National Secretary Officer in charge of inspecting and correcting activities of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Rivers Province 12 and 13, Pastor Seun Sogunro, is a fine arts practitioner.
He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his life and a scheduled exhibition to mark his 60th birthday. Excerpts:
What has changed for you at 60?
At 60, many things have changed. The energy expended on work and activities is no longer as strong as when one was 40 years old. Spiritually, one is stronger though. Many activities are now delegated- which is wisdom.
The way I view and act over issues has changed. One does not flare up like a 20-year-old. The type of food and number of times one eats has changed. Food items that are full of carbohydrates are consumed less but protein and fruits are taken more. My body can’t take breakfast anymore even if I am not fasting.
Though I still stand up to draw and paint, I sit down more. I sleep less currently, which gives me time to pray. Most times, when I set alarm clock to wake me, I ‘m already awake before it sounds. Currently, there is the realisation that one can’t spend the number of years already spent again on earth.
What does fine arts have in common with pastoring?
Fine Arts have many things in common with pastoring. Just as in teaching, students remember what they see than what they hear. Art works are used to encourage or remind the people concerning moral life style, prayerful, fellowship, evangelism, cleanliness, unity and so on.
In Exodus 31, God instructed Moses to get some set of artists that would assist in carrying out specific assignments in the beautification of God’s tabernacle and craftily working on some church items.
So, for me, being a pastor and fine arts practitioner is combined honours.
What would you remember as the lowest ebb of your life?
One occasion I remember was when some of us in Yaba Tech were asked to repeat the whole final year. Instead of graduating in 1980, I had to graduate in 1981. Initially, it was disappointing but God had to console me to go back.
We knew that we were not asked to repeat because we were poor academically but because we were good and proud. I had to keep to myself during the long vacation. I went back and took the whole session and eventually graduated and had NYSC in Command Secondary School, Ipaja Lagos.
At 60, what has life taught you?
At 60, life has taught me that it is not of him that wills but of God that shows mercy. This means that it is not by strength or power but by God’s Spirit. I have learnt that what is more important is our closeness to God; that if we remain close to God, we will have whatsoever we need at God’s timing.
I have also learnt that human beings can’t query God. He does what He wills. He is the one that protects, lifts up, provides what no man can give like keeping one alive, giving one children and so on.
As a PHD holder in Church Growth, is it true that church growth is an illusion?
There are many technicalities and principles that Christians need to know. Things that if we practice, the church will grow and things that, if we practice, the church will not grow.
People need to know that church growth is both the scientific and Holy Spirit study of the nature of the church. If church workers expand their knowledge concerning how God’s church that Jesus used His blood to purchase should be, people will not get frustrated or become failures.
If as church workers, we work on our character, our lives will not drive people away from the church but we’ll attract lives.
What difference is fine art making on your pastoring assignments and vice versa?
I am able to use artistic illustrations to make my points easily understood during my teachings and in the books I have written. The difference that my pastoring is making on my painting is passing Biblical messages and virtues through the art.
My paintings do not encourage disorderliness, idolatry or Satanic worship. What is exposed to me as a pastor can’t make me portray groups issue out death warrant on their members or see murder as good in my painting.
I can’t publicise them in the name of culture. At times of ignorance in the past, we used to publicise pornography and Satan worship but not again.
How did you come into the ministry?
After about eight years that I gave my life to Jesus Christ, when I was transformed from a sinful life style to that of the fear of God, my church leadership instructed after prayers that I should lead other seven church workers to pioneer another branch of RCCG.
Less than one year after we started, I went to have a personal prayer retreat. I was asking God to help me and empower me. After some hours into prayers, I was taken in a kind of trance. I saw myself taken by some men to the Deputy General Overseer that he should take me; that I was ready.
I was not happy when I came to myself. I quickly understood that I should work full time with the church. The Deputy General Overseer – that time – was in charge of interviews for new full timers.
After some days, I applied, was interviewed and employed in 1996. Twenty years down the line, I have not regretted my action. God has been faithful.
Why exhibition to mark your birthday?
It was around 11 months to my 60th birthday that I was thinking of what to do on the occasion- I had always organised or handled a project to mark landmarks for myself and the church I pastor.
It has always been to pass a message to the community or Christians. It has never been an occasion to wine and dine.
Apart from writing a book, which is actually a miracle to do (I never love writing but God supernaturally taught me). I was reminded to use my talent, which is drawing and painting to bless the church- to pass across information of Christian virtues and beautify the church.
The Spirit of God made me to see that Christian premises are not beautiful enough. In Exodus 31, 35, 36, 37, 38 and other parts of the bible, God told Moses that he had anointed some people specially to beautify the tabernacle, working with various medium.
When people say ‘see Paris and die’ or that Dubai is beautiful, it is the lavish use of art works to embellish both the interior of buildings, bridges and parks.
I was inspired to make some art works and donate to the church as an example before encouraging other Christian artists to do the same. It is also to pass a message on art works that are not harmful to us like in the name of culture.
Some produce idolatry artworks and promoting groups that issue death warrants to those that leave their group. There are some of the art works I feature that pass a message that pedestrian flyovers are becoming outdated.
In Milton Keynes, a city near London, pedestrians walk under while vehicles drive above, not men and women running 100 metres to cross busy roads.
