Category: Worship

The Coordinator of Genesis Team International, Evangelist Davies Ekunola, has urged Nigerians to stop heating up the polity with negative comments, saying no investment will survive in a society without peace.

Ekunola made the plea while speaking with journalists at the ministry’s headquarters, Rehoboth Prayer Mountain, along Papa-Ilaro Expressway in Ogun State on Monday, ahead of the 22nd edition of Genesis Annual Crusade, which holds on Friday, January 14.

He said: “From the part of the leaders, the citizens, and in every home, we must constantly speak peace and avoid comments that could foster hatred and violence.

”No investment will survive without peace; we saw how the nation lost billions of naira during the violence that trailed the EndSARS protests. If we truly want to prosper, we need to be praying for peace and avoid comments that can heat up the polity and destabilise the nation.”

The cleric further said the Crusade is basically about the word of the Lord, revival, praise, prayer, and deliverance, “and it has been a pathfinder for positive things in the Celestial Church.”

According to Ekunola, the Crusade is bringing together more than seven ministers of God from the CCC and other denominations for the 22nd edition on Friday.

Speaking on the theme of the latest edition – “Abraham Obeyed My Voice” from Genesis 26:5, Ekunola said, “at Genesis 2022, we are going to be preaching the message of obedience to the voice of the Lord.

“One of the challenges of our generation is that we are so adamant and disobedient to sacrifice what we love for the Lord. Abraham did that, and he never regretted it.”

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, Ekunola and his wife, Olayinka, while taking journalists on a tour of facilities at the 10-acre prayer mountain of the ministry, said the crusade would hold inside the 5,000 seater auditorium with provision for overflow seats.

It will also be streamed live online via the ministry’s digital platforms.

In his welcome address, Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee, Gbenga Alabetutu, said the theme of the crusade is an example of how total obedience and dependence on God can alter the destiny of not just one man but the entire world.

Secretary of the Organising Committee, Evangelist Gbenga Akinlalu, also disclosed that the committee has made provisions for free BRT buses at designated locations in Lagos to convey attendees to the venue.

Present at the media briefing were some of the ministers who would be ministering at Genesis 2022. They include: Lady Evangelist Olayinka Davies-Ekunola; Apostle Dan Ekunola, who would be leading the GTI Marvelous Choir in praise and worship; Prophet Samuel Bankole, and Evangelist Adebowale Adeboye, also took turns to talk about what participants should expect.

Also present were the Chairman of the ministry, Evang Olayemi Olaonipekun; Director of Publicity, Evangelist James Olusesi, Head of Works and Maintenance, Evangelist Adeyinka Adebayo, Head of Digital Media, Mrs Seyi Cole-Fijabi.

Founder of House On The Rock Pastor Paul Adefarasin has charged Nigerians to challenge their elected leaders more, particularly in the areas of education and infrastructural development.

Adefarasin gave the charge at the distribution of food items to over 3,000 indigent families ahead of the Christmas celebration through the church’s Project Spread Initiative last weekend.

The annual outreach was aimed at reaching out to the less privileged and touch thousands.

Speaking during the presentation, Adefarasin said Nigeria was supposed to be one of the richest counties but Nigerians have continued to live in abject poverty due to bad leadership over the years.

“Government must build schools, and also increase budgetary allocation to education to empower more Nigerians by letting them acquire skills instead of doling out cash to citizens. We will continue to talk to the government to do more than they are doing at the moment because it is not enough.

“Nigeria must begin to diversify, and this is why it is necessary to re-engineer the political structure of the country for more purposeful people to come into politics. Arm chair criticism will not take us anywhere. Let people go out and get their voter card,” he stressed.

He also advised people to shun selling their votes for money but should vote wisely and elect leaders who would turn the fortune of the country for generation yet unborn

Adefarasin enjoined religious leaders to help in empowering people through acquisition of skills instead of just dolling out food to people, stressing that corporate bodies must come together to assist in providing avenues for human capital development.

