The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Akin-John advises northern churches to close down

    Churches in the troubled northern parts of the country should shut down to avoid the unabated attacks against them, the President of International Church Growth Ministries, Dr Francis Bola Akin-John, has stated.

    He said it is suicidal for churches to continue operating in locations where they are not wanted and subjected to unwarranted attacks.

    According to him, shutting down does not amount to cowardice but simply acting in strict adherence to the Biblical injunction.

    Akin-John spoke last week with reporters ahead of the 20th anniversary of the premier African church growth institute.

    ‘’There is no sense in doing church where you are not wanted. We have suffered too many deaths and destructions already in the north.

    ‘’Churches in that part of the country should just close down. A living dog is better than a dead lion.

    ‘’Even Jesus said when you preach to a community and you are rejected, you should dust your shoes and leave.’’

    He added: ‘’If they kill everyone there, who will remain? Why kill yourself to preach the gospel? I believe the wisest and the most biblical step to take is to leave until there is an opening again.’’

    The church growth consultant pointed out that the blood of a martyr is a seed, noting that in other climes where Christian where killed, the faith experienced leaps in no sooner time.

    To illustrate, he recalled once reading about a community in Algeria where over 400 people saw Jesus in a dream in one night.

    ‘’All of them had the same dream and Jesus appeared to them. They saw him asking them to serve Him. When they woke up, they narrated the same.

    ‘’Without preaching or a missionary, the entire community surrendered to Christ. It was later discovered that one missionary was killed in the same place over 400 years ago.’’

    Churches in the north, he advised, should take a cue from the story and leave to strategise until where there would an opening for mission work.

    He reminded missionaries in the north that the gospel is not by force, saying only God can save people.

    ‘’When an area says they don’t want the gospel, we should leave until God has done His own works for our mission activities.

    ‘’I know we want to save lives but we shouldn’t do it at the expense of our lives. We should leave until calm returns so that Christians are not wiped out,’’ he explained.

  • Ex- commissioner vows to draw closer to God

    The former Rivers Commissioner for Budget and Economic Affair during the Peter Odili-led administration, Sir Ejims Ewukwe, has pledged to improve his relationship with God.

    He made the declaration at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, shortly after his installation as the Knight of Saint Christopher at the Diocese of Evo Anglican Communion Woji Community.

    Ejims noted that the investiture of the knighthood is “for selected members of the church who have been singled out for their outstanding performances in the vineyard of God.”

    The honour, he said, has humbled him to put the best of him in serving humanity and God.

    “Today, the church has honoured me and my wife and others who they think have made enough contribution to the development of the church.

    “I give God all the glory; this means I will intensify my relationship with God as a soldier of Christ,” Ejims stated.

    The Bishop, Rt. Rev Innocent Uchechukwu Ordu, said the knighthood should not be regarded only as a reward for job done but also as a new call for greater responsibility in the church.

  • How to stop Boko Haram by Oritsejafor

    THE president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has called on all Muslims, including religious, traditional and political leaders in the north to counter the destructive ideology of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

    He said only Muslims can come up with a better ideology that will demobilise the one promoted by Boko Haram, which has led to loss of lives and property.

    Oritsejafor gave the charge at the 11th anniversary\prize-giving day and the 6th valedictory service of Stephen Centre International Group of Schools in Ogun State.

    He said that Boko Haram is propelled by a religious ideology and must be countered with a superior ideology through massive awareness by Muslims across the country.

    The CAN’s helmsman noted that Islam is a good religion but lamented that Boko Haram insurgents are painting it in bad light, urging Muslims to redress the development.

    He dismissed the notion that the terror war unleashed by the insurgents was borne out of poverty.

    Boko Haram’s late leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and Farouk Abdulmutalab who attempted blowing up a KLM flight heading to the United States of America in 2009, according to him, were not poor.

    He explained that pumping millions of dollars to the north in an attempt to fight poverty will not stop the rising terror war since it is ideological.

    He said that prayer remains the only way out of the insurgency, stating, “The unwarranted attacks, the destructions of properties, have created distress for every Nigerian.

    “The solution to the insurgency we are facing in the country is for all Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria.”

    The Executive Director of Stephen Centre International Group of Schools, Mr. Isaac Newton-Wusu, stated that the home is for displaced victims of the insurgency in the north.

    No fewer than 424 children orphaned by Boko Haram and 84 others from riots in the north are in the home, he stated.

    “We do not give children away for adoption. We just try to give them hope in everything,” he stated.

  • Summit seeks revival of family values

    The family is a place to mentor real leaders.

    It is the place where a father shows himself as an example to his children, where mothers help the kids to become the leaders they should be.

    This is a picture of a typical home painted at a gathering of hundreds of men and women from across the country during the July edition of Awesome Treasures Summit with the theme where are the real men II?

