do more of that?

    Sure because there is no reason why the continent should be backwards going by our natural and human resources. There is no reason why Nigeria should remain like this if there is no spiritual strongholds holding us down. I also believe that some of the leaders ruling us are into occultism. This is affecting our progress.

    We say America is the number one nation in the world today and you realise that their founding fathers were Christians and pastors. They have their problems but the country is still attractive. If you pick any young man today, he will tell you he wants America first. Our own tradition is built on traditional religion, witchcraft and blood sacrifices. I don’t think there is any nation where more blood is shed than Africa. That is why we are so backward.

    In 28 years, how far has the church come?

    We have been able to find our feet and the vision is becoming much clearer. We really know that we are sent to nations to add values. That informs so many things we are doing. We have 11 churches worldwide. We have two in America, one in the UK and the others in Nigeria.

    We are willing to expand as the Lord gives us resources. We are also building a structure that will sustain the church beyond now. Recently, we did a convention and noticed that our youth focus has been low. Now, we do a programme quarterly targeted at them.

    In 28 years, what lessons has ministry taught you?

    It has taught me to always listen to God on everything. It has also taught me that skill is as important as calling and anointing. You can be anointed fully and not know what to do. When we started, we prided ourselves in being anointed and didn’t get skills in some areas of ministry. That limited and retarded us in many ways.

    Three, it has taught me who human beings truly are. People can come into your life and walk away once they feel they don’t need you anymore. I am a very emotional person. I love people more than anything and used to feel bad when people walk out on me. But ministry has taught me not to depend on people but look up to God. I have had people that will say ‘pastor, If God can bless me I want to stay in this church and support you’. But they walked away when their expectations were not met.

    Expectations like what?

    Sometimes they feel they should be put in some positions because God has blessed them but I won’t do that because of my background. I have seen that happen every day regardless of whether they are qualified or not.

    If you were to start all over today, what would you do differently?

    One, I would want to have good paper works before embarking on ministries. A lot of times ideas come but we just run with it without documentation. We don’t write the visions to enable us run with it. Two, I would embrace people that are well-educated and their hearts have been touched by God.

    They tend to help the ministry to go very far more than uneducated people. We attracted more of them when we started the ministry and they didn’t have the capacity to help the work to some extent. No wonder God is calling professors and educated people now. No wonder Paul the Apostle wrote 12 to 13 epistles in the Bible while fisherman Peter could only write two.

    So, I think skills and education are very important in ministry. If I were to start again, I would ask God for clearer vision because we had to change a lot of things as we moved.

  • Akabueze tasks youths on godliness

    Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Finance, Ben Akabueze, has charged Christian youths to play active roles in national transformation by demonstrating Christ in their little corners.

    He spoke at the 2014 Youth Ignite Summit organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 1 in Lagos.

    Thousands of participants from Lagos attended the summit, which featured career talks, marital seminar, talent hunts, vocational skills, health talks, bible teaching, song ministration and prophetic ministration.

    Akabueze said Christian youths have significant roles to play in the cleansing and transformation of the nation that is contaminated by sin, moral degradation and social vices.

    He said: “Our society and indeed the world at large needs a lot of disinfectants from contamination by upholding righteousness, truth and eschew all forms of evil in our land even in the face of opposition.”

    The commissioner pointed out Jesus and enjoined all faithful disciples to act as agents of righteousness, holiness, salts and light in the dark world.

    “Transformation is a thorough and dramatic change in form or apparent which begins with oneself and one’s sphere of influence which when we do, we would with time build an oasis of sanity.”

    Akabueze stressed: “Youths are significant stakeholders in the building of our nation and thus, they must have a say and not become passive players in the process of building the nation.

    “It is the duty of every heaven- bound youth to cleanse our society from dirt and sin as Nigeria and, indeed, the world need a lot of disinfectants from contaminations.”

    The Special Assistant to the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said investing in youths of today has a lot of great prospects and possibilities as they are the pillars of growth and development in any society.

  • Clerics, mentees celebrate Ogbonnaya at 64

    There were many activities in the expansive hall where he marked his 64th birthday, but one thing stood out: his impact on many young ministers of the Word.

    Early that morning, the Evangel Hall of the Assemblies of God Church in Okokomaiko, Badagry District, Lagos, was prepared for the birthday of Rev. (Dr.) Henry Ugochukwu Ogbonnaya, the District Superintendent.

