The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Catholic Priests meet in Kaduna over insecurity

    Catholic priests drawn from the 36 states of the Federation and the Abuja are currently meeting in Kaduna over the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and general insecurity in the country.

    Though the gathering is the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association, the meeting would discuss the spate of killings, kidnapping and other related crimes confronting the land.

    The AGM which holding at the Catholic Social Centre in the state capital, has as its theme: ‘The Imperative of Good Governance for a secure and Prosperous Nation.’

    Earlier speaking in a church service preceding the event conducted at the Our Lady’s Parish along the Independence Way, the Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most. Rev. Mathew Ndagoso- Manoso, urged the clerics to frankly discuss the security challenges bedevilling the country.

    While noting that the theme of the AGM was apt, the cleric lamented the disturbing insecurity in the country.

    This, he said, was due to lack of the presence of government and good Governance  in certain parts of the country particularly the North-east where the dreaded Boko Haram was still holding sway.

    He argued that good governance and security were interwoven such that in the absence of one, the other suffered.

    READ ALSO: Abducted Catholic priests rescued 3 days after

    He added that should Nigeria leaders were wise, “they should stop whatever they are doing and frontally confront the security challenges.”

    “Insecurity starts from where there is absence of government. The absence of government in certain parts of the country has brought us to where we are today. Our problem has always been the management of resources of the land,” he added.

    He also disclosed how Boko Haram had taken advantage of lack of government’s presence in the north east, to render essential services to communities in the area.

    This, he said, portend danger for the country against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s fight against terrorism.

    He said, “Something is happening right now weather the government knows or not, is that the splinter group of the Boko Haram is providing services to the communities in Borno.

    “They are collecting taxes because of the absence of government. This is dangerous,” he stressed.

     

  • How CAN President Ayokunle was re-elected

    The build-up to last week’s presidential election of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was as feverish as scandalous. Many well-meaning Christians were disgusted by the mudslinging that characterised the electioneering activities.

    At the end, the election went peacefully without incidents contrary to the apprehension that created the campaign activities. The incumbent President, Dr Supo Ayokunle was reelected with 59 votes to defeat candidate of the TEKAN/ECWA bloc Rev. Caleb Solomon-Ahima.

    Ahima, who is also the President, Fellowship of Christian Churches in Nigeria, secured 44 votes. Ayokunle survived a major ‘internal coup’ with just 15 votes, reflecting how keenly contested the election was.

    The build-up to war

    For his critics, the election was a perfect opportunity to get back at Ayokunle, who they accused of running the apex Christian body as an emperor with sickening stench of corruption. Ayokunle, according to them, has turned CAN to his personal estate, running it with a tight fist and dispensing favours to his cronies at the expense of the Christian community.

    The most vociferous to his re-election bid was the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), which ran a sustained campaign against Ayokunle’s throughout his first term and vowed he would not be reelected. The forum headed by Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN) described the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) as a collaborator of Islamic Jihadists.

    Under his watch as CAN President, the elders alleged more Christians have been killed in the north than ever before, wondering why Ayokunle was not calling on government to stop the killings or offering support to persecuted Christians in the region.

    Expectedly, the CAN President fired back the salvo, alleging he was being blackmailed for choosing not to mortgage resources of the association to a few vested cronies. The Christian community watched the raging battle with horror, worried church leaders were tearing themselves apart.

    Echoes from the 2019 polls 

    The 2019 general elections further provided pro and anti-Ayokunle camps with enough ammunition to hit themselves. While his critics backed by the elders’ forum wanted CAN to endorse a candidate between President Muhammadu Buhari and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his supporters opted for a more conservative approach.

    The latter believed that an open endorsement of either of the candidates could spell doom for the Christian body but the elders’ forum argued it was necessary for Christian voters to have direction in the general polls.

    CAN, ostensibly in reaction to pressures from critics, finally met twice with presidential candidates at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja. Atiku and Buhari sent high-powered delegations to canvass support of Christian voters.

    At the end, CAN couldn’t muster the courage to openly endorse either of the candidates. It chose to sit on the fence, raising more suspicion of complicity with some forces. In a terse statement few days to the election, CAN explained it had no preferred presidential candidate.

    According to the body:  “We have not and will not endorse any candidate for any elective office in the country. You will recall that CAN recently met with some leading Presidential candidates in Abuja to interact with them and to present our position of the State of the Nation to them and to listen to their manifestoes and programmes.

