Category: Worship

Bishop Kayode Fanilola is the founding pastor of Throne of Grace and Miracle Ministries, Baltimore, Maryland, and the President of Mission and Crusade International. He was consecrated as a bishop in 2016 by the Kingdom Way College of Bishops and Ministerial Alliance in the United States. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about his experience carrying the banner of the gospel to different parts of the world, a strong passion for rural evangelism, the 2023 election, and life as a prolific writer.

WHO or what would you consider the greatest influence in your ministry?

One of the things that greatly influenced my Ministry was a tape, a message by Dr. Daniel. K Olukoya. The title of the message was, ‘Lord, show me the secret of my life.’ Somebody left that tape in my car and I listened to the message several times.  It gave me victory and deliverance.  That was the tape that drew me to Christ. I was ordained as a pastor by my father in the Lord, who just passed on recently,  Bishop Godwin Elomoboŕ. He played a major role in my Ministry.  Also, there are so many books and tapes of Bishop Benson Idahosa that someone gave me at a church in Baltimore, USA. Archbishop Idahosa was another spiritual father that I admire. Since I came into the College of Bishops and Ministerial Alliance, a frontline college of bishops in the US, mostly populated by African and African Americans, my Ministry has never remained the same.

The 2023 election is around the corner, what message do you have for Nigerians?

To be honest with you, the 2023 election that is coming up is not a question of prayer again.  There are so many things in this country that we push into the realm of prayers. Everybody should know that if we keep getting five thousand naira and a bag of rice from politicians, it means that we have been paid for our suffering for the next four years.  My appeal is that even if you get something from any corrupt politician, still vote for those you know can improve our living conditions. Our problem now is not prayers; it is about good governance, good leadership, and good followership. It is the bad followers that are creating the bad leaders.

Tell us some of the changes you would like to see in the country?

One of the changes that I really want to see in Nigeria is to cut the size of our government.  We are running a big government with so many special assistants.  This is wastage.  Our economy is not good and we are not doing anything about it. All we do is to keep borr owing money to maintain a lifestyle of affluence. Another thing is that I would like to see all our government officials using made-in-Nigeria cars. I was very angry when I read that our legislators refused to patronize the car being manufactured in Nnewi by Innoson. As a matter of policy, if we are to grow as a country, we should use what we make. You will not see an American President using a Mercedes Benz and you would never see a German President using Chevrolet or any American car. Likewise, you would never see a French President using a car manufactured in Japan. They all use what they produce.  There is nothing wrong if our President uses a specially crafted car from Nnewi with bulletproof.  Unfortunately, we are creating jobs for other countries each time we patronise foreign goods.

What advice do you have for young people in the country today?

They should move closer to God and work hard. The only offence is that they were born in Nigeria. But, I would not encourage them to keep doing things that would put them in trouble. I would advise them to run away from Yahoo, Yahoo things. They should run away from getting rich quick syndrome and killing people for ritual money that is rampant now. Apart from the repercussions here on earth, they should also not forget that anyone that engaged in all this kind of thing cannot make heaven.  The age-long solution to poverty is hard work.

Tell us about the things that drive you?

The major thing that really serves as a drive for me is when I am in a position to touch lives. I have a serious passion to help people in need. Whenever I do this, I am most fulfilled.

Where do you see your ministry in the next few years?

Within the next few years by the special grace of God, I am concentrating on expanding the coast of our mission both in Africa and other parts of the world. We want to touch more lives. The scope is not wide enough to do more than we are doing right now. And by the special grace of God, our prayer is for our ministry to create a global impact, in terms of reaching out to vulnerable people, helping the needy, and touching the lives of widows and widowers.  To win more souls for the kingdom of God,  and keep depopulating the kingdom of darkness.

THE Youth wing of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Eti Osa Province, Lagos State recently inaugurated its new executive members.

The event which was largely attended by both members and friends of the province was held at Miracle Breed Church, Eti Osa Local Government Area.

