The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • ‘My pains running home for Boko Haram orphans’

    ‘My pains running home for Boko Haram orphans’

    Founder of Tabitha Evangelism Ministry, Mrs. Binta Farouk, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on a rehabilitation home she runs for insurgency victims and orphans in Plateau State. Excerpts: 

    How did you start?
    The home started when I visited Maiduguri during that great challenge of Borno State when insurgency was so hot. I felt how can we abandon our brothers? People were afraid to go there but I decided to do something extraordinary.
    I gathered clothes from people and my immediate younger brother gave me money to buy a car. I said how can I buy a car when others are dying without food?
    So I decided to buy food with the money he gave me. This was over N2million he gave me. I bought food items and other people gathered clothes. We hired a vehicle and left for Borno.
    What year was that?
    That was 2014. When I got to Borno and I saw people suffering, we went to places like Shafa, Lede, Marama and about 14 villages. The second time, we went to seven villages. So when we got to that place, I saw the orphans.
    Most times, the relief materials people send never get to them. In the camps, only those children who have parents get the relief materials. The orphans have nobody to claim anything for them. So when I got there the second time, I shared the relief materials myself. We shared it so that the orphans would get and that was not enough.
    Many of them were abandoned with no school, nothing. I told myself what would I do to help theses ones? I realised the best option was to bring them down and send them to school. So, I had to open an urgent school for them.
    In Maiduguri?
    No, in Jos.
    You brought them to Jos?
    Yes.
    How did you transport them?
    We looked and paid for their transportation so that we would bring them down.
    So the home was already in existence?
    Yes, I had that home, but it was for a different mission.
    What mission was it for?
    I was rehabilitating converts. I trained disciples to go out to minister but when I saw that challenge, I said I had to construct an emergency school.
    It took us some large sum to construct that emergency school, but it was God. Some people had to supply us wood on credit until I got the money to pay them. So I had to do that because the ones in secondary school were going out of school then.
    The kids are from Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna and Plateau. They are the victims of insurgency and herdsmen attacks. Most of their parents were killed during the crises.
    So we decided to open a school. Now, we have students up to SSS1 and they are increasing. We have to stop others from joining because they are increasing and I really cry because they have to go to school without uniforms.
    I have to look for money for food and medical care. What do I do? I have written Plateau Governor without any response. I don’t know if the letter got to him because somebody told me that the governor has a passionate heart for something like this but I have not heard from him.
    We have been looking up to God alone. I have cried to churches. If government would not do something, we as individuals and Christians, we need to come out and help these children to become better people in Nigeria.
    We used to have over 900 children but they have reduced because there is no food. About 70 of them sleep in one room and it is not healthy.
    How many rooms do you have?
    We have about nine hostels now but some are just three-bedroom flats. We share it for them so that they can have places, and we have eight classes.
    The primary section goes to school in the morning and closes by 12 pm. Then the secondary school takes over from 12:30 – 5:30 pm. That is what we have been doing for now.
    What were you doing before you started running the home?
    I was into evangelism.
    So how have you been able to run the home?
    Honestly, I don’t know. It is only God that is doing what He is doing on a daily basis. We see food and if you ask me, I don’t know where the food is coming from. Individuals would bring some.
    I have principles, really. I don’t want to be shouting before people do something. Let them come and see. When you see, you will know what to do. If I tell you many have said a lot of things and they are not doing them.
    So I prefer people to go there and see what I am doing, they would know where to come in. Honestly, the meal is not sufficient for the children because we are cooking two bags of rice, but how many of them will eat but just a little quantity?
    Two bags of rice per day?
    Per meal, and it would not be enough for them and now we have to cut down to one and half bag because we have decided to send some kids away. Yet, it’s just a little ration we can give them and we have gone from three to two meals daily.
    It’s only the little kids that we give three meals for growth. Those kids from 12 years upward, we give them two meals daily.
    How has it been with the children? How does it feel when you see them?
    Most of them believe I am the only mother they have. I am the only relation and grandma they have. I am popularly called grandma. When I am among them, you will see them shouting. They will lift me up and I am always happy to see them.