    “At the end of the meeting, we came out with a position without endorsing any of the candidates.

    “CAN recognises Nigeria’s multi-religious and multicultural composition and is not in denial of these realities.

    “However, in our federal system, it is crucial for all constituents to commit to respect of the fundamental human rights of other groups as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “It is against this background that CAN raised serious concerns with the candidates over the sustained violent attacks on, and persecution of the Church in Nigeria today.

    “CAN understands if the principle of good governance (transparency, accountability, equity, inclusiveness and consensus building) are the hallmarks of governance, it would lead to accelerated development and prosperity for the people of Nigeria. This is our sincere desire, hope and prayer.

    “Our expectations are that whoever emerges as president and vice-president will address the myriad of critical national concerns.”

    To those dissatisfied with Ayokunle’s leadership styles, the decision not to endorse a candidate was a calculated move to support Buhari, who they alleged the CAN President has been working for surreptitiously.

    This, they alleged, accounted for why Ayokunle has not been hard on the current administration despite the many difficult challenges Christians are facing.

    Controversial presidential visit

    When CAN decided to visit Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa shortly after his victory at the February presidential poll, Ayokunle became a vilified man. The visit, his critics stated, was packaged to confer legitimacy on the contested poll.

    They accused Ayokunle of selling out, spreading reports the Christian President was mobilised with as much as $200,000 to carry out the visit that meant so much to the administration seeking to validate his reelection in view of the Islamisation toga on Buhari.

    The elders forum fired a strong-worded statement that set tongues wagging. It said: “The NCEF wishes to state that the congratulatory visit to Aso Villa by CAN could not be in the interest of Nigerian Christians who daily bear the agony of thousands of their brethren being killed, maimed, displaced and marginalized in the Jihad launched in the northern parts of the country. It is well known the indifference of the Buhari Administration to the murder of Christians all over the country.

    “This indifference has led many, including foreign observers, to conclude that the Buhari Administration is complicit in the genocide that is taking place in Nigeria.

    “The action of the CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, is a further confirmation of all the protests and petitions of NCEF in 2018 querying the faithfulness of Dr. Ayokunle to Christ and to His Church.

    “In its 2018 Report titled FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR 2019 ELECTION, the NCEF provided irrefutable facts that Rev. Ayokunle deliberately frustrated Christian political consensus in a country in which religion has become a major factor in politics.

    “With this ill-advised congratulatory visit to President Buhari, it should be clear to every Christian of good conscience that Rev. Ayokunle is running CAN as an appendage of APC which has proven by its religiously popularism biased appointments and policies that it is primarily a religious party that is to the disadvantage of Christians whom Rev. Ayokunle claims to be representing.

    “It would be recalled that during the Elections, Rev. Ayokunle presumptuously deployed a 1,000 man CAN Election Observers team to monitor the Elections nationwide.

    “The action was presumptuous since CAN does not have the Constitutional responsibility of engaging politics. Christian leaders deliberately established Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) for this purpose in 2001 as the socio-political arm of the Church.

    “Nonetheless, after observing the Elections, the 1,000 man CAN Election Observers is yet to release its Report before CAN rushed to congratulate one of the contestants.

    “Since all the other Observers have since released their Reports, where is the Report of the CAN Observers Team?”

    Ayokunle, naturally refuted all the allegations, saying the congratulatory visit was in order because Buhari was popularly elected.

    Why Ayokunle was returned

    It was in this context the CAN presidential election became a contest between pro and anti-Ayokunle elements. They shifted the battle for supremacy to the election to determine who was really in charge of the apex Christian body.

    Our correspondent learnt that Ayokunle won the polls with marginal votes because several people were not happy with his dictatorial style. He was also said to be heavy of sycophancy, forcing many well-meaning individuals to stay away from his administration.

    At the College Election, which is a shadow poll to prune down contenders, Ayokunle carried the day. Rev Dr Ahima came second while Rev Dr Nicholas Okoh of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) was eliminated from the contested.

    With Ayokunle and Ahima, it became obvious the election was going to be tougher than expected. One, Ahima, candidate of TEKAN/ECWA, ran with the backing of some former CAN officials, who allegedly funded his campaign.

    Ahima didn’t not only have access to resources, he also ran as an underdog. Many northern Christians saw him as a rallying point, going by how much persecution they had suffered in the last four years. Besides, they argued no northerner, aside from Kogi-born Cardinal John Onaiyekan(2007-2010) presided over the body.

