The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Kumoluyi calls for aggressive evangelism

    Kumoluyi calls for aggressive evangelism

    • Church celebrates at 25 

    The General Overseer of the Word Bible Church Lagos, Prophet Babatunde Kumoluyi, has challenged gospel preachers to become more committed to aggressive evangelism to save the nation.

    He said only the gospel of Christ can deliver the nation from the crutches of terror, crimes and underdevelopment.

    He lamented that many church leaders have neglected their primary calling for survival and materialism, saying they must repent quickly to avert the wrath of God.

    Kumoluyi spoke last week ahead of the 25th anniversary of the church.

    The weeklong celebration, which ends today, featured revivals, crusades and a visit to the orphanage.

    The prophet expressed sadness that Nigeria is not yet fully evangelised despite the presence of many churches,  a development he said was responsible for rising corruption.

    He attributed his survival in the last 25 years of ministry to God and a determination to stay in His will.

    “God is my sustenance. He is all I have but I am also determined to hold on to Him,” he stressed.

    The grand finale today in the church will attract Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; her predecessor, Sarah Sosan, among others.

    There would also be a launch of a biography on Kumoluyi.

  • Northern Christian monarchs brainstorm for peace

    Christian traditional rulers in northern states have vowed to do everything within their powers to endanger peace and foster peaceful coexistence in their domains.

    They said the terror war in the region was lamentable, stating that it requires collective efforts to bring the much-coveted peace back to the north.

    Islamic fundamentalism, they said, was alien to the north and employed by desperate politicians to feather their nests.

    The monarch pledged to intensify prayers and consensus building among their subjects with a view to ushering in peace for socio-economic development.

    These were some of the resolutions last week when the traditional rulers drawn from many parts of the north met in Makurdi, the capital of Benue, for parley organised by the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF).

    Welcoming the royal fathers to the parley, NOSCEF’s chair, Elder Olaiya Phillips, said it was necessary to bring them into the search for peace in their domains because they wield massive influence in the communities.

    He condemned the wanton destruction of lives in the north, saying the situation was becoming unbearable, especially for Christians.

    According to him: “It feels like our faith and patience are tried on a daily basis with each coming day bringing yet more news of violent atrocities being inflicted upon our community.

    “But it is only as a community that we will be able to confront and overcome these trials and challenges.”

    He said it was imperative for the royal fathers to brainstorm and come up with ingenious ways of restoring peace and prosperity to their terror-filled communities.

    Governor Gabriel Suswam said the fact that Christian traditional rulers have woken up to be agents of peace was a welcome development.

    He said their intervention in the search for peace would bring about massive changes and positive development.

    Suswam, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr David Salifu, said the monarchs have to be ready to sacrifice their personal comforts for the collective interests.

    According to him: “Our traditional rulers should think they are comfortable there because when Christians are massacred, they won’t be spared.”

    Rising from a closed-door meeting that lasted for over two hours, the monarchs resolved to return to their domains to preach peace and tolerance.

  • Kumoluyi calls for aggressive evangelism

    The General Overseer of the Word Bible Church Lagos, Prophet Babatunde Kumoluyi, has challenged gospel preachers to become more committed to aggressive evangelism to save the nation.

    He said only the gospel of Christ can deliver the nation from the crutches of terror, crimes and underdevelopment.

    He lamented that many church leaders have neglected their primary calling for survival and materialism, saying they must repent quickly to avert the wrath of God.

    Kumoluyi spoke last week ahead of the 25th anniversary of the church.

    The weeklong celebration, which ends today, featured revivals, crusades and a visit to the orphanage.

    The prophet expressed sadness that Nigeria is not yet fully evangelised despite the presence of many churches,  a development he said was responsible for rising corruption.

    He attributed his survival in the last 25 years of ministry to God and a determination to stay in His will.

    “God is my sustenance. He is all I have but I am also determined to hold on to Him,” he stressed.

    The grand finale today in the church will attract Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; her predecessor, Sarah Sosan, among others.

    There would also be a launch of a biography on Kumoluyi.

