The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • The Nigerian church needs to wake up — Umunna

    The Nigerian church needs to wake up — Umunna

    The General Overseer of Bible Life Church, Bishop Leonard Umunna. In this interview with Adeola Ogunlade, warns Nigerians to participate actively in the next elections, even as he asks the church leaders to remain resolute and speak truth to power for Nigeria to experience divine transformation. Excerpts.

    Nigeria is preparing for the general election in 2023; with all that is happening, do you see any threat to the election?

    This question calls for an answer that befits it. A young man once approached a wise man with two chickens in folded hands. He asked the wise man, which of these chickens is alive? The wise man pulsed and answered – it all depends on you. The young man asked, how do you mean sir? The wise man said, if I should say, it is the one on your right hand, it could be the one you’ll decide to kill by pressing it harder; the same thing goes if I should say it is the other one. Remember that I have often told you that we have never elected a president, but what we have been having is selection, and then asking the people to vote. The coming election is the time to do right if I’m to use that word. It is an opportunity to get it right. But a decision might have been made behind the door; what do you expect me now to say? When you are not sure of the referee; how do you say this is going to be the result of the match?

    Look at the rising cases of voters’ apathy. When the people now realised that with the way some primaries are going on in some parties, they end up throwing up people that are not being expected as candidates. So, when people see these candidates, they begin to lose interest in the process. The whole thing has been compounded now. INEC has told us that in some states, it recorded as high as 60 percent of multiple registrations and it is too late for correction.

    What we are saying is that we are not depending on indices, machinery, and proven ways of doing the right thing but on the oligarchy – powers that be; those that determine whether the election will hold or not.

     From the plethora of candidates vying for the presidency, who among them do you think is suitable for the job at this point in time?

    I had told the media repeatedly that there is no region, no part of Nigeria that you cannot get good presidential candidates. They have them. Nigeria is many nations in one. So, to tell you I’m going to recommend one; I would do no such thing. Let me give you two names each from the three regions, starting from the North. I am talking about people who have proven track records; who have visions; who have evidently performed. You may not like them or their characters, but I am talking about their track records and what the people are looking for. These are people who have in different ways fought the things we are fighting now – either in the state; or in business life, among others.

    Let us start from the North– Governor Babagana Zulum and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. These people have a track record and integrity for the tasks they are assigned to. For the West, I  tip Bola Ahmed Tinubu; from the East, I will pick Peter Obi and Nyesom Wike based on the criteria I have given.

    I hope the oligarchy will allow any of them and things to go the proper way. Nigeria is not as it should be. We are being ruled by powers beyond us, spiritually and physically. God is never left without a man. The point is we are over-shadowing the correct ones with our wrong constitutional framework. I have said it severally that the constitution we are operating does not need this patch-patch amendment but a totally brand new Constitution. God always raises a leader, but when he does that we scuttle it through our criminal acts, the bad justice system, occult practices, and all the evils going on.

    Why don’t they, in fighting corruption, recruit people according to merit as they are recruiting people into the Nigeria Police; why don’t they raise a joint task force to monitor the expenditure on the money released to the military and track how it is being spent? They know what to do but they are not doing that because of selfishness and other factors beyond the physical. I believe that the issue we are treating is beyond the physical. It is spiritual. Only God gives a true saviour in any area, but it is only when his condition is met; then he fulfills it. The whole nation of Nigeria must repent like the people of Nineveh. It is not about sending people to go and pray while you stay behind. No; but the leader and the led must pray to God for forgiveness and healing of our nation.

      What is the role of the church in the enthronement of a responsible government?

    The church is an authority on its own. It is Christ’s agency on earth. Government is a different arm also. On election matters, the church’s role is to educate the members, urge them to go and vote with their conscience, vote in the will of God, and do their part for that will of God to be done. The church’s role is effective prayers. But I have observed for years that many government officials go for prayers in those places where they demand money candles. There are also church leaders that refuse to tell the government the truth and they go to them for the kind of prayers and prophecies they like. God has put the church there to preach the good news; prayer for secular leaders, prayer for their well-being, and the peace of the land. If the church is doing all these things in reality; God is well pleased. But if they do not, on the other hand, teach the people the kingdom values that make for good governance, those among their members who vie for these elective offices, unbelievers will be using them as bad examples. So, the thing goes beyond prayer and teaching to practice. The church’s role is clear; it is the salt of society. Every church is expected to depict holiness. Every church leader should be the father to all members, providing counseling and guiding them, not being partisan in politics, should guide their members in making good decisions. If the church plays its role well and the leaders do not give themselves to gluttony, then God will be well-pleased and heal the land if they pray. The slumbering church should wake up because Nigeria is at the edge of a precipice. We can’t afford to get it wrong this time.