    The combination of ethnic sentiments and heavy war chest worked for Ahima. It was gathered this account for why he scored so much votes. But a number of factors worked much more for Ayokunle, whose re-election became impossible to stop.

    One, he had the backing of arguably the largest and most powerful bloc in the association, the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), which has churches such as Methodist Church Nigeria, Nigerian Baptist Convention and Anglican Communion. The bloc has produced three of the last six presidents of the association. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) comes second with two former presidents, leaving the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/ Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN) with one.

    Two, he had the power of incumbency to his advantage. Since formation of the body, all incumbent presidents won re-election except Onaiyekan in 2010. He lost to the sweeping influence of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

    Ayokunle used the power well, choosing members of the Electoral College that many considered sympathetic to his ambition to be re-elected. Besides, it was gathered that Ayokunle entered into pacts with three of the blocs, which delivered the bulk of his votes.

    With the CSN, he reportedly offered them the National secretary slot, which became vacant following the death of Rev. Musa Asake in 2018. Ayokunle, according to his critics, deliberately left the slot vacant for the CSN bloc, which provided the Acting Secretary.

    To the OAIC bloc, the CAN President allegedly promised to hand over to one of them in 2022. The bloc has toiled unsuccessfully to lead the association, coming closest three years ago with Elder Prof Dr Joseph Otubu, who Ayokunle defeated.

    Otubu, who served as Vice National President, fought Ayokunle to standstill, accusing him of corruption, high-handedness and embezzlement.

    There are also talks the presidency preferred the non-combatant posture of Ayokunle considering the weight of CAN’s positions on national issues. The OAIC bloc gave Ayokunle massive votes despite the influence of Okoh, who reportedly mobilised delegates against returning him.

    The PFN/CFPN bloc, according to investigation, supported Ahima mainly because of the instructions of former President, Oritsejafor, who is believed to be grossly displeased with Ayokunle’s administration.

    The infiltration of northern votes through the influence of some powerful canvassers in the region also swayed votes in his favour. At the height of the campaign, northern CAN endorsed Ayokunle despite some protestations.

    It was learnt that some of his key loyalists in the region appealed to the delegates to give him a chance. Much as Ayokunle has been re-elected, there are indications many would wait to see what he intends to leave as legacies in CAN. This is because his first term is largely seen as uneventful in terms of performance.

     

  • National of 23 countries in Nazareth for TB Joshua’s meeting

    As at Friday evening, two days to the beginning of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua’s (Prophet T.B. Joshua) meeting on Mount Precipice, in Nazareth, Israel nationals from 23 countries have arrived for the programme.

    More people are being expected before commencement of the programme.

    In Nazareth, the host city, most of the hotels, especially in the Old Nazareth, are fully booked.

    Tour operators are kept busy ferrying pilgrims for the programme from the Ben Gurion International Airport to Nazareth.

    Among the countries represented include: Holland, Jamaica, Cuba, Russia, Nigeria, Singapore, Japan, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

    Others are: Canada, Botswana, Mexico, Argentina, Finland, Iceland, South Korea, Cameroun, Ghana and Italy.

    Organisers say nationals from more than 50 countries are expected at the event.

    Read also: Sierra Leone President Bio ‘visited TB Joshua before election’

    One of tour operators ferrying pilgrims for the programme, Mrs. Deborah Luca, an Israeli national, described the turnout so far as overwhelming.

    She said: “I did not know that there will be so many people coming.

    “It is tremendous; it is beyond my expectation. I am a minister of worship. I bring people annually here in the past three years, we have our annual Art of Worship, what we are seeing here is better seen than described.”

    Speaking on the Prophet TB Joshua meeting, a tour bus driver from Nazareth, described the number of visitors as extremely impressive.

    His words: “The peak period for tourism in Nazareth is between July and August when the children are on vacation. What we are seeing is absolutely impressive for just one event.”

  • Barber pleads guilty to stealing church property

    A barber, Joshua Adewale, was on Thursday remanded in prison by a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos after he pleaded guilty to stealing a stereo, belonging to a church.

    The stereo was valued at N75, 000.

    Adewale, 23, was arraigned on a count charge of breaking into a building with intent to commit felony.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oghere, ordered that Adewale should be kept at Ikoyi Prisons, pending a review of the facts of the case and sentencing.

    Oghere adjourned the case until June 26.