While delivering a sermon at the event, with the theme: ‘Stronger Together,’ the Bishop of Miracle Breed Church, Femi Soneye charged the new exco members to be cautious and respect one another.

Soneye, who delivered his message, quoting copiously from the Bible in 1st Corinthians 1:10, 1st Peters 3:8 and Ephesians 4:11-13, advised the youth leaders to work together to realise a uniform goal.

On his part, the newly elected Province Youth Director, Joel Obikoru while speaking with reporters said that the new executive members would use the platform to provide opportunities for Nigerian youths to realise their dreams of singing and acting.

He also urged Nigerian youths to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to enable them to vote in a credible candidate come 2023.

“We all know that Nigeria is having leadership issues.   We want to have so many people come into politics; conquer the mountain of education, entertainment, sports and the mountain of religion which is the church we are called into.

“We have many of our youths who feel that the church is not supporting them. We are here to support them through the platform, “he said.

Obikoru added: “I want to advise every youth to grab his or her PVC, if you don’t have PVC, you are the enemy of this country and the body of Christ. Like, in my church l am organising INEC to come for everybody to be registered and obtain their PVC. So every youth in Nigeria should grab their PVC and vote for the right candidate come the 2023 election.”

On his part, newly inaugurated Director of Sports, Eti Osa Province and Youth Leader, Ajah Chapter said: “The youths today are gradually losing their sense of belonging in the society when the youths are meant to be trained as leaders of tomorrow.

“Our youths should be encouraged and prepared for the task of the future. So many Nigerian youths are swayed into making money rather than preparing for their task as future leaders.

“Our country is led by leaders who are about 80 years old. We want to bring back that awareness by equipping Nigeria youths to be leaders of tomorrow and repositioning them through workshops and seminars for youths all over the country.”

A Nigerian gospel artiste, Queen Esther also known as Cheena, performed at the event.

IT was a splendid Sunday at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Ota Mega Region, as the General Overseer of the MFM Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, dedicated six of the regions in the Sango/Ota axis, Ogun State.

The event was graced by the traditional rulers of the town, the Olota of Ota, Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege; the Onilogbo of Ilogbo, Oba Ojugbele, while the founder and Presiding Bishop of the Faith Tabernacle, Dr. David Oyedepo, was ably represented by a senior pastor in the ministry, among other dignitaries from across the country.

As early as 7am, Olukoya and his entourage of senior pastors at the axis stormed the South West Region 19, Ijoko, in Sango axis, where he did the dedication of the first region.

Members of the Church, neighbours and friends of the MFM trooped out en masse to witness the event. Pastor Joshua Ajose took charge of the programme.

From Sango, the team moved to the Tent Makers Pastoral Ministry, Region 10, Owode- with a large crowd of worshippers and neighbours, who thronged the arena, to listen and catch a glimpse of the General Overseer of MFM Worldwide.

South West Region 93, Iyana-Ilogbo was the third region that followed and there, the Regional Overseer built a hall alongside the auditorium and the motley of MFM adherents, fans and friends of the Ministry were almost uncontrollable on sighting Dr. Olukoya, as they peeped through the windows, and all available spaces to catch a glimpse of their spiritual father.

Another Tent Makers Pastoral Ministry, Region 30, Sango-Ota, was the next port of call. It is imperative to note that this region was built single-handedly by 76-year-old Pastor (Mrs.) Janet Oluwadaunsi, the Regional Overseer, popularly called ‘Mama’.

The Regional Overseer of South West 22, Iyesi-Ota, Pastor Moses Adekunle and his wife, drew a large array of Senior Regional Overseers, Regional Overseers, Overseers, pastors, friends, neighbours and well-wishers from near and far, to host Dr. Olukoya and his entourage next and was second to the last region to be dedicated.

In his sermon at the region, the General Overseer said that one may not require the help of a very important personality to attain the great height destined for one by God. He cited the example of David, who knew no one but God took him to the throne, from slavery. “Nothing good comes easy,” Olukoya said, adding that God can plant a servant in a place to promote one to the throne.

