Category: Worship

The Convener, Eternal Gospel Believers Association Africa Zion, Revd David Olutade, has called on Christians to vote with faith in next year’s election for the will of God to be done.

Olutade said this at the African Zion independence Reality Conference tagged, Divine Election and the Elect. held at Christ Gospel Apostolic Church Cathedral, Lagos.

According to him, the church needs to pray for the will of God to be done. “Voting belongs to man, but election belongs to God. Voting may not count but our faith will count. Voting out of faith will not count. That is the advantage the people of the world are exploring. When we vote with faith, then our vote will count. When you vote without faith because of bribery and corruption, the result will be the permissive will of God,” he added.

He noted that an election is a call and after it is an ordination, which is done only by God, adding that election is not child’s play but a divine issue.

Olutade stated that Christians must not be laid back in governance in Nigeria as the push for independence was done by Christians who, after their education, negotiated for Nigeria’s independence.

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“It is only the son of God that can interpret the programme of God for the earth. Politics belong to the people of God. If this is the only means of electing leaders, we must get involved because until we have righteous people on the throne, Nigeria may continue to experience distress and problems, he said.

He stressed that anything that opposes God in the next year’s election would not stand, adding: “The election of anyone that will not favour the church will not stand.”

Also, the Convener of God’s Kingdom Gospel Church Global, Apostle Lordslight Osibowale, urged unity among Christian as division and denominationalism remain the greatest weapon the devil is using against the church.

He said: “Let us unite with the zeal of the gospel that God has given to us. At the gate of heaven, there is no Bishop or Rev but saints whose ropes are washed in the blood of the lamb. Let us drop our title and work together to rescue the country from the grip of sin, wickedness, and all forms of ungodliness.”

The National Deputy President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), JohnPraise Daniel, who is also the presiding Archbishop of the Dominion Chapel International Churches and Presiding Prelate, Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, was recently in Lagos for a conference where he addressed some national issues. By Adeola Ogunlade.

Sixty two years after independence, Nigerians still lament over some teething challenges; does this bother you?

I’m a lot bothered especially when I go to other countries, especially smaller countries, and see what is happening there. Earlier this year I was in Cotonou and Togo, from the airport, I was telling God ‘why can’t our leaders see what is happening even in these smaller countries?’ If you land at the Lagos airport you will see grass around the runway but if you go to Rwanda or Ghana, you will see the setup of their airports. When you enter the tarmac of our airports here in Nigeria, it is so disappointing. Part of my training is in transportation engineering. I specialised in highway transportation and tarmac construction. I noticed that most of our airports are not built to standard. It bothers me that things are not being done right in our nation.

My prayer is for a pragmatic and forthright leadership that will be concerned about people other than themselves. Also, we need a leadership that will get governance to the grassroots. Look at our roads, you can hardly travel by road anywhere. I went from Abuja to one of our churches in Nasarawa and I was lamenting over the state of the road.

I believe this country can be better and that can only begin with good leadership.  By the time we begin with the right leaders I believe that things will be put right in this nation. I pray that God hears the cries of His people. Let us also be optimistic that God will turn things around for good. I will also like to point out that having travelled to many places, I also think we have not done badly in terms of development looking at Abuja and Lagos, we have some things to show.

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So, we cannot totally say we are behind in terms of some roads, buildings, construction and other infrastructures. There was a time I went to the third largest city in Kenya for a conference and we were with the president at the stadium. I looked and said even my local government stadium cannot be like that.

A measure of development is going on in the country and the fact that we have not done badly does not mean we cannot do better. We can have better roads and other infrastructures put in place here in Nigeria.

 Nigerian leaders travel to enjoy good infrastructures in foreign countries and feel at ease not replicating the same here; why is that so?

I think it has to do with leaders that are nonchalant. Sometimes, I wonder why they are this way. Look at what happened during COVID-19 when travelling was restricted, I thought they would have learned and tried to put medical facilities in place for people to avoid traveling and to have our doctors stay back.

