The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Engaging the healing power of love!

    God the Healer, wants us to live a healthy life void of sicknesses, diseases, pains, and all harassments of life.

    Recognize that love is the great command that puts us in great command. It is the platform for the fulfillment of all the law and statutes (Romans 13:10). It is also what to do to live an eternal life on earth (Luke 10:24), by implication, abundance of health, vigour, intellect and every good things of life.

    But What Is God’s Love?

    God’s love is a mystery (Ephesians 5:32). There is something in it yet undiscovered. No wonder people run helter-skelter, looking for it and even when they see it, they cannot recognize it because it is a mystery.

    Essentially, this love is not free; it carries a cost. It is not just saying, “I love you Jesus,” but being rooted and grounded in your love for God, unconditionally. It is loving Him as a lifestyle and above all else, including ourselves.

    It also means praising, worshipping and following Him, not for what He does, but for who He is. This love drives us to a point where we are not just dwelling in God, but filled with His fullness (Ephesians 3:17-19).

    Therefore, its effect is unsearchable, beyond any research engaged in world-class institutions. What it delivers surpasses human knowledge and comprehension.

    There Are Two Kinds Of Love:

    •Choice Love: This is limited because it cannot stand the test of time. It becomes weak under the fiercest opposition. Peter for instance, loved Jesus passionately, yet when confronted, his love shook. So, he denied Jesus three times before the crowing of the cock (Matthew 26:31-35).

    •Anointed Love: The anointed love is the Spirit of love that makes us wax stronger under the fiercest oppositions. Though love begins as a choice, it only triumphs when empowered. When Peter changed from the choice love to the realms of anointed love, he exploded like a volcano – he became the rock, immoveable, steadfast and unstoppable (Acts 2:1-4; 24).

    This was also the love under which Paul the Apostle operated. No wonder he said that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). It is indeed the master key to a world of wonders.

    What Is In Love That Heals?

    It is important to know the virtues embedded in God’s love. Until we understand this, we cannot flow at the frequency of the rooted and grounded love of God.

    •Divine visitation (Song of Solomon 5:1-2): It is the lovers’ delight to visit his beloved. In the same way, when we become His anointed lover, we are entitled to His continuous visitations. Each time we are challenged, He will show up to protect preserve, restore, and deliver us (Job 10:12).

    •We are filled with all the fullness of God: When we are filled with all the fullness of God, we will fully be in command of the issues of life. We become carriers of His presence, which is eternally disease, sickness and pain-free.

    •Love is the fulfilment of the law: Love is all it takes to fulfill the law in Deuteronomy 28. When we walk in true, unadulterated, genuine and sincere love, we have fulfilled the law. Having fulfilled them, we escape from the woes of the curses of the law, which include all kinds of sicknesses and diseases (Romans 13:10).

    •We become married to Christ: This means, whatever cannot be found in His flesh cannot be found in us, because we are now one flesh with Christ. Therefore, we are immune to the attacks of sicknesses and diseases. Paul calls this a great mystery (Ephesians 5:23-32).

    •Love is the fountain of revelation (John 15:15): The love of God is the gateway to unlimited flow of revelation, which is the strongest spiritual medication that brings full-scale restoration and beyond that, mysterious rejuvenation (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

    Friend, the power to engage the healing power of love is for those born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Keys To Divine Health and The Healing Balm and Satan Get Lost!

    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., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 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

  • Nigeria’s like mother with no breasts – Osagie

    A former chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State chapter, Bishop Lawrence Osagie, has likened Nigeria to a mother with no breasts.

    The founder and general overseer of Powerline Bible Church told newsmen that “selfishness is one of the major problems in Nigeria.”

    The nation’s wealth, according to him, is being siphoned by the few in power.

    The cleric, however, congratulated the government on the recently rebased Gross Domestic Products (GDP) which made Nigeria to be number one economy in Africa — displacing South Africa from the top spot.

    He said the development is well-deserved. “Being the number one economy in Africa is well-deserved because an ordinary Nigerian on the street is hard-working.”

