The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

How Region 44 of RCCG rocked Ota with Praise Encounter

The days seem over when Easter was observed in absolute solemnity with the suffering and eventual death of Jesus Christ on the cross as the focal point. More and more, the Christian community is seeing Easter not just from the prism of suffering and death but also from the perspective of triumph over sin and the gift of everlasting life.

The foregoing accounts for why Easter period is now for most churches an occasion for social interaction and merrymaking. Hence they have designed various programmes that set Easter apart as an occasion to wine, dine and engage in other forms of social interaction.

For members of the Region 44 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Otta, Ogun State, the means for achieving this is the annual Praise Encounter; a programme that features stage performance by reputable gospel artistes. And this year was no exception with scintillating performances by various artistes who held the gathering at Honda Manufacturing Playing Ground on Idiroko Road, Otta spell-bound with their songs.

The all-night event did not exempt political heavyweights in the state, traditional rulers, youths and lovers of gospel music in general. The open ground was filled to capacity, causing the gathering to spill to the ever-busy Idiroko Road and saddling the security agents with the onerous task of controlling both the crowd and the vehicular movements.

The star performance for the night was delivered by the popular Yoruba gospel artiste, Tope Alabi, who arrested the attention of attendees as well as passers-by with her sonorous voice and mesmerizing dance steps.

Not only did she entertain the crowd, her ministration and altar call drew hundreds of people out to confess their sins and give their lives to Christ.

The songstress expressed her joy at the opportunity to experience another praise encounter with Ota as the new venue.

She said: “I see God making it happen every year. That is why I expect praise encounter and it gives me the opportunity to minister in my own kind of ministration.

“I don’t have a ministry as a church at the moment, but I have small group we gather and pray together and I admonish them.

“I pray and wait till God says something before I leave. When you do these, you will leave with blessings, you will leave with songs and lyrics that people will marvel at what God would do.”

Chuks Uche, the gospel artiste whose electrifying performance ignited the over 10,000 capacity crowd at the open ground of Honda Manufacturing Company, sang most of his songs in Igbo.

Recalling how he became a part of the show, he said: “I was excited when Pastor Godwin Obadan put a call through to me that I was going to perform here in Ota.

“We used to have the programme in Ikorodu (Lagos) before Pastor Obadan was suddenly transferred to Ogun State.”

Uche, who said his expectation for the congregation was for them to receive miracle through his songs, added that his worship song was billed to hit the airwaves on social media on April 12.

The RCCG Region 44 mass choir was not left behind as they performed in colourful Hausa outfit after the Yoruba, Edo, Igbo and Efik groups had taken turns to thril the crowd.

Children groups were also not left out as more than 100 of them mimed to some popular gospel songs.

Adegbite Johnson, Grace D’eulogier, Boiz Olorun, Fomzy Music, Yetunde Are, Minister Chucks, Minister Afolashade and Jenet Praise were also there to entertain the crowd.

The Boiz Olorun, an Apala group, was led by Feranmi Biala, who took out time to talk about his kind of music.

He said: “The genre is Apala, the message is gospel. The Christian community accepted the music from the beginning. We received a very encouraging acceptance from the church.

“The Holy Spirit is my inspirer. My view for the gospel of our Lord Jesus is being communicated in a way that people would want to relate with.

“So, each time I have the opportunity to do that, I just want to go with that scripture that says whatever your hand finds doing, do it with all your heart.

“So, basically, my inspiration is the Holy Spirit.

The Olota of Ota, Prof. Abdulkarim Adeyemi Obalanlege, represented by the Onibudo of Ayetoro Obudo-Otta, Oba (Dr) Adewumi Adeniji Odutala and the Oba-in-Council, in his endorsement of the event, described it as a cleansing of the land.

He said: “We are happy to be associated with this kind of programme. We have witnessed programmes like this, but this is bigger and better.

“In my community, we have one we call festival of praise in Decembers.