I tell you the truth, this country is the best, we have the best weather, the best set of people, rich in human resources and rich in mineral resources. I am sure some countries are jealous of us, and maybe that is why they keep causing trouble so that we do not enjoy peace. It is time for us to maximize what God has blessed us with in this country and ensure we have the best living standard instead of people leaving here for other countries.

I pray that the candidates running for the presidency should begin to think in the direction of representing the people and not going there for themselves. I am happy that they have all been in leadership, Tinubu has been a governor likewise Peter Obi, also Atiku has been a vice president. They should not go there to incur debt for the nation or to carry the money we do not have. They should see how to make this country develop, move forward and get away from poverty.

You were in the news recently for meeting with the APC presidential candidate; was it on the same faith ticket of the APC?

The party that did it was not very sensitive to the feelings of the Christian body, especially, from the northern part. I am from the north and I know the Christians from the North do not feel quite good about it. Efforts were made initially even after the appointment of the vice- presidential candidate.

Concerning the meeting with the APC presidential candidate that raised some uproar, I have been directed not to grant an interview on that. However, by the grace of God, the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria hosted Tinubu to a parlay on September 22 at Johnwood Hotel in Zone 5 and not the campaign office as reported in many papers. I said ‘let us listen to him in line with John 7: 51, you do not judge  a man without listening to him.’ Also, to ask how the church under his administration will not suffer if he becomes the president and he tried to answer a few questions.

We are not happy with the insensitive decision but there is room to make an informed decision on who to vote for. Vote according to your conscience and how God is leading you. The same faith ticket decision had been made already so the next is having a way forward. Besides, this present administration has the Vice President as a Christian but that did not stop the magnitude of killings, especially in the North. In fact, when the President was away and he made some changes, the President upon return reversed the changes.

My humble advice is that we should not fold our hands but encourage candidates with the strength of character to fight corruption, the capacity to rule, can bring about positive changes, and end insecurity, embezzlement, and other things that this country has been challenged with. The Christian Association of Nigeria  (CAN) gave guidelines on things to look for in voting not only for the next president but also for the governorship position and other electoral positions. I believe it is critical to consider the voting guidelines CAN gave in order to move the nation forward.

The General Overseer of God Is Able Evangelical Mission, Timothy Agbe, has charged Nigerians to keep their hope and confidence in God as Nigeria’s present state is not beyond redemption.

Agbe, said this to newsmen ahead of the Church’s annual conference starting on 31 October, through to 6th, November which coincided with the 31st anniversary. The event will hold at the church, National Headquarters, Ketu- Alapere, Lagos.

The conference theme: ‘Peniel’ was taken from Genesis 32:30.

Agbe said that almost everything in Nigeria was looking like an illusion, making it seem as if the country was living in the dark.

He said “we are trusting God that years ahead if Nigeria will come back to God things will be easy. He said seek me and you will find me – Nigeria has not looked unto that aspect of seeking God. The leadership appears to be like that of Pharaoh who knew not God.”

He said that things would be good again for Nigeria, provided the citizens would turn back to God.

“What sustained Nigeria till today is the presence of the children of God that cry unto Him – otherwise Nigeria could have been a disaster and in disarray,” Agbe said.

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Speaking about the Church’s annual conference, Agbe said that God has journeyed with the Church over the years.

According to him, the theme of the conference ‘Peniel’ means God will journey with the Church into the future. “I’m trusting God that everyone participating will have a lasting experience and testimony from the 2022 conference. There has never been a time that we have not had this conference since April 1991, when the ministry started with the theme, ‘Launch into the Deep,’” he said.

On the socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country, Agbe said that Nigeria might have missed it; but if at 62 they come back to God, they will be accepted. “Nothing is ever late with God,” he said.

Busayo Adeniyi, chairman of the conference planning committee, said that the 2022 conference theme, ‘Peniel’ was taken from Genesis 32:30, and that the congregation will use the opportunity to pray for the unity of the Church in Nigeria, especially ahead of the 2023 general election.

