Category: Worship

Text: “…..Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die….” – 2 Kings 20:1

By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

Death is an unavoidable contract that everyone had entered into because dust shall return to dust (Hebrew 9:27). Therefore, either claimed or rejected (as many ignorantly do), everyone has an appointment with death, mindless of age, state of health, wealth, political power, anointing or spiritual giftings, except those that are alive at His second coming (Psalms 89:48; cf 1Thess. 4:16-17). Everything that had a beginning must surely come to an end – a new cloth will become a rag, an agile young boy will depreciate to a weak old man, a new vehicle will end in a mechanic’s yard, a new house will become outdated, marriage will become history, certificates shall be useless and the people in power shall be out of office one day (Ecclesiastes 12:3-7; Job 7:1).

After God had assisted the less powerful King Hezekiah of Judah to defeat the more powerful and boastful King Sennacherib of Assyria (2Kings 19:8-13, 35), He sent the highly revered Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah on his sick bed that he should set his house in order because he would surely die. That message made the king distraught hence he turned away from the prophet and cried to God for elongation of his life. God heard his cries and added an additional fifteen years to him (2 Kings 20:2-6). Eventually, (in 2 Kings 20:21), the Bible recorded it that, King Hezekiah died. This is to remind us that there is a time and season for everything, among which is a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2) – you shall return to dust!

Like King Hezekiah, virtually every person, chiefly the economically and politically privileged in our land, are willing to do everything to stay here, and in power, till eternity and continue to enjoy the bliss and comfort of life. It is consequent on this that people with the financial wherewithal expend lots money on first class medicare and some are enslaved to spiritual marabouts, all in their bid to escape death. Despite all their futile efforts geared at running away from death, when the time of death’s visitation comes, it rushes in like a fiery wind and visits its victims mindless of palpable fear, struggles, humongous wealth, privileged position in the society, spiritual standing and the retinue of prayer warriors at their becks and calls (2 Peter 3:10).

One of the messages of today’s Ash Wednesday, which signposts the flag off of a 40 day fasting season, is to remind everyone about the temporality of this world and that “…… dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19) and the expediency of setting our houses in order. This is suffice to say that we shall all return to the starting point of our lives one day- dust! On Ash Wednesday, the palm-fronds from the previous Palm Sunday are burnt and administered on the forehead of every believer as a reminder that nothing lasts forever.

At such a time in our country where there is increasing wide polarity between the rich and the poor, where the dividends of democracy are not evenly distributed, where promises made by people placed in positions of authority are shamefacedly broken, where our words are no longer our bonds, a season of political desperations to assume political office in our country, a time when the world has departed from the waiting room of patience and are now of microwave orientation; a time when we have abandoned the path of diligence at places of assignment and pitched camps with whatever course that will bring in money, power and recognition which have made many to relocate from the pavilion of discipline to the citadel of shameless behavior. We are very unfortunately in a dire time within our space of pervasive wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice and politics without principle.

The Almighty God is calling on all political gladiators to remembrance on this auspicious day even as we prepare for the coming elections that death will come for us one day and that we shall then give account of our stewardship (Haggai 1:5). This presupposes the fact that no matter how long you occupy any position or live in this world, one day will come when you shall give account of the stewardship of your time, talents, money, position and work before the Almighty God (Romans 14:10). It is possible to be ‘smart’ and escape the judgment of the land, pervert justice and buy the right of other people from the Tribunal to the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, but when all ends here and you get ‘there’, there is no retinue of learned silks that can defend you before the Almighty God (Job 9:3). God will give everyone according to his/her works (Rev. 22:12). If you fire arrow to the sky and cover your body with mortar, the king of this world might turn a blind eye or not even see you, but you can be assured that the King who sits in heaven and has the earth as his footstool sees (Isaiah 66:1) – dust you are!