“Some people think that we in Ota are fetish idol worshipers, but I am telling you that Ota is a city of God, a city that God loves so much, and we want more of this programme to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.”

Oba Odutala added that the programme should not be a one-off but a regular event, adding that the people in his kingdom and environment would be expecting. He also promised to support its organisers in whatever way he can.

He quoted the Olota as saying that whenever the church of God called on him, he and his chiefs would be ready to answer and support them.

“This is big and beautiful. This is what we want in our community; not secular party. This is giving back praise to the King of Kings. We used to hear about it in other towns. It is now the turn of Ota,” he said to the admiration of the cheering crowd.

The Region 44 pastor in Ota family, Dr Seun Aderibigbe, who described the event as provoking heaven to rain blessings on Ota and Ogun State generally, said: “We underestimate the power of praise. Five kings were silenced against one king (Usa) by the power of praise; just because he raised a praise altar unto God.

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“This is our own way of raising praise unto God and say God, remember our land, remember Ota, remember Ogun, remember Nigeria.”

Aderibigbe, who expressed optimism that Nigeria will bounce back from its current economic travails, added: “This nation shall witness revival, restoration and total victory over all the challenges we are facing at the moment. When praises goes up, blessings come down.

“Pastor Godwin Obadan and I worked together at Ikorodu where we organised praise encounter. As God would have it, we met again in Ota and we then planned to make it better and bigger.”

The preacher at the occasion and continental overseer for Continent 3 (South West, Nigeria & Middle East) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Johnson Funso Odesola, took his message from Luke 18: 35 with the theme: Your time of encounter.

Odesola said that God can make way where there is no way, making reference to Exodus: 14:21. “He (God) can turn Mr Nobody to Mr Somebody. In Genesis 32:28, He can make doors of supernatural destiny open.

“How do I know? You have to be sensitive to the move of encounter, cry out for help (Jeremiah 3:33) and surrender to the master (Matt.11 23-30).

“Life is turn by turn. There is always a turn for every environment, every sector, and now is the turn of Ota, because when an encounter comes, the dynamics change, destiny changes and miracles are generated and distributed.

“This is the season that God wants Ota to experience and enjoy the wonders of God.”

One of the organisers and provincial pastor of RCCG Ogun Province 3, Pastor Godwin Obadan promised to bring more artistes in the subsequent editions.

“We have more popular artistes who promised to perform at “Praise Encounter” next year. The challenge of space is manageable and we also have space for cars this year.

“We will intensify on control of the crowd. Our medical team is fantastic. We have more than 10,000 participants here today, mainly youth.

“It is a starting point for Region 44. We have more to come on the next edition. We will prepare for a bigger and more spacious venue here in Ota.

“Participants here today are more than 10,000. Other people were standing outside the ground and across the road. We ensured the safety of people on the road and other places at the ground.

“Praise is what I love, and God is blessing my ministry through songs, music and dance in praising Him (God).

“When I was transferred to Ogun province, I sold the idea to the regional pastor and he immediately welcomed it and we put what you witnessed.

“All the artistes that we invited physically performed.”

The member of the House of Representatives representing Ado Odo/Otta Federal Constituency, Akinosi Olatunji Akinni, described the praise encounter as unprecedented.

“The crowd is unbelievable, and praising God is what this country needs now, I thank God that it is starting in my constituency.

“We shall continue to host it as long as the Redeemed Christian Church of God will continue to bring it here.

“All the support that they want, both from the state and the federal, we shall provide.

“My governor would have loved it so much if he had known that this is the kind of worship we are having here today.

“This year’s is gone, but if you bring it next year, I am certain my governor will be here.”

The lawmaker thanked God and for the programme and the cleansing of the land.