The final port of call and which drew the largest crowd, including three Assistant General Overseers, Principal Senior Assistant Overseers, other Senior Regional Overseers, Overseers, pastors from across the ministry, was the Mega Regional Headquarters, where the Senior Regional Overseer, Pastor Wale Adeolumuyiwa, holds sway. It was already midday, by the time the General Overseer and his entourage arrived here and he, as usual, went straight to dedicate the expansive auditorium, as worshippers within and outside the two-floor auditorium, went ecstatic, with a frenzy. This, of course, was the pattern in all the other regions earlier dedicated.

In his sermon, themed: ‘My Case is Different,’ Olukoya charged that one’s case has to be different from the others, to be able to make a difference in life. He said that some powers are happy when they see one suffering and in bondage but that once God appears at one’s battle, the battle is over. According to him, before God appears on one’s battlefield, the enemy may be doing as he likes and in such circumstances, many people have been boxed into a corner by the enemy; many are struggling with the strugglers; many are passing through hard times and some people’s fertile grounds had been turned infertile grounds, while the enemies are congratulating themselves over some people, for exploiting their labour.

Olukoya blessed the faith materials of the worshippers in all six regions and prayed for the growth and God’s protection of everyone present. Pastor Adeolumuyiwa, recalled that Dr. Olukoya was in the region last on 27th June 2010, when he first launched the Ota Regional Headquarters, as the sixth region of the MFM. He said that he (Adeolumuyiwa) assumed office in the region in June 2016 and again, in June 2022, the new auditorium of the region was dedicated by the same Dr. Olukoya.

The President of Women Ministers Online Platform, (WMOP), under the auspices of Kingdom Women in Ministry Gospel International, Evangelist Gideon Daniel Atso has called on church leaders to support women in ministry so that they can function excellently.

Daniel said this in an interview with The Nation last week at the Women Minister Online Platform Conference held at PRAISE ARENA, VGC Lekki, Lagos.

The programme tagged: ‘The Power of United Women’ featured song rendition, testimonies, corporate prayer and inauguration of the WMOP Lagos State Caretaker.

According to him, many know that women nurture children from their wombs till birth and afterwards. The passionate love with which they brought them up, if applied to the spread of the gospel will save many more souls and send the devil away.

He said that we live in a world where the devil is using a lot of people and they must endeavour to encourage those who are being used by God to stand firm.

Daniel said: “women are the end-time soldiers, they are the real soldiers. The devil is using a lot of women for his own advancement, but the mandate of this Platform is for the church to breed more female soldiers for Christ”.

“These soldiers for God shall take their stand in many dimensions with the sole purpose of breaking the kingdom of Satan to win many souls from captivity and damnation.”

He noted that there are lots of women preaching the gospel in unreached communities not minding the odds, while some are doing charity works in under-served areas, which requires our support.

He, however, warned women in ministry not to abandon their homes as they go about their ministerial assignment, adding that their family is their primary place of assignment and they have to nurture their children and act as helpmeet to their husbands.

“Women need to place their priority well; do not give 100% attention to the ministry at the expense of your home, because without peace in your family, you cannot do ministry effectively,” he posited.

“Focus is everything because when the enemies want to attack the church, they are determined and they never go with any form of negativity but positivity. Every woman needs to stand strong and be positive,” he said.

In her response as the new chairperson of WMOP, Lagos State, Pastor Mrs Funmilayo Adetoyese-Olagunju called for greater synergy among women ministers, stressing that the time has come for us to be kingdom focused and kingdom minded. The Gospel should take over the four corners of the World.

She said this meeting is the foundation of what God has set to do with us in Lagos on WMOP generally, the more we partner with God for Kingdom work, the more we grow and definitely this will also influence the growth of our Churches and Ministries.