“Private sector must come together to create innovative ways in solving the issue of mass education for our people. Ethnic sentiment is too high and if not tackled may lead to revolution. Back in the last forty years, we used to have the best education system but now it has fallen drastically,” he stated.

Speaking on the motive behind the spread initiative, Pastor Adefarasin said it was initiated to show and share with Nigerians the true meaning of Christmas.

“Preaching the gospel and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ into the world as it is the ultimate gift humanity received through putting a big smile on the faces of the community.

“Christmas is a special time for us as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is also a time of sharing gifts because the coming of Jesus Christ into the world is the ultimate gift which humanity received. It is only appropriate for us to extend gifts and indeed our love to those around us, especially those who cannot afford to celebrate as elaborately as we can. This is why we are undertaking this initiative at a time like this,” he explained.

Over 5, 000 youths from Deeper Christian Life Ministry, (DCLM), Oshodi, Mushin and Isolo Districts, yesterday, gathered at Terminal One, Oshodi, Lagos in a carnival like manner to sensitize the public on 2021 Lagos Global Miracle Explosion Crusade of the church.

The Lagos Global Crusade of the DCLM holds between the 21st to 26th of December at the Deeper Life International Conference Centre, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The General Superintendent of the church, Pastor William Kumuyi and Gospel Music Minister, Paul Baloche are to minister at the event.

Dressed in white tee-shirts, thousands of the youths walked kilometres with a band playing with a well decorated trailer stationed at each point of convergence to create awareness about the programme.

In his words, the Coordinator of the Rally, Pastor Babajide Issachar said that the rally was borne out of the youth’s interest in mobilising as many people for the Lagos Global Crusade which promises deliverance, salvation and healing for the sick and broken hearted.

Prominent pastors across the globe rendered prayers to God for the whole world, thanking him for sparing the earth from great plague resulting from the COVID-19 disease and from other vices threatening the peace and existence of all.

They offered prayers of increase, restoration and blessings on the world as they joined millions of people all over the world at The Experience ’16 (Global Edition) held on December 3, 2021.

Offering prayer of thanksgiving, the Co-Chair, Bethany Church of God, Jakarta, Indonesia, Dr Younghoon Lee, reading from Isaiah 33:3, urged all believers to proclaim God’s praise and expect his spirit to flood through all the earth.

He said, “The people that I formed for myself, they may proclaim my praise. Worshipping God is the reason we exist. It is the reason we are saved. This is why we have to worship God with all our hearts. It is my sincere hope that all who truly worship God in this programme will have an experience in God’s presence indeed. All nations will be shaken by the power of the holy spirit through the worship at the Experience ’16.”

Also praying, the Senior Pastor, New Life Covenant Church, Harare, Zimbabwe, Bishop Tudor Bismarck, said, “I am telling you that people’s lives will be changed, destinies have been designed. Every nation will feel the very tangible, physical presence of God.”

In his part, the Senior Pastor, Jakarta Praise Community Church, Indonesia, Pastor Jeffrey Rachmat, urged all the participants to take the opportunity to offer direct offerings to God, stating that ‘the world would not be the same again after the experience.”

The Senior Pastor, The Tab Church, London and Borough, Dean, Board of the College of Council, London, UK, Pastor Mike White,  said we can make a sound to choose worship over worship. Our God is still on the throne and still on the throne.

In another prayer session, President of Voice Of Adonai Ministries International and senior pastor of Adonai Christian Centre, Dr. Kole Akinboboye said that a revival would soon break out in Nigeria that would affect the rest of the world.

According to him, it would make Nigeria come alive.

”When the civil war ended, a revival broke out in this country and many are products of that revival. Now, another cycle of fifty years is about to come and the revival is about to break out. The revival will lead to a transformation of the nation and the continent of Africa. I believe that is going to happen. The hour has come for the dead to hear the voice of the lord and come alive. Nigeria is coming alive,” he said.