    Worshippers from every part of the district, as well as guests from far-flung places, were there to honour the leader.

    A red rug stretched from the hall entrance to the high table, beside which the Prestige band and choir stood rendering soul-lifting songs.

    In time, people took to the floor to dance and later sat to a meal and soft drinks in a hall glittering with gold and purple colours.

    Neither the birthday ‘boy’ nor his devoted wife, Rev. Phyllis Ogbonnaya, disappointed when they danced to the glory of God for His mercies all through their lives, marriage and ministries.

    Shortly after the opening prayers led by Rev. (Dr.) Nwaclerk Ihuoma, the testimonies began to pour out.

    Chairman, Planning Committee, Rev. Chuks Iheanacho, pointed out that Dr. Ogbonnaya has not just spent long years in the Lord’s vineyard but has done so by inspiring other young men of God.

    Dr. Ogbonnanya, he said, was a teacher at the Western Bible College, Iperu Remo, and has pastored several churches.

    The DS, he continued, has also been Sectional Leader in several places before becoming the District Superintendent of Badagry District, known for peace and progress.

    That is not all. At a point in his ministerial career, Dr. Ogbonnaya was the longest-serving District Secretary of the Church, a feat which earned him a befitting award.

    Chairman of the occasion, R. Aliga, an engineer, spoke of Dr Ogbonnaya’s good breeding in addition to his trademark inspirational trait.

    Aliga informed that the DS is also a prolific writer, authoring many books in which, once again, he positively impacts readers.

    Aliga prayed that Ogbonnaya will live to celebrate his 120th birthday.

    The worshippers responded with a thunderous Amen.

    The Guest Speaker, Dr. P. A. Aletang of Southwest School of Theology, read from 1Timothy 5:17, which talks about the reward for “the elders that rule well,” enjoining that they “be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

    He said: “When the heaven of a man is opened, he does not labour; he begins to enjoy favour. There might be some challenges but when heaven opens for the man who labours, he ceases to struggle. We must support the pastor that labours. God has raised him to bring people to God.”

    The cake came courtesy of Ogbonnaya’s wife, who is a caterer.

    At the echo of 64, the cake was cut on the directive of Mr Livingproof Aimuan, an engineer, who moderated that session.

    The Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), Ojo Province, Bishop Andy Ogbu, prayed for the DS.

    Renowned Rev. Prof. David Ajah reviewed Dr. Ogbonnaya’s 120-page book, “All by Grace, My Story.”

    He described the book as rich, noting that the author carefully documented his encounters with saints as well as his struggles in life.

    Elder Jude Onyeocha read the DS’s citation.

    When he spoke, Dr. Ogbonnaya saluted his mother and then his family whose support has spurred him to success. One endeavour that helped was his writing.

    Ogbonnaya said he found solace in writing, noting that he has written so many books that settling down to write no longer presents any difficulties.

    “When I write books I don’t find it difficult to write because it is inspired by God Almighty.” He advised young people to work hard and be prayerful.

    Rev. Chukwuemeka Ogbonnaya, one of his sons, spoke with The Nation, saying his father is hardworking and accommodating just as he is free with everyone.

    Rev. Nnamdi Onumaegbu, who has a long history of association with Ogbonnaya, said of the DS: “He is my mentor and a highly generous and hardworking leader. I am happy for him and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

  • Cleric unlocks mysteries of dreams in new book

    The General Overseer of Christ Temple International Ministry, Egbeda and author of a new book on dreams and interpretation, Pastor (Dr.) Joseph Eloma, has been described as one of those raised by God to unlock the mysteries of dreams.

    A publisher, Dr. David Arisemola, stated this during the dedication/launch of the book titled ‘Dreams, The Divine Riddles (A comprehensive guide to interpreting your own dreams).

    Arisemola said it is because of God’s love for his people that He sent another Joseph like Eloma to unravel the divine mysteries of dreams.

    According to him: “I believe that God loves his people so much that He sent a man of God to unlock the mysteries of dreams.

    “His name is Joseph which tallies with the name of the dream interpreter in the bible who was born and given the name Joseph to unlock the mysteries of dream.”

    Arisemola, who reviewed the book, said: “This book is a prophetic book, a book of allegories, a spiritual book.

    “You must read, meditate and study the book which contains 16 chapters and runs across 182 pages.”

    The special guest of honour, Mrs. Wuraola Ayandosu, an educationist, businesswoman and proprietress of Eduland Children School Akowonjo, praised the author.