April 7, 2024
‘Harvest of Babies’ rounds off at Grace Nation

The 2024 edition of the ‘Harvest of Babies’ programme by the Grace Nation International Church will round off today with the grand finale tagged: ‘Anointing and celebration’. According to a statement by the church, Dr. Chris Okafor, the church’s founder and senior pastor will be on hand to minister and bless women seeking the fruit of the womb at the church headquarters in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos. This year’s programme tagged: ‘I Must Carry My Baby,’ started Wednesday with would-be mothers, trooping into the church’s brand new, ultra-modern auditorium for the anointing service.

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The Friday edition was held from 8 pm till dawn, while today’s service rounds off the series. Okafor, while stating that the last four days had been wonderful, promised a fulfilling experience today for hitherto unfruitful men and women. The annual programme has witnessed great testimonies from mothers, fathers, and families.

April 7, 2024
GOMERM holds Covenant Day on Easter Sunday

All roads lead to Ofada on Easter Sunday as God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM) holds its COVENANT DAY special programme at MERCY CAMPGROUND in Ofada, Ogun State by 9am.

The programme, which will bring together delegates from different parts of Nigeria, has as its theme “NEW GARMENT FOR NEW WORLD: BREAKING FREE FROM STRONGHOLDS”.

GOMERM General Overseer, Dr. James Akanbi will be ministering during the programme while celebrated gospel singer, Evangelist Bukola Bekes is Guest Artiste.

According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Communications and Public Relations, Pastor Femi Kolawole, there will be free transportation from different locations in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and other states to the campground which is located on Km. 4 Papa Lanto Road, Off Shagamu-Ibadan Expressway, Ofada, Ogun state.

For the several thousands of people who will attend the service, it was gathered that free feeding arrangements have also been made in the spirit of the Easter celebrations.

“As God’s people, we are set and our faith is strong. We are ready to meet with our faithful and covenant-keeping God of the Commission for a fresh supernatural impartation at this Easter as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and saviour,” Pastor Kolawole said.

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“When Jesus Christ ascended up to heaven, the scriptures make us understand that He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. During the COVENANT DAY programme, we believe that God will give out new garments that will bring forth new world in the lives of people, especially through the prophetic ministration of His anointed prophet and our father in the Lord, Dr. Akanbi,” Kolawole added.

March 30, 2024
“Good Friday” and the Phases of life
- Text:”….Peter remembered ….He had said …. Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice… Peter went out, and wept bitterly”. (Luke 22:61-61)
All the world’s a stage’, according to William Shakespeare, ‘and all men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages”. This gives further credence to the fact that life is surely not only a stage with different actors, but need be added that life is also in stages, acts, scenes and phases. One stage of life dovetails into another; in fact, life is a continuum of stages. In view of the unpredictability of human beings, which is a message of caution to everyone, particularly people who are dancing to the Victory songs of today, is to learn from Jesus Christ’s experience on His way to the cross, that human beings are unpredictable and unreliable, and be mindful of the fact that after the Victory song of today, a hymn of betrayal can follow tomorrow. The only person who can and will never change or betray is the Almighty God (Isaiah 49:15-16). As this year’s 40 days lenten journey is ending tomorrow, it is important to continue to stand with Him who is the author and giver of life, and trust in Him alone; anything to the contrary, is an invitation to disappointments, sadness, high blood pressure and sudden death in the changing scenes of life.

Simon Peter was a man whose life and ministry were interspersed with the good, the bad and the ugly.. The event cascading to his call, as recorded in Luke 5:1-11, brought him out as a man of diligence, selflessness and faith. He obeyed Jesus Christ mindless of toiling all night without catching anything. He cast aside the business failure of the previous night and surrendered his boat and services for the spread of the word of God at the requisition of Jesus Christ. When the time for Jesus’ crucifixion was near, Jesus informed Simon Peter that “….. this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice”. Peter replied Him that “…Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:34-35). True to Simon Peter’s words, few hours later, Judas led the Chief priest and others to arrest Jesus Christ, Peter in a show of courage “…. stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Although he had displayed that act of gallantry, he no sooner thereafter, in the changing scene of life, he became a turncoat and manifested spinelessness. Peter betrayed Jesus thrice to the extent that at a time he denied Him with an oath and at another time he denied he ever knew Jesus Christ cursing and swearing (Matthew 26:72-74). Peter manifested disloyalty to the man who few days ago he joined the multitude to herald into Jerusalem with songs of “Hosannah!” – the world and its stages!