The Senior Pastor and Founder, The Potter’s House, Dallas, USA, Bishop TD Jakes, urged all participants to open up and expect a miracle as they worship God ‘in spirit and in truth’.

For British Singer, songwriter and Broadcaster, Minister Muyiwa Olarewaju (Obe), On behalf of the 700 Club and CBN and also Premier Radio here in the UK, he commended the sacrifice of the conveners, Pastors Paul and Ifeanyi Adefarasin, noting that their sacrifices have changed the world.

 

It was a great moment of great excitement with melodious songs and soul-lifting lyrics at a musical concert titled: ‘Fragrance of Praise,’ organised to acquaint the youths on the way they can enjoy godly music and live a joyful and fulfilled life.

The event took place recently at Deeper life Bible Church Group Headquarters, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Convener of the programme, Ekenedilichukwu Agomuo, said the programme was borne out of passion for the youth who are leaders of tomorrow.

“We know what is going on now in this dispensation, in the area of what the youth term as music, how the devil is messing up their lives with some of them on drugs, believing that to be relevant with today’s music, you need to be high.

“What that translates to is that if this is allowed to continue, there would be no future for either the youths or the country because if their future is destroyed, the future of the country is equally destroyed,” she said.

Ekenedilichukwu further noted that if the youth should be invited to come and hear the Word of God or to attend a seminar, they might not come, hence the powerful influence of music was employed to open their eyes to godly music that would make them to be something in life and also assist them to actualise their dreams in line with the will of God.

She added that part of the aim was to equip them with the knowledge that they can compose the type of music that would make them to be useful to themselves, to their friends and to their parents, as well as to the society and that it would go a long way to stop wasting their time on the type of music that would not add value to their lives.

Ekenedilichukwu assured that the programme had come to and will continue to enlighten the youths, enable them to give their lives to Jesus, be saved, give them their future and make heaven which is the ultimate.

One of the organisers, Oluwaseun Sonaike, said they have employed the power of godly music to attract the youth with a view to getting their mind and pass on the message of righteousness.

“We started with praises in a calm and solemn way that should reflect the kind of life they are supposed to live.

Over 500 girls and young women in a remote area in Agboyi 2 of Ketu, suburb of Lagos have benefited from the distribution of sanitary pads, anti-bacterial soaps and pure cotton pants at an event organised by Children Empowerment Fund (CEF), in conjuction with Missions Enablers.

The exercise held last week, was premised on inculcating in young girls the proper hygienic method of observing their menstrual circles which featured lectures on how to wash properly, change and dispose sanitary pads, wear clean undergarments, eat balanced diets and when to see a doctor.

Speaking at the occasion, the Programme Manager, CEF, Temitope Akinrotimi, said the programme was to address hygienic menstrual cycle among young girls.“We usually reach out to young girls in under-served communities where they do not have access to sanitary materials like sanitary pads and the likes. “In like manner, we visited this community and took a survey and realised that quite a number of young girls here either do not use sanitary pads at all or may use them randomly because they cannot afford the price and therefore opt for tissues or rags. This is the reason we are carrying out this project today.

“In addition to sanitary pads, we also distributed antibacterial soap because we speculate the people do not bathe as they should, due to the type of water available here, which is dirty and could be toxic and we have chosen this type of soap that can rid whatever germ that is capable of affecting their health.

“We also distributed underwear to support their menstrual hygiene, knowing that many girls do not change their pants regularly and it is not an understatement that some girls can use a pant for five years, hence we are using this medium to change the narrative by giving them new pants and the type we have giving them is pure cotton pants that are healthy and good for their menstrual cycle.

We held a lecture prior to distribution to explain to them the benefit of cotton pants during their menstruation,” the Programme Manager said.

She further said that this is the first time we are carrying out this type of programme here in Lagos as our focus has been Northern Nigeria. We have now realized that the people here in the South too need help.