    Osagie urged the government to take advantage of the current economic status of the country and make the best out of it.

    “The reflection of the economy should be seen on the ordinary man on the street. Government should shift attention on paper qualification and focus on skill acquisition,” he advised.

    Osagie added: “We should address the issue of poverty, security, education and power. Unstable power does not portray us as a serious- minded people.”

    He urged delegates at the national conference to put aside political affiliations and deal with the issues militating against the progress of the country.

    “If we fail to make it this time, there might not be redemption,” he warned.

    Osagie advised Nigerians to vote only credible candidates come 2015.

    According to him: “We should only vote for people we know can perform regardless of our relationship with them. We should use our votes to get the best.

    “We do not need people who will sink us deeper. Do not sell your votes to politicians; don’t sell our votes for a pot of soup.”

  • CLAM’s farm projects to employ 10,000

    The Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) Soteria farm projects in Obafemi Local Government Area of Ogun State will create no fewer than 10,000 jobs for youth, the visioner, Apostle Wole Oladiyun, has assured.

    He spoke during a presentation on the project in Lagos.

    Oladiyun said the farm settlement was conceived to create jobs and provide food to all at reasonable prices.

    He explained: ”Thirty years ago, the Lord gave me a revelation that Nigeria’s wealth has been transferred into the soil through agriculture and mining.

    “Every Nigerian must go into agriculture because there is enormous wealth through agriculture.’’

    The vision, he said, prompted the decision to purchase 500 hectares of land cutting across six villages in Ogunmakin   Sotiyo, Ogun State.

    He noted that proper planning and professionals from different fields of endeavour will bring in interventions and ideas for the sustainability of the project.

    On the work done so far, the cleric said that 50 hectares (124 acres) of the farmland have been fully paid for, adding that effort to crave out another 100 hectares in the second phase is on-going.

    A Soteria farmer, Sola Oluwaleye, said his team has visited Songhai farm in Porto Novo to understudy a functional settlement with the aim of learning their system and techniques of operation.

    He said that six crops such as cassava, yam, tomatoes, plantain, pepper and vegetables have been selected as pilot scheme.

    Professor Adediro Adegeye, an agronomist, commended the initiative, saying the power of development and progress lies in agriculture.

    “With agriculture, we can survive because anywhere grass grows rice will grow.”

  • Nine steps to effective prayer

    A life without effective prayer is a “Doughnut life” – an incomplete life that is devoid of understanding and purpose. Through prayer, communication with God, we know God’s plan for our lives, if not, one begin to go round the mountain without end (Deuteronomy 2:3). That is, a life of repetition without accomplishment. Our discussion today will center on Adoration – step four in the series. This is the next step after you have completely fulfilled the other steps (Thanksgiving, Confession and Supplication). Step Four – Adoration What is Adoration? Adoration means worship. Worship is derived from an old English word “Worthship”. In other words, worship constitutes those actions and attitude that revere and honour the worthiness of the great God of heaven and earth (Nehemiah 8:5-6). Thus, worship is God-centered, not man-centered. Why Adoration? 1. In gratitude for what He has done for us in Christ and through the Holy Spirit. 2. In gratitude for His everlasting love, we are no more strangers or servants but now His adopted son, Abba Father (John 3:16). 3. An acknowledgement that He is our God. 4. Fulfillment of the spirit of promise – the Holy Ghost through His Son. Two key principles govern Christian worship 1. True worship takes place in spirit and in truth (John 4:23) that is, worship must take place according to God’s revelation of Himself in the Son (John 14:6). It involves the human spirit and not just the mind, as well as the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians12:7-12). 2. Believers today ought to desire, seek and expect the norm for the church all elements found in the worship experience of the New Testament. God’s blessings for the worshippers When true worship takes place, God has many blessings in store for His people. He promises the following: 1. To be in their midst (Matthew 18:20) and to sit down and have intimate communion with them (Revelation 3:20). 2. To overshadow His people with His glory (2 Chronicles 7:21)(1 Peter 4:14). 3. To bless His people with an abundance of blessings (Ezekiel 34:26). As you have blessings, you also have hindrances: 1. If worship of God is mere form and lip service and the hearts of God’s people are far from Him, then God does not accept their worship (Matthew 15:7-9). 2. A lifestyle of compromise, sin and immorality. God refused to accept the sacrifices of King Saul because he disobeyed His command (1 Samuel 15:1-23). In summary, to adore God is to worship Him, not in the flesh but in spirit (John 4:23-24), (Philippians 3:3a) to esteem Him above all others. After your confession has been made and your petition presented, enter into a period of divine adoration. Look up to heaven by faith (Psalm 29:2). This intimate worship and adoration can be expressed from your spirit. Thus conveying the deep love you have for Him. Sometime tears roll down your cheeks and you become speechless as you gaze into the supernatural (Luke 17:15-16). Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. Comments and enquiries to: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria. Email at info@rlwm.org.