Speaking on how the church has been able to sustain the conference over the years, Adeniyi, who was represented by Taiwo Ogunniranye, a member of the conference planning committee said, “It ways been God’s provision even beyond financials,” stated Adeniyi, who was.

He stated further that Sam Tukura, the senior pastor of Global Fire Center will be the guest minister, while Yinka Alaseyori will minister in songs.

The Deputy National President, South West of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, the General Overseer of Revival Assembly Church,  Apostle Anselm Madubuko and President of Eagle World Outreach, Apostle Femi Adun have been billed to grace the 40th anniversary and Camp Meeting of The Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC) holding on the 25th to 30th, October at The Stable, Surulere, Lagos.

Tagged: Possessing Your Promised land will bring together thousands of Christain faithfuls around the world.

Announcing this at a press conference held recently at the church in Surulere, The Chairman of Church Council, CCIC, Rev Dan Ibekwe, stated that  the anniversary celebration is a celebration of life and faithfulness of God over the ministry, adding that ths focus of the church is to touch lives and glorify God.

Ibekwe says the church has been a strong advocate to change the attitudinal disposition of Nigerians and also eliminate social vices through several programmes aimed at helping the people to shun improper conduct in the society.

Explaining the plans for the celebration, The Chairman of the 40th anniversary committee, Pastor Niyi Odetayo stated that #I million grant will be given mainly for members of the church who have established businesses and need small support to expand their business operations.

Odetayo added that the church is also providing one Kilowat of solar inverter powered electricity for the Bode Thomas Police Station in its efforts to combat crime. The community Primary School in Muritala Animasaun area in Surulere will also be a major beneficiary of the church with a borehole facility to provide water for the school community.

He also said the church will also embark on the distribution of food stuff items and medical outreach to Ilasa community as part of the anniversary celebration.

As Nigeria celebrated its 62nd independence recently with so much hope and optimism, an evangelist and author of 50 books, Senior Pastor, Born Free International Ministry, Badore Ajah, Lagos, Pastor Phillip Osung, spoke on the state of the nation and God’s mind about the current administration and Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. Adeola Ogunlade was there.

igeria is 62? how elated are you and what does the future portend for Nigeria

Nigeria at 62 calls for celebration because God has taken us through a process and product will soon emerge. All that Nigeria has been going through in the last 16 years is actually a process and not the final product. I see a new Nigeria emerging soon. I will boldly say Nigeria is about to encounter a transformation. It is under this same government that is being criticized as the worse government that this new Nigeria will emerge, and it is just around the corner

America did not get to where they are today after 200 years, is the process still on for a new Nigeria

For me, a new Nigeria is around the corner.  A new Nigeria where we will experience debt-free, and the pricing of goods and services will be reduced drastically.  A new Nigeria that our forefathers dreamed of. This is what we have been praying for, the dreams we have been seeing, but we are right here by the new Nigeria. The process is not gradually coming to an end, the process has come to an end in just a few minutes, and months from now, we should be singing the new Nigeria song. A new Nigeria will see, weeping and killing will be gone.

What is the role of the church in governance?

The church should stop praying but start voting. We don’t pray leaders into power but by voting. Your physical voting will put them there. The church has always been backward when it comes to politics, thinking politics is a dirty game. We leave the dirty game for dirty people who put into power dirty leaders who in turn do dirty things that affect the church. In the end, the church suffers. I want to tell you that a greater number of poor people are in church.  Nigerians run to the church to seek refuge. I am a pastor; I pay rents for so many people. My weekly expenses are high. I have several people on my weekly allowance. I spent so much for church members and family members and sometimes it runs to #1 million or more. This is my personal assistant to people. When Nigeria had COVID-19 in 2020, l personally emptied my account for millions of people. I had made a payment to buy a car, but I asked for a return to help several millions of Nigerians. 500 to 1, 000 families were helped by me. the church should step into politics. Politics is there in heaven. God in heaven is a politician.

How best should the church get involved in politics?