    Read Also: Barber ‘steals N150,000 from sister’s account’

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the defendant had at 2.40 a.m. on June 5 at No. 19, Eyiwawi Str., Shomolu, broken into the premises of the church.

    She said that Adewale entered the church through the back window, which he had broken, to gain entry.

    The prosecutor said that Adewale stole the stereo, belonging to the Redeemed Christian Church of God from the altar of the church.

    “My lord, it was an assistant pastor of the church, Mr Olatunji Fasasi that discovered the burglary and reported to the police.

    “It was upon investigation that it was discovered that a witness had seen the defendant carrying the stereo out of the church that night,” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence contravenes Sections 310 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    NAN

     

  • Represent Nigeria well, NCPC boss urges pilgrims

    Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja has charged all intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the nation through their conducts and behaviours.

    He charged them to display decorum in all they do while in the Holy Land.

    He gave this charge in Abuja during the official flag off of the 2019 Easter Pilgrimage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    Addressing the first batch of the pilgrims from Benue State, Uja charged them to exhibit to the world their moral values and be patriotic citizens.

    He said: “When you go on pilgrimage there people who are assign to attend to you some of them are medical doctors, some of them are nurses and staff of the Commission are there to attend to you in case you need anything and they will guide you appropriately.

    “In international operation it is wiser to call somebody you know than to talk to a stranger because you can be misled and setup.”

    He informed that arrangement was ongoing to establish pilgrims’ Heritage Camp that will bring all pilgrims together under one roof for proper three- day orientation before take- off for effective preparation during the pilgrimage exercise.

    According to him: “Pilgrimage must begin and end at home. We want to have a Christian Pilgrimage camp where we spend two or three days together before you embark on your spiritual trip. This is crucial because it will mark the beginning of pilgrimage”.

    Uja stated that it would help the pilgrims to be more informed and better prepared for the pilgrimage exercise.

    The Executive Secretary further charged the pilgrims to believe in Nigeria and make it a nation of everyone’s dream irrespective of the challenges they are going through.

    He also charged them on nation building and leadership role as the only obligations Nigerians can render to the country.

    He therefore appealed to Benue contingent to disregard those negative rating about the country as the poverty capital of the world and one of the unsafe country in the world.

    The total numbers of 350 pilgrims were airlifted for the first batch for the 2019 Easter Pilgrimage to Israel.

  • Gospel artiste pays homage to Abiola on Democracy Day

    A gospel singer, Babatunde Daniel, popularly known as “Tunde Ara” has paid homage to the late political icon, Bashorun MKO Abiola, to mark his birthday.

    The artiste, who turned 25, last week, honoured the politician on his Facebook page.

    Tunde Ara, who is the music director of D’FREEMINDS GOSPEL INT’L, praised Abiola for his role in Nigeria’s democracy.

    He said: “ABIOLA is actually worth celebrating. I wish every youth today can take time to read about this man and his achievements, he is indeed a great man, an example and a role model to many…I admire the person of him for his kind of the person of AlHAJI MOSHOOD ABIOLA for his kind of personality and legacy which he laid down through his trademark death in today’s democracy

    “My birthday is just a day after June 12 and of course I have a brother having his birthday to be JUNE 12.

    “In all I’m just glad that my birthday is in a month that such a great personnel is celebrated.”

    Tunde, who is currently studying at the Tenstrings Music Institute in Lagos, will be having his very first gospel musical concert on July 19.

  • ‘My plans for Gospel Baptist Churches’

    The Most Rev Dr Peter Olonade has just been installed as the new President and Archbishop of the Gospel Baptist Conference in Nigeria and Overseas (GBCN&O). He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his vision and plans for the church. Excerpts:

     

    For those who might not know, who is Bishop Peter Olonade?

    Well, I am a medical doctor by background, I received the call of God as early as the age of 13 and since then I have been affecting lives positively across denominations.

    I have been deputy to the arch-bishop for the past four years. In a conference session in 2015, I was given the mandate and since that time, I have been handling most of the presidential and administrative responsibilities.

    So it is the third generation leadership of the church

    It is actually the fourth. After Baba Atilade, there was Baba Salako and Archbishop Magnus Atilade. Then, I am stepping in.

    In many churches, this kind of succession does not happen smoothly. There might be rancor and disagreements. How did the church navigate the troubled waters of succession?

    Well, I believe that we are just enjoying the mercy of God coupled with fact that we have been praying ceaselessly. Then the Bible says that the gift of a man makes room for him.

