The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Kumuyi, Bamgbola, others for Lagos crusade

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi; Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) Lagos chapter Apostle Alex Bamgbola; Chairman Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Lagos Bishop Sola Ore and General Overseer of Faith Family Bible Church, Pastor David Aboderin will minister at the liberation crusade on November 15-17 at the Nigeria Police College GRA Ikeja organised by the PFN.

    The Chairman PFN Ikeja province, Pastor Ilesanmi stated this to reporters at the weekend in Lagos.

    He said that the crusade has been aptly tagged Divine liberation to capture what God alone is capable is doing for His people.

    According to him, only God can fix Nigeria.

    Read Also: ‘Why Nigeria needs mercy’

    Ilesanmi said: “We are all aware of the state of affairs, not only in our country but all over the world.  The preponderance of evil in the land and this has given rise to untold insecurity, starvation, misery and hopelessness.

    “God in His infinite love mercy is not only able but willing to deliver those who look up to him. This crusade will provide a rare platform for the demonstration of God’s love and power.

    “People are going to be set free from the power of sin, healed of sicknesses and diseases and delivered from satanic bondage.

    “We are trusting God that this event will usher in a significant healing in our land. Seasoned gospel ministers are also coming to minister and inspire people with songs.”

    He informed the event is loaded with side attractions such as free medical outreach on November 14

    “We have volunteer medical professionals who will be attending to people to take advantage of the programme to carry out some medical check-up receive some treatment free of charge.

    “Other welfare packages have also been worked into the programme such as provisions like special welfare for widows and distribution of some clothing items for participants,” he stated.

  • Archbishop urges FG to open borders

    By Our Reporter

    THE Primate Christ Crusaders Aladura International Gospel Church Lagos, Archbishop Peter Olofe, has urged the federal government to open the country’s borders to arrest the rising prices of food items.

    The cleric said since the borders were shut, the prices of some food had continued to rise, thereby affecting the people, who were managing to survive.

    ‘’Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. Closure of the borders has made the price of staple food to go up, thereby exacerbating the economic woes of the average Nigerian,’’ he said.

    He added that the production of some foodstuff should be increased with the government designating some centres for the purchase of food.

    He continued: ‘’In essence the government should continuously buy foodstuff in large quantities from farmers in all the six geopolitical zones and sell at reduced prices at these centres.’’

    Olofe advised political leaders to be upright, truthful, lead by example and have the interest of the masses at heart.

    He said since we have no other country, leaders should make Nigeria conducive for them.

    Quoting Proverbs chapter four verse 18, he said Nigeria’s abundant natural resources should be harnessed for the interest of its people and not to be enjoyed by a few alone. He noted that Nigeria was passing through an economic phase and that all hands should be on deck to salvage it.

    Emphasising the importance of truthfulness, the senior cleric the government should listen and attend to the needs of the people.

    Read Also: ‘Church is not for selfish people’

    Archbishop Olofe also spoke on equality before the law, saying that the same law should apply to both the rich and poor, and small and great. He decried a situation where the rich are giving preferential treatment.

    He advised the government to partner senior clerics in nation building and that it should draft sincere senior members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Organisation of Indigenous Aladura Church, among others, to assist it.

    ‘’We are stakeholders in Nigeria. Our commonwealth should not be mismanaged,’’ he said.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for its anti-corruption crusade, adding those stealing public money should not be spared.

  • ‘Church is not for selfish people’

    By Onimisi Alao, Yola

     

    Adamawa State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Stephen Mamza, has lamented that undesirable politics is everywhere, including the Church.

    The bishop, who made the remark at a retreat for youths in the state capital Yola, said he is battling with people in CAN who would rather have him allow shady deals.

    He advised youths to be mindful of the elders they choose as mentors.

    He said the Church had failed society as some church leaders had become inclined to worldly profit.

    He condemned those he said were trying to turn Church to a business venture, stating: “The Church is not for business but for the salvation of souls. Let’s continue to pray and tell the truth to all concerned.”

    While urging the youths to remain steadfast in doing the right thing, Mamza said he had rejected many awards from many groups.

    Read Also: ‘I’ve learnt ministry is not business’

    He explained: “When you are doing the work of God there is no better reward than the one from God.”

    The CAN chairman, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Yola, made the remarks while addressing an Inter-Denominational Youth Retreat organised by Coalition of Christian Group for Good Governance (COCGOG), saying every serious-minded youth needs a mentor.

    He added, however that choosing bad mentors would be dangerous.

    “You should look out for adults who can mentor you. You should not follow dubious ones. Look out for those with exemplary character.