Fear not, it is written in the scriptures that when the righteous are in power, the people rejoice. This means that God in his love wants the righteous in power, but the righteous are scared of death, they believe that when they step into politics, they will be killed. The bible says whosoever loves his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. The church should stop being intimidated by thugs on the street. I have been shot at severally times since 2016. I have gone through several assassination attempts, and God spared my life. I have no police security anymore.  The church should stop being scared of  the people outside the church.

PFN had set up Directorate of Politics to galvanize Christian’s participation in governance, is that the way to go for the church?

To the best of my knowledge, it is a good idea, but our problem is how many of these people are serious to do what God has sent them to do. A lot of people get there, get a share of their cake, and walk away. ln 2019, I turn my back on #100 million by a politicians even when the money was presented to me, I was broke, but I rejected it. If we can stand on the integrity of the gospel, we have achieved a lot. Setting up Directorate of Politics by PFN is not the solution but having like-minded people who believe in the integrity of the bible and refuses to compromise them is the way forward.

Beyond 2023, Christians should start joining parties at the ward level.

From the beginning, politics was never a thing of the world, politics was something of the church, and God is the father of politics. The Almighty President is God, if he can still be honest, we can take a cue from him as we go into politics. The church needs to be there. It is written in the Bible that in the last days, the mountain of the lord shall be exalted above every other mountain and the whole world shall run into it. The church is the only saving arm for the whole world these days but is it the entire church generally, no, just a few-minded Christians who are ready to stand on the integrity of the gospel? Like the Bible says in the book of Isaiah, I sought for a man who will stand in the gap, and I found nor.

How achievable is this new Nigeria under the Buhari administration that is being criticized as the worst and with less than a year of its tenure in power?

I will confidently say under this same government, Nigeria will experience a positive turnaround before the government hands over power to the next government in 2023. It is not this current government perse that will transform Nigeria. It is the work of the Almighty God. Nigeria is presently in a very tight corner but very close to the ultimate deliverance God has programmed for her. Nigeria’s deliverance is around the corner. I challenge Nigerians to take me at my word. Nigeria’s deliverance is not coming in 2023. It will happen before this current administration runs out.

 

At 62 Nigeria is struggling under severe hardship. Where did the nation get it wrong?

When a nation forsakes God, hardship is inevitable in that nation. When a nation leaves God. God too will leave that nation. Nigeria has left God who gave her independence and brought her this far 62 years as a nation. Nigeria got it wrong when the nation adopted cultures and practices that are taboo to her as a nation. Nigeria adopted a western lifestyle and allowed immoral practices like homosexuality, lesbianism, and incest among other sexual perversions that are taboo to us Africans. When strange gods are brought into a nation, the real God will keep silent and watch the strange gods destroying the nation. The strange gods sponsor errors and poor decisions in governance, instigate violence, terrorism, and insecurity in the polity and promote iniquities in the nation. That is why the Bible says, “There is an evil, which I have seen under the sun,” and it is this error that proceeds from the rulers the people elected to power. And the same people are the ones trekking while those they elected to power are riding on horses. That is a spirit of error and the reason the people are incapacitated. Empty people are in power while those who are loaded are never allowed in power. But God is coming to correct this error.

Dr . Babatunde Agboola has a Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University in the United States. The Principal Engineer, Lunar Mobility at one of the leading tire manufacturing companies in the world is also a Bible teacher. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on how Christians can make sense of suffering. Excerpts:

Your daughter’s medical condition is the springboard for the book Behold, I make all things new. Can you recount how it all started?

My daughter’s medical condition inspired and prepared me to write the book. It all started in 2012 when she was conceived and was to be born in Texas, United States. I detailed the story in chapter 1 of the book. She was born with a rare genetic anomaly called chromosome 18-q deletion, which led to several developmental health issues. So, navigating the health challenges led my wife and me to ask fundamental questions as to why the God we believe is all good as the scriptures have taught will allow this in our lives. The book is detailed theology on the answers I got during those periods while asking God why he allowed such affliction with us. Find further details in chapter 1 of the book of how the book was born.