    I tell God to help me bring them up and give them a future that God will use them and use me because I see potential in many of them. I have always told them that among them are governors, presidents and ambassadors.
    One day, I was sitting and they made me weep that day. About 20 of them came to me and said ‘grandma, one day you will be sitting where you are sitting and you will hear sirens coming in one after the other.’
    I said ‘from where?’ They said ‘from us now.’ They said, ‘like you said, we have seen ourselves as governors, presidents, ministers. One day we would come for Christmas with our sirens’, and I wept.
    I say God keep this children and let them fulfil their destinies. That has been my prayer because I see them the way I see my biological children; there is no difference. I believe they are the ones I will present before God.
    If I train them and they know the Lord, they are the only ones I can give God. They took first position in the national competition of child evangelism 2016 recitation and bible quiz. We took first in the nation and I was so happy.
    Are churches supporting you enough or is that they don’t know what you are doing?
    I don’t know because there are some that I have applied to and I shared with them. There are some that have not heard and I can’t blame them. When I talk, sometimes some will say, ‘we don’t know about what you are doing. We have not even heard about it.’
    Is this lack of support making you frustrated sometimes and wondering if God is in the project?
    Yes, especially when I have no meal for the children and the next meal is not there for them. I will start crying, ‘oh God, am I doing the right thing? Is it from you?’
    You said any work that is given by God there is no suffering in it. Why must I be suffering to feed these children? Why must I struggle? I know that I am doing it with the whole of my heart. I have sold all my lands and don’t have one land on my own in this life.
    The cars that people gave me, I have sold to make sure these children go to school and they would eat. We have three of them in the US now.
    Really?
    Yes, and some of them are in the university. Sam Amaga is the one that gave scholarship to some of them. He took the pains of their school off me and they are in his university. So I thank God for what He is doing through him and some families in Nigeria who took the other girls to the US.
    One is studying law. One in her secondary and I can’t really remember what the other is studying.
    Sometimes, when you sit down and look at what you are doing, do you ask yourself what is in it for me? What do I stand to gain?
    No, on my own, I don’t talk about gain. Sincerely, all I want to see is the smiles on the faces of these orphans. That is all the gain I can foresee. If only I can see these children becoming something tomorrow, that is the greatest gain, I am okay.
    I have the passion or burden for these children. It’s not the issue of what I would gain. It’s when they become something and can help others, because at times when they say, ‘we would do this’, I say if you can do it for some that are coming behind you, you have done it for your grandma. That is all I need.
    How many staff do you have?
    49.
    Full time?
    Yes, 49 staff.
    So how are you coping with payment of salaries?
    I don’t know, but sometimes it is not easy and we are paying N600, 000 plus.
    Every month?
    Every month, and sincerely sometimes six months I do not pay them and they are patient. As I speak with you, I am talking to you, for the past seven months they have not received anything yet and they are committed to the work because we just look up unto God.
    The day that God will bring it, we will share it for them. Like a time we didn’t pay, God just raised somebody somewhere. He just sent the money to me and I paid them all. They know the kind of person I am.
    Like now, I told them I can’t pay you and leave these children without food and here we all should sacrifice until God remembers us. And thank God for them, He will bless each and every one of them.
    I told them what they are doing is not for me, neither for these children but they are storing their treasures in heaven because honestly they have sacrificed so much and I am praying for them that they will not miss it.
    49 of them, some of them married with children?
    Yes, married with children. They are there because somebody saw the passion in me and they also have passion for the orphans. If not, many of them would have left.
    Are your biological children wondering why you are doing this?
    No, they won’t because they know that their mother has passion for it. Even though some are in Saudi Arabia, that does not matter. If they are around, they would have done same thing but I have adopted a lot of children.
    Supposing somebody deposited N100 million in your account, do you have projects to do with it?
    Projects? We have projects upon projects. I told you we have no classes for the senior secondary. We don’t have enough accommodation for them to sleep. We have not started the project of the university.
    They gave us the land. Somebody has gone there to dig about two boreholes there. If we have money now, we would just start work.