     What advice do you have for Nigerians as they prepare for the next round of elections?

    Nigerians must get it right this time. We are at war in different sectors. The only thing is that it is not an official war. This is not the issue of ethnicity or religion.

    A lot of people are fleeing the country. They just want to go anywhere else, even to smaller nations. It is just about getting out of Nigeria – that is what is on people’s minds right now. Nigerians must not allow voter apathy or indifference (it-does-not-concern-me attitude).

    No; people must go out and vote wisely. Do not negotiate your vote. It is your future; it is your children’s future; it is your ticket when you get to other nations; it is your identity; that you elected a good and responsible government that is respected outside the country. Nigeria should know that we have more at stake than our leaders. While we pray for God to give us a good leader, we must play our own part because angels are not coming to vote for you; we will pray and also do our part. Nigerians must vote with their conscience. The conscience must be educated on the need of the hour. Look at where we are – Naira is over devalued; health is undervalued. Even the price of chicken is better than that of a Nigerian. Thank God INEC is trying to get the electronic system of uploading results and to make the process a little bit transparent; our own role is to get to the polling booth and cast our votes.

  • Does God forbid polygamy?

    Does God forbid polygamy?

    Adherents of the two dominant world religion- Christianity and Islam- differ sharply in their beliefs and teachings on polygamy. While the Muslims believe that God (Allah) expressly permitted polygamy (up to a maximum of four wives), contemporary Christian preachers have over the years taken an uncompromising stand against polygamy since the nineteenth century when it was outlawed by the Romans and the subsequent infusion of the new order into Christianity. These preachers who are generally referred to as “men of God” and who are believed to possess extraordinary spiritual knowledge have successfully convinced their multitude of followers to believe that it’s God who abhors polygamy.

    But does the judeo-christian God trully forbid polygamy? Or is the law against polygamy simply a Western initiative and subsequent imposition on other cultures rather than a fulfilment of God’s injunction? This article is the outcome of a carefully researched venture into this subject, leaning mostly on the same bible that is coveted as the standard moral book of Christianity. And contrary to the erroneous posturing of antagonists of polygamy, there is no valid biblical proof of its condemnation by God. Paradoxically, biblical evidences abound to show that the judeo-christian God encouraged and supported polygamy as enunciated herein.

    When king Saul fell out with God, the latter gave out all of Saul’s wives to King David as a reward for his loyalty (2 Samual 12:8). This was in spite of the fact that David already had many wives at the time.

    The bible recorded that David had 8 named wives and other unnamed ones and concubines. Yet, he remained “a man after God’s heart” until he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife – Bathsheba. In fact, when God was expressing His displeasure with King David over his adulterous encounter with Bathsheba, He said: “I gave you all your master’s houses and WIVES, and all of Israel and Judah. And if all these were not enough, I would have given you more” (2 Samuel 12:8). It therefore implies that God was willing to grant David even additional wives instead of him engaging in adultery. How then could anyone claim that this same God forbids polygamy?

    Rather than legislate against polygamy, the bible on the contrary makes room for polygamy and prescribes acceptable code of conduct for it. Exodus 21:10 expressly gives conditions for polygamy. It prescribes that the first wife should not be denied marital rights by a man who takes up a second wife.

    Furthermore, the Bible prohibits men from marrying biological sisters (Leviticus 18:18).

    These bible verses would have been irrelevant if polygamy was not a valid marital option.