    “Our youth should not allow themselves to be deceived or misled. Don’t allow the unserious ones to lead you or show you the way,” Mamza said.

    President of COCGOG, Mr Daniel Kadzai, said the retreat was organised to awaken the youths on the need to return to Jesus.

  • ‘I’ve learnt ministry is not business’

    By Adeola Ogunlade

     

    General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church Power of God Saves Lagos, Prophet Moses Olagunju, speaks with Adeola Ogunlade, on the lessons ministry has taught him in the last 30 years.

    How does it feel to experience the 30th anniversary of the church?

    I give God the glory and we thank God. Some people started for one year or two and died but if God can spare one’s life for these 30 years, then, it calls for thanksgiving. That the church did not scatter is not by power or by might. To God be the glory

    Can you share your experience in these 30 years?

    We thank God for those who were hopeless but got hope. We thank God for those who could not do something good with their lives but witnessed God’s intervention and their lives changed. I thank God for what he has done for 30 years and the rest of our lives, He will do greater things in the coming years ahead.

    We must not remember the things that got spoilt and the things that make our heart sad. When there is life, there is hope. The ministers that has left the ministry should be over 200 plus and those left behind are over 500 ministers.

    What did you learn during these years?

    I have learnt that ministry and the church of God is not business. If you think you want to make money, then you can’t stay. They are people who come to church but are not born again. Through they may bring in their money but they will slide back into the world because they have not given their lives to Jesus.

    Some will be in church and will do nothing while some will be seeking the downfall of the church but by the grace of God, wherever there is the word of God, there is power.  If we allow the word of God, it will go a long way in building the church

    Men of God should see to the building the church and not focus on monetary gains. We started small and we have grown big.  There is joy in Christ more than anything. If you have children of God, you will have rest of mind but if you have nominal members, who even contribute to the work of God, when they know the truth, the work of God will become easier. All our churches have given us peace of mind.

    Let’s get to know how you started

    I started out as a vulcaniser early in life. I learnt it from my brother. Although, the profession I learnt early in life was driving. I learn driving after I left Primary school. While driving, God told me that I should not do personal works though I was a Muslim.

    I wanted to go to school but finance was my challenge. I was still learning driving as an apprentice. One day, I was with my boss and we were going to Coca-Cola in Ilorin, Kwara State and I told him that I want to go and ease myself.

    By the time I finished easing myself, the vehicle conveying us to Cola Cola had gone and I had to trace the vehicle. On my way, I met a prophet who told me to stop my work as a driver that year. I went to a secondary school and I gave my life to Jesus and afterward I heard the call of God upon my life.

    When did you hear the call of God?

    I heard the call of God upon my life in 1984-1985. I gave my life to Jesus on December 21st, 1984 and was a church member until January of 1986 when I started the work of God. I was wondering that if when I accepted Christ, the whole family rejected me, what will happen if I become a pastor?

    But with God and because Christianity in those days was backed by Holy Ghost fire baptism so much so that when one gets to the church you will know you have received something from God.

    You will ask for the Holy Spirit baptism, followed by the word of God through the Sunday school, then the sermon that will teach one how to be independent in God, knowing God fully and not prosperity messages that have flooded the church today and these really established us in those days.

    If you were not are working for God, what would you have been doing?

    I would have gone into agriculture full scale. That was what I wanted to go and study in the higher institution. The little secondary school knowledge I gathered in agriculture, if I touch a soil, I know what the soil can give in returns.

    I learnt about different kinds of soil and their potentials in Farming. I also love livestock farming. There is no book I will read in life, I will not jettison farming.

    How did the ministry start?

    We started from a room and parlour and we were just 18. Nine people can be sent an errand and the rest were children and since the night we started, God has proved Himself mighty in our midst.

    The people then sat on 17 blocks. I am not sure we have three left as the Holy Spirit took control. With the fact that we started in a room and parlour, people were sitting outside. It really surprised me. My thought initially was that when we started, I will go and work in Port because our landlord then was working in Port.

    My thinking was to follow him to Port in the morning while in the night, we embark on revival programme.  I saw God’s hands. There was no money but God’s power was there. Some people who came in and complain that the prayer was too much they met themselves on the altar. The power of God in me gave me so much joy.

    Do you ever think of going back to your first love?

    I have never regretted anything. There was no money but there was power. Some people who feel prayers were too much and they came to our church and went down on their knee to pray.

    God, at a point, asked me whether I was a pastor or deliverance minister. God told me that if I wanted deliverance, he will give me but I will not live long but I told God that I want to start a church and he told me that he will reduce the power of God upon my life.