Apostle Paul too, despite being a giant in faith, was once in a very hellacious state that defied human assistance at Asia. There, his travail, as recorded in Acts 19:22-41, was so serious that when the uproar ceased he departed to Macedonia following opposition which arose because of The way (Acts 9:2). In fact, there was a man called Demetrius, a silversmith, who was making shrines for Artemis and was losing business because of the Way (Acts 16:16, 19). Demetrius ganged up with other workers of similar occupation and they raised up great animosity against Paul. He was in a quagmire between who to follow – himself, loyalists, friends or God. He was helpless and hopeless but he “…. had the sentence of death …. not to trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2Corinthians 1:9). Paul sentenced himself in that changed phase of life to the fact that no matter what, he would not trust in himself or his ability or anyone but to repose his trust in God who alone has the power to raise from the dead.

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It is unfortunate that many people in the world today have faith or trust in ephemeral beings, things and positions – that are here today and not there tomorrow. In order to stay afloat in this world and be able to steer the affairs of life to where God desires to take you to, you must eschew the attitudinal traits of the Israelites who “…… committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). You must depend absolutely on the leading of the Holy Spirit and avoid putting trust in your education or knowledge (cf Acts 27:9 ff) or depend on any man because human beings alter their stands and positions at frequent will (Jeremiah 17:5-6; Micah 7:5-6). No matter how sound or seemingly dependable a medical practitioner is for instance, Doctors have their limits (Mark 5:25-34). Even parents are not omnipotent and can fail (Isaiah 49:15-16).

It doesn’t matter what you may be passing through now, hold tightly to Jesus Christ and remember that after the suffering of the Good Friday and/or the seeming silence of the Father on Good Saturday, there shall come the Supernatural intervention of the Father on Easter Sunday. Dear beloved, in whatever dire situation you may be in today, as you put your trust in God, I join my faith with yours that He would send help to you and raise you ‘from the dead’, to the community of the living. You shall rise again! You shall be lifted and you shall be celebrated in the name of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank you for this year’ Lenten season that is ending, Lord give me grace to continually depend on you in this uncertain world and times, in Jesus’ name
March 29, 2024
Why there is synergy between Afrobeat, gospel music, by singer Oluwatoke

Afrobeat and gospel music share a profound synergy, as articulated by Jeremiah John Oluwatoke, a Gospel Afrobeat singer and the creative director of the Jeremiah Music Company (JMC).

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Oluwatoke emphasized how these genres intertwine harmoniously, blending rhythms and melodies to create a compelling musical experience that transcends boundaries and resonates with audiences globally.

Drawing from common historical and cultural roots, Oluwatoke highlighted how Afrobeat and gospel music weave together to form a rich tapestry of sound, celebrating both cultural heritage and spiritual expression.

He said: “Afrobeats, with its fusion of African rhythms, hip-hop, and dancehall, is a vibrant and dynamic genre that has drawn inspiration from various musical traditions.

“Similarly, gospel music has a rich history rooted in African-American spirituals and hymns, which have influenced generations of musicians across different genres.

Both genres have evolved and continue to influence each other, creating a unique blend of sounds and styles.

“As the creative director, Oluwatoke leads a powerhouse of creativity, boasting music studios and offering services ranging from jingles and adverts production to live band performances, event planning, coordination, and styling.

With a passion for delivering soul-stirring music, Oluwatoke’s journey into the music industry was inspired by childhood experiences of singing in family devotions, leading him to master various musical instruments and pursue formal music education.