The book provides a theological, biblical standpoint for evil and suffering. How can one make sense of the seeming complexities in life? 

Life is indeed complex from conception to the completion of our years. The human biological system and the process that led to the start of every life up till birth is indeed complex and provide us with an illustration of the philosophy and thesis I put forth in the book that has helped me make sense of the complexities in life. I mean that God has put a mystery in childbirth to illustrate what he is doing that has made him allow all of life’s complexities, including specific pain, suffering, and affliction.

So, all the complexity is a part of God’s process of birthing His children through His creation – this pleasant pang is the complexity we see as a paradox for all. In a nutshell, God is working all things together towards the goal of birthing his children and bringing many sons (male and female) to glory. I understood from scriptures as I asked the Lord questions that if God does it or allows it, it is because God has seen how it will lead to the birth of children for God or the maturing of His children towards sonship.

It’s believed that bad things happen to good people. Do you share this sentiment?

It depends. If we define good in the absolute, there is no one good but God. That is the fundamental premise of my book. However, if by “good” we mean goodness (which I define as acting in manners consistent with the only one who is good, i.e., God), then we can say that bad things do happen to “good” people. However, there is no one righteous, no not one. No one is (inherently) good except God alone. Read my book to see how I developed this thought in a very analytical, philosophical, and detailed manner. I was meticulous and tried to be thorough in how I laid out this paradigm in my book.

You have cared for a daughter with special needs. What’s your message to parents with such kids?

I can’t claim I understand each unique challenge because these special needs conditions are on a spectrum-all I can only say is that I can empathize with them since my wife and I have been raising special needs as well. I have to admit that it is not easy to raise children with special needs. I empathise with these parents and feel their pain, shame, and sometimes ostracization even by well-meaning people. I do not have all the answers for them because I am also continuously learning more and more about the specifics of God’s eternal plans and purposes and working on individual cases of having a child with special needs.

However, I can say to the parents of such kids that they are not alone. They don’t have to give up, nor should they give in to despair and depression. There is a divine purpose in and beyond the pain they go through. I will counsel and suggest that they should ask the question if they believe that God has a purpose for everything (which I detailed in my book and also stated earlier that it is to bring many sons to glory) that they should seek his face as to what God is doing through that child. In our case, we found that God used our experience raising our daughter to prepare us to write the book “Behold, I Make All Things New!”

 In Nigeria, people with special children most likely attribute the conditions to spiritual afflictions or attacks. Isn’t that a possibility?

Yes, it is a possibility. When we trace all human problems, it is traceable to the Devil. Sicknesses and the like are in the world because sin is in God’s creation. In heaven, there is no sin, so there is no sickness. And I do not mean mainly individual sins but that through Adam and Eve, sin entered the world as they yielded to the Devil’s lure. The Devil is evil, and he is the primary perpetrator of evil. So, the Devil does afflict and afflicting children with a fundamental health condition is within the bounds of the Devil’s evil. However, I do not subscribe to tagging special needs children as demon-possessed, just like not every sick person is demon-possessed. The problem comes when we call all special needs children “ogbanje” and “Emere.” These children need care and love from their parents and the church, even if we believe that the Devil afflicted them.

How new can things get considering the mess in the world?

Things can get brand new. A good example is how God has continuously made the worst of sinners new when they encounter the gospel. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. That is God turning men whose imagination and thought are evil from birth. God supernaturally changes their heart and makes them newborn babies in His kingdom. God has been making the most messed up lives like Paul, the apostle, and turning them into new creations and even His agents of good. This same God is still working today doing the same. There is a message in the New birth experience that we regularly see when people get saved from sin. The new birth experiences of people are yelling at us that God has been, is, and will make all things new.

However, the ultimate newness in all of God’s creation is when the New Heavens and the New earth proceed from God at the consummation of all things detailed in Revelations 21 and 22. There will be no more pain, sicknesses, sorrow, and death because the present states of things will become the former things and pass away. God will wipe away every tear. That time is coming, and it is now when God will wipe away your tears, and you will receive His Joy and worship Him from the depth of your heart that He is good and merciful and made beauty out of your ashes.