    So, generally, I think that it is a welcome development to us and our members because overtime, we try to impact their lives with sound teaching and good leadership

    So what will change, with you coming on board since every leadership is different?

    I think that the number one thing is to make every member a leader and to make the church more focused than before, in terms of missionary activities and empowerment.

    It is almost impossible for people to believe that professionals like you are in this church. People have always seen the church as one for middle cadre people. Where have you been hiding?

    I have not been hiding. Like I told you, I have been available at different levels of my life. Right from my days in the then University of Ife, I was the President of the Evangelical Christian Union, the largest gathering of Christian students in those days. And it was actually from there that the Lord prepared my mind for missionary works.

    Coming into Gospel Baptist Conference in Nigeria and Overseas (GBCNO), I have been here. The Lord has used us tremendously. For instance, we have brought in a lot of developmental teachings to the conference where people are enlightened about the word of God.

    Every December, we converge at our Covenant campground for our programme.

    Why does the church add the word overseas when you don’t have a church overseas?

    We have churches overseas. That is our primary focus for now. We have churches in Benin Republic and we are working towards another in Cote d’Ivoire. The vision and focus of an organisation may not be actualised in one day.  We may not have actualised that fully but that is our major focus.

    The perception is the church is Yoruba- speaking. Is that right?

    Well, it used to be. We started as a Yoruba- speaking church but we now have branches in various places and most of our services are conducted in English. But the local dialect of the area the church is comes into play during the service.

    As you can see, I am more comfortable with English than Yoruba and so many people like that.

    What should we look forward to in this new administration?

    We are looking forward to creating dynamism in the membership. We are looking at sound knowledge of the word of God, propagation of the gospel, extension of the church, especially outside the country and empowerment of the members to be able to enjoy kingdom provisions here on earth, and also show forth the glory of God by impacting the society. All these will happen by good leadership

    What part of medicine did you study?

    Psychological medicine, stress management

    There is also the perception the church is an Atilade’s church. How do you intend to change this?

    I think it will be wrong to label the church with a name the church does not bear. Every founder in every organization has a far-reaching impact in the organization but there is no God-ordained vision that is limited to the founder. The God-ordained vision goes beyond the founder.

    The church used to be part of the Nigeria Baptist Convention (NBC). Why do you still use some nomenclatures for societies and organisations like Lydia and Royal Ambassadors that were originated by the NBC?

    Genetically speaking, every individual is influenced by the culture of his origin. The gene of an African man is different from that of a white man. So the origin of any denomination will be there but the important thing is that it should not be a limiting mark under any circumstance

    To what extent will you remain faithful to the doctrines and ideals of the church?

    Well faithfulness is a character and culture that does not just come by over-night promises. It is something that God would have built in an individual overtime.

    Like I told you, the great teacher himself has been my teacher since I gave my life to Christ as a young boy. So I believe that the one that has been faithful in time past will still remain faithful till the coming of Christ.

    What did you learn from your predecessor, the late Archbishop Atilade?

    He was a man that loved the Lord and walked tirelessly with the Lord, especially in the area of evangelism. He was a very loving man and he also had the unique quality of identifying and respecting qualities in other people, which he encourages and enhances.

    We are going to miss him a lot for his love for the people of God and the growth of the church.

  • Unveiling our redemptive rights in Christ!

    Welcome to another exciting week. I hope you were blessed by last week teaching. Today, we shall focus on: Unveiling Our Redemptive Rights in Christ!

    More often than not, we ask what is God’s plan and purpose for our lives as contained in His Book. It’s so simple for us to just come to understand that we don’t need an intermediary to access God’s plan. The veil was torn in twain when Jesus gave up the ghost providing free access to everyone into the things behind the veil. The Bible records: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many (Matthew 27:50-53).So, His Word is in command of all the affairs of our lives including His plan and purpose(Isaiah 14:24). Thus, applying the Word of God to our lives is what makes us wise and put us in command of mighty works.

    What, then, Has Redemption Made of Me?

