Category: Worship

By Adeola Ogunlade

In a bid to create a one-stop site for young people and a better family, Living Home Ventures has launched familylifers.com.

This site was launched at an Impressive Media briefing held over the week at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. The event which attracted journalists from a number of media houses was chaired by the Publisher of City People Magazine, Mr. Seye Kehinde.

A family Life Coach and founder of Living Home Ventures, Pastor Bisi Adewale said the new online forum www.familylifers.com put together by his organization will go a long way to impact Nigerian families and the nation in general.

Adewale said the site had become necessary given the myriad of challenges facing the world and Nigeria in particular.

He said the site was designed to be a one-stop site for both the young and old.

His words, “The thoughts of helping to solve many of our nation’s problems were the propelling force behind creating this website and its applications. The platform will help in wealth creation and eliminate unemployment as the platform will provide employment opportunities.

“The platform will also empower young people and families. It will keep the youths busy and reduce crime rates. It will help parents in raising better children for society”.

“The new platform which is an interactive platform will showcase skills, products, and services FREE OF CHARGE. “It will also be an avenue for unemployed graduates to be linked with employers of labour as they upload their CVs on the platform”, he said.

Adewale who is known for his impactful teachings on marriage and family life said the ultimate goal of the site is to help the young ones, “reduce the crime rate and building families with the vision of seeing all youth in Nigeria living responsible lives, gainfully employed and building a very strong nation.”

Earlier, The Publisher of City People, Kehinde commended the effort of Pastor Adewale describing him as a great inspiration in society.

“I believe this kind of venture should be encouraged. Pastor Adewale has been around for a while and has been instrumental in mending homes and impacting families. We are grateful for a platform like this where people can come forward to share ideas, drop questions and interact. It is thus heart-warming,” he said.

In her own speech, a Marriage Counselor and Wife of Bisi Adewale, Mrs. Yomi Adewale noted that the “rate of unemployment is now high given as 27.1% which implies an increase in the poverty level in many families. Many youths are out of jobs beyond gender, geographical or educational biased reasons.”

According to her, “the initiative of creating an online platform was built to address structural and practical challenges faced by our youth today. It is a laudable idea as this will collaborate and support the efforts of the government to curb the rate of unemployment among our youths”

Adewale a chartered accountant by profession and tax consultant stressed that “the online forum (www.familylifers.com) provides an opportunity for empowerment, employment access, acquisition of skills, advertisement of businesses for SMEs/entrepreneurs, etc. for our youth to engage them in meaningful ventures that will help them to shun activities that could bring set back to Nigeria and cause havoc on her citizens.”

By Adeola Ogunlade

The Lagos State Chairman, of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Stephen Adegbite will chair a dinner being organised by the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA).

The dinner is designed for church founders, pastors, church leaders, General superintendents, General Overseers, and various heads of denominations.

The Lagos NEMA chairman, Pastor Edwin Ebeniro said in a statement that the dinner has been put together to intimate pastors on developments on various missions fields in the country and the need for the church to lend a helping hand to those fields.

Ebeniro said the dinner had become necessary so as to create an interface between missionaries and the clergy. “Some pastors in Lagos are not aware of what is happening on missions’ fields, some don’t know how they can support missionaries. Some just don’t think missions’ is necessary.

He noted that the first budget they cut if they have to cut funds is money for missions. We hope that the dinner will be a great platform to intimate them on the need to embrace missions and how they can assist missionaries on various fields.”

The Lagos State Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev Toyin Kehinde is expected to minister at the event with the theme; Church and Missions and The Executive Secretary of NEMA Rev Andrew Gwaivangmin is expected to be a special guest of honour at the event.

By Adeola Ogunlade

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Calvary Bible Church, Idimu, Lagos has concluded plans to rolls out its annual Alimosho Skills Acquisition programme (ASAP) holding on 29th March to Sunday 4 April, at the church Rehoboth Auditorium situated at, 2 Anjorin Street, Idimu, Lagos.

The 2021 edition of skill empowerment of Alimosho residents, tagged “Learn 2 Earn” holds from Monday 29 March to Sunday 4 April, 2021 at the church Rehoboth Auditorium situated at, 2 Anjorin Street, Idimu, Lagos.

The one-week skills acquisition tagged Learn 2 Earn feature training of participants in Adire making, Confectioneries, Graphic designs, Make-up & tying of Gele, On-line Business & Drop Shipping, Leather works, Photography, Soap & Insecticide making, Barbing, Interior décor and Real estate.

The church will also provide free lunch and business tools for participants during the one-week programme aimed at empowering over 500 Alimosho residents of all ages and status.

Speaking on the programme, the General Overseer of Cavalry Bible Church, Dr. Olumide Emmanuel said the Annual Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP ) of the Church is one of the  programme of the church to raise a total man.

