The fourth edition of Just worship session organised by Israel Kristilere and friends holds next Friday at Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos.
The theme of the session, which kicks off by 10pm, is No higher calling.
Ministering are Paul Wilmbur, Erujeje, Frank Edward, Glowreeyah Braimah, Benita, Buchi, India Christian Congregation, Pastor Phil & Lola Adika and other worship leaders.
The annual special deliverance vigil of the Good Samaritan Cherubim & Seraphim Church, Irawo Osan, Lagos is slated for November 23-25.
Venue is 1, C&S Irawo Osan Street, Beside Simart Oil, opposite Saw Mill, Behind NNPC Filling Station, Ikorodu.
The theme of the service which holds from 10pm-3am, is Obey my voice.
The host, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Omoniyi assured there will be salvation, healing, deliverance and others at the service.
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Every month, an interdenominational group, comprising mostly of young professionals gather for seven hours of pure worship which is called the Holy Ghost Party. The coordinator, Femi Akioye, the Executive Officer Lugar Rico Group, a real estate, logistics and financial management group explains to Sunday Oguntola.
How did Throne worship begin?
The first time I had an idea about it was in 2002, I went for a personal retreat at Cannanland, to pray about another thing entirely, then I began to see visions of people Worshiping God, I told myself that on any of my birthdays that happens to be a landmark, I will celebrate by organizing one of the biggest worship concert the world has ever seen.
Then in 2007, I went to South Africa for a programme called MegaFest organized by Bishop T. D. Jakes’ church. On the last day of that programme, we went for a missionary retreat in a small village in Soweto; I saw a lot of poor people. We wanted to preach to them but they were hungry and therefore did not want to listen to the gospel. We were told not to give them money and these people said they were hungry; they could not listen to what we had to say.
Then I saw someone selling bread and drinks, so an idea came, I bought the bread and drinks and gave to the people to eat. At the end of the day, we bought every bread, drink and cooked food in the whole village and shared to the people. Then the whole village came to us to sell, we began to worship God, then they joined us, it was a three-hour Christian party, even those who were smoking weed left their weed to join in the worship.
I was 35 years then and decided to do the worship concert on my 40th birthday. Two years ago that came but unfortunately I was so broke I could not even have a party. But God had a plan; He was already giving me a better understanding of the vision. I had planned to set up a Trust Fund that would see to the financing of a monthly worship programme because I had set up some non Governmental organizations trying to help the poor in the past, but as soon as I run out of money, the NGO also collapse.
Three days after my 40th birthday, some brothers from my church visited and when we began to pray the heavens opened and for about eight hour straight we were doing this unplanned worship. The Holy Ghost said we should call another meeting like that and God said that was what He has been asking me to do. We began a seven-hour worship, third Saturday of every month.
What was the form of this programme?
We have a monthly interdenominational worship programme every third Friday. We do not ask for anything but just to worship God for whom He is. We call it, Holy Ghost party.
What do you mean by Holy Ghost Party?
What do you do when you have a party? You dance and have fun; ironically, music does not originate from man but from God. So if music is the main ingredient in making a good party, then there is no party like the party where music originated from. We call it Holy Ghost party and enjoy ourselves; the good thing is this one has no side effect. In fact, the only side effect is a positive one, you have peace and your worries are gone. So every third Friday of every month, we go clubbing, hanging out with Jesus all night, we don’t spend our money but our heart, we shower God with gratitude and he pays us.
On our first year anniversary, God said we should have Celebration worship and this year, God said every year, we should be celebrating Him. This is season two and it is a twelve-hour worship to celebrate the faithfulness of Jesus. That is why we have termed it “Jesus, the centre of it all.”
How have you been able to fund these monthly programmes since your Trust Fund is not set up yet?
We have a 12 member board and about 70 percent of the funding is from those members. But God has been faithful, we have some people who have been coming to our programmes and God has laid it on their heart to support us. We raise money within ourselves and friends and those that God has touched to be part of it.
People are getting increasingly cynical about giving for religious purposes, they see it as a way of feasting off gullible people, how do you react to this?
Yes I can relate to that, I can only talk about Throne Worship which is self sponsored. We have the tapes of the programmes which God said we should not sell. We have had instances where someone had called in saying he felt led to support the work of God, we never ask for it. In Exodus 25:1-2, God underlined the willingness in giving in the building of the tabernacle. I always say, if you cannot give willingly better use your money to buy something to eat. The offerings we receive are not up to 10 percent of the cost of the programme, the programmes we have during the day are usually accompanied by fasting and we break with real good food. In our night vigils, we serve breakfast in the mornings so you can see that we spend more. But God has been faithful.