    • Every Child of God Has an Enviable Destiny: As it is written: Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possessions of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him(Genesis 26:12-14).So, every child of God is redeemed to live an enviable life after the order of Isaac. Also, it is written: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (Galatians 4:28). Furthermore, we have been given the power of choice by God; this means, we choose what to believe and what not to believe but what we believe is what we are empowered to become. For instance, Jesus went to Nazareth and He could do no mighty work because of their unbelief. For it is written: And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching (Mark 6:5-6). This shows that God cannot go beyond our faith to reach us; what we don’t believe, God is not permitted to perform (Luke 1:45; John 1:12). Thus, faith in the Word is what determines what we become.
    • Every Child of God is Redeemed to Be the Head and not the Tail: The Bible says: And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them (Deuteronomy 28:13).Also, we are redeemed as a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). We are redeemed as Abraham’s seeds (Genesis 17:5-6; Galatians 3:29).So, we must be one of the nations from Abraham’s loins and the least we can be is a king. So, there is no ordinary person in redemption. For it is written: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10). This implies that we are redeemed for the top, not for the valley. But the question is: how do we get there? Through simple walk of obedience with God as seen in Deuteronomy 28:1: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. The key to being the head is raw obedience to every instruction of scriptures.
    • Every Child of God is Redeemed to Be Feared and not to Live in Fear: The Bible records: There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you (Deuteronomy 11:25).This means, we are the Joshua generation of Jesus. He is our spiritual Moses and He has passed the baton to us. It is written: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15; see also Matthew 28:18).Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). And as the Father has sent Him, so has He sent us (John 20:21). In other words, we have been redeemed a lion to be feared by every beast of the field.
    • Every Child of God is Redeemed as a Fruitful Vine: As it is written: Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1-2; see also Psalm 123:1-3). We are listed among the choicest of vine planted on a most fruitful hill. Remember, if Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then it is an ever-fruitful branch because the vine cannot be fruitful and the branches dry (John 15:1, 5).

    In conclusion, we must understand that God’s redemptive package for every man only becomes accessible after one is 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 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: Understanding Vision, Understanding Divine Direction, In Pursuit of Vision and The Breakthrough Power of Vision. 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: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/, Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • Cleric unveils foundation, presents books at 60th birthday

    Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, has unveiled Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins Youth Development Empowerment Foundation and presented two books to celebrate his 60th birthday.

    The books- The grace to live: Selected homilies of Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins and The voice of a shepherd: Selected messages of Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins- were presented at City Hall on Catholic Mission Street, Lagos last week.

    The cleric said the foundation is to provide support, skill acquisition, apprenticeship, mentorship and resources to young people, while also assisting government.

    He noted with the foundation, youths will be empowered and become responsible.

    “Young people are crucial in this country, government’s effort cannot do it all, and hence the needs for private efforts like this to get the young people have a better life,” he stressed.

    He urged Nigerians to pray for leaders so that they will do what is good and fair for the common good.

    “We need to encourage our leaders to do something much more than has been done before. The issue of insecurity in terms of killings and kidnapping, among other areas should be enhanced,” he said.

    President Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Rev Obiora Akubueze, while describing Most Rev Martins as a spiritual, humble, simple, gentle, kind, considerate and compassionate priest, said he is a great intellectual and philosopher who enriches with great insights to solve problems and sets a high standard for others to follow after him.

    Read Also: Trust God, cleric tells Buhari

    “He has strong policies that brought about respect for liturgical norms, accountability and transparency on financial reporting.

    “He is a leader that listens to collaborators and helps others to take their proper place in the mission of evangelisation.

    “He is a shepherd for the flocks, he gives quality leadership, speaks for the poor and he is a lover of the church,” he stressed.

    He urged him to continue to speak the truth, saying many are awaiting more from him.

    He said government must be more responsive and respectful to the rights of the citizens.

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    “Government at both state and federal level must know that many Nigerians are not happy with the current situation.

    “The income difference between the poor and the rich is increasing daily, the poverty rate is going higher, the youths graduating from university have no jobs, the level of insecurity in the country is worrisome.

    “The leaders must know that this tenure is not a free ticket to continue in the part that leaders to destruction.

    “It is not a license to continue to breed hopelessness and make Nigerians feel helpless and it is not a license to allow some persons to fuel religious crisis.

    “What we want is a government that serves the entire citizens irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations, a government that creates an enabling environment for her citizens to thrive and a government that allows Nigeria to develop,” he said.

    Former Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, described the celebrator as a willing servant of God and humanity.

    He said the church must be in unity and harmony among other ethnic community or religious affiliations, adding that it should take a stand against corruption, tribalism, violence and many others vices witnessed daily in the country.

    Sir Steve Omojafor, described Most Rev Martins as God- sent to many.

    “He creates time for everybody, he listens to all attentively and you can be sure that when you leave his office, your problem will be solved.