  • ‘Only Nigerians can tackle Boko Haram’

    International support against terrorist sect Boko Haram notwithstanding, the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Ota, Ogun State, Dr Taiwo Akinola, has declared that only Nigerians can tackle the insurgents.

    He spoke last week ahead of the annual convention of the church, which begins today.

    The convention ends next Sunday.

    The ministers expected at the convention include: Bishop Olanrewaju Obembe, Bishop Mike Bamidele, Bishop Victor Akilla, Dr. Kunle Adesina, Apostle Tomomewo  and others.

    Akinola said Boko Haram is backed by a malevolent spirit that Nigerians can conquer through prayers.

    He also stated that the negotiations with the terrorists will not work, urging the federal government to deal decisively with them.

    He said: “The federal government must also be very stern in dealing with the group; terrorism in any form is criminal and not justifiable. The carrot method is obviously not working as we just witnessed with the ceasefire that backfires.”

    On the 2015 general elections, Akinola advised Nigerians to be determined to make them free and fair.

    He urged political parties to be sensitive to the needs of people in presenting candidates while urging Nigerians to vote for only credible candidates

  • ‘There’ll still be another confab’

    ‘There’ll still be another confab’

    The Spiritual head of Inri Evangelical Church Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, spoke with Sina Fadare on 2015 elections and sundry issues. Excerpts:  

    Most people handle prophecies with levity. Why is that?

    Maybe people’s experiences about prophecies did not encourage them to take some of what l said serious. A lot of people have seen it as a business and a venture. They talk so that people will fear them and nothing came out of it. I am not in that class.

    A pastor is different from an evangelist or a prophet. Some people are miracle makers. They believe that if they do not perform miracles, they are not men of God. There are a lot of thousands spiritual gifts in the church of God. One person cannot get it all. That is why you have different pastors that handle different things.

    Either they take the message serious or not my concern is that the message has been delivered. Those who take me serious get in touch with me and they offered prayers to avert the possible dangers, only l cannot mention some of their names.

    There is what we call maturity. Prophecies are to warn an individual, corporate body and government of the impending danger and what to do to avert it. When you warn, it does not matter whether you like that person or not. That was how it was in the past. Prophets will go to government, leaders and people in authority to deliver God’s message to them but today people did not take it in good faith. They did not listen to the prophets of God, an indication that they berate God.

    What is next after the last confab?

    I have said it and I will keep saying it and for those who care to listen, there will be another confab. It will happen. Let them hear before the Scotts shouted for joy after independence, I said that the independence would not last and it happened. There is going to be independence in Nigeria.

    I’m not seeing Nigeria as a nation in the next 30 years. And for this reason, we have to pray very well because of this coming confab. There is going to be referendum where we are going to decide if Nigeria should disintegrate or not.

    As I have said, we will have a new confab, which is going to be bigger than that of last time and that confab will determine where the country will go. This confab will be a foundation for Nigeria’s future where all the social injustices that have been neglected in the past will be taken care of.

    What do you see after Boko Haram?

    I said that time that they would not capture Shekau but they would kill him. Either the country believes it or not, he is dead. But Boko Haram is yet to die; the Boko Haram boys are going to re-group themselves outside the country. They might not be Boko Haram but they might be coming up as another terrorist group.

    Our security forces should start working on how they are going to tackle this new terrorist group. Rehabilitate these people or not, it will not end terrorism and government should not have any dialogue with any terrorist because of the Chibok girls.

    Government should stand firm. Those people who empower Boko Haram should be exposed.

    The killing of Shekau is not the end of Boko Haram in Nigeria. There is still going to be counter attacks but the head of the security can make it end. The end may come to terrorism in Nigeria but it may not be now either two or three to four years.

    Do you think the Chibok girls will all come back alive?

    No, not all of them will be released; they are going to see them but not all of them. 10 per cent of them are no more.

    Do you think Nigeria will remain the same after 2015 election?