    Many preachers have hinged their anti polygamy posturing on Jesus. It’s noteworthy that Jesus never preached about marriage throughout his lifetime in spite of the fact that polygamy was the norm at that time. The only time he referred to marriage was when he answered questions from the Pharisees about DIVORCE (Matthew19: 3-12). Proponents of monogamy have relied heavily on verses 4-6 where Jesus reportedly said: “in the beginning God made them male and female”, ending that “both shall become one”. This, they claim, suggests that the original plan of God was one woman to one man. This is an assumptive error of the highest order. Recall that the world had existed and practiced polygamy thousands of years before Christ and God had a tradition of conveying his likes and dislikes to the people through the prophets and kings but there’s no biblical proof that any of them preached against polygamy let alone not being heeded to. Was the coming of Jesus part of God’s original plan? No! Did God need to wait until Jesus came (an afterthought) before denouncing the practice of polygamy among His people? Jesus went further to state that adultery was the only permissible ground for a man to divorce his wife. (verse 9). This means that incorrigibly unruly behaviour, incompatibility, diabolism and other extreme marital breakers are not “christianly” acceptable reasons for divorce. Yet, the rate of divorce not based on sexual immorality is at its apogee in all monogamous Christian societies. The bible documented that the audience viewed what Jesus said as an impossible mission hence they replied him saying: “if this is the case, then it’s better not to marry” (verse 10). It was at this point that Jesus made it known that what he said was optional and not meant to be binding on everyone (verses 11-12).
    It’s therefore gravely erroneous to claim that Jesus recommended monogamy for the whole world.
    Supposing we even demote ourselves to this level of primordial reasoning and accept that monogamy was the original intention of God for the entire human race, it’s clearly arguable that He changed His mind at some point. Hence instead of faulting his loyal servant David for having multiple wives, He added more to him. And this is not the only instance where God changed his “original plan”, probably to suit the prevailing circumstances. For instance, His original plan was for us not to have knowledge and not to die (Genesis 2:17) and to be going about naked (Genesis 2:25). But are these attributes sustained? Did God himself not make clothes for Adam and Eve, against his supposed original plan? (Genesis 3:21)

    The phrase “in the beginning” as referenced by Jesus in Matthew 19 cannot therefore be used by any intellectually sound mind to argue that God still prohibits polygamy (and there’s no evidence He ever did). It’s extremely irrational to selectively apply this phrase only to marriage while turning a blind eye to its usage in other contexts.

    In further proof of the irrelevance of the supposed God’s original marriage plan, the author of Genesis where the phrase “in the beginning” was used is Moses. And do you know what? Moses was polygamous with 2 wives – Zipporah (Exodus 3:1) and the Cushite/Ethiopian (Numbers 12:1).

    Some have argued that if God wanted polygamy, he would have made 2 or more Eves for Adam. This argument is absurd at best. Did God create the exact number of any creature on earth or just a sample which was equipped with the machinery to propagate itself? Did God not have only one begotten son? Why then do Christians bear more than one? And why does a Christian man marry a woman born of another woman instead of waiting to be put to sleep so that one of his ribs would be used to cast a wife for him? Since Jesus borrowed only a horse to Jerusalem, does it make it ungodly to have more than one horse? Did Jesus drive a car or use iPhone? Must we deteriorate to this level of base thinking just to advance Western imperialism and appear religiously correct? If God abhors polygamy, He would have included it among the commandments which He handed over to Moses (a polygamous man) in which He expressly stated what He forbade. But He did not.

    Most of the notable men that God worked with in the bible were polygamous.

    Abraham, the “father of faith” had 3 wives (Sarah, Hagar and Keturah) (Genesis 16:3 and 25:1).
    Moses, the author of Genesis had 2 wives.

    Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes of Israel had 4 wives (Leah, Rachael, Bilhah and Zilpah) (Genesis 29:23, 29:28, 30:4 and 30:9).

    David, a man after God’s heart had at least 8 wives (Michal, Abigail, Ahinoam, Eglah, Maacah, Abital, Haggith and Bathsheba) (1 Samual 19: 11; 25:39 and 25:43; 2 Samual 3:2-5).

    Solomon the wisest man had 700 wives !!! (1 Kings 11:3, 7:8 and 11:1). Yet the same God who is touted to detest polygamy not only promised him wisdom, riches, honor and long life, but also fulfilled them. (1 Kings 3:1-15). Under the reign of Solomon, the most polygamous man the world has ever known, Israel attained her greatest power and fame under the watch of God of Israel. The same man wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and most of the Proverbs. His “super polygamous” status was never an issue to God. Instead, Solomon fell out with God when he started worshipping other gods besides the God of Israel and that led to his downfall (1 Kings 11:1-13).

    From the foregoing, it is patently discernible that there’s no biblical basis against polygamy. The then very powerful Romans outlawed polygamy for economic reasons and infused same practice into the church, and subsequently shoved monogamy down the throat of her conquests. Subsequently, anti polygamy laws were enacted in England and the United States after long years of battle for and against it. It’s instructive to note that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the United States was one of the fiercest supporters of polygamy and all her members continued to preach and practice it until 1890 when they were subdued. Their founder and prophet, Joseph Smith had claimed in 1843 that he had a divine revelation that men should marry more than one wife but the larger Catholic church which didn’t believe his revelation fought him to a standstill and through the US congress, succeeded in getting anti polygamy law passed in 1856.