    “He is always in a good mood, he is a good friend and it is a great pleasure to have him in our Diocese,” he said.

  • ‘Nobody should take the church for a ride’

    National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Felix Omobude, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the state of the nation. Excerpts:

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo a few days ago spoke about the Fulanisation agenda. The PFN has also been talking about that agenda. Does his statement justify the stand of the PFN on that issue?

    Well, President Obasanjo of course has more insights that some of us. If he had to say something the way he said it, then it must be of concerns to Nigerians. But the church is not afraid of any group or religious body taking on the church.

    No one has the monopoly of violence. We believe in peaceful co-existence, tolerance and good neighborliness that should not be taken as weakness.

    I believe that the task before this government is to make Nigeria safe enough in their country and make them a very viable stakeholder in their country affairs and re-assure Nigerians that one ethnic or religious group is not going to lord it over the other. Let Nigeria be a nation for everybody. That is what we stand for.

    Leah Sharibu has just celebrated her 16th birthday and second year in captivity. The PFN has consistently called on the federal government to do everything possible to get her out. What does it say that she is still in detention?

    Every day that Leah remains in captivity fuels insecurity in the minds of Nigerians.  It spells the fact that Nigeria has no religious freedom. If she was abducted and no reason for her being kept back was given, that is a different thing.

    But because she refused to renounce her faith, she is held back. She is suffering for what she believes. No nation can claim to be free if the people are not free to express their religious beliefs.

    So, we consistently call on government and we have received words that they are working towards her freedom and we believe them. We just want to see the manifestation.

    I am aware of the intricacies, I am aware that the river is deeper than what we see but we want to see Leah released at all cost.

    Even if means paying ransom to get her out or swapping?

    Well, whatever they did to get the others out, they should do for her too. She is just a small girl. On May 27, children celebrated their day and Leah was denied her right.

    Boko Haram and kidnapping were restricted to the North East and North West but have moved to the south.  People are asking what is the church doing? How much more can the church take?

    I am happy that people believe that the church can do much but the church will not take up arms. The state has the responsibility to keep safe her citizens. The church will work as much as possible with the government so we can have a peaceful and safe society.

    Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, cattle rustling in Zamfara, high way banditry and all others spell insecurity and a secured Nigeria will be better for all of us.

    As the President goes in for a second term, Nigerians are asking for a secured nation with secured borders, a nation where you can travel day or night without the fear of being waylaid, a nation where women can go to the farm, do their work and return home without fear of being molested. It is a task the government must rise up to, and all well-meaning Nigerians should co-operate with our security forces, so we can secure a safer nation.

    The spate of suicide in Nigeria has assumed a worrisome dimension in recent times and some people have started pointing accusing fingers at the church, saying the church is preaching prosperity and materialism leading many to the point of depression and suicide. How do you react to this? 

    I think that is not facing the reality. How many people go to church in this country? I think the real issue is that the poverty level in the country is high. And we must all work towards ensuring that the minds, especially of our teeming youths, are properly engaged.

    While I accept the fact that the church must accept her responsibility in preaching the total gospel, not a section of it, we must face the reality.

    If a young man struggles in this country, he struggles to pass WAEC and JAMB. He goes to the university, struggles through and gets a degree. He comes out and waits for a job for years. What do you think will happen?

    The church will continue to present a message of hope but we also have a responsibility to call on our leaders to do the needful and create more job opportunities.

    In a few days’ time, CAN elections will take place in Abuja and there are so many contentions expectedly. Can’t we have a CAN election without intrigues and hitches?

    Well, unfortunately I don’t know of so many contentions. I know that the election process is on and two people are standing out. CAN will follow its constitution and out of the two, one will be elected

    Which of the constitutions? The one under review?

    If the constitution is under review, and it has not been adopted, then it is still not in force. We are using the one we know.

    A lot of people, especially those from the north are clamouring for a northern candidate to lead CAN for once. Is that call justifiable?

    I think the church should be fair and should play by the rules it has set for itself. There are five blocs in CAN and each of these blocs is entitled to lead CAN. CPFN/PFN, which I lead today will stand for a just cause and equitable leadership.

    I think that there is nothing unusual in CAN elections. If anybody qualifies from the north, why should he be denied? It is not a north/south thing. It is the issue of our constitution and our faith.

    But people are saying that a particular bloc has been there like for forever and there are two blocs that have never had a shot at the presidency…

    …There are constitutional ways of addressing it. So I don’t think that some people are deliberately being denied. This election provides opportunity for us to address ourselves.