    2015 is not the end of Nigeria. There will be peace in some areas whereas some areas will experience violence. Nigeria will still remain one entity. 2015 elections will not separate us. But I still foresee separation in the nearest future. There is going to be a lot of troubles in Central Bank of Nigeria. The CBN governor must be very careful so that he will not be misled.

    We have a lot of men of God in the country, yet things are not what they should be. What is wrong?

    Let me correct an impression, not all pastors are prophets. If you are not gifted as a prophet you cannot know what to do if a nation is in crisis. It is different from a spiritualist, who has the source of his power through other means. But a prophet is linked up with God and he delivers His message to whomever he was sent to.

    Did you make prediction so that people will visit your church for solution?

    No, not like that. When you came in, did you see any visitation time? All what we are saying is that if the Lord sends us to the nation, we must deliver the message. I thank God what l will eat till kingdom comes has been provided by God. When He calls you, definitely He will cater for your needs.

    As a prophet of God, you have a covenant with you and he is going to be with you till the end. When you follow God’s instruction, he will surely bless you. What gains will l be looking for? is it national awards? l have them in excesses. My position is higher than the president, therefore l don’t need all these so call awards.

    I have done a lot, not in Nigeria alone, but all over the world. Recently, l received a letter from Buckingham palace. They acknowledged our book of prophesy. I got another one from Israeli government. So, l do not need man’s commendation but that of God and if you are doing His work, you are blessed. I have a house and a vehicle that l can use, what else am l looking for?

  • ‘Bonding is important for marital success’

    ‘Bonding is important for marital success’

    do you know your wife’s lingerie’s sizes? Do you know the name of the primary school she attended and or her grandma’s name?

    If you are not too sure, you can start working on these areas and more so you don’t get caught pants down.

    This and more are some of the lessons picked at the grand finale of the one -week conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Redemption zone, Lagos Province 9, Agege.

    Men, who attended the conference with the ‘the over flowing family’, were charged to build intimacy with their spouses.

    The guest minister, Pastor (Mrs.) Abigail Adarabioyo, said:  “Our husbands must know the mind of God. And when they do, it will take a smart man to carry his wife along by loving her.

    “And this can be achieved through some of these tips we have highlighted above. Women should also not provoke their husbands to anger or disrespect them, either in public or in private.

    “When a couple is in unity of purpose, it will be easy to raise the children, hence an overflowing family.”

    The hostess, Assistant Pastor (Mrs.) Olusegun John, anchored the session where men were told to dress their babies up.

    Turning to the men, most of those who were uncomfortable with the chore, Mrs. John said:  “You can see that it is not easy to dress up for children. So, whenever you feel your wife is taking time and ‘delaying’ you, bear in mind that children must not be mismanaged and your wife is a professional, trying to prevent crises.”

  • Arise Women supports women’s health, others

    Arise Women, City of David, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is screening women for breast and cervical cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes, among others.

    Its convener, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, said the not-for-profit group was established to cater for the physical and spiritual well-being of women.

    Speaking on the Arise Women’s yearly conference, with the theme seasons and reasons, she said women need good health of mind and body as well as empowerment to support the family and make the country a better place.

    “There are answers to all problems in the word of God.

    “These seasons all come to past but the message is that there is for a good future,” she said.

    Iluyomade said women need to be more aware of their body and should take ownership of their health.

    “Coming for checkup is not sinful, rather it is scriptural, natural and needful,” she said.

    She said many women are suffering from high blood pressure because of the harsh economy, adding that they need to bring it down.

  • Group seeks end to leadership crisis in CCC

    To halt the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), a group, known as CCC Unification and Renaissance Mission (CURM), has called on the factional leaders to eschew unhealthy rivalry and engender lasting peace in the church.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Lagos, the General Coordinator of the group, Prophet Pepe Asebiomo, explained that the crisis is one that should be tackled with all sense of seriousness.

    The statement reads in part: “CCC is a worldwide church divinely founded by God through the blood of Jesus Christ and the first and only anointed head of the church was the late Reverend S.B.J Oshoffa.

