The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Commit your govt to God, Adeboye tells Buhari

    President Muham-madu Buhari has been advised to hand over his government to God to guarantee good success.

    The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, stated this last Sunday at the Special monthly prayer and thanksgiving service for first born at the RCCG, National Headquarters, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

    The theme of the prophetic service was destined to excel.

    Adeboye said as the first citizen, Buhari must commit his administration to the fear of God.

    He argued that first children are always subjected to attacks by the enemies because if they get things right, others will follow suit.

    The cleric pointed out that the devil is always after the destiny of first children except they how to beat to his devices.

    Adeboye, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, lauded the efforts of the new administration, especially in improved power supply and the fight against corruption.

    Buhari’s administration, he pointed out, has started on the right path and deserves the support of all and sundry.

    He took a swipe at those criticising the administration’s slow pace, saying “it will be better to go slow to move Nigeria forward than rush into doing things shabbily because of pressure and criticism.”

    Appealing for patience, he said: “100 days in office is not enough to judge the performance of the new administration.

    “Nigerians gave him four years mandate to deliver on his lofty promise of change. Let us wait and be patience as better days will come.”

    Asked to respond to criticisms that Buhari’s cabinet was taking too long to come on board, Adeboye argued if the President will have to take more time to get the right people, he should be given that latitude.

    He urged other elected public officials to follow the suit of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in declaring their assets publicly.

  • ‘Christians should learn to speak with one voice’

    ‘Christians should learn to speak with one voice’

    The South West chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the new administration and issues affecting the Christian community. Excerpts: 

    What is your assessment of the current administra-tion a little after 100 days in office?

    I will say even without doing too much, things are already falling into places in the country. Mr. President has just been focusing on security, especially the Boko Haram insurgency but we are also seeing improved power supply and restoration of discipline.

    So, I’d say it is so far, so good. A lot of stolen monies are being recovered. More looters are being exposed. Since we voted for him to be there for four years, we should be patient.

    Do you support the thrust of the new administration on stoppage of sponsorship of pilgrimage?

    Yes, I do support it one hundred percent. The constitution is clear that the state should not be involved in religious activities. If you want to go to Jerusalem or Mecca, you should go on your own. Public funds should not be used to promote one religious practice, convention, culture or activity. That is the clear demarcation we must support.

    If you want to worship God in India, America or anywhere, it is your business. Government should not use our collective wealth to send someone to Mecca or Jerusalem. Islam says you should go to Mecca once in a year but there is a condition that you must be able to afford it.

    Recently, Lagos State government closed some churches over alleged noise pollution. What’s your reaction on it?

    We have warned churches over noise pollution not to erect external speakers. That is what the law says. It’s been there for long. Over 20 years ago when I was CAN chairman in Lagos, I had cause to report a church in my neigbhourhood that was always disturbing us with speakers.

    The church would hold vigils and the community won’t be able to sleep. You wake up the next day not refreshed. The fact is your right stops where others start. So, I believe you don’t have to shout before God hears you.

    He is your maker and He knows what you need before you ask Him. So, churches must comply and avoid noise pollution.

    But some Christians wonder how many Mosques have been shut over this too…

    …As far as I know, the mosques are complying. But if there is any mosque that does not, let’s not hesitate to let the government know and then we’d see what they would do then. Until then, we should obey the law and do the right thing.

    But can’t the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) help to regulate churches over this?

    The problem is that many churches do not belong to CAN. The Muslims respect the Sultan and once he makes a pronouncement, everyone falls in line. But our people, claiming to be Bishops and Archbishops, operate as Islands on their own.

    We should learn to speak with one voice. That is why CAN exists. CAN represents us all. It is the umbrella body for our unity as Jesus prayed for.

    We must respect its President as the number Christian citizen in this country. He is the Primus Inter Pares, the first among equals, and accorded respect worthy of his post by Christians and non-Christians.

    No ridiculous, unsubstantiated allegation should be leveled against him, especially by Christians. We must all obey his directives and follow his leading.

    Some people have alleged you are a political preacher, especially when you clamoured for a Christian governor in Lagos State. How do you react to this?

    On the Lagos governorship thing, we realised there had been an imbalance and injustice over the years against Christians. Christians have been shortchanged over the years. We did a research into what was happening in Lagos.

    Christians were not being appointed or placed on meagre salaries. Many people had to lie about their faith to get jobs and positions in Alausa. It was that bad. They won’t agree but that is the truth.