Akinrotimi, said “we also support schools in Sierra Leone, Burundi and other African countries in their under-served communities. I am proud to add that we are sister organization of Mission Enablers, which is a mission agency that caters for missionaries on mission fields and also support missionaries in various fields across Africa”.

In his response to the gesture done, the Baale Oruba, Agboyi II, Mr. Taiwo Lamina commended the effort of CEF and sought for further aid to the community in the areas of clean water supply, secondary school and construction of pedestrian bridge to link the rural community with the nearby nuzzling towns of Alapere and Ketu.

The community is one of the three completely cut off from the busy nearby towns by a dirty flowing river and they are in dire need of government intervention. Agboyi I, Agboyi II and Agboyi III as the communities are independently called with their traditional rulers are located in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State and share boundaries with Kosofe Local Government Area, and can only be reached by canoe. They are communities yearning for modern development.

The Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd James Odedeji, has said the insecurity challenges in the country is surmountable.

He urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the efficacy of prayers. Rt. Revd Odedeji spoke during the 8th edition of the Annual Triumphant Convocation of the Diocese at Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

According to him, Nigerians people should be steadfast.

“They should demonstrate their faith. They should know that there is God, despite all distractions, God is still God and He’s the owner of His church and he cannot be bankrupt of ability to deliver His people… So, I believe so much that if people pray and forsake their sins, God will hear them from heaven, He will heal the land and He will bring out goodness from whatever has been generated,” he said.

He said the vision of the convocation was to bring all God’s people together to be blessed and to have strong fellowship.

He encouraged participants to be expectant at the event which will last for three days.

”You must also not doubt God and don’t look  on to any man for your blessings,” he said.

The Dean of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Ven Ebenezer Adewole, who spoke on the theme: More than conquerors gave seven signs to show a believer is more than a conqueror.

To be more than a conqueror, he said “the believer must have an understanding that he has a divine backup. He also knows he is a tormentor of the kingdom of darkness.”

The cleric added that the believer can only be more than a conqueror if he has conquered himself.

“The place of faith, according to him, can’t be overemphasized for the believer who is more than a conqueror, adding that “A man of faith has no regard for obstacles.”

Pastor Ogbole Enaholo Ogehdegbe is Coordinator of Love Outreach International. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about what inspired him to start the organisation, early life, the things that give him fulfillment and why he empowered 50 people as he turned 50 recently. Excerpts:

Tell us about life in the ministry? 

As a pastor, I have been a minister in the church.  Currently, I have  a  ministry called Love Outreach International.  I don’t believe in doing things the conventional way. In the next ten years, I see that people will be inspired by what we are doing, especially using money to empower others. I want more people to do this whether formally or informally. That for me is number one and we will blaze a trail in so many areas, ultimately in raising people out of poverty.

I also want to look at the people we gave funds to today and see them giving to others in future. In fact, one of them just gave me liquid soap saying I supported him previously.  That is what I want to see in the next ten years. There was a woman who gave me N5000 a long time ago and I can testify today that my life has changed. I want that same testimony from them. That for me is fulfilling. All of us will leave this earth; don’t believe this is our final bus stop. Think about it, what will be your legacy? That is the kind of legacy I want to leave. I want to leave a world better than I saw it. Even when I leave, they will say this is what my Ministry did for them.

  Let’s talk about life at 50?

I am grateful to God for the 50 years that I am alive. God has helped me. I’m able to take care of my needs, my family needs, and I’m still standing in faith. If there is anything I would like, it is for people to be inspired to help others.

That is what makes us human. When God created us, he left a part of divinity in us. The Bible said God breathed into every living soul.

There is a divinity in every man; every human being under the sun has God in him, a part of God is in everyone. If God can put a brain in every human, whether righteous or unrighteous, who am I to begin to discriminate? We should love ourselves, and we should care. We all need love and care. Without love, none of us would be standing here. If we can take care of those who are weak and challenged, the world would be a better life.