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD- Introduction (2)

    If there is a time to take very serious, the warning of Jesus to “watch” now is. I see a great deceit on the earth right now and I sense greater ones unfolding. Where it will be very difficult to differentiate between those living and preaching error from those in the truth; for many more prophets that are false will arise, using the name of Jesus to perpetuate their schemes- insisting that they are right. They will preach very sound messages containing plenty truths but with subtle errors targeting their audience for their own self-glorification.

    Satan and his agents to get men and women to be deceived have released all kinds of tricks on the earth. The kind of deceit I sense coming upon the earth is such that even the elect will be deceived if possible, just as Jesus said. We need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and above all to put on the full armour of God to be able to withstand all the tricks, strategies and schemes of Satan to deceive and destroy in this last days.

    – We live in a society where we hear some people say, “I am a Born- Again gay, Jesus loves me the way I am” they argue they were born gay and should be accepted thus.

    – A pastor/marriage counsellor in one of our African countries preached on the radio that virginity is a burden and that eight out of every ten men in his country do not want to marry virgins.

    – I know of women who fake pregnancy; these are purported believers and workers for God. They go to the extent of taking some kind of concoctions to look bloated and very pregnant, having all the pregnancy signs and symptoms. They eventually buy babies; giving the impression that they gave birth to them. They seem to me like people who have lost their minds, who do not actually know what they are doing, being under some kind of evil spiritual influence.

    -Some group of people have committed themselves to training youths with wrong doctrines. Sending them out to preach/teach these wrong doctrines to children and teenagers, they center their messages on the gifts of the Spirit (not as taught in the scriptures). Focusing on signs and wonders and preaching messages that will excite young people, taking their focus away from the new life in Christ Jesus and the fruit therein – I wish I know the best way to explain this.

    – People are so eager for signs and wonders that they go to different kinds of places seeking these; those they go to, use the name of God to deceive.

    Jesus told us that all these would happen before the end of this age, He said, “false Christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”

    It baffles me the crowd I see in places where signs and wonders are advertised and ‘performed’; the news I read and watch about some ‘men of God’, who deceive their members to do all kinds of bizarre/ ungodly things to get ‘blessing’. They do all these using the name Jesus and calling on God- Hmm!

    Note that, Jesus also said, 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

    I have found out that in our generation, people take offence when their error is pointed out with the aim to correct and help, rather everyone is expected to act, pretend and accept all is well. None is to correct, pointing out the truth to help those on the wrong path. If you dare speak, you will be called all kinds of names- judgemental, rigid, fanatical etc., just to get you to accept all things as good and stop your righteous preaching and ways.

    If you are reading this message, then remember Jesus admonishes us thus-

    34 “… take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

    To WATCH means to put on the full armour of God, to be able to stand strong and safe from all the schemes and strategies of Satan to get us to be asleep in this perilous times. God loves us so much; hence, all the warning to be strong and put on His full armour- this keeps us guided, guarded, and ready for the Lord’s coming.

    We shall begin to reveal in details each of the armours-The first being THE STRONGBELT OF TRUTH…

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 21: 34-36, Mark 13:22.

     

     

     

  • ‘Lessons from my wife’s death’

    ‘Lessons from my wife’s death’

    Rev Dapo Daramola is Director of Media and Public Relations Methodist Church of Nigeria (MCN). He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the pains of losing his wife last week and how it affected his theologies. Excerpts:

    Many are still wondering how you recovered in just four months after the demise of your wife. To what do you attribute this?

    Thank you very much. I think first, it should be attributed to the grace of God. The grace of God is what sustains all of us. Then, one appreciates the fact that no matter what happens to us, God is still God.

    For me, it’s not been easy really emotionally but the fact is I am a preacher of the gospel. I have preached this to people for over 11 years and I guess it’s time to practicalise some of the preaching and admonitions to people over the years.

    I have been with people in very disturbing situations and I have to show that I can demonstrate what I have preached. What sustains me is when I look back at what we shared, it was a pleasant time we had in the last 11 years.

    Did God in any way prepare you for this?

    Somehow, I think He did. God himself made it like a journey that would soon end and allowed me to enjoy the moments we shared. I understand life better now because, for me, it’s been God. When I was in the university, I was the number two man of Black Axe confraternity.

    I have escaped many near-death scenarios. So, I have understood that God is the giver of life. Life is so short that anything can happen at any time. I have asked God why? many times…

    … You did?

    Yes, I did. We are talking about my wife here. She was so full of life and bubbling. Then, she took ill. She had four major surgeries, which she survived. She came out of each bubbling and singing. Every moment in the hospital was an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the love we shared.

    She also rededicated herself to God. She had her communion on Wednesday. She was able to say her goodbyes to me, her mother, her daughter and mother-in-law; everybody that meant so much to her. That was on September 22, 2016.

    Then, on Thursday after her bath in the morning, she passed on about 11. In fact, the way she took the Holy Communion, I understood she was prepared. She had an inkling of what was coming.