It is therefore instructive to note that nothing will last forever because man shall return to his creator – “dust thou art and to dust thou shall return” (selah!). The only thing that will last till eternity is who you belong to (Christ or self), your good works and how you have used your means to impact positively on the society (Matthew 25:30). This season of fasting is a time for introspection, soberness, re-examination, repentance and change. It is a time for the political cum religious class and leaders to return to God in repentance for their overt and covert acts as well as their schemes and actions; it is a season for everyone to eat the humble pie, close ranks, ask God for mercy and change our ways to the path of righteousness so that God does not remove our candlesticks abruptly and take it off in the middle of our ages (Rev. 2:5).

As you humble yourselves at such a time dear beloved in Christ, as you take your gaze away from the temporality of this world, as you engage more in selfless services to God and humanity, as you remain more resolute on love for one another, as you are more dedicated to charity works, as you continue to live a life of holiness and maintain peace towards all, please be assured that the Almighty God shall continue to bless you and when your time is up here, you shall be acceptable before Him and welcomed with pomp and pageantry to receive your crown of glory, in Jesus’ name

Prayer: Oh Lord, give me grace to live a life that is pleasing to you so that when I see you at last, I shall be accepted by you as a child that has lived well in Jesus’ name.

The General Overseer and Presiding Bishop of the Redeemed Pillar of Fire Ministry, Bishop (Dr.) Adol Paul Obinwaogu has called on Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to partner with  Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in monitoring and providing oversight on churches in order to check the proliferation of churches.

Obinwaogu  who made this declaration said, “The church of today has lost the focus, capacity and standards of God from the beginning. God created light and darkness, and confirmed light good, not darkness. But churches today confirmed darkness as good. Because many ministers of God today are yet to experience the truth of the word of God and have not encountered God to know His standard.”

He said that many parading themselves as pastors cannot rule their home and manage their personal life  much more than other people’s lives. They have not told themselves the truth, how then do you expect them to tell the truth of the word of God when they don’t have what it takes.

“The truth of today’s church is, you can’t expect the mango tree to produce oranges. Truth has departed from churches and no more truth of the word of God in the church. What people honour and celebrate in the church today are lies and earthly material things,” he said.

Still lamenting on the state of today’s churches, Obinwaogu stated that, material things  honoured over the word of God is an indication that many ministers today called themselves, God did not call them, so they establish churches with foundation of lies with purpose to mislead and destroy lives.

“The word of God has been desecrated with self- seeking lies and deceitful messages. Unfortunately, many ministers today are not different from showbiz personalities in appearance and character. So sad, the church of today has disappointed Christ and the word of  God has left the church.

“If Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other blocs will set up a high powered committee or task force with support of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to monitor and oversee those who want to establish a church. This will reduce proliferation of churches and every Dick and Harry becoming a ‘General Overseer’ when they cannot oversee anything.

Speaking on present situation in Nigeria, Obinwaogu said, “The problem of Nigeria are religious leaders, the church Rabbi’s (pastors, and the Muslim Huzzahs, imams and Alfas) who refused to tell the truth to their followers that are in position of authority and power when they are going wrong. “If religious leaders can be truthful and tell the truth to their followers, we will have fewer problems in Nigeria.”

  In his suggestion to solve the present situation, he remarked that, nothing bad is happening to Nigeria, the country is doing well with beautiful weather and her greenland. We only have bad people who are man aging our affairs and resources for their personal selfish and cronies interest instead of the nation and citizens interest. “No matter the situation of the country now, Nigeria remains a great country and giant of Africa,” he declared.

Adding his voice to the 2023 general election, Bishop Adolf said, it is a secret only known to God and can only be determined by Him. But, as people and citizens, let us play our role by getting our PVC and use it right according to our conscience, not according to tribe or religion.

• Says prayers for peaceful poll crucial

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, has warned intending pilgrims against smuggling illicit substances to the Holy land and any other act that will dent the image of Nigeria.

Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations of the commission, Celestine Toruka made this known in a statement recently.