  • Reflect Christ’s principles – Gudina

    The Senior Pastor of the Ethiopia Evangelical Church, Dr. Tolesa Gudina, has charged Christians worldwide to be committed to reflecting the life and principles of Christ within their immediate communities.

    Gudina gave the charge last Sunday at an inter-denomination Easter Day celebration at the Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Stadium.

    The service attracted thousands of Christians from around Addis-Ababa and featured song rendition, children presentation, bible teaching, prayers and prophetic ministrations.

    Gudina said that the transformation of the world will not only be dependent on government polices and programmes on economy, education or social infrastructure but on the church committed to reproducing the life of Christ in all that they say or do.

    He said that although government has the onerous responsibility of sanitising the society of the various ills plaguing it, “the church has a mission to seek and save all who is lost in sin.”

    Gudina noted that the disciples of Christ in history have changed their society from the quagmire of war, civil unrest, corruption, and other social ills through the power and the life of Jesus.

    He added: “The bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ to worship him with other believers to build up or edify the body of believer, the church and to meet the human needs with the values of love and compassion.”

    He stated that the coming of Jesus Christ is very near and true believer must remain steadfast, faithful and lead holy lives while fulfilling the Great Commission of preaching the gospel.

  • ‘I focus on salvation of souls’

    Saving souls for God should be the major thrust in a serious work of the gospel.

    That was the submission of the presiding Bishop of the Christian Fellowship Group International, Aba, Bishop Donaldson Ogbansiegbe, in a chat with reporters in Lagos last week.

    Ogbansiegbe, who has been preaching for 29 years, said the major assignment of any man of God is to save souls from sin and eventual destruction.

    According to him: “You have to operate under the influence of your calling. Your calling must become your vision, a perception of what God wants you to accomplish.

    “But then, you must have a mission and you must constantly live in the consciousness of that mission for you to make a success. That way, it becomes your strategy’’.

    Ogbansiegbe, who recently launched 17 books, stressed the need for believers to read Christian books to enrich their spiritual knowledge.

    He spoke on the importance of family as the bedrock of a virile society.

    He said he creates quality time for his family and the result has been wonderful.

    According to him, any man of God that cannot control his family is not fit to lead the church.

    Onansiegbe praised the convocation of national conference describing it as an avenue to rub minds and ventilate ideas for the good of the country.

  • ‘I don’t envy any minister or feel pressure at all’

    ‘I don’t envy any minister or feel pressure at all’

    The General Overseer of The Stone Church Ibadan, Pastor Alex Adegboye, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on recent strides in the church as well as challenges in the ministry. Excerpts:

    One sees so many infrastructural developments coming to the church’s environment. It seems the architect in you is finally paying off for the church?

    Maybe but it is always there. Our new auditorium, The Word Alive International Convention centre, was commissioned last year to commemorate our 20th anniversary. I wanted us to have a structure that would the hub of our activities. We have come of age in 20 years and we needed to have some infrastructure in place.