    But all these obnoxious laws will eventually amount to an exercise in futility because they are anti nature. God had revealed through Prophet Isiah that monogamy would not be sustainable, stating that a time will come when women will be begging for polygamy, just to answer a man’s name (Isiah 4:1). Has the prophecy not begun to unfold? In Kenya for instance, women kept protesting against monogamy lamenting that many of them were attaining menopause without a husband, until their government legalized polygamy in 2014. It’s happening here now with majority of slay queens hanging out with married men offline, only to go online and speak against polygamy for fear of social media attack. For how long should we accommodate this hide and seek? And who are the ultimate losers? Women!

    My dear readers, if you want to embrace monogamy, you are 100% at liberty and you have not offended God. However DO NOT by any inch blame or condemn anyone who chooses to be polygamous on the pretext that such practice is offensive to God because by so doing you unveil your ignorance about the same religion you claim to profess. Neither Allah nor God of Israel nor any African God prohibits polygamy.

    The truth is that ANTI POLYGAMY LAWS ARE ARTIFICIAL CREATION OF THE WEST AND NOT GOD’S INJUNCTION.

    The West themselves have corrupted these laws through the instrument of divorce that has made it possible for their men to be changing partners every 3-5 years. Many men in their 6th decade of life in America today are at least in their 4th marriages. This is what I call “serial polygamy”.

    Now, having established the the divine right of every man to marry more than one wife, the next question is: should every man go polygamous? No! Why? Watch out for my next article.

    Ugwu, an Associate Professor of Medicine, writes from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.

  • RCCG Pastor’s foundation gives Yabatech students scholarship

    RCCG Pastor’s foundation gives Yabatech students scholarship

    The Pastor Eskor Mfon Foundation (PEM) , a registered faith-based non-government organisation, has offered four students of the Yaba College of Technology(Yabatech) scholarships to complete their studies.

    PEM Foundation was inaugurated by Pastor (Mrs.) Bimpe Eskor-Mfon in April 2009 to sustain the legacies of the late Pastor Eskor Mfon, who passed on 15 years ago.

    The four scholarship beneficiaries are: Moyosore Ebenezer, Oladehinde Abayomi, Adefila Joshua and Monica Obasi from the School of Design and Printing Tech, Yabatech, Lagos.

    While congratulating the successful awardees, Pastor (Mrs.) Eskor-Mfon, who is also the CEO of TIE Communications Limited, said the support was informed by the belief that a child’s potential should not be limited by his or her socio-economic status.

    According to her, the beneficiaries were selected “after a thorough screening by the Dean, School of Design and Printing, Yaba Tech, Dr. Eigiolamhen Pius, who then recommended and presented four outstanding and indigent students for the scholarship.

    “Our motive lies in breeding youths who shall make positive impacts and monumental contributions to the development of our society and the world at large.

    “The pain of losing my husband would just be pain if we do not impact others. I wonder how he managed to impact others while he was here with us; that is why I want his legacy to continue,” she noted.

    The Dean, School of Design and Printing Tech, Yabatech, Dr. Eigiolamhen Pius commended PEM Foundation for its impact on less privileged children through scholarship and mentorship programmes.

    He expressed optimism that the scholarships would hopefully lead to more collaborations and opportunities for additional beneficiaries for more students from the school.

    “If there is anybody or organisation seeking to make a real impact, there is no better place to invest than in the lives of children who are the future of any nation.

    “I call on the beneficiaries to remain morally upright, outstanding in their academics and be agents of change, seizing every opportunity to give back to the society,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Monica Obasi, applauded PEM Foundation for its intervention in supporting indigent students’ access to life changing education.

    She thanked Pastor (Mrs.) Bimpe Eskor-Mfon for providing the platform that had made the scholarship possible for brilliant but indigent students.

     

  • 2023: Olukoya urges Christians to pray before casting vote

    2023: Olukoya urges Christians to pray before casting vote

    The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide, Dr. D.K Olukoya, has urged Christians across the country to pray very well and be led by God before they begin to cast their votes during 2023 general elections.

    Olukoya who made the appeal on Saturday, while fielding questions from journalists at the official dedication of the church’s new international headquarters annex, known as the “Prayer, Praise and Power Cathedral”, located along Tunde Idiagbon Road, Wuye district, Abuja, said this is so that the nation doesn’t end up in more trouble.

    His words, “For 2023 election, i counsel Christians to pray very well and be led by God before they begin to cast their votes so that we don’t end up in more trouble”.

    On how the new church will impact the lives of residents, the General Overseer expressed optimism that the new church will change the topography of the place, and will make the society a better place.