    I went to OPM bible school. There are two type of Bible School. I went to a bible school under a prophet. Some people went to a conventional Theology Bible School but full time is what is good.

  • Baptist youths celebrate King of Glory

    The Triumphant Youth of First Baptist Church, 12 Oremerin Street, Itire, Lagos will on Friday hold Alade Ogo (King of Glory) 3.0.

    The spiritual programme, an annual event, is packaged to celebrate Jesus Christ.

    Spokespersons for the youth, Kunle Babalola and Kehinde Obatola, said: “Alade Ogo (King of Glory) is worthy to be praised.
    “We are celebrating Jesus Christ. He deserves our praises and adoration because of the signs and wonders he is performing in our midst.

    Read Also: Jewish, Christian communities celebrate in Lagos

    “Gospel musicians like Ronke Chantified, Easy Sax and Kakaki Jesu have been invited to perform at this third edition of Alade Ogo, which will begin from 9pm till 5am.”

    The minister-in-charge of First Baptist Church, Itire, Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Afolabi, will preside over the programme tagged: ‘Ceaseless Praise’ (2 Chronicles 20:27) during which souls will be won for Jesus Christ.

  • Accessing God’s medicine for healthy living!

     Dr. David Oyedepo

    Welcome to another impactful week! I hope you were blessed by last week teaching. Today, we shall focus on: Accessing God’s Medicine for Healthy Living!

    We discover from scriptures that God’s Word is His medicine for the believer. Many people wonder what keeps us going without patronizing the clinics and chemist. We have our own brand of medicine that is more effective than medical science. It is God’s Word! It is written, My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:20-22). This means, it is health to every part of the body of whosoever finds it. The moment the Word enters into us, we become a different person altogether. The Word transforms our bodies to health. God’s Word is an all-purpose drug sent to us by God to immunize us against all forms of sicknesses and to keep us healthy all the time. Therefore, all we need do is find out how to administer God’s medicine in our own situations. This is where the wisdom of God comes in. The Bible says, Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times… (Isaiah 33:6).

    Also, the Word is quick as seen in Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It can enter the joints and marrow to combat any form of sickness and win. This connotes that it is powerfully alive and is capable of healing all manner of sicknesses. All we need is God’s medicine, the all-purpose drug; it will make us perfectly whole. That is God’s prescription. The devil knows that any Word that enters into us makes us his master in that area. That is why we have to attend to the Word; it is our life-wire and it determines our life content and quality. Thus, if the Word enters into us, it would require our attention and we need to give ear to it. If faith for divine health has to enter into us, we must give ear to it. The Bible says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). So, we do not need all the pains medical science entails to get our healing and be in health. All we need is to attend to the Word and give ear to it. As we give ear to the Word, it will produce the same results in us.

    In summary, we have to keep looking at the Word. When situations come against us, we do not focus on them; we focus on what God has said about us. For instance, there was a time when judgment came into the camp of Israel in the wilderness. They were bitten in their thousands by fiery serpents. Moses, the man of God, prayed and God asked him to make a fiery serpent of brass and hang it up on a tree so that any man who took time to look upon the serpent might be saved. Moses did this and everyone who looked upon the brazen serpent was saved from the fiery serpents (Numbers 21:9). Hebrews 12:2 says, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith… In John 3:14, Jesus is likened to that fiery serpent of brass. If the serpent of brass could bring health, looking unto Jesus will bring greater (divine) health. The people of old looked unto the Word and they were not ashamed. As long as we keep the Word in sight, it will produce the desired results. The psalmist knew the secret of looking when it says, They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed (Psalm 34:5). However, this can only be possible when you are born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, please get my books: Keys to Divine Health, The Healing Balm, The Miracle Meal and Fulfilling Your Days. I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280, or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org, Facebook: David Oyedepo Ministries International, Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • ‘How to be a successful pastor’s wife’

    Pastor (Mrs.) Moronke Olubo is wife of the General Overseer of House Favour Church Lagos, Rev Bayode Olubo. She speaks with Sunday Oguntola on the challenges of being a pastor’s wife and her singing ministry. Excerpts:

    When did you discover you could sing?

    I actually discovered l could sing at age 6 because my mum and siblings are members of the choir. We used to have such a swell time singing as a family at home. It’s a gift from God to all of us in my family and I bless God for that special gift.

    How come it took you this long to finally sing?

    I have been singing for a while. But I only laid back. l just felt l should take it to the next level and be a blessing not just in my church but to the world as a whole. I have been using my songs as an instrument of lifting to the broken hearted and setting the captives free. l love to give hope to the neglected through my songs.

    What’s the new single track all about?