    Did her death shake the foundation of your faith?

    Not my faith, really, but it shook the foundation of my comfort zone. I was too used and emotionally connected to her that I was shaken. We looked up to each other for support and everything. God shook that part of me greatly.

    The truth is I knew God would still be God regardless of what happened. One of the questions she used to ask me was: why will God watch and allow terrorists to bomb those worshipping Him in a church?

    She challenged my thought processes and theological explanations. Why would God allow innocent children to die because Herod was looking to kill Jesus? We are talking about children who had no sins whatsoever.

    But we always ended up believing that God is God. Nothing can change that. We can questions His ways and decisions but He remains God. So, her death didn’t shake my belief in God. It only shook my ability to live without her.

    It is a major setback that I am still battling with. I don’t know how and when I will get over it but I can tell you it’s been hard to live without her because we were that close.

    Did you slip into depression after her demise?

    I was very close to that, I must admit. Even now, there are moments I just have mood swings. I could be active and become lost the next hour. I am still in a state of shock from which I don’t know when I will get out.

    But I picked up again for two reasons. One, I have a daughter to look after. I have a responsibility to be alive and kicking for her. Though she has a stronger mental strength to handle this, I have to be there for her.

    Many think she doesn’t understand what happened yet. But the truth is she knows. She knew her daughter resigned her job just to care for her. For the better part of her life, that was the best friend she knew and had.

    If a dog feels the loss of its owner, how much more a 10-year-old daughter? So, I have a compelling duty to be strong and alive for her.

    Two, I am a pastor. I have to reflect the nature of Christ to people. There are people looking up to us to see how to react to life. We have to let them know that our Redeemer lives, regardless of what we go through.

    For me, the healing started the day God showed me Deuteronomy 32: 39, which states God kills and keeps alive. He wounds and heals. I never came across that scripture before until the demise of my wife.

    I had to ask God to explain what happened. I asked not because I am a man of God but because my wife believed she would survive cancer. When we were told it was cancer of the muscles and we realised it was the rarest and deadliest of all, she had hope.

    It was such an undetectable cancer but she was upbeat. So, I asked God, why did you allow this woman to die despite her faith in survival?  So, God took me to that portion of the scriptures. He is the one who wounded me and the only one that can heal the wound.

    How did you break the sad news to your daughter?

    It was difficult. It was on Thursday, September 29. My thinking was that I would break it to her much later. She was living with a family friend because we were in the hospital for three months during the hospitalisation.

    My close friends felt it won’t be nice for her to hear about it somewhere else because there could be those who knew her and say, ‘sorry for what happened to your mummy’ in school. So, I told them to bring her in on Monday already dressed for school.

    They came in and I took her to the room. I said, ‘you know about angels? You know your mummy is one. She’s been struggling and the doctors have been trying…’ I just went on and on. Then, she looked at me and said, ‘so, daddy what are you saying?’

    Then, I mustered the courage and broke the news to her. She broke into tears for about seven or eight minutes. She just snapped out of it and said, ‘mummy will not like this. She won’t like us to cry like this. Please, give her a big burial.’ I was stunned. That is why I said she’s stronger than I.

    You have conducted funerals before. Were they different from that of your wife?

    Absolutely it was different. As a pastor, we counsel people to hold on but when you go through it, you feel it. Pastors counsel many things they know nothing about.

    When people cry during services, we feel why should they cry that much after the harm has been done. But I broke down heavily during the wake service and funeral. I prepared her order of service because I believe I owed her that.

    I did everything she would want me to do. I bought the dress we used to bury her. I bought the shoes we used. I told them at the mortuary she must look as gorgeous as she was because she was that detailed about her look.

    God was faithful but there is a whole difference between conducting a funeral and burying a wife.

    But why do bad things happen to good people?

    That is like asking why should Jesus die? I mean he lived only for 33 years and didn’t deserve to die. Our faith has prepared us that even a day-one baby can die. God is mysterious and we cannot but acknowledge that He is God.

    Were there insinuations that she died due to spiritual attacks?

    Of course, there were that insinuations. Some said we were not prayerful or sensitive enough. Some said we probably ignored some warnings or it was a punishment for sins or something.

    But when God spoke to me, I had peace. That settled it all for me. I have always believed that nobody can kill anybody. Only God holds life. Men can afflict but cannot kill others.