Specializing in gospel Afrobeat, Oluwatoke’s musical repertoire spans genres including R&B, rock, Christian music, Nigerian traditional music, soul, disco, reggae, salsa, and more, catering to diverse audience preferences.

Currently, Oluwatoke is gearing up for a live recording concert scheduled for April 28, in Lagos, with anticipation for support from industry giants and friends.

Turning the spotlight to gospel music in Nigeria, Oluwatoke highlights its role as a source of economic empowerment for musicians, leveraging digital platforms to reach wider audiences and monetize their craft.

Expounding on the synergy between Afrobeat and gospel music, Oluwatoke underscores their shared history and influence, creating a unique blend of sounds and styles that transcend cultural boundaries.

When asked about collaborations, Oluwatoke expresses interest in working with Justin Bieber on future projects, while also acknowledging the wealth of talent within the Nigerian music industry

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As a solo artist, Oluwatoke believes in championing his vision while surrounding himself with a dedicated team to execute premium music experiences.

Looking back on past achievements, Oluwatoke reminisces about the success of his anthem “Momajojo” and the impactful charity event “OMPP – One-love Mega Praise Party,” aimed at giving back to the community.

With his unwavering dedication to creating uplifting music and spreading positivity, Jeremiah John Oluwatoke continues to leave an indelible mark on the Nigerian music landscape, bridging genres and inspiring audiences with his soulful melodies and infectious rhythms.

March 28, 2024
Experts task Church on mentorship, discipleship for content creators

The need for the church to be intentional in mentorship and discipleship of content creators so that their works can glorify God came to the fore at the maiden edition of Creators Nexus held recently at DayStar Christian Centre in Lagos.

Creators Nexus is a special gathering designed to bring creatives, influencers, and content creators together for a day of networking, collaboration, and connection.

It featured panel sessions, word rendition, interactive sessions, and prophetic impartation.

Speaking at the event, Nigerian comedian, and on-air personality, Woli Arole said that the need for the church to arise and mentor today’s creatives is imperative to avoid losing new and emerging creatives to the world.

He said: “We have a wide margin of youths and creativity is the language they speak. We need to resonate with them, and engage and mentor them so their content will glorify God.

“We need more kingdom influencers. We need more good, ethical, reasonable, and sensible content. There is a lot of energy among our youths that we need to channel it right.”

Arole, who started his craft over a decade ago, said that his desire as a young man was to be the light in his generation, adding that he was very intentional and got mentored by revered men of God which helped him to toe the path of grace and godliness.

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On his part, an Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Ayorinde Adebello stressed that the church must acknowledge the fact that creativity is not just a gift but a ministry, adding, “The church should create a department, ministry, or a platform within the body of Christ so that we can give the youths a voice and they can be heard.”

He noted that the creatives can pass the message of their gifting in a way that pastors may not be able to.

Earlier, in his words, the Resident Pastor of Celebration Church International, Ibadan, Pastor Tomiwa Immanuel said that the creatives need a hold on discipleship in a local assembly so that they don’t stray and find themselves with a strange form of inspiration that brings strange kinds of content.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Partner/CEO of SwiftThink Limited called for effective collaboration among players in the creative industry so that they can forge a formidable force for greater impact.

He cautioned Christian Creatives against using their skills for entertainment, saying that their gifts were given to them by God and thus, they must use them to glorify his name at all times,

In her opening speech, the Convener of Nexus Conference, Moromoluwatiketike Abolaji, said creators Nexus aims to create a space where like-minded individuals gather to share ideas, exchange experiences, and forge meaningful connections.

“We are building a community of strong Christians and reminding each other that we are not alone in this race but we can lean on each other shoulders. Distraction is one of my biggest concerns and is a burden I share and we have to address it”, Abolaji said.

She added that the church remains a safe space for the creatives, noting that the church should encourage creatives, support them with funds, and pray for them every time.