    We also developed our youth church called the Ark because we have so many young people. The Lord said we should reach out to senior teens from 19-22 in Mokola where we are based. We gave them a pastor. We also have the junior church for children; so, we have three churches in one in the last one and half years. We also have the satellite church where we interpret in Yoruba and English.

    How were you able to secure the property for such expansion in the heart of Ibadan?

    I think it is just God. We came here in 1995 and so many people said we would have to relocate because of space constraints and I was looking forward to that. Then, about three years ago, it occurred to me that we should solve our parking problems. We have been parking on the main roads and everywhere on Sundays. Once or twice, they have stolen our cars. During conventions, we used to utilise a space opposite us and I thought why don’t we have a long lease? We got it and said we wanted to buy off. The women said her father asked none of them to sell. So, she gave us a long lease for 15 years. Further down, where the convention centre is, was owned by Chief Bisi Rodipe. He was ready to sell and asked for some millions in six months. Somehow, God saw us through that outright sale.

    So, that is how we were able to take over the whole place and stretch. God has just been grateful to us. I was planning to move out because we constituted a nuisance here. We were in Bodija when we started but ran into troubles because of parking space. The elites there gave us hell and we moved to Mokola. I thought we would move out but realised we don’t have to go after all.

    Why are you and most of your pastors not on full time?

    I think it has to do with how I developed in ministry. I was a deacon in a Baptist church and was teaching Bible Study in the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. We filled up the banquet hall of the Premier Hotel in those days and God blessed the work. That went on for three years. So, I didn’t start out thinking that I had to be a full time pastor to be effective. It was easy for me to do the work because I wasn’t looking for the offering to survive.

    So, when I started the church, I carried the same mentality there. In Full Gospel Fellowship, we were using our money to fund the operations and it was effective. Most of the preachers in Ibadan today came through the fellowship. When I found out that I didn’t have to resign to work for God, I was thrilled. When God spoke to me about starting the church, I didn’t think he meant I should stop working. I knew I could not combine the two effectively though. What I used to do in those days, for the first five years, was to resume 8am in the office in Dugbe and come over to the church office from 12noon. But after five years, I could not cope because practice involves so many meetings and travels.

    Right now, my practice runs without me running it on daily basis. When I get projects, I get people to do them under my name while I only supervise. I attend some very, very important meetings. So, many of the pastors that came came in like that. They felt comfortable and have been working while still pastoring.

    Many feel if you were in Lagos, you would have built a richer, larger and more popular church. Does this bother you?

    Maybe but I am never bothered by those permutations. I came into ministry reluctantly. So, I don’t compare myself or envy anybody. I am very, very comfortable with myself and confident in my person.

    Are you then insulated from the performance pressure that most ministers face?

    Trust me, I am. I don’t feel any pressure to perform anything at all my brother. I don’t feel intimidated or envious of any minister. I feel we are all serving God and running a different race. I cannot be like them and they cannot be like me.

    The day those robbers came to your church. You could have hidden your identity when they were asking for the general overseer. Why did you give up yourself at gun point?

    It was a Sunday and a guy walked up to me after the service. And that is one of my problems; I can be too accessible. He asked to see me and I said he should come later that evening when I would be meeting with some pastors and departmental heads. Looking back, I feel he was one of them. They would still have fished me out and it could have been messier. So, there was no point hiding because they told us to face down.

    Then, they just shot at you…

    No, they took me to our account department, which was then at the basement. They asked me to open the safe, which was there and I said I didn’t have the keys. They said who kept the keys and I said it was the accountant, who was then at home. I mean, it was around 6pm. I said the accountant was home and the guy just got angry and shot at me.

    What ran through your mind after he fired the shot?

    I didn’t feel anything for some moments. I just looked down and saw blood, which convinced me I had been shot. I remember when we were in the university and one Akintunde Ojo was shot in the leg. He bled to death before they could rescue him to Igbobi. So, I felt I was going to die and just sat down. That went on for about forty-five minutes and it started raining heavily. There was so much noise and my people didn’t know what had become of me; they were very afraid. When I realised, I hadn’t died, I crawled to the phone box and called them to come over. That was the last thing I remember. When they got to the hospital, I was paper white.