Isn’t it a lot to ask from Lagosians 12 hours of worship, is it sustainable?
Yes it is. Our monthly programme is seven hours and people do come, we have testimonies of people saying they have been waiting for this kind of programme, people are hungry to worship God, forget about their problem, experience peace and joy. Last year, we had 12 hours praise worship and by 5:am people were not ready to go. If your worship is spirit filled, the people get blessed, they don’t complain about time when they are getting blessed.
You are asking people to just worship God in a dire economic situation instead of praying for help, will that solve their problems?
Yes, it is a surer way than praying the “give me” prayer. It is more blessed to give than receive and the only time we give to God is when we worship. When you sow you reap as guaranteed in Genesis 8:22 Peter was in the prison, the church prayed and an angel came to set Peter free. In another situation in Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas worshiped and God Himself visited the prison. The birthing scripture for Throne Worship is Revelations 4 and 5. The four living creatures and 24 Elders bow their kneels and cast their crown and worshipped. The people that are in the throne room of God are Worshiping and they carried the prayers of the saints like incense. Look at it in form of access; it is worship that grants you the easiest access to the throne of Grace. To live smart, it is better to worship God, you are giving to God and He will give you back.
Do you see Throne Worship is will become a church?
No, that is not our mandate, it is an interdenominational thing.
This celebration worship, what should people expect?
It is going to happen on November 13, 2015 at Yard 158, Oregun, it is 12 hour of pure worship, it is not negotiable. We are celebrating Jesus, who is the centre of it all. We would be celebrating His faithfulness in our lives and upon Nigeria. We will be touching heaven with our gratitude and praise.
What is wrong with the church which has been ineffective in positively influencing this country?
The church is trying but we can do better. Why is Nigeria still standing and we have not gone to war, why are we not Syria, Libya or Sudan right now? It is the prayer of the church, whether you like it or not we are still one today because of the church. I told someone that the fact that God could not find a Christian to clean up this country is an indictment on the church, but I must say that the church is doing something even though we can do better.
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Nigeria will not sink but survive to experience greater glory, the general overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Felix Meduoye, has declared.
Meduoye told reporters in Lagos that Nigeria was too important to God to collapse or crumble.
He assured that all the challenges facing the nation will soon be over, urging Nigerians not to lose faith.
Meduoye, who was represented by the National Secretary of the church, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, spoke ahead of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the church with the theme greater things.
The convention holds at the International campground of the church in Ajebo, Ogun State from November 9-15.
Meduoye said: “God loves this nation. We have the firm belief that God’s hand is involved in the affairs of this nation and it is His will to prosper Nigeria.
“We make bold to say that Nigeria will come out stronger and better in the years ahead. Our confidence comes from the fact that our God answers prayers and we have prayed for the nation.”
He said important dignitaries will attend the grand finale of the convention tagged a service of Grace from at least 30 nations, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
Nigeria will not sink but survive to experience greater glory, the general overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Felix Meduoye, has declared.
Meduoye told reporters in Lagos that Nigeria was too important to God to collapse or crumble.
He assured that all the challenges facing the nation will soon be over, urging Nigerians not to lose faith.
Meduoye, who was represented by the National Secretary of the church, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, spoke ahead of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the church with the theme greater things.
The convention holds at the International campground of the church in Ajebo, Ogun State from November 9-15.
Meduoye said: “God loves this nation. We have the firm belief that God’s hand is involved in the affairs of this nation and it is His will to prosper Nigeria.
“We make bold to say that Nigeria will come out stronger and better in the years ahead. Our confidence comes from the fact that our God answers prayers and we have prayed for the nation.”
He said important dignitaries will attend the grand finale of the convention tagged a service of Grace from at least 30 nations, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
The Presiding Pastor of the Divine Grace Church of God, United Kingdom Rev. Felicia Okoya, spoke with Yetunde Oladehinde, on her upbringing, passion and ministry. Excerpts:
How did the call come for you?
I was raised as a young girl in convent and the Rev. Sister kept singing to me then that Felicia, beauty and brain usually don’t get married. So, I always had it at the back of my mind and I had the desire to live my life for Christ. So when the opportunity came, I heard people talking to me, prophecy here and there.
The first time I went to Orlando, Benny Hinn called me out called out of the whole congregation. There were over a million people there. He called me and said the gifts of God upon my life were just too much.
Archbishop Idahosa also called me out and said, ‘God said all the businesses you have been doing, going to China, America you will also do business for God by preaching the gospel.’