    The governorship position was also occupied by people from a particular faith for 16 years. You see when something has gone on for too long, it becomes the tradition. That slot was almost being reserved for a particular faith.

    I prayed about it and the Holy Spirit gave me the assignment to work against that. I encouraged Christians to be involved in political process. We then said a Christian should become the governor otherwise we would take it that it was for a faith.

    Many Christians vilified me. They said I was bringing religion into politics but they missed the point. They criticised me but I thank God we have what we prayed for today.

    As for being a political preacher, I don’t understand what they mean. I’m only doing what I think is in the interest of God and the Christian community.

    Last week again, you made another case for a female governor in Lagos State. Can you clarify that statement?

    Part of my divine assignment is to challenge the status quo. When I was in the United States, I was honoured as one of the challengers of norms in my community. I saw something not happening and I asked why not? I saw something happening and I asked why.

    I just like to ask questions and know the basis for happenings around us. I saw Christians were not becoming governors in Lagos and I asked why not? I saw that women are better prepared and talented and I’m wondering why they are not becoming governors too.

    There is nothing to show men are superior to women. So, why can’t women be elected as governors?

    But we have a governor who has not even done a term…

    … I’m not saying it has to happen now. I’d support Governor Ambode to go for two terms. A female governor doesn’t have to happen immediately after him.

    But I’m preparing our people to start reasoning what is wrong with having a female governor.

    Why does it have to be in Lagos first?

    That is because Lagos is a mini-Nigeria. Whatever happens here will happen elsewhere.

    The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria is proposing age limit for leadership of religious bodies. Is that a good move?

    It is a sore point in the history of religious bodies in Nigeria. The State should not have any regulatory mechanism over religion. In the same way, we don’t want religion to be taken into governance.

    What they are proposing will not stand. The Bible does not put age limit into practice of the clergy. There is no retirement for servants of God. You serve until you die. So, old age is not a minus because the older you are in the spiritual world, the better you become.

    You need the wisdom and experience of old people in religion to regulate things. So, what they are proposing will not stand. Religion should be self-regulatory. The government cannot tell religious organisations how to function and operate.

    There were speculations that the Aso Rock chapel would be relocated…

    …Well, we should be careful with hearsays. But all I will say is to caution that if there is such plan, it shouldn’t happen because it is a very sensitive matter.

    There is only a chapel in Aso Rock whereas there are three mosques within the same place. So, why relocate the only chapel? If there is such plan, it should be stopped because it will be misinterpreted.

  • Kumuyi foresees turnaround for Nigeria

    Kumuyi foresees turnaround for Nigeria

    The General Superin-tendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor Williams Kumuyi, sees a major turnaround for the nation despite the current socio-economic challenges.

    Speaking with journalists at the sidelines of the kick off of the Lagos city wide crusade organised by the church in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the respected holiness preacher said that Nigeria will bounce back.

    Responding to claims that the current administration was slow, he said: “The encouragement I want to give to everyone is that we should have hope and we should look up to God that God is able and will definitely turn things around.

    “It may not take place this very minute but God is going to do wonders in our country and things are going to really turn around for the better.”

    He added: “My prayer is that the mighty change, supernatural change that God has done for individuals, he will do for our country.

    “God works in various ways and you see all the things happening- fight against corruption and all that- we need the wisdom, power and support of God and my prayer is that God will assist the government to really pull through until we get to the end of the tunnel. A change is coming, a change has started already.”

    In his sermon titled “The wonders of supernatural change,” he called for repentance for the arrival of a new dawn.

    According to the cleric: “The Lord does not condemn sinners but saves them. Sinners must boldly take a step by confessing their sins.

    “It is futile to think that it is impossible to live a righteous life. God is capable of saving sinners no matter the level of sin, which they have committed.

    “Every work of Satan in your life must be reversed. Bad luck has come to an end. Sorrow and reproach have come to an end.

    “This is a time for supernatural change. You must leave all your sins behind. God has declared that this day salvation has come into your life. God will not reject you.”

  • ‘Why we focus on strong family values’

    The Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre (HICC), Pastor Bolaji Idowu, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the unique features of the church and related issues. Excerpts: 

    In just a little after ten years, Harvesters International Christian Centre has become one of the fastest growing. What has brought the church this far?

    The truth is there are many churches but what makes us stands out is that we have a deep concern and love for people. We’d go to any length to be a blessing to them and that brings out creative ways in which we provide superior value for the total man.