    Did that incident shake your faith in God?

    No, not in God but it shook my faith in ministry. I doubted if God really called me. I thought if he did, why did that happen? I thought can God call a man and will still face crisis? I had to come around that until sometimes later.

    But what shook me was the crisis later because the wound did not heal until two years. I was in UCH for three months during which I had two operations. I was discharged to go home but the wound had swelled. I was infected by bacteria that I took up in the hospital. I was in a side room and there was no water. The head of the orthopedic department was a member of my church. My brother is a professor in the hospital, so I had the best that UCH could offer then. That best was the infection I took away. I was a big patient and that is why I wonder what would have happened to somebody who knew nobody. It was that wound that took me to England for two years.

    You have seen many messy things in the ministry in the last 21 years. Do some of these things sometimes want you to throw up?

    No, rather I wonder how God copes with all that he knows about his ministers. Knowing those things humbles me the more. My mentor when I was in NYSC, Pa S.G Elton, told us he used to agonise over how some Nigerian ministers lived despite being used of God. One day, he went to God in prayers to complain and God told him: “are they your servants? What is your business?’ Since then, he learnt to keep silent.

    What is the vision behind Higher Dimension, which is the theme for your convention?

    We believe that this ministry has taken roots after over 21 years. So, we want to grow within and without. We want to bear fruits upwards and take roots downwards. We are moving on to the next level in reaching more souls and imparting righteousness.

  • Unveiling the healing mystery in the communion!

    Today is Easter Sunday, a day when Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you celebrate, don’t forget that Christ is the reason for the season. I Wish You A Glorious And Happy Easter!

    For us to enjoy the expertise of any physician, we must understand his prescriptions. Jesus’ prescription is the medium through which He demonstrates His expertise. God said, ‘I will bring you Health and Cure’ this month, but you need a revelation of His prescription to partake of it. As the Bible says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

    Our Lord Jesus Christ once said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life…(John 6:53-56).

    The greatest enemy of the believer is not the devil, but spiritual ignorance, which has its cure in spiritual revelation. Every provision in scriptures is only accessible by revelation. There is a Balm in Gilead and the Great Physician is available, but until we have a revelation of this, our affliction continues (Matthew 12:15).

    What Is His Prescription?

    The Holy Communion is one of the Great Prescriptions of the Great Physician for our total health and dignity. It is a mystery of life transplant as unveiled by the Great Physician Himself in John chapter 6 verses 48-58.

    Jesus is the Bread of Life. It is an anti-death Bread. When we partake of it, whatever is dying or dead in us is completely restored. It is a ‘global Bread,’ with global impact; it works anywhere on earth (John 6:52). When we partake of the Communion in faith, we are empowered to live like Jesus¯sickness-free, sin-free and mentally sound like Him (John 6:57; Galatians 2:20).

    What Is In The Communion That Heals?: The Communion consists of the Flesh and Blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). First, what is in the Flesh?

    •The Rod of God: Jesus is not only the Son of God; He is also the Rod of God (Isaiah 11:1). Jesus is the Rod that came out of the stem of Jesse with the seven Spirits of God upon Him (Revelation 4:5; 5:6). In Exodus 7:10-14, Moses took the Rod of God and went to Egypt. When the Rod was cast down, it became a serpent and swallowed up the rods of the sorcerers and magicians of Egypt.

    So, inside the Flesh is the Rod. When we take it in, it swallows the rods of the magicians (sickness and affliction). Therefore, whenever you take the Communion, imagine yourself taking the Rod, that is, Jesus. As you take it, not one serpent of the magicians, wise men or sorcerers in your body will escape its power.

    •It is a Miracle Meal that neutralizes the poison in your Body: When eaten, every defiled part of our body is restored (2 Kings 4:40-41). The Flesh of Jesus is the Miracle Meal that goes into our ‘biological pot’ (stomach) with its unlimited power and neutralizes every poison there.