According to the statement, Pam made this known while bidding farewell to about 300 intending pilgrims on Wednesday, February 15 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The intending pilgrims were those from Edo and the Federal Capital Territory with some privately sponsored. They were on their way to Israel and Jordan.

While noting that the batch of intending pilgrims was the 7th and last batch before the general elections, Pam said, “I believe you are going to seal up all the prayers other pilgrims and Nigerians have made for the country,” he said.

He warned them against smuggling illicit substances to the Holy land and any act that would tarnish the image of Nigeria.

“You must avoid anything that will tarnish the image of the country while carrying out your spiritual activities in the Holy land,” he added.

He also urged them to pray for the success of the coming elections and peace in Nigeria.

Pam expressed happiness that pilgrims from other states had returned to Nigeria without any negative incidents after their visit to the Holy Land

“I pray you all returned without any single case of abscondment,” he said.

In his address, Mr. Audu Dabara, Director FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, told the intending pilgrims that the exercise was a pathway to eternity and should expect some challenges. Still, at the end of the spiritual exercise, they would have cause to rejoice.

He urged them to be orderly and keep to all rules and pray fervently for a better nation.

The President of CUMI House of Faith Ministries, Apostle Cliff Buchi Madu spoke to Adeola Ogunlade about the ministry’s first anniversary, adventure to Leprosy Centre, and the role of the church in the coming election

How elated are you as you celebrate your first anniversary?

God has been so good and that is why we are celebrating ‘Exceeding Grace.’ The array of men of God present here makes me happy. I feel so blessed.

What is so unique about GUMI?

GUMI is Jesus himself. GUMI is all about life. Jesus gave back life to a dyeing little child in the book of Mark 5: 41-And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, “Talitha cumi;” which is, being interpreted, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise,” and death departed from that little girl. From that day, Jesus conquered death and gave back life to humanity. Jesus called me into this kind of ministry. Our mission is to give life to the communities and the dying world. We are to rescue the dying world and bring them back to the path of life. GUMI is so unique because we are life-givers. We give back life to a dying soul.

Giving back life is relative; please can you explain a bit more about your mandate to give back life?

GUMI is giving back to life in different ways. We are giving life to the dejected, fatherless, widows, forsaken and downtrodden. We also give back to the lepers. We visited the Leprosy Centre, a colony of lepers which we have been visiting since 1999. We are celebrating one year in the name and not one year in the calling. This is a ministry that has been there for 25 years. Giving life to the lepers and resettling them is one of the major interventions God has led us into.

Many persons infected with leprosy have been neglected and abandoned by society but once they are healed by the word of God or medical attention, some of them through our intervention are resettled back into the community. We give back healing to the sick. Jesus makes the blind to see, and we have by the grace of God made the lame to walk and the sick to recover. We are giving scholarships to indigent students. That is how far we have gone in the last one year.

What drove you into pastoral ministry?

What drove me into ministry was when I received my first encounter in 1999. I was in a retreat, the Lord showed me people who are battered and dejected. He led me to the Leprosy Colony and exactly what I saw during my dream was what I saw at the Colony. I never knew the place existed. It is a calling and a kingdom assignment. It was not something I ever imagined. Looking at me, a youth going to the Leprosy Colony to care for lepers. I stayed there for three to four days. I ate with them. I did all that because it was an encounter and a calling and a mission that God has sent me. I am bound to obey the divine mandate and calling of God upon my life. I am ready to undertake anything for Jesus. I am full of joy as God is using me to transform their lives.

What has ministry taught you?

I have learnt to be humble, meek, gentle, and bring the best character in me. If you don’t have godly character, you will not exemplify all these things. The character in me is what defines me. Ministry has humbled me like that of Jesus. My work is to serve and not people serving me.

Tell us about your background

I did not have much education like other people. I came to gain value when I met Jesus.

My education is to the extent that I can read and write. I can read the Bible and I can hear God speak to me. I have taught professors and they have repented of their sins. I am a teacher of the word of God and the Holy Spirit is my teacher. I came from a family of 12 children and am the only one saved. I was a businessman but when God called me in 1999, I started community crusades 1999.