    “Spiritually it will change the topography of this place, people will get delivered and healed and we will make the society a better place. The basis of all faith is love, when that love is not there, it’s a serious problem indeed. We should have love towards each other and be sensitive to other peoples feelings,” he added

    In his brief remarks, Senior Regional Overseer of the headquarters Annex, Pastor Olumide Oni, said everything being witnessed is all God’s grace.

    He thanked the General Overseer and all those who took part in bringing the project to fruition.

    On his part, the Project manager, Pastor Gbenga Olumilua narrated how the senior regional overseer foresaw the building of the church back in 2019.

    While noting that they faced challenges since commencement of work, he thanked God for his intervention.

    He said, “few years ago, God gave Pastor Oni. When he came he foresaw that we will move to Wuye. Some doubted as to where he will get the money. Also COVID-19 came and disrupted a lot, but thankfully contributions started coming in, God intervened and I thank everyone who in one way or another contributed to this project.”

    Also, Director of Finance, Dr. Kunle Egbeleke described Pastor Oni as a financial disciplinarian who made sure all monies for the project were appropriately dispensed.

    He thanked the technical crew and everyone who in various contributed to getting the project completed.

     

  • Osinbajo, Sanwo-Olu charges couples on steadfastness, love

    Osinbajo, Sanwo-Olu charges couples on steadfastness, love

    The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has charged couples to continue to remain steadfast, faithful, loyal, and exhibit unswerving dedication to one another.

    Osinbajo said this  recently at the wedding ceremony of the son of the prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ebenezer Uche and his wife Former Miss Esomchi Nwaobiaia who took the altar to tie the knot in Lagos

    The event brought together dignitaries who graced the occasion

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Chaplain of Aso Rock Villa  Pastor Seyi Malomo said that loyalty is steadfastness; knowing you can rely on each other. Being there for one another through the good times and being each other’s safety.

    He noted that the non-existence of steadfast love among couples has destroyed many marriages. Steadfast love does not focus on the negative aspects of one’s spouse. Steadfast love is a family relationship that is kind, is easily entreated, is not rude, thinketh no evil, does not keep bad records, is patient, and not selfish.

    The Vice President urged them to remain steadfast in their marriage while calling on parents to go back to the Bible way of training their children, “Train up a child in the way he should go so that when he is old he will not depart from it.”

    He also counseled that no matter the challenges the couple face, they are sure to have victory.

    In his words, the Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called on the couple to be an example to up-coming couples by their love and staying together, because love wins all.

    Responding, the prelate advised them to emulate his exemplary lifestyle of marriage which has been on for 42years.

     

  • Book on Leah Sharibu for release

    Book on Leah Sharibu for release

    A new book on Boko Haram captive, Leah Sharibu, will be unveiled at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, on May 14.

    Leah was among 110 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018. She was 15 at the time and the only Christian among them. She is the only one still in captivity because she refused to renounce her religion.

    The book, entitled: Heroine of Faith, deals with Leah’s plight, the nature and essence of religious faith, and the fight against terrorism.

    The author, Rafiu Kuteyi, is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victory Court Parish, Lagos. This is his third book, and it will be launched, in conjunction with Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, a Nigerian faith-based non-governmental organisation.

    Kuteyi said: “God drew my attention to the significance of the unbeatable decision that Leah took at the expense of her life and freedom as a little Christian.”

    “I strongly believe that one day Leah will regain her freedom. I will never give up on the hope of seeing this “little but mighty” heroine of faith, returning home to our welcome embrace.”

    In her foreword in the book, the co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Movement, Dr  Oby Ezekwesili, said: ”We are indebted to this author for giving voice to this urgent and critical issue of a Nigerian heroine that needs to come home to her traumatised family and to the tumultuous welcome of ordinary Nigerians whose aspirations for freedom of expression she truly represents. “

     

  • Osinbajo, Air Chief charge church on national renaissance

    Osinbajo, Air Chief charge church on national renaissance

    The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo has charged the church to continue to remain the bastion of hope of the country and must continue to challenge the moral conscience of leadership when we do not live up to the standards of our office.

    Osinbajo said this at the National Symposium   organized by the Surulere District of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo Ni O, held at the church headquarters yesterday as part of the activities to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Wardens Band.

    The event tagged: The State, Society and the Church: Beacon of Hope for a New Nigeria” brought together traditional ruler, government representatives, technocrats, clerics, among others.

    He said that the truth is, our nation is at moral cross-roads and the consequences have dogged us for years – corruption, vandalization of public property, insecurity and the wanton pursuit of wealth by any means necessary.