    Secondly, What Is In The Blood?

    •The Life of the Flesh: Every disease is traced to the blood, because the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11).

    When we partake of the Blood of Jesus, there is a spiritual blood transfusion that ejects our defiled blood in exchange for His undefiled and incorruptible Blood. Therefore, whatever cannot be traced to His Blood disappears from our body.

    •The Conquering Power of God: When we partake of the Blood of Jesus, every evil spirit waging war against our health is crushed (Revelation 12:11). So, the Blood of Jesus gives us victory and restores our health in a double fashion (Zechariah 9:11-12). The Communion is God’s method for dealing with every sickness of the spirit, soul and body.

    Friend, the power to benefit from the communion, is the preserve of those saved. You get saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Keys To Divine Health and The Healing Balm and Satan Get Lost!

    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., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 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

  • Anglican Dioceses install two archdeacons, canon

    The Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt Revd. Ephraim Ikeakor, has warned Christians against worldliness.

    He spoke at the installation of two archdeacons and one canon to beef up the work force in the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Anambra State.

    Officers installed at the Catheral Church of St Faith, Awka were Arch-Deacon Ven Silas Okwudili Friday Ike and Ven. Ofonakara Chamberlain Uchenna while Revd.  Vincent Chukwuma Nkemdilim was installed as Canon of the church.

    He observed that many Christians attend church service but shield their minds assimilating the word of God which he said, was essential for healthy Christian living.

    While commending the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese , Most Reverend Dr Alex Ibezim, Ikeakor said that even as in the days of Ezikiel 22:23, God was still looking out for a man who would stand on the gap for humanity but expressed regret that such a man was still not available even among the ordained.

    He lamented that Christendom is filled with actors in the guise of preachers, while the pulpit had been turned to acting stage.

    “We are now in noise oriented generation, when people have turned the pulpit to acting stage and the preachers virtually turned into actors.”

    He warned church leaders against financial and other abuses, pointing out that any church leader who uses stolen money to train his children would be incurring a curse on the children.

    The Anglican Bishop of Awka Dioceses, His lordship the Rt Revd Alex Ibezim who installed the new officers advised them to continue to work hard, in order to continue winning souls for God.

    Bishop Ibezim commended them for their dedication in the service of the Lord which prompted their elevation to their new positions.

    Anambra State deputy governor, Mr. Nkem Okeke, extolled the Anglican Church for its co-operation with the government which he said, would result in speedy development of the state.

    He assured Governor Willie Obiano was working hard to deliver on all his election promises.

  • Scripture Union seeks support

    THE Scripture Union (SU) Nigeria Lagos Area is seeking not less than N17million to execute some projects in the year.

    Its travelling secretary, Kingsley Ibekwe, made this known at the group’s Ministers’/Supporters Forum in FESTAC, Lagos.

    He said the association needs a car, funds for training, among others.

    Giving a breakdown of the activities of the group in 2013, he said it opened 12 new school groups, trained 117 student-leaders and had 19 school clubs.

    He added that the SU visited 120 schools and employed six field missionaries.

    In 2014, Ibekwe said the group is targeting the opening of nine school clubs in Badagry, reach 10,000 converts with its devotional and improve the welfare of staff, adding that a car was a sina qua non to its programmes.

    The group’s patron, Rt. Rev Babatunde Adeyemi, sought assistance for the SU, adding that the group plays a major role in the growth of children.

    The guest speaker, Bishop Humphrey Erumaka, who spoke on Purposeful partnership, also solicited help for the group.

    He said the SU should be supported by all Christians, regardless of their denominations.

    Erumaka, who is the founder/general overseer, Wordbase Asembly, said St Paul would have been killed if not for the help he received from fellow Christians.

    He urged Christians to support the SU. He later raised funds for the group.

    The chairman, SU, Lagos Area, Lekan Arigbede, thanked supporters of the group for their assistance in the past, urging them to continue their good work.