Do you have any area of specialisation?
Yes I like teaching the word of God. Everything is in the bible. If you are sick, the answer is there. If you are poor, the answer is there. If you are weak, the answer is there.
Let the weak say I’m strong, let the poor say I’m rich. Every answer is there and I like standing on the word and speaking on the word.
How did you start caring for orphans and the widows?
As a young person, I saw my father feeding the poor in my town in Anambra state. I grew up having that passion to feed the poor. When the opportunity came, I saw so many poor people around me and I had money.
I started giving widows money to do their businesses, teach them skills and I still do till now. I had a mega workshop with them recently in Nigeria.
We run workshops for women. It’s about capacity building, empowering them so we usually do workshop and the last one we had 400 widows in my village Ozoto 9 miles from Onitsha in Anambra State.
I fed them and I gave them gifts. The most important thing is to give them something that they will use to start businesses. It doesn’t matter how small, it will grow big tomorrow.
You spoke about your father passionately, what does he mean to you?
My father was the love of my life. He is the only man I have ever loved. My mother had me and died but my father raised me single handedly.
He was a civil servant, so growing up with a man like that who refused to marry because of me was a great source of inspiration. He always believed in me. He always told people that I am the best. So, I grew up seeing myself as the best.
He was somebody that pointed that out in me. Up till now, I still believe that I am still the best.
How about your husband?
He has gone to be with the Lord. He is my second love. I was seventeen when I met him. I had admission in Harvard and I was to do medicine. So I came to one office to tell my uncle and I met this charming young man.
He did not talk to me, I was going up and he was going down. I was heading to my uncle’s office and he walked in there; he was a lawyer. He said excuse me sir I want to marry her and I found it strange because I never had a boyfriend and a stranger coming to say he wanted to marry me. So, that is the story.
Did you enjoy the marriage?
Yes, he was much older than me. I just left secondary school; he was already working as a lawyer. He nurtured me and honestly, he sowed into my life.
What did you like about your husband?
I don’t think I like his career. I liked his personality. I don’t say liars are bad but they don’t say the truth all the time. They change things around. I read Law myself. He made me read Law at Burkinshire University in the United Kingdom.
I refused to practise because it’s against my personality because I can’t lie and I can’t tell my client to lie. When he married me, he was working in a bank as a company secretary. That was comfortable for me.
He had a good job, benefits, drivers; I was living in Ikoyi at that tender age and going on holidays also. He wasn’t going to courts. He was dealing with customers who borrowed money from the bank for their businesses.
Are your children also in the legal profession?
My first daughter is a pastor; she’s an economist. She’s a lovely girl and married. I have a son that is also a lawyer, a lovely child, he stays in UK. I have another child, Ngozika, she read English Literature and Mass Communication and I have a banker too.
What is your favorite scripture?
My favorite scripture is I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I can never fail because my father told me I could never fail. Even as a young girl, I wasn’t good in Mathematics.
I came home and he asked what my position was. I would say third. My father would tell me not to mind the teacher; he doesn’t know how to mark the paper that is why you came third. So, I grew up like that. I love myself so much.
What advice do you have for younger women?
They should be focused and allow any man to intimidate them because we live in a man’s world. I will also say to them not to do what you don’t want to do because of circumstance. Believe in God and He will direct your path.
I discovered that many try to please men, it’s unnecessary. Please yourself and you have to love yourself first before loving anyone and that makes you a real and strong woman.
What gives you inspiration?
I like reading biographers. I want to know people more, what they do, what made them who they are. That encourages my lifestyle also.
Let’s talk about some happy moments in life?
To be honest, the day I had my first baby was a happy moment and the day I was ordained a priest also because it’s something I have always admired because I schooled in a convent school. I always wanted to get closer to God.
So to be God servant was like a wedding to me. I was too young when I got married. I was 17 years when I wedded. I was too young to appreciate it but wedding with Christ was an excitement because I had my eyes wide opened.
We discover from scriptures that every move of God is accompanied by waves of recovery. The Bible says: Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed (Joel 2:23-27).
We also discover that Jesus came, among others, to restore all we may have lost. It is written: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
Furthermore, from scriptures, we understand that every redeemed child of God is called to enjoy all the good things of life, which include: spiritual, material and social. As it is written:
According as his (God’s) divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness… (2 Peter 1:3; see also Psalms 34:10, Matthew 7:11). Unfortunately, many believers do not know what belongs to them in redemption; as such, they cannot account for whatever the devil has stolen from them.
But, what are the things that belong to us in redemption?