“Make sure you always have oil in your lamp because the world is getting darker and darker. As women ministers, we are ready to work with God for Kingdom advancement”, she said.

Adetoyese-Olagunju, a marriage counselor and Senior Pastor of PRAISE ARENA noted that although what the people of the world know or see where women gather together is gossip and complaints; “but on this platform, we do it the kingdom way, adding value to peoples life and making the World a better place; so let us support, lift and pray for one another. There is power in synergy”, she added.

The Rector of the Baptist College of Theology (BCT), Igede Ekiti, Ekiti State, Dr. Adedayo Oladele Odesola, has said that Christians can avoid the temptation of domestic violence, which often leads to the loss of lives if critical attention is accorded the admonition of Apostle Paul.

The rector expressed worries over the incidences of domestic violence that are gradually becoming the order of the day, and which often lead to divorce.

While fielding questions on a variety of topics on the relevance of theological institutions to the next generation, the rector asserted that the family today could survive the recent unfortunate circumstance, “if critical attention would be accorded the admonition of Apostle Paul who pointed out that it is an observable end time’s occurrence.

“The Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 states; “in the end time, people will be boastful, unforgiving, and rash and all forms of ungodliness”.

He added that there was a need for caution on the part of the would-be couples to be sure about the salvation of their partners and prepare very well for the subsequent marital life.

He noted that many people only prepare for the wedding day, and not marriage. He, therefore, emphasized the need for premarital counseling as a means of understanding many knotty issues of marriage and planning for it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

“I discovered that our society today is quick to proffer solutions without investigating the origin of the problem. God is the author of marriage; the oldest institution in the world. Since God is not the author of confusion, He could not have instituted marriage if it will become a means of death. Yes, you can be sure that GOD will not have instituted it and then go ahead to pronounce a blessing on the relationship,” the rector said.

Odesola, therefore, encouraged pastors, and other ministers of God to be more alive to their responsibilities of teaching what he called ‘necessary truths’ that build homes through the instrumentalities of couples’ fellowship as well as encouraging people to be more open to counseling when facing intimidations in their marriage.

He also counseled that the word of God is enough to settle all the issues in marriage, and that man cannot unwrite the word of God for his convenience. Odesola noted that inadequate preparation for marriage “is the bane of all its failures and as such, the BCT Igede Ekiti and by extension, other Baptist Theological Institutions, take a serious interest in teaching their students to take interest in building homes.”

The Archbishop of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, The Most Dr. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi has said that the church is set to plant 60 churches and win 60,000 souls in the next 10 years.

Olawuyi said this yesterday, in Lagos, during a press conference ahead of the activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Lagos at Wesley Chapel, Lekki, Lagos.

The anniversary tagged: ‘Preparing for the second coming of the Lord(Rev 12:22)’ will feature a book launch in commemoration of the diocese’s 60th anniversary.

Choral festival, youth funfairs, the award for foundational members of the church, and dinner for distinguished members, are some of the activities that have been lined up as parts of  the programmes for the 60th anniversary.

‘Through aggressive and effective evangelism, we are reaching out to fertile areas where we still have to go and preach the gospel and plant churches and do evangelism. We have a lay president who believes in soul winning and is mobilising everything within his power toward this task of soul-winning.”

Olawuyi pointed out that although the measurement of church growth is not about the numbers but the quality of teaching through bible study, it will improve the people’s spiritual life. “Spiritual life is our right relationship with God that we affect our lives and pattern of living.”

He challenged Christians to rise to the contest for all elective positions in the country’s political system.

He said: “Nigeria needs Christians with a well-articulated, biblically informed philosophy of leadership and social involvement who will seek leadership positions through legitimate means and who will, thereafter, with the enabling of God’s spirit, dedicate themselves to implementing the philosophy.”

He said politics was not dirty, the people involved could be dirty at times in achieving their goals. “The time we are in, as a nation, is very volatile. So, shun do or die politics, don’t be dirty because of position, no position worth anybody’s blood.”