    Osinbajo said “we must rise up to meet them with the values required to build a sustainable future, and inspire them toward the moral imperative of doing good and honest work to the best of their ability, as a service to humanity and to God. Surely there is a future and a hope (Proverb. 23:18) for Nigeria, and what is the church but the great bastion of this hope.

    In his words, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao called for more cooperation between the state and the church so that we can realize the new Nigeria that we all desire.

    He said that the church is a highly influential institution in the society and the current socio-economic challenges affecting the nation, such as insecurity, require an all of society approach, adding that the church has a crucial role in creating the new Nigeria we all hope for.

     

  • Vote out selfish politicians in next year’s general election, urges Adeboye

    Vote out selfish politicians in next year’s general election, urges Adeboye

    THE General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has advised Nigerians to vote in the 2023 general elections.

    He said this would enable them to elect credible leaders who would turn the fortunes of the country around. He assured Nigerians of God’s abundant blessings if they obey him.

    He gave this assurance during the monthly thanksgiving service last Sunday at the RCCG headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, where he spoke on the theme ”Supernatural elevation” and prayed for monarchs, fathers and those looking for the fruit of the womb.

    Represented by the Assistant General Overseer ( Administration and Personnel), Pastor Johnson Odesola, Adeboye said: “Nigerians are suffering and many are hungry. The painful aspect of the whole thing is that Nigerians expect so much from this administration that promised “a change”, but it is still disheartening today that Nigeria is a consuming nation that hardly produces anything as many factories that used to be buoyant are not producing anything again.

    “It is also annoying that power is still a problem in this country and one wonders what leadership is all about. How can a country survive without power that would invite investors? In developed nations, power is the primary thing and for saboteurs of power to be having upper hand in Nigeria today, they must be among the leaders and politicians this is the reason Nigerians should not miss it, come 2023 but everyone to ensure they exercise his or her voting right and vote

  • I was an atheist before Jesus saved me—Ayorinde

    I was an atheist before Jesus saved me—Ayorinde

    As the World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) celebrates its 27th anniversary of its Tuesday Miracle Service this month, its General Overseer and renowned Prophet, Dr. Samson Ayorinde, reflects on the vision, mandate, challenges, and impact of its Tuesday Miracle Service Programme of WEBIC and other issues in this interview with Adeola Ogunlade

    How were you called?

    Actually, I was born and called to be a prophet. There were prophetic pronouncements about my birth for the work about six decades ago. I came with a lot of hair – which we call dada in Ilorin, Kwara State. At a stage when I was in my mother’s womb, it was said I disappeared and doctors and nurses threatened to flush out the pregnancy. My mother was told to bring a bell and ring it around her house (the bell is with me till today). As soon as she rang the bell, there was a prophetic utterance that the baby was still in her womb. She decided to take the bell to a mountain and because of her financial incapacity, she walked with the pregnancy that was about to be aborted by doctors and climbed the mountain to keep the bell for seven days as instructed by a prophet. After seven days, she returned to pick up the bell. She was told to keep it because I would ring it around the world. I was a very tough child. I never liked the things of God. I was very intelligent. l led my class and came top in the West African Examinations School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) in my school. I taught my teachers in school. At the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), I was more or less an atheist, but one day I heard an audible voice that I should be born again and preach the gospel. I never had peace since then. In my room, I told one of my friends that I wanted to be born again. He laughed because he had preached to me about Jesus several times. I told him I was serious about it and there and then, I gave my life to Jesus. When I had a shower in Block F, Room 15 in Suliamon Hall in ABU, as the water hit my head, I started speaking in tongues. It was very loud that everyone heard it. I was in my room for three days and during that period I could not speak any other language. I was studying for my Masters in Architecture and I did teach some students. When one of my students who did not see me checked on me, he got born again and the other who had partial blindness got healed as I laid my hands on him..

    As a first class young graduate, did you have any struggle in answering God’s call?

    I am the first nuclear architect in Nigeria by the grace of God. My dream is to build and design Nigeria’s nuclear power station. Everybody knows that for a nuclear design, you have to put in scientific and artistic knowledge and must be able to communicate what you need to design. I was always in the Chemistry department under the international Nuclear Energy Agency. They have a nuclear reactor and I was always in and out to design an effective nuclear power station to be located at Shiroro, I had to stay there. Each time I was working on this project, I saw myself with a crowd in the stadium ministering.

    Could you let us in on your earlier services to the Lord before the World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) was founded?