    So, the strength is that when we come in touch in people, we love to serve. Our volunteers want to do something for someone else. We love to be of service and a blessing to others. Just loving people and asking them to come the way they are.

    We don’t judge people; we don’t fight people here. We just tell them to come and their lives will not be the same again.

    How were you able to instill that spirit of love and service in the workforce?

    Well, it is a culture here and when something is a culture you don’t teach it. You just be the culture. People will see it and they will follow suit. People are just becoming the culture they see.

     So, you hold how many services?

    We hold four services on the mainland and two services on the Island.

    And these are essentially young families?

    Yes, we are a mixture of young families, newly married, young people and family people.

    These are those many church leaders consider to be problematic. How do you galvanise them towards a church like this?

    Everybody wants to become to a place where there is love. And that is what we essentially do. We make everyone feel at home; we don’t judge.

    We preach practical, simple messages that are yet impactful. We have one of the best children’s churches in the world because the teachers are trained and dedicated.

    We have strong family values, which we try to pass across in the social media. I have huge followers on twitter where I teach some of these values. That is because we believe the family should be the starting point for reformation in the society. Once you fix a family, you have fixed a society.

    With over 5,000 in the headquarters church, you must be thinking of moving again, right?

    Yes, we are. We were concerned about if people will come when we started off but today, our major challenge is space. The more we create some space, the sooner people fill them. So, for the headquarters church, we are looking for a bigger space where we can put up our facilities.

    We are starting a centre in Ikeja and we might just start churches in other states too. We get comments like, ‘when are you starting a church in Abuja? When are you coming to London?’ We are working on all that and will see what we can do.

    Expansion is good but could also be hurtful. Some churches have grown to the point that they are now hurting. What are you doing to ensure the expansion does not turn around to hurt the church?

    What you just have to do is to keep the vision and inculcate it in people. Our expansion is not out of pressure; it is just out of huge demands. Our church in the Island is just a little after a year but we are already counting 1,000 people. We can’t keep people from coming but we have a responsibility to stay through to the vision.

    But I don’t want our church to be known for the numbers only; I want us to be judged for the marriage that was almost going through a divorce but got saved; the man that was saved from pornography and the lady saved from prostitution. We want to save lives, not just counting numbers. It is the transformation caused by the word of God that we want to be known for.

     Any plan to build capacity of the workforce to cope with the expansion?

    Yes, we have started that. We are involved in some in-house training. By next year, we will start the Harvesters College to train the manpower that we need. We also want to strengthen the church’s community by imparting them.

    You recently had a comedy show in the church. To some, a church should not be involved in such frivolities. Do you agree with them?

    We are involved in the business of soul-winning and so whatever will bring people to God is not out of place. You must know that half of the people that came out were turned back. There was an overflowing everywhere. So, we accomplished the mission to bring people to the church.

    Then on why we did comedy, I’d say God’s people need a place to unwind with their families. They want to laugh and smile but not in a place where they will be drunk. If the church offers pure, godly comedy, it will help God’s children to feel at home.

    One of the amazing testimonies I heard after the show was about a couple that had been fighting for five months. They came to church and sat beside each other. They had not spoken for those months. But when the show started, they started laughing together and ended up reconciling. They leaned over themselves and started talking again.

    So, you are planning to have more of such shows?

    Yes, we are planning.

    I mean why shouldn’t we have it again if another family will be reconciled?

     It is part of the love we are talking about. If it will bless people, we will do it. At the end of the show, we had over 200 people committing their lives to God. That was the highpoint for me and we are glad we did.

  • Kumuyi brings transformation to Agege

    The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor (Dr) William Kumuyi is bringing his message of spiritual, moral, physical, material, political and economic transformation to the people of Agege in Lagos as the state-wide crusade of the Church berths at Agege on Wednesday 23 September, 2015. It is billed to take place at the Agege Stadium complex.

    This crusade with the theme of “Supernatural Power of God’s Wonders” is coming on the heel of the promise of the political change made by the new political administration in Lagos state.

    Clearly, since the anchor of the Christian belief is that things that are seen are made from the things not seen, there cannot be effective change unless spiritual change is first and foremost completed.

    This crusade is then a task consciously taken by the man of God who understands the linkages of times and seasons in the move of God in providing transformation for His people.

    There is the assurance that Agege and it environ will be turned downside up with the move of God for Jesus because wherever the spirit of God is there is liberty. Liberty has been programmed for Agege and there is the promise also that like in the days of Prophet Elijah in the Old Testament fire will come down from heaven to consume everything that God has not put in place. In another dimension, mountains will be moved, valley will be filled up and all crooked places made straight through the power of God.