He noted that the leaders Nigerians need at this time are persons who will promote excellence in leadership and bring significant improvement or contributions providing the greatest good or the greatest number of people.

Olawuyi posited that Nigerians should look at the personality and track records of personality presenting themselves for electoral office and not by political parties.

The General Marshal, Perazim International Chaplains Organization, Mrs. Olufunke Adegunwa has urged churches and organizations to adopt the use of Chaplains.

Adegunwa made this call during the official launch of the Perazim School of Chaplaincy and the commissioning of Perazim International Chaplains Organization USA (West African Region), at the Banquet Hall International Guest House, RCCG Camp.

According to Adegunwa, it is important to have chaplains in churches, organizations, and communities as a whole because they are responsible for building bridges and making suggestions that lead to needed solutions.

“Our message is that they should please allow us to introduce chaplaincy to them. We want to work with the churches, we will grow chaplains organizations, CEOs, and other spaces,” said Adegunwa.

The Chairman, International Friendship League (IFL), Deeper Life Bible Church, Joshua Alabi, has stressed the need for biographies and autobiographies.

Alabi noted this at the special event to promote the book, entitled: ‘Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith,’ held in Victoria Island, Lagos last Sunday.

The event brought together clerics and Christians from across Nigeria.

According to the IFL chair, men like John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Charles G. Finney, Charles Spurgeon and others who served God faithfully would not have been known if not for books written by or about them.

Alabi said: “At various times in history, books written about godly characters have inspired many readers and have drawn them to Christ through God’s saving grace.”

‘Kumuyi: Defender of the faith’ captures the over 50 years of William Folorunso Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, as a preacher.

It also presents the cleric as the ‘Holiness’ preacher, and his apolitical stand on national issues.

According to Alabi, the book is not a replacement for the Bible, but rather a pointer to it. “Pastor Kumuyi, a faithful and dedicated servant of God, has patterned his life after our Lord Jesus Christ, and so his life is worth emulating and his message worth paying heed to,” he said.

Alabi stated further that this generation and those coming after would have been denied one of the most benefits of history if the book had not been published. “For those seeking to know God, reading through Pastor Kumuyi’s conversion experience will provide ample guidance. For those who want to succeed in their callings, his experiences in the ministry have a lot of inspiration to offer,” he added.

Kumuyi has patterned his life after Jesus Christ; hence his life is worth emulating and his message worth heeding.

He, therefore, urged guests to read the life-transforming and enriching biography.

“For the believers, I admonish you to get on board the train of the promoters of this book. Through it, you can reach many of your friends, colleagues, clients, relations, and acquaintances and can profoundly influence their lives. I encourage you to get as many copies as possible and ensure that you place them in the hands of many people, encourage them to read and be blessed,” Alabi said.

Chairman, IFL Special Book launch, Olubusola Olubanwo, said at a time the country is facing some of its most severe challenges, Christians must learn to follow the Kumuyi example and that believers must portray the life of Christ, and be supportive of the government.

“His life shows that at a time like this, a time of social instability and intense political activities, believers, especially servants of God, must not plunge head-on into partisan politics, become doomsday prophets, nor should they take sides with any political coloration. Instead, they should maintain respectable neutrality and be seen always as dignified messengers of hope and verity,” Olubanwo said.

Olubanwo stated further that the Deeper Life’s founder is apolitical, though he is not indifferent to politics and that Kumuyi believes and teaches that all of man’s exploits, including his immense politics, are guided by God.

He disclosed that Kumuyi prefers to focus on what would be of benefit to the society, rather than taking sides on any political issue or overheating the polity, he added.

“His mantra is: ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’ He would speak clearly and authoritatively, but dispassionately, to the Nigerian situation, always striking a high moral tone,” Olubanwo emphasized.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, extolling the virtues of Kumuyi for his apolitical stand over the years, said Nigeria needs more men of God to follow in his footsteps.