First, it is important to know that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law and launched us into the realm of Abrahamic blessings. As it is written:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
Again, the Bible says: Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12).
“The Lamb” in the above scripture is Jesus Christ; who, via redemption, purchased for us this seven-fold blessing:
Are you born again? This means, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “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: All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met, Exploring The Riches Of Redemption, Understanding Your Covenant Rights and Possessing Your Possession.
I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, 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, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org
The ever-bustling Agege suburb of the Lagos metropolis stood still in awe as the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Agege recently rolled out the drums in glorious celebration of its 40th anniversary.
The week-long event came into a crescendo on penultimate Saturday with a carnival-like launching of a N25 million development/investment fund.
Dignitaries at the event were the legendary Evang. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi (a.k.a. Ebenezer Obey) who single-handedly built and donated the church’s first auditorium on October 8, 1975 and gospel singer Tope Alabi.
Alabi roared the whole church into frenzy with her evergreen numbers of infectious appeal.
The Church Minister, Pastor Moses Ayando, listed ten other churches that had been “planted” by the church in its environs and assured that more will still come up under its expansion programme.
They are ECWA Churches in Ipaja, Gowon Estate, Agbelekale, Alakuko, Sango, Ifo, Lafenwa, Akinde Youth Centre, Maidan and Iju.
Very soon, he said, another one will be opened in Iyana Iyesi, Ota where, according to him, a member had already donated two plots of land for its building.
In addition to planting of new churches, Pastor Ayando said that ECWA Agege operates a “small clinic” where routine blood pressure and sugar level checks are done free while it single-handedly runs the 30-minute Radio ELWA weekly programme on Bond FM Radio, Lagos every Saturday 8.00 pm.
The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Engr. S. B. Balogun, said that the celebrations provided an opportunity for the church to renew its spiritual vision and honour some of its founding ministers and members with awards.
The awardees included Evangelist Obey who bagged the “visionary award”; the church’s first choir master, Evang. Emmanuel Oladotun; the first wedded couple in the church, Mr.& Mrs. Segun Adesanya and Rev. and Mrs. F.O. Oke for the church planting award.
The Merit Award went to Pastor Ayando.
Some of the founding members who also received awards were Elder D.M. Osajare, Pa and Mrs. A.O. Kodaolu, Mrs. M.A.Akinremi and Elder and Mrs. Shina Akinremi.
Obey recalled his first encounter with ECWA Church at Challenge, Mushin where, he said, he was attracted by melodious gospel songs “while I was hiding from my Papa Ajao landlord over unpaid house rents”.
He congratulated the Church for its achievements and urged its leadership and members to remain dedicated to serious evangelism which, he noted, was the bedrock of ECWA and Christianity.
Christians must never contemplate fighting back but develop organised response to terrorism, the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers Ota, Ogun State, Bishop Taiwo Akinola, has advised.
He spoke last Thursday with reporters ahead of the Rhema World Convention of the church with the theme wonderful Jesus.
Thousands of participants from across the world are expected at the event, which holds from November 1-8 at the Ota international headquarters of the church.
Akinola, who admitted terrorism and unprovoked attacks are part of the biggest challenges confronting the church, said Christians cannot afford to fight back.
He said the killing of many Christians within and outside Nigeria was becoming unbearable but advised believers not to retaliate.
He said: “We can’t fight back because it is just not in us. Fighting back is not our identity or forte.
“We cannot match violence for violence because it is just not part of us. A Christian cannot behead people or set others ablaze to convince them to follow Christ.”
Akinola however urged believers to mobilise themselves for “organised response to terrorism” by way of mounting pressure on government to protect citizens.
He stated that Christians should also go into politics so that they can influence governmental policies and decisions.
The cleric debunked insinuations that something was wrong with the nation.
According to him: “There is nothing wrong with Nigeria other than lack of inspiring leadership.”
The Badagry District General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Dr. Henry Ogbonnaya, has challenged churches to complement governmental efforts to empower citizens.
He said churches are not just for spiritual enrichment but also economic enhancement of citizens.
Ogbonnaya spoke last week ahead of the annual convention of the District tagged ‘Ebenezer’ slated for November 5-8.
He said the convention was borne out of the desire to impact lives, as resources persons drawn from different professional fields will be at hand to teach Nigerians on how to overcome economic challenges.
Commenting on the role expected of the Church in the polity, the cleric noted that “God mandates us to pray ceaselessly for those in positions of authority”.
The convention holds in the mornings and evenings at the Evangel College Okokomaiko, Lagos.