Was accepting the call of God into full-time ministry easy?

No, it was not, it took me 10 years before I finally abandoned my business.

What are our expectations as the ministry clocks 1 year?

We are committed to more souls and more souls. Rescuing the dying souls, relieving the hopeless, and anchoring on spreading the gospel across the globe.

A lot of people are labouring as recession looms in parts of the world, what ray of hope do we have?

Rachael was involved in labour but she prevailed. Nigeria will prevail and our citizens will prevail if we faint not. In this journey of hard labour, when you enter into the labour room, whether dead or alive, life is in your hands, you have to push until the child’s come out, but if you do not push, you may die in the labour room. Citizens come and push in this election so that our destiny can be retrieved from the hands of the evil doers of this country. God is about to judge this nation and our ceaseless prayers will make it happen.

Should Christians come en mass and vote?

No one, born as a child of God should sit on the fence. Our vote must count. God is depending on us. We are the ones that will make a difference and the church of God will make a difference. The church will redeem us from this quagmire we have found ourselves. The good news is that Nigeria will rise up again come February 25.

Nigeria is a project in the hand of God and when God takes over,  everything will be under his control.

The West Africa Theological Seminary (WAT) Ipaja, Lagos has appointed an associate professor of the New Testament Dr. Daudu Gava as its new provost.

WATS, a non-denominational theological institute, was established in 1989 by Prof. Gary Maxey, an American missionary in Nigeria.

Gava’s appointment is coming eight months after the death of the school’s former provost, Pastor Oluwafemi Martins.

His appointment brings to seven the number of provosts that have served in the institution since its inception.

Gava was presented to the WATS community during a brief but impressive ceremony on Wednesday

Chairman of WATS governing council Dr. Emmanuel Oluwayemi, the Vice Chairman, Dr. Kelvin Tapere, the Director of Administration, Dr. Tosin Awolalu who has been acting since the transition of Pastor Martins and a host of other lecturers and council members were at the presentation ceremony.

Oluwayemi expressed appreciation to God saying  “tough times don’t last but tough people do. Leaders solve problems and see solutions because every problem has a solution. Today, God has answered our prayers because he has given WATS a new provost”.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the new provost stating that “God has sent him at a time like this in history to put WATS on the path of progress.”

According to Oluwayemi: “The arrival of the new provost is timely as the number seven represents perfection.”

He said Gava has been a friend of WATS and also an adjunct faculty member for over ten years. “Indeed, God does his own things in his own way in his own time and the time is now for WATS.”

While presenting Gava to the WATS community, he said, “On this first day of February 2023, the Governing Council Chairman officially unveils Dr. Daudu Gava as the new provost of WATS”

The founder of the school, Prof Maxey who could not attend the event expressed joy at the coming of Dr. Gava.

In a message read on his behalf, he regretted he could not be at the event due to ill health.

He however noted that “WATS has steadfastly passed through eight long months under the interim leadership of Dr. Tosin Awolalu, after the very unwelcome passing away of our beloved provost, Pastor Olufemi Martins

The General Overseer of The Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Pastor Sam Aboyeji, has commended the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) for its commitment toward beaming the light of the gospel through the interpretation of the bible in several languages in Nigeria.

Aboyeji said this at the 14th Founder’s Day Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) held recently at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

The event tagged: ‘Credible Elections: A Desired Paradigm Shift and Pathway to Responsible Governance.’ It had government officials, technocrats, civil rights activists, and clerics, among others.

He said “I can imagine what would have happened if there was no BSN. We would have been operating like the dark ages, the days between Malachi and Mathew in the Bible when God did not speak to man for over 400 years.”

Aboyeji, who was represented by the Secretary of Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Pastor Yomi Oyinloye, said that for over 57 years, the BSN has translated the Bible into several languages.

He cited the scriptures in Matthew 4: 15-16 saying “the people which sat in darkness saw great light; And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up.’