Adesina said in the church and outside it, there is always a remnant that does not follow the crowd and does not follow the fashion of the time. “We are proud that Pastor Kumuyi is in that group,” he said. Kumuyi, he said, has been apolitical even when other clerics identify with politics and give predictions and prophecies that are politically motivated for publicity and material gains. “Therefore, when he speaks, we can listen. Knowing that it is not tainted by prejudice. It is not tainted by politics. It is not tainted by any other consideration. Whatever he says you can be sure is what the Word of God says. Wherever he stands, is where the word of God stands,” he added.

Apprehension has engulfed the Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) over the impending emergence of a new chairman.

The last occupant Bishop Sola Ore passed on in 2021 leaving his vice Apostle Eyinnaya Okuwonu to complete his term.

The body is set to elect a new chsimran in June, a development that has created uneasy among church leaders in the Lagos Pentecostal fold.

Some PFN church leaders, who spoke with The Nation, expressed worry over one of the chairmanship contestants accused of throwing money around to buy favours.

They said the PFN leadership should investigate four-year sermons and activities of all contestants so that Christians in the State would know that the best person is leading them.

In their private groups, virtual meetings and discussion, they said it would be disastrous for the State to make mistakes in choosing any character known to be shady in the terrestrial and spiritual milieu to be chairman.

In a WhatsApp group meeting, Pastor Mike Ojo said: ‘We are silently observing the developments to see where the tide will blow. We wonder if the church fathers in Lagos would pander to the revival or burial of the image of the pentecostal Church by the choice they want to make in the weeks to come.

“One of the characters showing interest is well known for his shady deals within and outside Nigeria. There were reports of him impersonating the children of one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal movement.

“He would deprecate the supernatural and miracles by telling people to touch his sweat and make payment to see the power of God in their lives. He was alleged to be sleeping with women in his Church and found in shady relationships with men and women of questionable characters.

“Suddenly, he came into a questionable wealth which he flings about as offerings to buy Church fathers so he would be reckoned with and chosen as the chairman of Lagos PFN. We are watching the development to know if the Lagos PFN would further drown its image or rescue it.”

Apostle Okunmade O. Isaac, in Ikorodu said this is the time for the Lagos movement to assert that eternal life is weightier than money.

“There has been speculations that this character is going about throwing the weight of his money to become our leader in Lagos. Some of us have decided to watch and see the credibility of our leaders.

“We don’t elect our leaders. We cede the power to people we regard as fathers. A body will sit on Tuesday to check the image and records of those interested in leading the pentecostal body in Lagos.

“This body will recommend two names to the South West chairman, and the chairman will present the names to the National President, who will pick one name.

“In the first place, this process of selecting a state chairman is questionable and flawed. You cannot place an organisation as big as Lagos PFN, the hub of the Nigerian Pentecostal movement, in the hands of one or two people.

“There should be a proper selection method where more people, even the Church as a body, would be involved. This imminent selection of Lagos chairman will show the credibility of this process.”

Pastor John Mike Nliam of a Pentecostal church in Okokomaiko, raised concerns the PFN fathers in Lagos should bring out the profiles of the candidates and do a thorough investigation of their activities and contents online, rather than just sitting in their offices to pick a name to lead such an office so holy.

Also speaking on the contestants, Bishop Simon Bode Ololade of Power of God Bible Church in Sango Ota said he has refused to associate with the pentecostal body because of suggested craze for money, power and influence of some of the members.

“Just anybody, once you can dole out the cash, can be ordained a Bishop. Being a bishop has been elevated to a status symbol, especially in the South West.

“Someone with a very dappled pedigree was consecrated a Bishop. Today he is scheming to be the Lagos Chairman. He has been giving offerings all over the place to be selected.

“He was also said to have been a fundraiser for Lagos PFN recently, where he attempted to work himself into the hearts of Lagos PFN big wigs. All these shenanigans are known to us. ‘But we watch if money will buy him the job.”