    .Other area where Kumuyi has promised that the mighty finger of God will do wonders is in the prosperity of the people of Agege and its neighbourhood. There will be spectacular miracles which have never been heard of or seen before in the locality of Agege.

    Businesses that have been dead, all others that are ailing, many that are not doing well will receive life and flourish again. This will be boom time for Agege to replace the pall of gloom that has been over the place. It will be a greater repeat of what happened when Pastor Kumuyi brought the presence of God some years back

    Pastor Kumuyi has held two of this kind of crusade before and it bears repeating that they were highly successful. The first one which was a one day-crusade just like the one coming up in September 23 was in Central College, then known as Dairy Farm College in 2004 and the second one, at the Cocoa Ground Ogba in 2009.

    The Dairy Farm College Crusade was a spectacle to behold. For a crusade billed for 5pm on the day, there was already a sea of humanity flowing through the vicinity of Ogba before noon. There was an overflow of people moved by the hunger and thirst for salvation, the word and the touch of God in their lives. People were expectant that the presence of God brought by Pastor Kumuyi will make a remarkable difference in their lives.

    The excitement and the pleasure of the crusade were not just in the mammoth crowd or the wonderful miracles that happened but what occurred on the second day after the programme had officially ended. It defied belief that thousands of people still trouped into the crusade venue buoyed up in faith with what transpired the previous and got miracles.

    One in particular was a leper who got perfect healing in the presence of the on-lookers. The college’s securities had prevented him from entering but got in through another gate and holding onto the pulpit where the Pastor had preached and instantly, was healed from his leprosy. The celebration that followed that singular act of healing ranged through the Agege community and it brought about extra addition in the preaching of the gospel in Agege.

    The second crusade held at Cocoa Ground at Ogba 2009. It was also spectacularly successful. It was a three-day-power packed and power soaked event. It witnessed explosion of the power of God and since then Agege and its environment have never been the same. It actually became a reference point for crusades in Agege.

    People will always ask after then whenever the Deeper Life is holding evangelism and rallies that people will ask when the G.S will visit Agege again. Now, the G.S is set for Agege and the awakening and transformation is about to shower.

    • Ayela is a veteran journalist

  • Provoking heaven’s order of Financial Fortune! (2)

    Last week, we began this teaching by identifying what heaven’s order of Financial Fortune means in various contexts. Also, we understood from scriptures that the Law Of Love is the anchor law in the school of financial fortune and not giving as we have erroneously believed in time past. This is because giving is an instruction that follows the greatest commandment in the law, which is love (Job 22:21-25; Matthew 22:36-40).

    This week, we shall be examining how Father Abraham walked in the realms of financial fortune. First, we must understand that Abraham was a die-hard, unreserved and unrepentant lover of God. That was why he walked in the realms of financial fortune.  Remember, God speaking through prophet Isaiah said: Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody (Isaiah 51:1-3).

    From the above scripture, “Zion” connotes the church of Christ and that church represents every redeemed child of God. Also the word “Blessed” in the same scripture means to make rich (Proverbs 10:22).

    Therefore, God wants to bless us and make an Eden of our lives as He did unto Abraham. However, we must identify and follow the steps that brought Abraham into that realm before we can walk in same (Hebrew 6:12).

    Therefore, let’s examine the examples of Father Abraham

    • He was a Liberal Soul: For instance, when Abraham saw three men passing in front of his house, he ran after them, invited them to his house and took care of them. Unknowingly, they were angels (Genesis 18:2-8; Proverbs 11:24-25).

    We must understand that we are essentially blessed to be a blessing and the larger our hearts to being a blessing, the larger God blesses us. God will never bless any man beyond his commitment to being a blessing; first to God and then to humanity. Thus, if we love God, we will give liberally towards the cause of His Kingdom and we will be supernaturally blessed in return (Proverbs 28:27; Luke 6:38).

    • He was a Lover of Souls: Abraham pleaded for the rescue of the souls of men and women of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says: the Lord is …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; see also Genesis 18:20-33). This implies that Abraham loved to see souls saved as God does. As a result, Abraham won the love of God because anyone who loves what God loves truly loves Him (John 14:21; 1 John 5:3). Thus, we prove our love for God by obeying His commandments and one of such commandments is to pray for souls to be saved and established in God’s Kingdom (John 15:16

    Abraham’s love of souls endeared him to God’s and as a result, he enjoyed the flow of heaven’s order of financial fortune. The “hotter” our love for God is, the greater the flow of His fortune in our direction (1 Corinthians 2:9).