At what point did you decide to be empowering people?

My father was a civil servant, an average person and I never lacked.

But after school, I was looking for a job as a graduate, an engineer.

Then I was riding a pick-up, a friend who also did not have a job had a pick-up lying around and we loaded pick-ups then. I also stayed in a room and my friends used to tease me and call me one bedroom.

Sometimes, I would say God, when you would visit me. The Bible says, ‘I wish that you would prosper even as your soul prospers. If I give you prosperity beyond the prosperity of your soul, it would destroy you.’ So, one of the things I asked for were people who had challenges with their businesses. People who just want to scale up, people struggling around town and I partnered with some foundations.

I’m so proud of United Breeds Foundation, I am touched with what they do and the genuineness of what they do. I am so excited today that we are able to do the little we can. I got contributions from so many friends to be able to make this happen and I give God the glory.

 A lot of young people appear to be stranded out there. What advice do you have for those who didn’t get this?

Don’t give up; work is the basis of faith. The Bible said faith is the evidence of the things that are hoped for, things not seen. Never give up hope. Recognise that the future is bright. It is sad these days, you see many people in a hurry. That is driven by hunger. But recognise that many went through a phase. When I tell people that I went through a phase, sometimes they don’t understand. I live in a good house, drive a big car and they think it fell from heaven. I went through tough times. Never lose sight of God. Matthew 6 Vs 33 says:

‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and every other things would be added.’ God knows that we have these needs, if we care about God. If we care about the things God cares about, then God will take care of you. It matters to God that these people are encouraged.

Some of them are at their wits end. They don’t know where to get the next meal and then you show them love. You know what, they matter to God. If when it matters to God, it matters to you, I can assure you that when it matters to you, it would matter to God and God will show up.

At what point did the narratives change for you?

I was one of those people who used to laugh at Christians that they were not wise. But, when I got born again, I could hear God and it was very encouraging. People who supported me, made it better and that is why I keep going to what people did for me when I had a challenge. It is a pity many are not here today. I struggled at that point in my life. There were days, I went for house fellowship and they would just bring food for me to eat. Sometimes, I would do what you call I waka well. The change came by God’s mercy.

 

The day I saw the advert for the job that I am still currently employed right now, I shed tears. I had not applied but I had a strong feeling that this is it. God was holding my hand all through this challenging period, encouraging me and it was not always easy. That was how the breakthrough came. I thank God, God has been merciful and the testimony of how I got the job is something else, where God turned things around.

Scores of Christian public servants last Wednesday attended the Lagos State Public Service Christian Fellowship Education District 1 Chapter end of the year thanksgiving service.

The public servants, who could not hold back their excitement, sang aloud and danced vigorously to the songs and musical instruments played by the fellowship choir.

The Tutor General of Education District 1 Chapter, Barr Margaret Solarin, expressed joy at the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results of the students in District 1, saying there was an improvement when compared to the results recorded by the District in 2020.

She further thanked the teachers and principals in Education District 1 for their tremendous efforts in ensuring better performance by the students in the examination results.

The Tutor General enjoined the public servants to continue to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 preventive measures and not get carried away by the insinuations that the virus no longer exist in Lagos State.

Rev. Adedoyin Oyelowo, who spoke on ‘His mercies endureth forever,’ advised the congregants to continue to pray to God for mercy and cultivate the attitude of gratitude.

Oyelowo added that Nigeria still exist today due to the mercy of God.

She stated that the mercy of God has been helping Nigeria to survive despite the various challenges bewildering the country.

The event also featured the presentation of award to personalities who have contributed immensely to the development of the Education District 1 Chapter.

Some of the awardees include Solarin, Oyelowo, Pastor James Sunday, Mr. Adeoti Oluwasesan, Pastor Agboola Olajide, Mrs. Adegboye Dorcas and Pastor Isaac Olatunde, among others.