    “The supreme headquarters of the church is in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin as was established by Oshoffa. All those currently claiming and usurping the rites of pastorship are all impostors and doing so for greed and selfish pecuniary motives.”

    The group emphasised the need for sanity and caution on the part of factional leaders in the church.

    It said:” All anointment and bogus titles conferred on members since the demise of the founder of the church are not in the interest of the church or the spiritual uplift of the members.

    “The whole of Nigeria, Benin Republic and overseas were and still remain constitutionally individual diocese as left by Oshoffa. They can only have diocesan head and are therefore not individually empowered under to appoint a pastor at its head.

    “All necessary ground work towards actualising the already inaugurated “CCC Nigerian Diocese Transitional Elders Council” and proper regulation of documents including constitution, administrative and financial guidelines for the smooth take off, of a new order in CCC should be intensified.

    “It is further resolved that for the time being, all parishes of the church should conserve all money accruing to them for the development of their parishes.”

  • Olorunda Baptist Church celebrates at 50

    •Dedicates new auditorium, bus 

    Members, well-wishers and associates of Olorunda Baptist Church (OBC) Aguda in Lagos were in exuberant mood last week as the church celebrated its 50th anniversary.

    The anniversary coincided with the launching of musical instruments, a coaster bus and dedication of the church auditorium.

    The week-long celebration also featured visits to orphanages, charity homes and free seminars.

    The mood in the new auditorium was ecstatic as guests and members danced to the faithfulness of God.

    The minister-in-charge, Rev. Stephen Afolabi, said God has been more than faithful to the assembly since inception.

    He assured that the church and members will be ushered to greater heights and prosperity.

    The guest speaker, who is also the President, Lagos East Baptist Conference, Rev. (Dr) Emmanuel Awotunde, charged the members of OBC not to relent in their dedication to God.

    He asked them to be faithful in all their dealings because God is about to do new things after the Jubilee celebration.

    Speaking on re-positioning the church for end-time harvest, Awotunde, who took his text Matthew 16:16-19, called on leaders to reposition the church for members to be rooted in the word of God.

    He urged the church to rededicate to soul-winning, transformational leadership and discipleship.

  • Foundation harps on social impact

    25 – year- old Izuchi Samuel, was full of joy as he mounted the podium last Sunday at the quarterly seminar of Awesome Treasures Foundation, a non-governmental organisation  aimed at empowering youths and building transformational leaders.

    11 years ago, he attended the Awesome Youth Summit at the Muson Centre Onikan.

    He was stunned as he listened to the transformations of lives at the event.

    Izuchi narrated: “That Sunday evening at the back of the hall where I sat, I saw another side of life as per wealth, beautiful people, excellence, etc.

    “After the beautiful music and the engaging interactive session, the convener of ATF, Mrs. Olajumoke Adenowo mounted the podium to speak.

    “Her words struck me like an arrow piercing my heart.  That day I made a decision to pursue my purpose and asked God to ensure I made it to the university in spite of my really adverse circumstances. If I made it then I would know there is truly a living God.”

    After Izuchi left Lagos to serve as a houseboy in Onitsha, the message of that day shaped his journey.

    “I reminded God each day of those words and told him to take me to the university if indeed she is His vessel.”

    Izuchi, a graduate of Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is undergoing his National Youth Service Corps in Kokona Local Government of Nasarawa state.

    The vision he conceived that day has become a reality.

    Addressing participants after his testimony, Adenowo pointed out that the church had no choice but to be politically engaged.

    “The church in Nigeria must be relevant to the political, economic and social life of the nation. Nigerians are tired of a church focused only on personal issues and breakthroughs.  There can be no sustainable personal breakthrough on a sinking corporate ship,” she stressed.

    She urged women especially to shake off their apathy about leadership and turn out to vote as when disaster such as wars and plagues strike 75% of those affected are women and youth.

    “Leadership is problem solving. Let’s vote in leaders who can solve our problems,” she pleaded.

    The summit was agog with the melodious songs of sensational gospel music by PMA, Modele and Frank Edwards, which kept the crowd dancing.