    Thanking God for the knowledge and inspiration to put the book together, Eloma said: “God prepared me to write the book by putting me through almost all the experiences contained in the book.

    “It will make you to know if you are in bondage or freedom. When you look at the book after your dream, God tells you where you are spiritually.”

  • Experiencing wonders of settlement in God’s word!

    Encounter with the Word is the master key to a world of all-round settlement (1 Peter 5:10). From scriptures, we understand that until Joseph’s word came, the Word of the Lord tried him. But after his word came, the king sent for him, loosed and settled him in a grand style (Psalm 105:19-22).

    We also saw how God sent His Word to Jacob, bringing him out of every ordeal of life (Isaiah 9:8). It is also said that God sent His Word, settled their health issues and delivered them from all destructions. That is, all unsettled areas of your life will be settled by God’s Word (Psalm 107:20).

    Every child of God is ordained for settlement. It is written: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus came to offer us life at its best. That is, pressure-free, anguish-free and distress-free life.

    What, then, are the Covenant Requirements for our Settlement?

    • Be Born-again: Only those who have answered the call of salvation are candidates for settlement. We cannot be settled until we are saved, because settlement is God’s provision for the redeemed (1 Peter 5:10).

    Let us understand that peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit. When we are saved, the Prince of Peace comes into our heart, establishes His throne of peace, and we enjoy peace that passes all knowledge (Galatians 5:22, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 4:7).

    We must also know that unsettlement is part of the curses of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Redemption is what rescues us from the curse of distress. Therefore, until we are redeemed, we are not candidates for His settlement (Deut. 28:14-16, 53-57; Galatians 3:13-14).

    • Go after the Word: Peace multiplies by knowledge. As it is written: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. It is also written that Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (2 Peter 1:2, Psalm 119:165).

    It is great peace that keeps us in command and at rest in the midst of challenges. The battle of unsettlement is a battle with the power of darkness. Therefore, we must engage the armour of light (the Word) to disarm the forces of darkness (Romans 13:12, John 1:5).

    • Be Planted in the House of the Lord: If you want to be settled by God, be planted in His house (Psalm 92:13-15). But why must we planted in His house? The Bible says: In His presence is fullness of joy…pleasures evermore. We must be addicts of God’s house as David the Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” This must be why he never lost any battle. May the last battle you lost be the last you will ever lose in your life! (Psalm 16:11 Psalm 122:1).

    Also, the house of God is the mountain of illumination. The more insightful we are, the more peaceful, restful and settled we become (Psalm 73:17, 2 Peter 1:2).

    • Make a choice to serve God: Serving God is not a calling or a gift; it is a choice(Joshua 24:15). When Israel chose to serve God, He also vowed to settle them. In six separate scriptures, God demanded for the deliverance and settlement of His people from Egypt, based on their commitment to serve Him. The same God said, “I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

    When we choose to serve God, in response, God vows to settle us. Therefore, serving God’s interest is what makes a servant of God, not the title we bear. When we make a commitment to serve God, we have committed Him to settle us in a grand style. This is your time of settlement!

    Friend, the power to experience the wonders of settlement in God’s Word is available, if you are born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus! Now I know I am born again!” I will be with you next week!

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: The Force Of Freedom, Walking In Dominion and All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. respectively.

     

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • What and where? : Operation PUSH in Lagos

    The annual operation PUSH service of Christ Baptist Church Alimosho holds today.

    The theme of the service, which ends on August 23rd, is “power as of old.”

    The Senior Pastor of the Church, Rev Sunday Adeyemo, said the programme starts at 10pm and ends at 3am daily.

    Prophet Adetuberu of CAC, Ishashi, Akute; Rev Sunday Oduola of Overcomers’ Baptist Church, Ejigbo and Brother Wilson Balogun of Foursquare Gospel Church Ejigbo are expected to minister at the programme.

    Adeyemo said the programme, which is expected to involve prayer sessions and deliverance ministrations, holds in the church auditorium at 46, Akiwowo Street,Alimosho, Lagos.

  • Baptist church’s 21-day vigil

    The annual 21-day vigil of Alafia Oluwa Baptist Church, Alfonso road, Sasa, Ibadan has commenced.

    The theme of the vigil, which kicks off by 11pm in the Church auditorium is Power to Recover.

    The host Pastor, Rev Amos Ajibola, said the programme was aimed at empowering people to overcome challenges of life.