    The single track is all about my heart of gratitude to God, looking back at where l was coming from. He lifted me from among the dungeons of the poor and set me among the Kings. I have gone through a lot while growing up. l passed through a lot of challenges and struggle in life.

    ln fact it got to a stage that they told me to my face that because of the way l was brought up by a single mother, l can never be great or have a home. But today, I am so grateful for all that God has done for me. My experience in life gave birth to ope mi po. l can’t thank Him enough for His faithfulness in my life.

    Why a track and not an album?

    It’s a single album for now but I am working towards an album very soon.

     How easy is it to be a Pastor’s wife?

    Being a pastor’s wife is a great task. It is very challenging but rewarding on d long run. It requires a lot of patience, tolerance and consistence in prayer using the word of God as a weapon.

    Read Also: So, to which cabal does Pastor Bakare belong?

    You have to be emotionally mature because you are the Mother –in- Israel- mother to all. So what l do basically is to commit everything into the hands of God for wisdom and direction.

    l engage the Holy Spirit most of the time to guide me and strengthen me. l testify that  He is the only one that can make the role easy. The flesh can’t and that’s my secret of being a pastor’s wife.

    What do you intend to achieve with music?

    l want my music to bring hope to the hopeless, bring salvation to the lost souls and l also by the Grace of God l would like to take gospel music to the next level locally and internationally.

    I see how worldly songs are being celebrated globally and wonder why gospel songs cannot attain the same level. I also plan to sing with both local and international gospel artists like Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and so on

    How far do you plan to go with gospel music?

    I plan to go as far as God will allow him. This is because it is not my music but His work. If it pleases Him, He can take away beyond my wildest imagination and expectation.

    But music is part of me. Even when l retire from my secular job, l can never retire from music because I am not just passionate about music, it’s also my calling. So l will continue sing as long as l live by the Grace of God.

    How do you juggle working, mothering, pastoring and singing?

    It’s a big task being a mother, a pastor and a musician. But like l said, l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. With Him everything is possible because he is my strength and He will never fail.

  • The church has failed Nigeria – Concerned ministers’ forum

    The socio-political challenges facing the nation are down to the failure of the church to project values that will shape the spiritual atmosphere for maximal impact, a group Concerned Ministers Forum has stated.

    The interdenominational group told reporters last week in Lagos that Nigeria will never get out of the wood until the church functions in her full capacity.

    Convener of the forum, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, said the church failed the nation by embracing sensual messages that promote greed and materialism.

    According to him: “We declare with the deepest sense of responsibility that the church, of which we are blessed to be part of, has woefully failed Nigeria.

    “The church failed Nigeria by its careless embrace of the purely sensual messaging. The church has turned its historic mission upside down, abdicating its sanctifying purpose and the sanitizing power of its presence, becoming rather the chief accomplice in Nigeria’s unbridled initiation into satanic pursuit of perishable material gains.”

    The elevation of the prosperity message by the church, according to the renowned evangelist, “is patently ungodly and plays directly into the infernal plans of Satan for Nigeria, emptying the gospel of its real redemptive power while rousing gullible masses of false worshippers to mental enslavement.”

    He berated church leaders for engaging in what he described as vain competition for material possessions, saying the development creates a cynical mindset among the struggling masses.

    He stated the overflowing presence of churches across the nation has become a misnomer because of the fading influence of the faith, urging church leaders to drop material teachings for real, lasting messages.

    Olaleye called for true repentance among church leaders, saying the nation will experience a positive turnaround the moment they preach the real, authentic as against the man-induced gospel.

    He assured that once the church returns to the real gospel, there will be marked difference and progress across the nation.

    Senior Pastor of Agape Generation International Lagos, Rev Toyin Kehinde, challenges churches to return to evangelism and discipleship.

    He said: “As long as we don’t evangelise, we will keep having banditry, kidnapping and criminal acts. These bandits could have been saved if we had reached out early to them.”

    General Overseer of Christ Image Assembly Lagos, Rev Bode Orekoya, told church leaders to return to the practice of charitable acts.

    “Our youths are being enticed by criminal elements because we do not support them. If we support them with resources, they will be empowered and given to legitimate earnings,” he argued.

  • Wisdom: Key to divine health!

    Welcome to October! I believe that every one of us must have had definite encounters with the Word on the subject of the covenant of financial fortune in the course of the month of September, 2019. My prayer is that each one’s encounter shall last for a lifetime and I also pray that the giving grace that launches men into realms of financial fortune shall rest upon each of us, all the days of our lives. Amen! This week, we shall examine the topic: Wisdom: Key to Divine Health!