The Lead Pastor, Victory Life Bible Church Int’l, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has urged Nigerians to focus on the daily blessings embedded in the country and build their business as the economy is not run by the government but entrepreneurs.

Achudume said as much at the church’s 2022 Independence Day Special Service tagged ‘winning the war’ at its Abeokuta  headquarters along Ajebo road  in  the Ogun State capital.

He said people in governance have allowed their love for money to distract them from their core mandate which is the call to serve their fatherland, noting that the failure of past and present leaders have caused great damage to the image of the country.

“It is entrepreneurs that run the economy and not the government. All that the government need to do is to provide social amenities and enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Unfortunately, we have people in power that have lost their integrity because of money. They got to power and forget their fatherland for money. They lack the capacity to manage the economy.”

The clergyman, who noted that it is time for Nigeria to raise businessmen and women, encouraged Nigerians to build their businesses and serve God, who can take care of their tomorrow, adding that there is no need for anxiety over tomorrow with god on their side.

He said that Nigeria’s greatness is incomparable to any other nation in the world, urging Nigerians not to give up “for Nigeria will give birth to greatness in no time.”

“Every day has a womb. Nigeria too has a womb and a new Nigeria is about to be born. We all must learn to prophesy into the country. Avoid speaking evil of the nation. Every time i am travelling back to the country from nations of the world, i meet foreigners on the flight that are coming to Nigeria. They come here because they are seeing what most of you are not seeing in the country. You need to start believing in the Nigeria.”

He stressed that Nigeria is at the point of escape from sorrow and hardship, predicting that in due course, the world will celebrate the country. He enjoined the citizens and residents of the country not to leave for the land is green and filled with blessings.

“Nigeria will escape sorrow. The whole world will celebrate Nigeria, there will be peace. We have a dream for Nigeria, and it will come to pass. Nigeria is not a confused nation, but a few elements are confused. Nigeria will start benefiting from god’s blessings in abundance. We should raise entrepreneurs and not beggars”

Also speaking at the Independence Day Special Service, The Lead Pastor, Christ Royal Church, Bishop Tom Samson, called on Nigerians not to despair as the nation would soon be delivered from the clutches of tyranny and bad leadership.

Earlier in the Independence Day special service, the congregation was led to pray for Nigeria using the book of Isaiah chapter 62 verses 2 – 4 as the service had in attendance Reverend Foal Achudume, pastors, members, and dignitaries in Ogun state.

 

t was a weeklong celebration as Methodist Church, Nigeria celebrate its 180 anniversary in Nigeria with funfair and excitement. Clergymen and friends gather to celebrate the church milestone of ecumenicism in Nigeria. Part of the activities held included: the induction of 180 members as the knight at the Thomas Birch Freeman of Wesley Mission and the thanksgiving ceremony at Tinubu, Methodist Church, Lagos.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Samuel Uche said that I am so excited, encouraged, and joyful about what God has done for Methodist Church in Nigeria. “We are the church that brought enlightenment to Nigeria. Whatever you called Pentecostalism or African Church, their root is Methodism Church Nigeria”.

He added “every Nigeria Christian is a Wesley because they drank from the water of our gospel and wanted to be independent and we didn’t begrudge them. We are the very first church in Nigeria and we are happy and proud of it. 180 anniversary means to the church, a great milestone but it is not yet Uhuru. We will not rest on our own until Nigerians are converted to Christ”.

We created new 30 dioceses at the last conference. The number of Bishops has increased from 84 to 130. It is for evangelism.

He charged the church to maintain a life of holiness. Holiness in the church at home, in private and public places. Social and scriptural holiness is what God expects from us. We should lead Nigeria on the path of righteousness, the way we started.

On the 2023 election, the prelate cautious politicians to shun hate speeches and assassination of the character of other opponents. He said that politicians should tell us what they want to do for Nigeria. Politicians should base their campaign on issues and shun assassinating the character of others. “If you cannot tell us what you want to do for Nigeria, you are a jobber, unserious, and a fake person, he said.