She charged the creatives to belong to a local church, serve there, and stay focused on the God-given mandate for their lives.

March 26, 2024
Activating your possibilities with Faith
- Text: Mark 6:5, 6 He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and healed them. He was amazed at their lack of faith
Where faith is unavailable, supernatural experience is an illusion. Things will follow a natural course of action unless faith is employed to transit to the realm of the supernatural. Your link from perception or expectation to reality is faith. Faith is the bridge that connects with awesome testimonies. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. (Hebrews 11:1). In the preceding chapter of the text, Jesus had an encounter with a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. The woman had visited physicians and spent all she had but her situation grew worse. When the woman heard that Jesus was in the town, she made up her mind that if she could touch the hem of His garment that she would be healed. The stinking woman was undaunted by the insults from crowd. She endured their pushing, insults and beatings in her bid to wade through the crowd. Eventually, she got to where Jesus was, touched His garment, her faith made her whole and the issue of blood stopped instantly. As Jesus was going to the house of Jarius to heal his sick daughter, news came that she was dead. Jesus considered the unwavering faith of Jairus. He went to the room where the dead girl was laid, He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha Koum meaning Arise and walk. The moment He said that, the dead girl rose up.

In the passage of our text, Jesus came to Nazareth His place of birth. His people had faith that Jesus was the son Mary. They confirmed that He had male and female siblings. Besides that, His professional calling was not in doubt as they confirmed that He was a carpenter. That was however where their faith stopped. The people didn’t have faith that He was the Son of God and doubted that He was capable of healing their diseases which made it impossible for Jesus to perform any miracle there. Jesus Christ said that all things are possible to him who believes. Faith is the changer of fate. When you have faith, your fate changes. It is not the volume of your prayers that determines answers to your prayers, it is the volume of your faith (Mark 9:23).

It is faith that has the capacity to lead you to Grace.You can’t enter into His grace without faith. When He leads you to His Grace, disgrace is disgraced, you are elevated beyond your level of competence and the testimonies of other people will be forced to bow to your testimonies. Romans 5:2 says that, By whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. Faith is the purveyor of good economic, physical and spiritual reports. Faith gives a good report (Hebrews 11:39). As the Lord lives, you shall be the next to testify to a good report in the name of Jesus.

Not only that, Faith delivers from sicknesses, bad habits and it sets free from drug addiction etc. Through faith, the captives of the mighty are set free, embargoes are lifted, stones are rolled away and whatever is classified as dead is brought back to life. In faith, wedding bells begin to toll, doors of naming ceremonies are opened and there are occupational breakthroughs (Galatians 3:23-25). Faith removes all the mountains of life (Matthew 17:20). A mountain is whatever challenge that had been around you and not moving, causing you to fear, blocking your sight and elongating challenges endlessly. Paul told the Corinthian that, “So we’re not giving up How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever”. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

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When you have faith, nothing can obstruct or hinder you in life. “For by faith ye stand”. (2 Corinthians 1:24b). The challenges of this world shall bow to you because faith will make you to dwell in God’s secret place and you shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. It therefore doesn’t matter what is happening around you space, within your family, at your place of engagement or in Nigeria, please maintain an unwavering faith in God for a better tomorrow, be committed to unyielding faith in His capacity to turn things around and it shall end in celebrations. The God of faith is the God of all flesh and there is nothing too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27) but what activates His power to turn things around is your unwavering, stubborn and determined faith In Mark 9:23, He said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to Him that believes”.

From this moment dear beloved, please stop seeing impossibilities in your life, stop seeing irreconcilable differences your marriage, stop seeing hopelessness in your health and stop seeing doom concerning the economy and security of Nigeria. Nigeria is going to change for the best. All that are looking down on you today shall begin to look up to you from tomorrow. Power is going to change hands from man to God. To activate faith and make it to work great things in your space, you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ by accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour and you must devote more time to knowing Him through His Word (Joshua 1:8). You must be deliberate to know His mind concerning the issues of life. Don’t give up no matter what. Declare what is written in His word as against what you are seeing. God has promised never to leave or forsake you no matter what. Weeping may endure for a moment but joy comes in the morning.