    My faith has not taught me to believe that anybody other than the owner of life can take it. You can desire to kill anybody but you don’t have that power at all. Only God does.

    You have preached many times that God can heal. Why didn’t He heal her?

    Yes, I have preached that and I still believe in it. God is able. But he has discretionary power. He can and He may not. He allows things to happen to us for good reasons. When someone is so sick that you have to carry her around, God can say let me help him.

    This incident has deepened my faith in God. The same God that took her to four major surgeries successfully could still have saved her if He wanted.

    His healing power is not limited but it is discretionary. He might not do things not because He is not able but because He thinks differently.

  • Group seeks divine guidance for 2017

    The Committee of Friends for Humanity (COFFHA), a group of excellent career women, started 2017 with a thanksgiving service.

    Speaking at the service held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Communion (TBS) Lagos, Vicar\Archdeacon of Ikoyi, The Ven. Julius Oyediran urged members of the group to allow their character preach Christ and demonstrate love to others.

    He said: “Let your character preach Christ, also show love to your fellow humanity. When we show love to each other there will be no more killings among us.”

    Oyediran also charged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate COFFHA, which he acknowledged is giving so much to humanity.

    COFFHA’s president, Mrs. Caroline Ufere, pointed out the service was to praise God for all His mercies, joy, happiness, love and protection on members in 2016.

    “It is our belief that whatever we are going to do this year has God’s anointing and support,” she said.

    She was excited the bond among members has extended to their children, two of whom got married in 2016.

    In 2017, she said the group intends to have the foundation-laying ceremony of a multi-purpose centre for skill acquisition.

     ‘’It is a multi-purpose centre that will stand on an acre of land with an educational institution, hall and workshop for various skills,‘’ Ufere added.

    The empowered women, according to her, will be given starter packs so that they can contribute meaningfully to their families and the society at large

    Others proposed activities include visits to orphanages and the female wing of Kirikiri Maximum prison, as well as scholarship for indigent students.

  • Stop inciting Nigerians, clerics told

    Former Presiding Chaplain  Lagos State Chapel of Christ the Light, Vulnerable  Funsho Awe, has charged Christian and Muslim leaders to avoid inciting words that could further divide Nigerians along religious lines.

    He spoke at the maiden outreach of Taking All Men Brother Initiatives tagged: Who is God. How we can help others in these current economic realities in Lagos.

    He said the continued division among Nigerians is traceable to in fighting among religious leaders.

    “Religion haS been commercialised, politicised and lost the essence of its role as peace builder, mediator and a platform that connects people to the Almighty God,” he lamented.

    Awe pointed out most religion organisations resort to inciting words to keep their members perpetually under and discredit those on the other divide.

    Religion, according to him, should be a voice for the voiceless and avenue to promote values of fairness, equity and justice, which are hall marks of a developed society.

    He cited the Retired South African Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, who used activism and theology to fight Apartheid in South Africa for which he got a Nobel Peace prize.

    Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Iyabo Ogundiran, said its essence is to breed tolerance, acceptability and love, regardless of difference in practices and patterns.

    She said: “It’s about turning our diversity into beauty and a uniting factor. It’s about living together in peace and harmony.

    “Each part of Nigeria has a rich culture and beauty and they should complement the other.”

    Ogundiran was sad most of the conflicts have religious and cultural motivations, pointing out they are alarmingly increasing.

    “We are seeing societies torn apart and big nations go to war due to lack of proper knowledge.

    “Nigeria is a rich country with diverse religions and tribes, which could work for us if only we try. Our diversity should be a thing of beauty but instead it has been used as a tool for discrimination and segregation,” she stressed.

    While praying Nigeria does not self-destruct, Ogundiran said: “We need solutions and we need them fast. We need to move to the next level and help Nigeria take her rightful place in the league of nations.

    “Who will help us? Who will overcome for us? Yes, we have God, but God will not come down from heaven to fight this battle for us.”

    She called on Nigerians to educate one another on religious beliefs and tolerate diversities.

  • Ajimobi for C&S conference

    Ajimobi for C&S conference

    Peraphs are gathering at Galilee Land, Orile-Igbon, Oyo State from February 2-5to brainstorm on how to move the church forward.

    Holding under the aegis of Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church, the conference will also take a hard look at developments of Christianity in Nigeria vis-à-vis the recent happening in Southern Kaduna, among others.