He said “We are a people oriented ministry. We minister to the total man. We have numerous things apart from our weekly spiritual impact. For about 12 years, our Shift Outreach (S.O), on every Sunday have been visiting hospitals, hotels and motels, police cells to hold services and feed the inmates.

He noted that we go to the main Ikotun garage weekly to host services and feed people. All these have been going on since 2009 with numerous testimonies of transformed lives of former prostitutes and garage boys now saved.

“We also have the entrepreneurship academy where we raise new breed of entrepreneurs where people can partake online via www.teacademy.ng.com”, Emmanuel said.

By Adeola Ogunlade

The Senior Pastor of Praise Arena-Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Dr Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju has commended the effort of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde in the recent employment of virtually impaired graduates in their States.

Adetoyese-Olagunju said this at a Special Thanksgiving Service of the church for two virtually impaired graduates – Barrister Adesola Adedokun Ajayi, and Joseph Adeniyi Omoare, beneficiaries of the scholarship by Praise Arena Church who were recently employed by the Lagos and Oyo State Governments; the thanksgiving service was held at Praise Arena Church, Swiss International,The Vistana, VGC, Lekki Lagos.

Adesola, a graduate of Law from the University of Lagos was recently employed by the Ministry of Judiciary, Lagos State and Mr Joseph Adeniyi Omoare, a graduate of Education from Oyo State College of Education was among 150 persons living with disability recently employed by the Oyo State Government.

He commended the efforts of the State Governors in providing sustainable livelihoods for persons living with disability within their states.

Adetoyese-Olagunju said “we are grateful to the Lagos and Oyo State Governor for the kind gesture given to the two graduates, it is an indication of the friendly policy put in place to support the vulnerable and downtrodden in the society”.

He noted that creating an inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities to live and thrive among their peers is not charity; rather, it is the economic responsibility of the government and it is in the best interest of the people they represent.

He noted that without access to quality education and sustainable livelihood, children living with disabilities are unable to contribute meaningfully to the economy, are more prone to violence and experience a slower pace of social and human development.

He reinstated the readiness of the church in impacting more lives as well as working with other Institutions. The Pastor implores the beneficiaries to reciprocate the kind gesture by creating opportunities that will make life better for other vulnerable people.

Adesola, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked the State Government for its inclusive governance, as the gesture would go a long way in improving the lives of the recipients and their families.

He said that the opportunity given to him by the Lagos State government and the church can never be forgotten. I would implore other churches and institutions to invest their time and resources towards the needy and vulnerable people within their environment.

He posited further that there are millions of virtually impaired persons and people with special needs in Nigeria who need support and policy framework that would include them in governance.

“I have discovered that across all sector of our national life which include transportation, housing, environment, education; people with special needs go through harrowing experiences that need urgent attention, he said.

Adesola asserted that the virtually impaired and physically challenged communities are made up of industrious people who have amazing talents, skills and potentials if given the right environment could be explored for greater productivity.

Also speaking in admiration of the support of Praise Arena Church and the Oyo State government, Omoare said that he will never forget the show of love given to him at a time when all hope was lost.

He said that it is the support given to him by the church that enabled him to go to school at a time when his wife left him after he became virtually impaired due to occupational accident.

“I become blind nine years ago due to occupational accident. That year, my wife left me and my father who was diabetic died of the complication because of my new status.

I wanted to go to school but I had no support which made me to be thinking of committing suicide at that time but help came when I called Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju during his regular radio programme on EKO FM for help and the church took up my education bill till l graduated”, he said.

He promised to make best use of the opportunity given to him by the Oyo State government and calls for more support from the government and other non-State actors to do more to make live meaningful for persons living with disability in our society.

Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju prayed for good success for  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and he wants other States to extend such kind gestures to people living with disabilities in the Society.

Our Reporter

The founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo has received a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Ashimolowo, whose church has branches in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, shared photos of his vaccination on social media at the weekend.

READ ALSO: How to get the best out of life, by Ashimolowo, Otabil, Okonkwo, others

“I have taken the vaccination today. Very simple and quick. I encourage all BAME (Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities) to take the vaccination. Save lives. Stay Safe. Protect yourselves. We need to do this. Let’s go.”

 

 

By Taiwo Akinola

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes ~ Songs of Solomon 1:15.

Introduction:

The Bible is a perfect manual for marital success. It casts a vision of God’s out-of-this-world design for marital intimacy, and it challenges couples not to settle for an ordinary relationship but for a fulfilling and kingdom-focused marriage.

Marriage is ordained and instituted by God Himself in Paradise, and it is articulated in the Bible as a lifelong union between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). It is a solemn covenant union between husband and wife under the watchful eye of the Almighty God.

The Lord Jesus Christ signified the institution of marriage by performing the first of His recorded miracles at a marriage ceremony in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11). He described marriage as a relationship so intimate that “the two become one flesh”, and He emphasized unequivocally that marriage is a God-made and lifelong institution (Matthew 19:4–6).