    • Abraham was blessed of the Lord: In narrating the parable of the rich fool, Jesus said that the rich fool saw Lazarus at the bosom of Abraham. This implies that Abraham’s love for God provoked God’s blessing upon him and that in turn launched Abraham into realms of financial fortune on earth and in heaven (Genesis 14:19, 24:1; Proverbs 10:22).
    • Abraham loved God to the point that he became God’s friend: We must love God and prove it by obeying Him with delight just like Abraham did, and then, we are on our way to the Abrahamic order of financial fortune (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).
    • He was a personal and corporate tither: Abraham paid personal and corporate tithe, and also taught his children to do same. As a result, he walked in the realm of financial fortune (Genesis 14:18-20; Genesis 18:17-19; Genesis 28:20-22). From scriptures, we discover that our tithe, which is ten percent of all our earnings, gifts, etc., belongs to God. This is because everything we have and own was given to us by Him and our tithe is a covenant acknowledgement receipt for God’s blessings, which qualifies us for the next (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10-11).

    All these made Abraham a symbol of generational blessing. Remember, Christ died to connect us with the Abrahamic order of blessings. This makes Abraham our redemptive example for walking in financial fortune (Galatians 3:13-14).

    However, we must walk in the steps of Abraham to partake of his order of financial fortune and the law of love is the guaranteed platform upon which these steps operate. This is because anyone can give without loving, but no one can love without giving. Friend, when we love God by being committed to the promotion and advancement of His Kingdom, we are on our way to realms of financial fortune. Therefore, welcome to your realm of heaven’s order of financial fortune in the name of Jesus!

    Do you have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus? Are you born again? If you aren’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: Breaking Financial Hardship, Understanding Financial Prosperity, Financial Prosperity, Covenant Wealth and The Hidden Covenant of Blessings.

    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

  • ‘Why we believe in living prophets’

    ‘Why we believe in living prophets’

    The Public Affairs Director of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LTDS) in West Africa, Adeshina Olukanni, spoke to NNEKA NWANERI on some of the misconceptions and beliefs of the church.

    What are the defining beliefs of the church?

    We want people to know that we believe in God the eternal father and his son Jesus Christ and then the Holy Ghost. We want people to know that we believe the bible to be the word of God the Old Testament and the New Testament are words of God that can lead people to Christ.

    We also believe that baptism is for the remission of sin, through immersion into water. We want people to know that it is good to be good to all men. We want people to know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind might be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

    We want people to know that men are punished for their old sins and loved for Adams transgression. We want people to know that the precepts of the gospel first are the truth in the lord Jesus Christ and repentance.

    We want people to know that we believe in living prophets, pastors, bishops and the organisation that existed in the primitive church. We people to know that we believe in revelation, we believe in speaking in tongues, and all those things.

    Even with all these beliefs, there is still decadence across the country, what could be responsible for that? 

    LTDS teaches men correct principles that govern the society. However men govern themselves; the church cannot force anybody to be obedient and you know that there is a personal view about the church and the people.

    On a general note and in most cases, churches believe in the Bible and Jesus Christ and we cannot go contrary to the bible of Jesus Christ and the teachings to be good.

    In all these teachings, we can say the church is not a perfect code of conduct. For example, the Ten Commandments are there to be obeyed means the church is not a monastery for the already righteous people but a hospital for the spiritually sick people and people are not responding to the inoculation of the gospel.

    While some are doing very well, others are not responding at all. But in all, this world is not yet the kingdom of God. This is a world of testing, to see if men will obey.

    All men are students, we are spiritual because of our souls as well as we are temporal because of the body. Anyone who becomes spiritual, kind and effective to the things of God, we will become a blessing to mankind.

    With a lot of churches springing up, what sets the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints apart?

    What sets us apart is our belief in living prophets to have same authority as Peter, Moses John, Ezekiel and others. They have the power as the mouth pieces of God and if you look at their words and their writings you cannot but consider it pure.

    Secondly, we are different because we believe the book of Mormon to be the word of God. Another thing is that the Church is run by Lay Ministries-men who don’t get paid for their services.

  • How to experience real change, by Kumuyi

    Only change birthed by inner transformation will lead Nigeria to the Promised Land, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Ministries, Pastor William Kumuyi, has declared.