    A statement by the Chairman, Unification Hosting Committee, Special Apostle Timothy Odedele, said Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi will declare the four-day conference with the theme restoration open.

    The Supreme Head of the C&S Unification, Elder Samuel Alao will preside over the conference expected to attract not less than 2,000 delegates.

     

  • We shall fight anti-church policies, Atilade vows

    Chairman, South West Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has warned that the church will not rest until all policies and laws targeted against her are thrown out.

    He spoke against the background of the suspension of the contentious Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria’s Governance Code for faith-based and non-governmental organisations.

    He hailed the removal of the FRC’s executive secretary, Mr. Jim Obazee, but said the code should be altogether thrown away.

    Atilade spoke with our correspondent last week in his Lagos office.

    He pointed out that the tenure of leadership of any church is an internal matter, while whoever is the head of such organisation is at the pleasure of members which should never be based on governmental regulations.

    Every church, he said, has its own constitution that guides its affairs, including the tenure of its leaders, finances and management, which should not be open to public scrutiny.

    According to him: “The constitution provides for separation of the church and the state and government should and cannot control the tenure of the leadership of any church.”

    The cleric said CAN will challenge the code in court should the federal government fail to discard it.

    He noted that when government extended tenure of some judges and lecturers in universities, nobody challenged the decision, arguing that the tenure of church leaders is within the prerogative of members.

    He charged churches to be more discrete in their finances and management for transparency in a manner devoid of any suspicion.

  • Adeboye to inmates: don’t give up

    The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged inmates in Kirikiri Maximum Prison not to give up on their dreams.

    He said this during a visit to the facility, assuring God is awake to their requests and will meet them in good time.

    According to him: “When God’s time comes, nothing can stand in His ways.”

    He told them that he has taken note of their requests and pledged to do his best to fulfill them.

    “My heart is with you and I will take up the case of those condemned to death with the highest authorities,” he assured.

    Pastor Tunwashe Kabiru noted the impact of Adeboye’s previous visits to the facility.

    Some of the projects attracted after the visits, he said, include the renovation of the National Open University (NOUN) prison special study centre, its equipment with

    computer sets and scholarship for NOUN students.

    He also mentioned payment of the medical bills of one of the inmates who fractured his leg in the course of exercising himself in the football pitch, among others.

    According to him, the inmates of the facility would be grateful if Adeboye extends more of his charitable works to them.

    “Above all, the uppermost in our hearts is freedom. We plead therefore that you solicit on our behalf to the state governors, especially for the condemned convicts and those serving life imprisonment, as your plea for clemency on our behalf always gives birth to testimonies,” he said.

    Deputy Comptroller General, Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Seye Olukoya, thanked Adeboye for the visit.

    According to him: “Every two years after Pastor Adeboye visits the prison, testimonies abound and it will always leave indelible marks.”

  • Forum organises thanksgiving service

    Mainland Independent Group (MIG), a political coalition, last week held its annual thanksgiving service in partnership with Pastor Olajide Aiyeola of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at its Alagomeji, Yaba secretariat in Lagos.

    The forum facilitated by Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, its patron, was attended by chieftains and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Some of the attendees included House of Representatives member for Lagos Mainland, Jide Jimoh, House of Assembly member Oladele Adekanye, Special Assistant to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Community Development, Tajudeen  Quadri, and coordinator of MIG, Alhaji Ibrahim Megida.

    Others were Sole Administrator of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon Rojaiye Adedoyin, chairman of Gafar properties, Alhaji Gafar Abolore, women leader Alhaja Afolashade Morenikeji and chairman MIG, Kayode Aransiola, among others.

    Aiyeola said the thanksgiving was to appreciate God’s numerous blessings on members of the group.

    “God is the one who has been good to us and has shown us great mercy.

    “By the special grace of God, we have received a new dawn of progress in Nigeria and Lagos State,” he said.

    Speaking to reporters after the service, Jimoh said: “We give thanks to the Lord for our political group in Lagos mainland for organising this thanksgiving, particularly praying for our nation, leaders, governors and all elected representatives in Lagos State.”

    Aransiola said: ”When we want to start the New Year, we always gather to pray and seek God’s guidance because Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer.

    “We believe God will answer our prayer. We always pray for our leaders, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Hon Tunji Bello, commissioners, and our leaders from Lagos Mainland Local Government.”

    Alhaji Gani Salako said: “This group has been doing well. Many thanks to Asiwaju Tinubu for his noble contributions to the team and Hon Tunji Bello.