  • Igbe: A village full of mysteries

    Igbe: A village full of mysteries

    Igbe community, in Owo local government Ondo State, it is forbidden to whistle so as to avoid being stung by strange scorpions. Not only this, it is a taboo to cover your head when it is raining or when the sun is shining. This is a community where electric poles were erected and electric wires   fixed for over 20 years but still living in total darkness as they have never been given electricity. Taiwo Abiodun reports

    At the entrance of Igbe community, non-natives are welcomed into their fold but would be counseled and advised that they must obey the rules and regulations binding them in the community .According to the natives, the non-natives have freedom to do everything as natives but in spite their hospitality two things are forbidden : one must not whistle or blow whistle no matter the situation or else scorpions of various sizes would come from nowhere to sting them.

    The village head, His Royal Highness, Oyewole Ajelu, was asked by the reporter, “What if someone is in danger or decides out of love to whistle to a beloved one?’  He responded: “It is a rule that must be obeyed. In fact, in addition to this, whether the rain is falling or the sun is shining at its hottest, one must not cover or protect his head with anything.”

    According to His Highness, the community is rich with a lot of mysteries. He said it is a taboo to whistle as one would be stung with various sizes of scorpions. “It is not hearsay and not a myth but real and that it is how we met it.” he stated. “Those who thought it was a lie or who did not believe were stung and it was fatal, not one or two of them. And if you are in doubt, you can try it, but the repercussion will be fatal.”

    The monarch continued: “Another interesting thing is that a couple must not fight in the night.”  According to him, if a couple fights in the community, they would be fined. The wife must be forced to produce a hen chicken while the husband must produce a cock for sacrifice. This is applicable to natives and non-natives irrespective of their religions.

    Corroborating the monarch’s points on the punishment for couple who engage in fighting, Madam Rachael Oloye (75) said a couple who fought last year was fined. The woman was made to produce a hen while the husband was made to produce a cock. Madam Oloye said for a couple to fight is an abomination and “that is why this place is peaceful.”

    Madam Eunice Olasoji, who is in her late 60s, also speaking to the reporter, said, “We are living a loving, peaceful life here as couples hardly engage in fighting. And generally, no one steals , curses  or fights .We live in harmony , though many said our culture is still primitive but is living in peace primitive?”

    False electricity

    What is also still a mystery about the small town is their living in the ‘dark ages’ despite the fact that it is very close to Iyere town along Benin Road where there is constant electricity. Ajelu , the community head, declared, “This is the biggest mystery we have here and it is still a mystery to us that electric wires are seen dangling in the air with their poles for the past 20 years. We have been dreaming of having light for the past 20 years but like a dreamer we are still dreaming. Twenty years ago, we were made to work like Jackass as the Federal Government came with a hired contractor who is from the North, an Hausa man who was contracted to do the job left us in the dark as we worked for the light that never came.”

    He continued, “When we were told that we would have electricity, everybody was happy. Those in the cities and towns relocated home .We were asked to dig holes and provide what the community could provide to make the job easy. We then worked like Jackass as both the youths and the leaders felled trees, uprooted plants, dug holes, threw party and thought our prayers had been answered .But it was never to be .Now our children still use oil lamps to read at night While many are saying they don’t have electricity at times, we are saying we have never had it or seen how it looks like. In the end, many of the electrical instruments were stolen and carted away while some insulators are kept here since then and they could have become outdated. This is a mystery for we are very close to a town that has light and everything but we don’t have.”

    Mr Idowu Lagundoye , the family head of Ujigan Quarters in Igbe, talking about another taboo in the community, said no one should cover his or her head with a clothe in his quarters whether during the rain  or sunshine. He said,”It is a taboo. We have the Oloka masquerade that is special here and that is our law.

    When this reporter made attempt to whistle and cover his head  in the sunny day ,one of the escorts who led him into the community , Mr.Jide Tububo ran away while Mr. Ladi Akinwale sternly warned that this reporter could see the red eyes of the residents as they know the consequence of broken taboos”

  • Hour to Receive holds

    |Hour to Receive, the three-day life transforming programme of New Birth Ministries Ikeja, kicks offon August 21 by 5pm.

    A vigil takes place on Friday, tagged night of reaching the globe, from 11pm.

    The anointing service ends the programme on Sunday by 8am.

    The chief host, Bishop Francis Anunobi, assured that participants will receive divine touch.