Uche said “tell us what you can do for Nigeria, and we will weigh it and determine where our vote will be. Assassinating the character of others won’t take any aspirant anywhere. Nigeria will no longer tolerate it. Let Nigerians be allowed to freely choose who they want to vote for”.

He urged electorates not to be influenced by money. You are selling yourself and your unborn generation if you collect money from politicians to vote.

“As I am standing here, I do not have any candidate that am supporting. All of the aspirants are my brothers and sisters. Their campaign promises will convince me of who to vote for. I am standing, I can influence 6million people. If you are an aspirant and you get 6 million votes, you know what it means. I have my people across 36 states and whatever I say is almost a law. I will educate them properly on who to vote for.

On making Badagry a Pilgrimage, Uche said “we are working with the Anglican Communion to set up Methodist/Anglican Commission which will be inaugurated soon. The two of us are the pioneers and we will talk about how to develop Nigeria spiritually.

The cleric posited that the church needs to do more in evangelizing Nigeria, and said that we have not enough and that is why the bible says that we should preach the gospel so that the people can repent and prepare for heaven. We will do more and we are very hopeful that many people will be converted.

About his 10 years in service as prelate, said that it was turf, I was encumbered. So much pressure but God was my strength. The power of God, faith, and the word of God kept me. He led me successfully and I must remain eternally grateful to God.

In his words, The Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church, Ghana,  The Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo said that the 180-anniversary celebration of Methodism in Nigeria is about celebrating the goodness of God toward the Methodist church in Nigeria. “We do not take that for granted.  180 years is not a mean achievement. Thanking God is to acknowledge the fact that we did not do it by our power. Then, when we are celebrating, what our forebear did, we have to do more in terms of evangelism, education, health, social service, and improving the lives of people.

Although, Methodist Church came in 1835 in Ghana. We are proud of Nigeria, that it has also grown to be a big church like this.

“I want to thank the awardees for their sacrifice and commitment and their love for God. Once they have been acknowledged in this manner. they should continue to be role models. The work of God goes on. this award should give them more energy to do more for God in Nigeria and everywhere” he said.

Boafo noted that the holy book is the best book you find on the planet earth. if you relegate the word of God, you are relegating God. As a human being, the God factor is always important. As we read the bible, we are inspired by what has God done to his children. We should not leave the bible behind. The almost pillar in which we rest our faith is the bible. We will read it and make do with its teaching.

Responding to the award given, the Former Conference Public Relations Officer of the Church, Sir, Tola Aramide Noibi said that to God be the glory, “I regard it as an award well deserved by the Prelate. Over time, I have always been sacrificial in all my dealings with God and mankind. I have not waited for the church to compensate me. In all the services I have been rendering, I believe one day, God will smile on him”.

Also, the Patron of the Boy Brigade, Hon David Adekunle Ogunnaike said that it is a huge honour for me. I glorify God. It is too soon to know the real star of the award but I know thank the Lord in his infinite mercy for what we have done and where he is taking us to. I think it is one of the greatest honour in Methodism, to God be the glory

“I have been blessed to be counted as a worthy knight and join the host of others before me”, he said.

 

Glory Impact Christian Centre (GIC) at the weekend kicked off its skill acquisition and empowerment programme for youths and women at its Cathedral at Akute, Ogun State. It will end on October 3.

In a statement, the GIG Senior Pastor, Pastor Busola Afolayan, said their objective is to equip young people and women in their host community with skills that could help to solve unemployment. It is also to encourage people who have paid jobs to have multiple streams of income.

Afolayan said: “The rising unemployment in our society calls for concern. Hence, we must rise up to tackle it before it gets out of hand. It is a well-known fact that no meaningful social and economic progress could be recorded where the majority of any society is unemployed.

“Furthermore, we live in a country with an unstable economy. There is no guarantee that you will get your salary when you expect it and the reality is that there are some financial needs that you can’t delay. The more income streams you can create the more wealth you will have.”