    The Chief Executive Officer of Gemstone Group, Fela Durotoye; the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Homebase Mortgage Bank, Dr Paul Johnson and the Africa Marketing Director, Family Nutrition at GlaxoSmithKilne, Mr. Lampe Omoleye, among others, spoke at the summit.

    It considered the vital roles of parents in the upbringing and mentoring of their children.

    To the convener, Mrs. Olajumoke Adenowo, the examples parents present their children make a huge difference because children easily relate more with what they see.

    This, she said, has changed because men no longer have a personal walk with God and fail to take up their responsibilities at homes.

    She told fathers: “Your children will become who you are and not what you say.”

    She said men in the country have failed in their duty to bring back the abducted Chibok girls.

    “The Bring BacktheGirls campaign is for all to know that we have not forgotten. Real men protect and are there for their children.

    “Each woman’s child is a Chibok child and we cannot forget. Time or the length of day will not make us forget.

    “The fact that the noise has gone down will not make us forget because we are mothers who do not forget their children,” Adenowo, an architect, said.

    Johnson was of the opinion that couples have been getting married for the wrong reasons, leading to massive divorces.

    Lasting marriages, according to him, are built on friendship, understanding, forgiveness and kindness.

  • Church celebrates at two

    Members of Saint John The Evangelist Anglican Church Akowonjo Lagos will celebrate the second anniversary of the church today.

    The anniversary will also witness the dedication and naming of the church.

    The Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West Anglican Communion, the Rt Reverend James Odedeji, will perform the laying of hands on candidates from the Idimu Archdeaconry during the confirmation service.

    The Vicar, Venerable, Ebenezer Adewole, according to a statement, will also present the newly formed five societies in the church to the Lord Bishop for inauguration.

    The societies are:  the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Apostles of Peace (AoP), Fountain of Hope (FoH) and The Busy Bees (BB).

  • Remain godly, educationist advises students

    The Principal of Christ The Redeemers College, Pastor Antoinette Omo-Osagie, has advised graduating students of the institution to maintain the values and moral standards the school inculcated into them.

    Omo-Osagie, who spoke at the valedictory ceremony of the school last week, noted that the graduating students have been equipped with intellectual, spiritual and physical skills to stand out in the journey of life.

    She described them as assets exceptionally favoured for higher academic attainment.

    “The students have been trained to acquire different vocational and educational skills such that they don’t have to wait for government before they are fully employed,” she stated.

    She explained that the school’s mandate is to provide education of international standard with strong biblical foundation, giving students the basis for holy and useful living in the society.

    She congratulated the parents for investing so much time and money on the children in the last six years.

    The educationist charged them to continue mentoring and encouraging their wards to be steadfast in their faith.

    The Chairman, Board of Governors CRC, Pastor Adebayo Adeyemo, encouraged the students to be hard-working.

    According to him: “To sustain God’s  favour and grace as you step forward in your career, you need to be hardworking through life’s challenges and trusting God to always help you through.”

    He advised them to face life after school with courage and patience while standing for integrity, impeccable character and godly standards.

    One of the graduating students, Ugboduma Oghenetega, said that the school has shaped her life spiritually and academically.

  • Cleric seeks unity against terror

    The General Overseer of Shiloh Word Chapel (aka Faith Nations), Prophet Ikechukwu Samuel, has urged Nigerians to unite against the Boko Haram terror ravaging the nation.

    Samuel, who spoke with reporters in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming third anniversary of the church, appealed to members of the Boko Haram sect to have a change of heart and stop bloodshed to avoid the wrath of God.

    He said: “If members of Boko Haram want to release the Chibok girls, it is a change of heart that will make them do so.

    “Let Nigerians pray because this country is a nation with faith. Every citizen of Nigeria has faith; let us use our own faith, irrespective of our religious beliefs to ask our God to change their hearts.”

    He added: “Boko Haram insurgents are still in the dark because they will still do more and we will keep exchanging. Yet, it will not solve the problem.

    “Let our leaders and every citizen show love. Releasing people in places of evil will in turn increase the problem. It is not the solution; we should kneel down and pray for a change of heart.”

    The church, he assured, has been raising a generation that will change the nation.

  • Experiencing the wonders in God’s word!

    I welcome you to the month of August. It shall be a month of new beginnings for you! Whatever you missed last month, you will, this August, collect them in many folds! This is why the teaching this month is unique- The Wonders in God’s Word!

    Recognize that God’s Word is loaded with wonders. Until your eyes are opened, you cannot access them. No wonder, God’s Word says: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Psalm 119:18). Revelation has the power to change the story of any man supernaturally (Isaiah 60:1-3,8,22).