    Kumuyi stated that the clamour for change was a welcome development but said it might be a mirage except it is complimented on inner transformation.

    He spoke to reporters ahead of a state-wide crusade in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos State.

    The holiness preacher, who was represented by the Deeper Life Bible Church Moderator Lagos, Pastor Joseph Fasanmi, said the crusade which commences on Tuesday will hold for the next two months.

    He said: “The crusade will hold at Ikeja, Ketu, Gbagada, Festac, Isolo, Agege, Alimosho, Oshodi, Orile, Ajegunle, Surulere, Apapa, Lagos Island and Shomolu.”

    He assured the crusade will usher in an era of real spiritual, moral, physical, material, political and economic transformation.

    According to him: “The crusade will also bring down the power of God with a view to ameliorating the rather punishing challenges many contend with.”

    Kumuyi added: “Our conviction is that as we pray and hold the crusades, real and enduring change will come.

    “We have the firm assurance of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that Lagos State will soon experience an atmosphere of calmness, true freedom and liberty as God confirms His word with signs and wonders.”

  • Church lifts community with free medicals

    NO fewer than 300 Lagosians have benefited from the free medical outreach of the Kingdom Light Ministries (KLM) last weekend at its premises in Ikotun.

    The beneficiaries came from the church’s host community of Ikotun, Idimu, Iyana Ipaja and faraway Ikorodu, among others, according to the Secretary of the church’s Kingdom Care group, Tunde Kolawole.

    Beneficiaries received free medical counselling, screening, treatment, pairs of glasses and drugs.

    Kolawole said the medicare programme was in its seventh edition.

    Founder/Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor Samson Makinde, was excited that the programme was well attended.

    Justifying its importance, he said the church embarked on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) to satisfy the yearnings of those whose faith could not enable them enjoy divine healing.

    Makinwa said: “This is the last free medicare for the year. The next one comes up early next year.  But at the end of the year, we will give out free end of the year gifts.”

    He listed other areas the church’s Kingdom Care made impressive performances in the past as sponsorship of 10 pupils in primary and secondary schools, sinking of boreholes in its host community, provision of street lights, grading of roads and cleaning of markets.

     

  • Diseased and dead church

    A dead church is a religious order, a sect, formal, lifeless and deeply religious people but spiritually blind and dead to the things of the Lord.

    A dead church has 80 percent unsaved members, 10 percent inactive members and only 10 percent saved members.

    What are the characteristics of diseased and dead churches?

    • Nominal Leaders: Diseased and dead churches have leaders who are only Christians by name, not by heart. They see the ministry much more as a career than calling by God. They don’t know the Lord or His word.
    • Nominal People: Nominal Christians are found mainly in spiritually dead but highly religious churches. Large numbers of such people are spiritually deaf, blind and of closed heart to the things of eternal life.
    • Biblical Illiteracy: A dead church has high level of ignorance of the word of God. Biblical illiteracy is very high and the devil rubs his hands with glee on their faces.
    • Pamper Sins: Sin is tolerated, celebrated and left untouched in a dead church. In fact, that is why they are dead – in sins and wickedness against the Lord and others. The priests and people are chronic sinners and nobody dare talk about repentance from dead works.
    • Religious Spirit: Rituals and dogmatic beliefs are rife but people are not saved from sin and evil. There is so much singing, dancing, praying, offerings and ceremonies, but devoid of the true worship of God in spirit and truth.
    • Social Gathering: A dead church is a place that people come to show off their latest cars, fashion, hair-do and material blessings. It’s a social gathering devoid of the life and power of God to transform and change people for better.
    • Syncretism: A dead church has additions to the faith of people. They worship man, images and allow syncretism silently to creep in. Rituals, extra-biblical practices, teachings and prophetic acts are allowed.
    • Salvation by Works: A dead church preaches salvation by good deeds and works. You are saved by how much you can give, work and do good deeds. Salvation by faith in Jesus and genuine repentance towards God is not emphasized.
    • Demonic High Places: Demons and devilish agents build up their high places inside diseased and dead churches. They operate freely to kill, maim, ruin and destroy, right inside the church. Nightmares and calamities follow their activities.
    • Leadership Abuses: Of course, diseased and dead churches have abusive leaders over them.
    • Akin-John (akingrow@yahoo.com; www.churchgrowthafrica.org; allroundgrowth.com; 08023000714) is President of International Church Growth Ministries.