    “MIG is a formidable group in APC and we are able to function effectively in APC to ensure that our members are ably represented.’’

  • Engaging the blessedness of prayer & fasting! (2)

    Last week, we began this teaching with the understanding that fasting is one of the commandments of scriptures designed for our profiting (Matthew 6:16; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; Isaiah 58:6-8). We also explored fundamental requirements that guarantee our profiting in prayer and fasting. This week, we shall examine some blessings inherent in prayer and fasting, which include:

    • Access to continuous guidance: Divine guidance is one of the greatest assets in the Kingdom because it is the highway to greatness. However, it is prayer and fasting that facilitates our access to continuous guidance, which is the mystery behind our change of levels (Isaiah 58:6, 11).

    Jesus set an example for us in fasting and He was continually guided by the Father. Also, Abraham excelled by divine guidance. Moses was addicted to fasting and according to scriptures, he fasted for forty days thrice. Thus, he was constantly guided by God. Furthermore, the Israelites also enjoyed God’s leading all through their journey in the wilderness. Apostle Paul was also given to fasting as a lifestyle and he triumphed by divine guidance. Therefore, our “sonship” can only be manifested by divine guidance (Genesis 12:1-3, 10, 13:1-2; Exodus 7:1, 14, 19, 8:1, 16; Numbers 19:15-23; Acts 16:8-9; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:27).

    As we all know, one wrong step can wreck a whole destiny and that is why the Bible says: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12).

    This makes continuous guidance a lifelong requirement for every child of God as it is the gateway to a world of exploits and supernatural breakthroughs. When we are guided by God, we are unusually confident. Moreover, we don’t suffer stress under His leading because it is the gateway to our breakthroughs (Psalms 23:1-6; Isaiah 48:21; Joel 2:1-11).

    However, we must recognise that until we are in the Spirit, we cannot hear from God and fasting helps us to be in the Spirit, which makes hearing from God automatic. Therefore, we must be in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit to be led by God (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25; Revelation 1:10).

    • Fasting engenders divine health: This happens in three ways:
    • Prayer and fasting is a platform for divine empowerment: Jesus describes sicknesses and diseases as oppressions of the devil. The Bible says:

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38; See also Matthew 10:1).

    When we are empowered on the prayer altar, we cast out the spirit of infirmity without sweat. This is why we must build up our power level in order to displace the oppressor. For instance, Jesus Christ was anointed without measure and no sickness or disease could survive at His appearance. Therefore, our level of empowerment is what defines our level of liberty (Psalms 66:3; Matthew 17:19-21; Mark 9:29; Luke 4:14).

    • Revelation: Revelation is a veritable tool for our desired transformation. The altar of prayer and fasting is the altar of outbreak of revelation which culminates in our transformation, including healing.

    When we engage in a fast, there is a breaking forth of light and because infirmities are forces of darkness, when light breaks forth, they also bow out. However, when revelation graduates to illumination, authority is conferred and our dominion over sicknesses and diseases becomes unquestionable (Isaiah 58:6, 8, 60:1; John 1:5, 9).

    • The Word of God: God’s Word is the Balm in Gilead. That is, God’s healing power resides in His Word and every encounter with the healing Word sets us free from every harassment and torture of sickness and disease. Furthermore, when the Holy Ghost explodes the truth of the Word in our hearts (revelation), our health springs up supernaturally (Job 33:21-25; Psalms 107:20; Jeremiah 8:19-22; Luke 5:17).
    • We spiritually transfer our battles to God: All Judah waited on the Lord in a fast for three days and transferred their battle to God. As a result, God took over and all their enemies were destroyed. Likewise, when our battles are transferred to God, our victory is eternally guaranteed because He never loses any battle (2 Chronicles 20:5-17, 22-24).
    • Access to grace: Through the altar of prayer and fasting, we access grace for tireless, acceptable and sacrificial stewardship. It is important to understand that we will never see anymore glory than how much of labour we have invested in advancing God’s Kingdom (Hebrews 4:16, 12:28; John 10:18, 17:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 8:3).

    As we engage this mystery, I pray that God will open new chapters in our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ! Remain ever blessed!

    Are you born again? This means to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. If you haven’t, you can say this prayer and you will be born again: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

    For further reading, please get my books: Winning Prayers, satan Get Lost and Born To Win.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.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