    It is very important that we live in the consciousness of the truth that, among other things, Jesus has taken away our sicknesses. As it is written, That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses (Matthew 8:17). If we know how expensive it is to keep a healthy body in the world today, we will give praise to God for the health we enjoy now. One of the areas in which the devil will really publicise himself in this end-time is in the area of sickness. However, God is going to strongly establish His covenant of divine health with His people.  Through divine health, God is going to make the difference between His people and the rest of the world because He contracted a covenant of good health with His people from the beginning. Our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not have any reason to be sick because the covenant forbade them to be sick. The Bible says, My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips (Psalm 89:34). They were under a great covenant and we have been brought under same by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14). Christ came to make us a partaker of this great covenant of divine health. However, it is wisdom to know the things to do for our health to be guaranteed. Therefore, what is wisdom? Wisdom is the accurate application of knowledge. Jesus said: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Jesus has paid for any inconvenience we may be experiencing. He has no plan for us to harbour any form of pain. But it takes doing what God has said to stay in that high premise of divine health. Let’s take a look at Isaiah 33:5-6, The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. The point being made here is that the stability of our times comes by the accurate application of the knowledge of the truth which we possess. The amount of wisdom we put in determines how stable our times will be. God is exalted on high, no doubt. He has filled Zion with judgement and with righteousness; it is now Zion’s responsibility to seek wisdom and knowledge for stability. Knowledge is absolutely indispensable if we are to walk with God (2 Peter 1:2-3).

    Furthermore, sickness is not glorious; health is glorious. Sickness is most definitely one of the corrupting weapons in the world today. If sickness strikes a man, you will suddenly notice that the man begins to deteriorate in strength and form. But we have become a partaker of the divine nature and so have escaped this corruption. The divine nature is void of sickness. Jesus operated in it and sickness could not attack Him. Divine nature is a covenant and every covenant has two sides to it. God can never deny Himself. When we fulfil our own part, God has no choice but to fulfil His own.

    In conclusion, Jesus came for the whole man that is spirit, soul and body. He wants every part of us to reflect His glory. His mission does not stop with sin; He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Hence, divine health can be your portion if you are genuinely born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, please get my books: Keys to Divine Health, The Healing Balm, The Miracle Meal and Fulfilling Your Days. I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280, or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org, Facebook: David Oyedepo Ministries International, Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • Kumuyi: God ‘ll rewrite history of the church

    General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) Pastor William Kumuyi has assured God will rewrite the history of the church following the wave of divine visitation, spiritual awakening and unprecedented revival breaking all denominational barriers in the nation

    Kumuyi spoke at the Ministers’ Development and Networking Summit (MDNS) recently at the African Bethel Cathedral Ikorodu in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with the theme “Growing your Church”.

    He said that the church is being weakened by denominational barriers that have rendered it unproductive to deliver the heavenly divine of winning the world to Christ.

    “Instead of fighting a common enemy, the devil; we are fighting each other. We are looking down on each other; we are pushing each other away until the church is not even sure on which ground do I stand,” he lamented.

    According to the convener of MDNS, the vision of the summit is to make the church in Nigeria strong by injecting power into the local churches.

    He lamented the body of Christ in Nigeria is losing relevance, which informed the needs to develop the ministers especially at the grassroots.

    Speaking on the topic, “Undeniable power of united faith in the Saviour,” Kumuyi said the church in Nigeria must be united in faith to lead sinners to the saviour.

    The holiness preacher noted recovery will come by leading the people to their saviour, stating that “the pursuit is to make the body of Christ strong in Nigeria”.

    Bishop of African Bethel Cathedral Ikorodu, Rt Rev Akin Ajayi, praised Kumuyi for initiating the summit.

    He said: “We believe that with what we have heard today, the church will continue to grow stronger than before, and we believe that things will change and there will be peace in every area of our lives provided we have faith because the lord is our God of faith.”

    Ajayi, who is also the bishop of the Lagos West missionary diocese of the African Church, urged ministers to humble themselves before God.

    “For Pastor Kumuyi to have come to Ikorodu means he has humbled himself and we should all learn from him.

    “I believe there is nobody God cannot use. If you allow God to take charge of your life, he will definitely deliver you and grant you whatever you think is impossible in your life,” Ajayi said.

    Speaking on the nation’s 59th independence anniversary, Ajayi said Nigerians should imbibe the fear of God to experience peace.

    “People have been shouting freedom, independence but it seems we are still in bondage. If we move closer to God and have faith in God, the Lord will definitely grant divine freedom, independence to Nigeria as a whole and to Lagos State,” he stated.