    We have to be fair. We have to show good example to the political class outside. The church should show good example

    CAN is still smarting from the recent criticism against the courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari. The elders’ forum said that you should not have gone to visit a President, whose election they believe is flawed. Can you clear the air on what transpired at the meeting?

    Well, the elders’ forum has their right of views. Unfortunately, I was not home and did not go to the villa. As at today, we have a President…

    You stay away deliberately…?

    No, I was out of the country. But I can a man can receive nothing, unless it is given to him by God. So, don’t look at the man that is there, respect the institution.

    We have a President and an election was conducted in this country.  Whether or not it was free or fair is another issue. There are bodies that judge that. I don’t see what is wrong if the church pays a solidarity visit to the President.

    The church is not in the position to judge whether an election is free or fair. This is not the first time that CAN is paying a visit to the President. So, I don’t see the noise about it. May 29th is here, are they going to stop the inauguration of the President?

    Until a court comes to tell us that the conducted election was null and void, we have a President. We must face things the way they are.

    If you were to be in a room with President Muhammadu Buhari, what will you tell him as he starts his second term?

    I will tell him to put up a team that will be fair in serving Nigeria. I will tell him to look broadly across the length and breadth of Nigeria and pick up capable hands, who love Nigeria and will serve Nigeria with the drop of their blood, and help move Nigeria forward.

    I will tell the President to ensure that Nigerians have electricity as he has promised before because nothing has changed between 2015 and 2019. I will tell him to ensure that Nigerian have good drinking water and sound health.

    I will tell him that if the war against corruption is the right thing to do, then he should fight it, not considering or looking at anybody’s face but he should tackle it holistically.

    I will also encourage him to improve our agriculture and build infrastructure for Nigerians. I will encourage him to use to use this opportunity to address the cry of imbalance in his government, and set things right, making Nigerians part of Nigeria.

    One of the key components that people are calling for in re-structuring is the establishment of state police.  Will this be a right move in the right direction?

    If I am opportune, I will advise the President to look deeply into it. People are calling for re-structuring Nigeria, not necessarily dividing the north-south dichotomy but people should be free to manage some of their own resources that come out of their own soil. There is no reason why we should wait for the centre, Abuja to manage our resources.

    I think that the idea of state police is due; the police operatives will know the terrain and locality better than people from another area. People are saying that it will be abused but we had local police years back and we managed it well. We should give state police a trial, to help our security issue.

    There is also the concept of local government autonomy. The federal government is proposing direct allocation to local government as against the current trend where the allocation goes to the state who then distributes it to the local government the way they feel. Do you support this; won’t this bring corruption to the grassroots?

    I think the issue has virtually not been the absence of legislation, it is more of enforcement. I think that local government autonomy will bring government closer to the people but like anything else, where there are no boundaries, abuse is imminent. So, I think the local government should have autonomy.

    And institutions like INEC, the judiciary, they must have their autonomy. They must be free to do what they are sent to do. That is how a healthy democracy functions.

    The fear of many people is the governors have said that they don’t want this because the local government is under them constitutionally. The State Assembly legislate for the local government so it is the state that should determine what the local government gets, not them getting whatever the government wants to give to them.

    I think that if there is a federal allocation to the local government, it should go directly to them without it being filtered anywhere, the local government has the IGRs, there might be occasional cross-overs between the state and local government but they can be harmonised as they are all working for the interest of the people. I believe that autonomy to the local government will help foster growth and development.

    A Pastor in Kaduna was kidnapped some days ago in an ECWA church. If I were a Pastor in the north and I get to hear that someone is coming to attack me, what should I do?

    The problem of insecurity is not only a northern issue. If you think that you are safe in the south, you better think well. A pastor was killed in his farm in Edo state recently.

    So I think the issue of insecurity is one that is a great challenge. Be that as it may, churches must now do all that it can to also improve their security. I have said it before that there is no law that stops you from defending yourself. So you cannot fold your arms and watch things happen. Since we now know that this is the kind of society that we live in, then we must do all that we can, we will pray and fast but we must also take necessary actions as allowed by the law.

    What’s your advice to Nigeria?

    Nigerians should lift up their heads high, hope in God and believe that our leaders will be used by God to lead us well. Nigerian should look around and harness the resources given to us positively.

    This is a great nation. Our diversity should be like a coat of many colours. We must do the best we can to live in peace, with God and with man.