    I was saved when I was in C & S Movement Zion. I founded a lot of the fellowships in the church. When I finished my task, I resigned and handed over the churches to the next generation. That is why I always go back to C & S Church because they believe that I will not move any of their members away. Before founding the World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) in 1995, I served at Jesus Alive Evangelical Mission (JAEM) in Zaria, Kaduna State founded by Prophet Kehinde Oye. I planted several churches for them. I was the Regional Overseer for JAEM’s churches in Northern Nigeria. I was doing crusades and handed them to the local pastors. We also went round holding crusades in Kafanchan and Koi, among other places in Southern Kaduna where they are killing people today. I worked in those places. When I resigned from JAEM, I worked as a freelance evangelist for two years.

    Some of the churches collapsed and some because of the riots in the North were destroyed, but others still exist. When I later went for a 40-day prayer and fasting, it was there God gave me a proper miracle ministry (WEBIC), and instructed me to move my base down to Lagos. That was between 1992 and 1993. I was told not to start a church until 1995, but could be on an itinerant ministry and that the opportunity was given to me to study why some churches collapsed and why others were succeeding. I held crusades till April 1995. I started Tuesday Miracle Service. I counselled people from 9:00 am till about 4 pm from my living room. I was conducting three services from my living room. There, I knew that I had to turn it into a church. God did a lot of miracles and healing at that time and is still doing it to date to the glory of his name.

    Tuesday Miracle service started when?

    Tuesday Miracle Service started on May 3, 1995. I turned the counselling sessions to a church. The church is about 27 years old.

    How has it been since then?

    God has been faithful. Everyone is always coming. I flow in miracles. To me, miracle life is a walk. It is not entertainment. I will be travelling and I will see insane persons and will reach out to them and God has proved himself strong. I will literally stop and pick a mad person and pray for them and make an effort to reconcile them with their families.

    Challenges in Ministry?

    Like many people, I don’t really have too much opposition in the Ministry, even in the northern part of the country.

    Twenty-seven years after, what have you learnt in ministry?

    I have learnt so much that we are all human beings and it is just mercy and grace that is upholding us.  I don’t see myself as special. I see myself as a product of mercy and grace. I have compassion and want to help the needy.

    For two years (1993-1995), God told you to study how ministry rose and fell, what did God tell you?

    It is personal. That is only for ministers of God if I am led. As far as I am concerned, I don’t discriminate against any church. Be it Anglican, or Catholic and all the five blocks of CAN are not only supporting our crusades but are present on the crusade grounds because there are places on earth where the only church you can find is Catholic and they are holding forth for the kingdom. How can I criticise them? They are operating on their level of knowledge and they have the structure and it is that structure that I may study. The woman that sponsored me was a catholic. We were so poor that I could not sit for my WASSCE until the woman came on board. She was a philanthropist and was angry that I did not study to the level of becoming a professor because she was ready to support me all the way.

    Plans to rebrand the Tuesday Miracle Service?

    We will hit the stadium back as soon as we restructure the finances. I encourage people to serve the Lord and not necessarily leave their church but we will lead them to salvation and encourage them to attend a bible believing church. We are repackaging our television and radio programmes for greater impact. Our next move is to the Delta State City Wide Crusade next month.

    How did you come about the name WEBIC?

    I was given the name while I was on my 40-day prayer and fasting. I went to heaven to meet the Lord.

    Are you coming back on air and is the anointing the same?

    The same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is still in us but there are prices to pay. The power upon us and divine mandate is still intact. We are back. We only went on break because of the Ramadan fast and we do not want to overload ourselves. It takes a lot to be on air preaching and reaching out to souls. We are back on air with renewed vision and strategy to fulfill God’s divine mandate for our lives. The exact mandate of my commission by the Lord is world evangelism via crusade and the mass media (radio and television stations) as well as the social media. We extensively used radio and television broadcasts to achieve this mandate.

     

     

  • ‘How the church can attract restive youths’

    ‘How the church can attract restive youths’

    The Senior Pastor of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church known as SPAC Nation, Toby Adegboyega, in this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, talks about his vision, mission, and touching lives as well as inspiring the younger generation.

    Why did you step down as the lead pastor of SPAC Nation last year? 

    I felt that it was time for a generational shift, African or people of colour, we don’t hand over things while we are still alive, we allow death to come. But it is good to see your successors in your lifetime so that you can give them directions and more so, these guys have been with me for more than a decade, I think it was time for them to have a free room to operate. Let them make mistakes, let me see that I can be anywhere in the world and the work continues.

    Tell us about the growth of the church?