Prayer: Father Lord, please increase my faith and open the gateway to my full restoration in the name of Jesus Christ
March 26, 2024
Cleric seeks support for less privileged, downtrodden Nigerians

A cleric Prophet Sam Olu-Alo has urged well- meaning Nigerians to assist less privileged and downtrodden in society to cushion effect of current economic hardship.

Alo, who is the planter of Christ Apostolic Church, Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, said helping the poor at this present time will not only ensure that they have something to eat but also reduce criminal acts to the barest minimum in society.

Speaking after presenting 200 bags of rice to people of Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Alo, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Ayodeji Ogunbusuyi, said the gesture was borne out of his love for humanity considering the economic challenges facing the people.

Communities that benefited include: Ido Ekiti, Ifaki-Ekiti, Ayetoro-Ekiti, Osi -Ekiti, Usi -Ekiti, Ilogbo-Ekiti, Aye-Ekiti, Orin-Ekiti, Igbole-Ekiti, Ifisin -Ekiti Oke Ora-Ekiti, Odo-Ora-Ekiti, Ilogun-Ekiti, Temidire-Ekiti, Alo Family in Ido-Ekiti, Ado Church, Akure Church, Ogombo Church, Ikotun Church, Widows Abeokuta Church, kings and mosques.

He said “Prophet Olu Alo has deemed it fit to assist the less privileged and the downtrodden in the society, especially at the grassroots. He instructed us to get some bags of rice and distribute it to the people in all towns and communities in the Ido-Osi local government area of Ekiti state.

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“Distribution of the food item which started on yesterday will be for the less privileged in the local government, to the traditional rulers, Muslims to assist them during the ongoing Ramadan fast period. Widows and the aged in the communities have also been listed as beneficiaries.

“At this time when the economic situation is biting hard on the people and the people are finding it difficult to feed, I am imploring the well-to-do Nigerians whom God has blessed to come to the aid of their people.

“We have many people in the society that could not feed themselves and their families, it is this period that one can give out of what God has given to you to assist them. In doing that, the society will be better and the rate of crime will be minimised.”

While commending the cleric for the gesture, the Olojudo of Ido Faboro-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, lauded Alo for his intervention.

Oba Ilori-Faboro, who is the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, said: “I am very grateful because he remembers home, of course, he remembers home all the time because this is not the first time, he always sends things home.

“Everybody, all the chiefs in town, the widows, the less privileged. He pays indigent students school fees, and during festive periods he gives out clothes, food items, and empowerment for the artisans with working equipment. For the youths, he encourages them and has been so supportive to the town This is a trademark.”

While describing the man of God as a beacon of light in the community, he said the gesture was worthy of emulation.

According to him: “Every well-meaning Nigerians should remember the the less privileged at this moment. We don’t ask him for anything but he does all of these out of his free will.

“So Prophet Olu Alo is God sent to this generation and I can only pray that God will continue to increase his fortunes, lift up his ministry, empower him to do more, and bless him with long life and prosperity.”

March 22, 2024
Fufeyin holds Prophetic Academy in Delta

Founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM), Effurun, Delta State, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, has concluded arrangements for Prophetic Academy expected to gather Christians from across the country and beyond.

The man of God has set the balls rolling with prophecies with colours, shapes and inscriptions on clothes and shoes.

“If Daniel can interpret write-ups, prophets can also say they have been called in order to interpret write-ups. Anything you are putting on, there is a language they are speaking. I want you to understand the language,” he stated on why people must pay attention to what they see ans wear.

Read Also: Prophet Fufeyin offers Mohbad’s son N10m scholarship

He cautioned that people should be careful with what they put on, categorizing white as a blessing.