However, in the gospel, the position of Jesus Christ also shows that marriage is not an end in itself. We did not come to the earth just to marry, procreate and die, but rather to fulfill the Ultimate Purpose of glorifying God by demonstrating His love to the world. And, if destiny is all about God’s purpose for your life, then it is reasonable to seek ways of validating it from God’s Word, the Bible.

Imperatives for Enjoying a Marital Relationship

Marriage can be a happy and beautiful venture only when certain critical success factors are well-considered and factored into its structure. In particular, homes can be quite godly and yet very happy where necessary Bible ingredients are cherished as imperatives within their walls.

Firstly, it is very important to constantly assess the foundation upon which you are building your marriage and to effect necessary repairs where applicable. Marriage is as strong as the basis on which it is founded; its stability and durability depend on the depth and the strength of its base.

A marriage built on a solid and deep foundation will not only survive but also thrive amid terrible storms of life (Matthew 7:24-25). On the contrary, anything built on a faulty foundation risks an ultimate collapse. And, without fear of overemphasis, anything including marriage, built on a faulty foundation only awaits a collapse, unless some pragmatic steps are taken.

It should be emphasized that the choice of a spouse is a paramount factor in marital success. In fact, the single most dangerous mistake anyone can make in life is in relation to the choice of marital partner.

A marriage union tends to be happy only when a good man marries a good woman, but that happens when the right choice is made and deliberate efforts are put in place to build up the union. Nothing compares with the will of God in marriage.

Unfortunately, today, there are many couples who seem to be in perpetual emotional pain because their marriages are contracted on faulty foundations and plagued with gross ignorance as to how to tackle the mess in which they have found themselves.

For the avoidance of doubt, marital relationships that will be enjoyed must be built on Christ and God’s principles (1 Corinthians 3:11).

From the marriage standards that God set in Eden, we can deduce that God’s presence in a marital relationship is primary to the success of the holy union.

The word “Eden” is a Hebrew word, which means “where God dwells”. Thus, the first thing God gave man was “His Presence”, and hence, the first thing a man needs is not a woman, it is the presence of God. A woman should delight in meeting her spouse in the presence of God or allow the man to remain alone.

No matter what you put into your marriage, if the foundation is faulty, that marriage may not last (Psalm 11:3). However, when a marriage with faulty foundations is genuinely submitted to the righteousness of Christ, the couple is no longer helpless, because there is nothing too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17).

Moreover, whenever repair needs are identified in our homes, we must allow the Divine Axe to go right down to the roots and uproot unprofitable plantations.

Secondly, couples that hope to enjoy their marital union in glorious togetherness must cultivate the attributes of genuine love one for another and determine to keep their marital vows and covenants till death.

Once married, couples often neglect the area of developing their love for each other as it was before their wedding day, particularly after life’s purposes are discovered, career paths are developed and the kids are grown.

Yes indeed, only a few things in life can compare with the ecstasy of true love. The flame of it keeps the hearts warm and supplies the chemical that makes us feel really good. However, continuing to develop that love after the wedding day is a challenge we all must accept.

Continuing a dating life is very important to the success and happiness of every marital union. It may require some tools and some strategic planning for couples, but it is still very vital that we maintain secure and intimate relationships in our marriages and homes.

Even in the older marital unions, strategic tools are very useful for couples that truly desire to continue developing their loving relationships one for another. Continue respecting and honoring each other, passionately. Make important decisions together. Make time for total communication. Resolve and not report crisis quickly. Relax in your home and laugh together. And, most importantly, pray, read the Bible and worship God together.

Thirdly, loving God fervently and serving Him faithfully together is a major imperative for couples that dream of a glorious and joyful togetherness under the watchful eyes of God.

Before you ever had a love for each other as a couple, God had sketched out your lives and what He certainly expects or longs for in your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Yes, God fashioned your destiny before you were born (Psalm 139:16).

As pointed out earlier, marriage should not be seen as an end in itself. The goals in marriage go beyond the nuptial flights and the pleasure. In other words, we did not come to the earth just to marry, procreate and die, but rather to fulfill God’s Ultimate Purpose.

The primary purpose of the marital union is to glorify God. In togetherness, every couple ought to glorify God and pursue His purposes in the holy union to fulfill destiny. And, this is best served by loving God and demonstrating His love to the world.

Friends and brethren, in conclusion, start with where you are today, allowing God’s grand plan to steer your marriage. Dream up things that would add joy and a sense of accomplishment to your spouse. Make room for changes in your attitudes where necessary, and seriously commit your destiny to the beauty of glorifying God in your home.

Love is a decision to make. Loving God, serving and glorifying Him, and loving each other ardently are quality decisions we must never defer. May God’s blessings be upon your marriage and home, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

Bishop Taiwo Akinola is the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Sango Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.