Pastor Tola T. Okeowo, one of the RCCG parishes in Egbeda, Lagos prayed that the image of the Pentecostal movement, which is currently challenged by the activities of shady men like this archbishop, will not plummet any further.

“It is time to build our image, have a strong body that can stand its own anywhere, especially now that the nation is going into a serious political era and the Church must dictate the pace. Any attempt to sell our leadership to fundraisers and exploitative characters would bring negative results,” he said.

As Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC) continues its 20th anniversary today, its Presiding Archbishop, Joseph Ojo, speaks on the journey of the church in the last two decades and God’s faithfulness to the ministry agitation for a president of Nigeria from the Southeast, and the need for Nigerians to allow peace, equity, and justice to reign in the country, Adeola Ogunlade was with him. Excerpts:

The ministry will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in June: 20 years is truly a great achievement for a ministry like this; can you share with us the success stories of CKC?

We began this commission by the grace of God on the second day of June in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2002, and ever since,  it has been a tremendous testimony of God’s grace, God’s mercies, God’s goodness, God’s provision, and God has seen us through: like Jesus, Himself had favor with God and with man. One of the things that God has given to me as a servant of God and a minister of the gospel is that God has granted me the grace to have favour with men and with God Himself, and that favour actually helped in the past 20 years. We have seen CKC from nothing and today by God’s grace with all sense of humility God has definitely blessed us and we are grateful to God for what we have seen in terms of infrastructure – the buildings, schools, membership, the branches, and the spiritual solidity of our members – God has been faithful.

At the beginning, God gave me a seven-point cardinal objective, which we have been pursuing and we have done these logically and it is helping us. God gave us the mandate to make people, disciple them, and at the end of their walk with Christ on earth, they will make heaven. And also to raise a people of integrity, that all members of CKC believe that when they are interacting with other people, they stand out; they are respected because they are men and women of proven integrity. We also have the mandate to take Christ to everyone that may not have known Him whenever we meet them in our day-to-day walk with Christ. And to equip the saints for the ministry and to build ideal and Godly families and marriages, and to the glory of God, we have marriages being built around these tenets and God has been so wonderful in all these 20 years.

In the last 20 years of the ministry, you must have seen some prophecies come to pass while others fail. When prophecy fails; what would you say is responsible? Is it that God did not speak clearly to the prophet or what?

I believe that prophecies don’t fail – I believe it. Predictions do fail, but not prophesy. People that are given predictions have no prophecies. God’s word says in Revelations Chapter 19:10 “the spirit of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy; the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy – no prophecy is of private interpretation. What people don’t understand is that there are genuine prophecies that have their timing. It may not have been fulfilled in your time – there are prophecies that Jesus Himself gave that today they have not come to pass; it doesn’t mean they will not come to pass. Men just want a quick fix – shortcut in everything and it’s not supposed to be. Every godly inspired prophecy has their time and at the time that God wants it to happen, it will come to pass. They are quite different from predictions – many people who claim they are prophesying are only predicting, and unbeliever can predict; native doctors can predict, you don’t need to be filled with the spirit of the Lord to predict, but you need to be filled with the spirit of Christ to prophesy. Now, the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

Over the years you have been very vocal about this administration and its style of leadership: now that the vice-president is contesting, what is your view of his candidacy?

All I can say about the vice-president’s candidacy is good luck Sir. Good luck to him; I wasn’t there when the Lord ministered to him or spoke to his heart, so I can’t say anything for or against him.  So, I wish him all the best.

Many are saying that the two major political parties should zone their presidential ticket to the Southeast; do you support such a call?

You know, Southeast presidency, if it is God’s will for a South easterner to be president; so be it. But there is something light that you will get on the platter of gold (Deuteronomy 2:24) God said: ‘Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand…..begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.’ Nobody will just give you because you come from the Southeast – contend with it. Do all you need to do logically, politically and otherwise, and cross the bridges you need to cross. So, good luck to South easterners – if you want it, contend it and God definitely will not abandon those who contend for what belongs to them.