    Before 2020, we were in a few locations, but now we are in 168 locations, we have what we call houses around London which is one of the major pillars of SPAC Nation. At a time, we had about six but now we have about 50, my job is to oversee this work and make sure the leaders have proper training and the proper way of recruiting more young people towards doing good.

    How did you get saved and why did you decide to become a preacher?

    My dad was a preacher. I’m a second generation preacher. I came to the UK at the age of 25 after studying Law at Ogun State University. When I got here, I realized that they had problems with young people, young people were going astray including guys that grew up in church, then, I started talking to the churches. I told them that these young people are not stubborn, they are not just connecting with the church, so I saw the need, then, I realized that we could stop teenagers’ death which is what London is popular for, among the black community.

    Young people of the age of 13 and 14 years die on the streets of London. I felt that we could stop it, so I started gathering people in Queen’s Road and Peckham, as at that time, they were very notorious areas. I took up a job washing plates, whatever I got from there I was giving to that community to encourage them and then the work started to grow, that was how I became a preacher. It was almost by default, but yes my dad is a pastor. I have always seen a line that if I am going to reach the community (we grew up in community houses being a pastor’s kid), it would be through church, and it can’t be through music. I am not a musician or a footballer, so that is what happened.

    When I got saved, I don’t know and I know the religious world has something about that, I just know that my heart follows what is right and I am doing what I feel helps humanity.

    What was your vision at the beginning?

    SPAC Nation is a response to something, what happens in Queens Road made us respond to the community, it is not an approach that I picked up myself, it is an approach that connects people. I will give you an example, Rappers in the United Kingdom raps about guns, drugs, and almost all over the world, America is even worse and a lot of young people follow them. If we are going to spread the gospel, we have to be relevant first of all, the vision for SPAC Nation was, can we have a set of young people who are trendy, who love God? And from home to home, we can provide jobs, we can’t just be preaching to them about hope, we have to create pathways to fulfilling their aspirations. Today, people see us as businessmen because we want young people to have a pathway to success.

    Do you also reach out to young people in Nigeria?

    During COVID-19 in Nigeria, we fed over 100,000 people, we were on the street. I have empowered and we keep empowering entrepreneurs in Nigeria through funding, and many of them are public. We have empowered over 1000 entrepreneurs with 5000 dollars each, I am working in Nigeria, we are always working, we respond to situations, I have not been there physically because it will have just been to play and I haven’t had the time to.

    Are you planning to have a church back home in Nigeria?

    I am not sure if it will be a church, but at the moment in Lekki Phase 1, we are building something, it is a national youth hub, a tech hub, and new money for young people all over Africa. I think it will be the best tech hub all over Africa. We have it powered by the biggest insurance companies here and some banks. They are all coming with me to Nigeria and what we have done is that we have started recruiting hundreds of Nigeria’s brightest young students. We employ them; they don’t even need to be at work every day

    We pay them until they discover something, I don’t know about church yet but I know about a youth movement that empowers young people to do things in whatever field they choose.

    Where do you see the SPAC Nation family in the next decade?

    We will have community banks, banks that help young people. The problem we faced here was when I get young people off the street, you need them to be empowered, the banks don’t have the standard, this system was not built for young people. They rather give them money to go and waste on holidays than give them to start a business because they don’t understand them. That is one of the problems I faced. We announced on my birthday that the bank starts now and what it does is, in all the local areas internationally and locally, it has people who can sit down with young people, and loan them money at a low-interest rate to do whatever their aspiration in life is.

    So, where I see SPAC Nation in the next decade is that it is going to employ thousands of people all over the world, we have employed people, not church employment but businesses, we are going to be involved in every product, we are going to see young people taking nations and shaking policies that help young people to be impactful and useful in the world.

    You are passionate about youth development and empowerment, what plans do you have for Nigerian youths who are not residents in the UK?

    My plan for Nigerian youths who are not residents in the U.K is something we have been doing for more than a decade now—it is not just my plan, it is what we are doing, and they are in the public knowledge. It is just unfortunate that Africans, black people, or Nigerians like entertainment a lot. I mean entertainment is good but we like just that news. We started a wealthy nation most recently. We have given out millions. I believe in entrepreneurship; I believe that is what Nigerians need the most. If you empower people to be financially independent and free, crime will reduce, and they will impact their own families.

    This year we started the Wealth Nation Initiative and we have given over 30 million naira already, and we are going to a hundred million and we are going to do way more than that because what we are doing is how this one million can be multiplied and so, we link them up with proper mentorship.