    God’s Word is pregnant with wonders and this is why all miracles, signs and wonders are direct confirmations of the Word (Mark 16:20).

    But what does it take to Access the Wonders in the Word?

    • One must be born again: Wonders here connote mysteries. But mysteries are God’s secrets behind biblical stories. Everyone can understand the stories of scriptures, but only the redeemed can access the mysteries thereof. The stories are made up of letters, but the mysteries are made up of Spirit and life (Mark 4:11/ John 6: 63).
    • We must be filled with the Holy Ghost: The Holy Ghost is our access to the mysteries in the Word, and we are limited in access without Him. The Holy Spirit brings us into realms of unlimited access to the deep things of God (John 16:12-13; John 14:26; 1Corinthians 2:10).
    • We must be Spiritual: It is one thing to be filled with the Holy Ghost, but it is yet another to be spiritual. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit and still be carnal. For instance, the Corinthians church was not behind in the gifts of the spirit, yet they were carnal. It is therefore important to be spiritual, because a natural man cannot understand the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. The more spiritual we are, the greater our access to the deep things of God  (1Corinthians 1:7; 1Corinthians 3:1-3; 1Corinthians 2:14).
    • We must walk in the Spirit: It is written, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day and I heard…”It takes a man of the spirit to hear from heaven. It is not enough to be born again, filled with the Holy Spirit and be spiritual, we must be men and women that walk in the spirit. This is because God can choose to speak to us at any time. If we are not in the spirit, we are sure to miss His directives and thereby continue with our struggles in life. Therefore, we must mind the associations we keep, because carnal men are sure to corrupt our spirituality (Revelation 1:10; Romans 8:6; 1Corinthians 15:23).
    • We must desire more Revelation: More often than not, when things are not working, it is because our insight is inadequate. As we are all aware, we don’t fail exams because we don’t know anything; we fail because we don’t know enough. However, we know that God hates waste and that is why He only unveils treasures to those who are truly thirsty for revelation. As it is written, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry land.” Revelation answers only to the thirsty; it is therefore our crave to know, that opens the door to revelation – Isaiah 44:3/ 1Corinthians 8:2.
    • We must engage in the study of the Word: We must get addicted to the study of the Word and make it our lifestyle, by feeding on the Word daily in order to stay alive and well. The Bible admonishes that we meditate on the Word day and night; then, we will make our way prosperous and have good success (2Timothy 2:15; Jeremiah 15:16; Joshua 1:8).

    Friend, the power and grace to access the wonders in the Word of God, are the preserve of those who are children of God. Are you a child of God? You become a child of God, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can be God’s child now, if you haven’t been, by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. 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, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again!”

    I will continue with this teaching next week. Exceeding Grace and the Unspeakable Gifts of God are your portion this month!

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: The Force Of Freedom, Walking In Dominion and All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.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

  • Children pray for release of Chibok girls

    Over 100 kids under the auspices of African Children of Peace Club (ACPC) drawn from across Lagos State last weekend interceded for the release of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.

    The prayer marked with the mid-year children‘s intercessory prayer and valedictory service by ACPC, an arm of African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiatives in Egbeda, Lagos

    The session with the theme for the sake of our children we pray featured drama, song rendition and bible recitation, among others.

    One of the children at the intercession, Otimayin Naomi, said the Chibok girls’ abduction has “become a source of concern for us and we believe God that with our prayers, they will be released.”

    She explained: “We are children and we feel the pains, agony and trauma of our friends who have been held captive by the Boko Haram group.

    “We are praying that God will touch their heart and our friends will be released soon.”

    The founding president of APLI, Rev Titus Oyeyemi, said: “Our work is to intercede. Intercession will make the Almighty God, who has the power to release the Chibok girls, to arise.

    “We will ask God not to forget the sighing of these imprisoned girls.”

  • Children pray for release of Chibok girls

    Over 100 kids under the auspices of African Children of Peace Club (ACPC) drawn from across Lagos State last weekend interceded for the release of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.

    The prayer marked with the mid-year children‘s intercessory prayer and valedictory service by ACPC, an arm of African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiatives in Egbeda, Lagos

    The session with the theme for the sake of our children we pray featured drama, song rendition and bible recitation, among others.

    One of the children at the intercession, Otimayin Naomi, said the Chibok girls’ abduction has “become a source of concern for us and we believe God that with our prayers, they will be released.”

    She explained: “We are children and we feel the pains, agony and trauma of our friends who have been held captive by the Boko Haram group.

    “We are praying that God will touch their heart and our friends will be released soon.”

    The founding president of APLI, Rev Titus Oyeyemi, said: “Our work is to intercede. Intercession will make the Almighty God, who has the power to release the Chibok girls, to arise.

    “We will ask God not to forget the sighing of these imprisoned girls.”