The Prophetic Academy holds from April 6—8 at the Church premises in Delta state.

It will serve as an opportunity for those in bondage to be set loose and those in affliction to breathe the air of succour.

The church assured there would be turnaround in marriage, business, academics and life generallly.

March 22, 2024
Essentials of an Effective fasting

Text: “….. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove… this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17:20-21)

One of the maladies of the Christian faith is with regards to fasting, which is now being pervasively bandied in the body of Christ, as a mantra for resolution of problems or challenges. It is nowadays very common for certain people in the body of Christ to be hasty to recommend fasting to anyone with an untoward issue of life. It has also been observed that the spiritual ego of some church members is highly lifted when days of fasting are declared to by their leaders to either climax an outgoing year or to herald the birth of a new year. There is obviously no gainsaying the fact that fasting has the endorsement of our Lord Jesus Christ because of its capacity to activate miraculous happenstances and also it’s power to enhance the spiritual growth of believers (Matthew 4:1-17). It is however important to note that the effectiveness of fasting is hinged on the compliance of believers with divinely set order (Matthew 6:16-18). Any fasting carried carried with disregard to biblical dictates is a mere hunger strike and unacceptable by God. Isaiah 58:3-5 says that, “Why have you fasted, and you have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed? “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot do as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this fast and a day acceptable to the Lord?”

The pervasive lethargy across the length and breadth of the body of Christ to critically study the Holy Scriptures has led to a gradual erosion of truth. It is this omission that has made believers have their residency with ignorance and falsehood. Paul told Timothy that, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth“ (2 Timothy 2:15). Please be informed that to receive anything from God, full obedience to His order or command is very key (Deut.. 28:1-13 cf 1Sam. 15:1-23). If you want to enjoy marriage as an example, submission to your husband in everything and to love your wife with all you are endowed with are non-negotiable (Ephesians 5:22-28). And, if you want to live long and be prosperous as a child, you must honour your parents (Ephesians 6:2-3) – any deviation from those set patterns is an invitation to crisis!

It is an axiom of our faith that any deviation from God’s set order or demand, which is a prelude to the fulfilment of His pledge, weakens the potency of His promises, because He is a God of order and the Lord of set patterns. It therefore behoves anyone who desires to enjoy the full value of God’s promises to follow very strictly His commandments because His promises are not free – they are predicated on fulfilment of certain terms and obligations. To eat the good of the land for instance is not free; it is grounded on firstly your willingness and then your obedience to His command – any action to the contrary is an invitation to destruction. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:19,20).

Read Also: Seven people who are excluded from fasting during Ramadan

From the passage where we picked our text, a man brought a report to Jesus Christ concerning his son who was a lunatic and would usually fall into fire and water. The man brought his son to His disciples to heal him but all their efforts were in vain. With a word from Jesus Christ, He rebuked the demon and the son was healed instantly. The disciples now asked Jesus Christ why they were unable to heal the boy. Jesus told them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. However, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:20-21).

For your fasting to have an effect on any mountain, and not serve as a sheer religious affair or a merely hunger-strike, for it not be for weight reduction or serve as a means of detoxification, it is imperative to first accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you must ensure that you don’t have sin in your life and you must have also genuinely forgiven all that have erred against you (Is. 1:15-18, 59: 1-3; Matt. 6:12-14). In addition to that, an effective fasting must be complimented with regular prayers, and the prayers must be said in absolute faith in His name and acknowledgment that He has the power to save and deliver, for “..without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). It is after you have done all those that you can be assured of an unhindered access to His throne of grace and mercy, and whatever human, official, spiritual, economic or matrimonial mountain positioned before you shall be lifted up and your life shall advance in the name of Jesus Christ.

Prayers: Oh Lord, help me during this time of lent to do your will, and do not allow me to fast in vain, in Jesus’ name.

March 22, 2024