He noted that the spread of the Bible has helped in the development of the nation, ensuring that the word of God is made available to guide, teach, lead, and inspire us.

He added that the event was a time and moment to remember the good works done over the years by the Founders of BSN and to award people who have done excellently well in their work and encourage them to continue to hold forth the banner of Christ

In his words, The President/Chairman of BSN, Bishop Timothy Bawo said for the country to move forward, Nigerians should elevate God as the ultimate guide.

The General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, BSN, Pastor Sanusi said that Nigeria has over 500 languages and BSN can only boast of 27 languages, while translation/revision is ongoing in 10 others, adding that a lot still needed to be done to ensure that every language has its own unique Bible.

He said “if every church picks a language for translation, in a matter of a decade, we would have interpreted the Bible into all the languages spoken in Nigeria”

The Senior Pastor of Appealing Grace Assembly Int’l, Ayobo, Lagos, Akinwale Akinola, in this interview with Adeola Ogunlade, shares his experience of working with God, botched dream of becoming a banker, and experience with five successive National Presidents of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) from the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude to the incumbent PFN national president, Bishop Francis Wale Oke.

What was your growing up like?

I’m from Ekiti State. I studied Banking & Finance at the then-Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University). I graduated with 2.2 points. My ambition was to be a banker, but God didn’t allow me to practice banking. There were prophecies and instructions that I would be a pastor but I initially ran away. Eventually, I surrendered when the Lord showed me that I had no other way than to serve Him.

I was born into an Anglican family. My mother was a strong believer and prayerful person. She was good at evangelism. She would have been a pastor was she in a Pentecostal ministry. Whatever I’m today is her impact on my life in childhood.

How did your mother influence your journey in life?

In those days, I dared not miss church. When I joined the choir she ensured I always robe. Whenever I didn’t participate in the choir ministration it was trouble at home. She was an ardent believer in God. When there was an issue and she was advised to toll the other way she said she would rather prefer the issue persisted or that she died than compromise her firm belief in God.

Can you share with us more about your rebirth encounter?

My youth service year in Katsina State was the turning point. I thank God I didn’t do my youth service in Lagos; otherwise, I would have missed my rebirth encounter because things would have been working too well for me in Lagos for me to know Christ. During my service year, I met some ladies at the Katsina NYSC Orientation Camp. I was a ladies freak back in those days. I did all I could to woo one of the ladies but she was not giving me attention. She said if I wanted to be anything around her then I must attend the Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF). But I never wanted to attend the NCCF. However, one day in August 1991 I followed her to the NCCF. How I met Jesus Christ at the NCCF on that day was a miracle. After the fellowship, I couldn’t remember if it was a lady I followed to the meeting. I couldn’t remember again that we ever met. That was how I gave my life to Christ.

 How will you describe your kind of lifestyle before you encountered Christ?

Before I accepted Christ I was stubborn. In school, I was nicknamed ‘Mentallo.’ Though I was young I was too troublesome and very rascally. I had some humbling experiences as a young boy growing up at home. I felt that humility shouldn’t continue with me in the boarding house at Ekiti Parapo College. Boarding a house in those days was quite tedious. You had seniors that would lord it over you as a junior. I came from a home where we had some level of liberality. So, I felt my liberality was being challenged in the boarding school. Nobody ever lord it over me. You would fetch water and some so-called seniors would use the water. This was quite unpalatable to me, so I was resistant. I was poised to fight my seniors. And that affected my academics. In those days seniors were so powerful. They can fetch you out and give portions of the field to clear. I was troublesome and always ready to fight my seniors. That was my kind of lifestyle before I accepted Christ. But after I accepted Christ I converted my stubbornness to good use for the Lord.

 How will you describe your walk with the Lord over the years from 1994 till now?

My walk with the Lord over the years has been by His grace. In the course of the journey, there were times of challenges, weakness, and temptations. I belong to the generation of people who believe in fatherhood and mentorship. That has helped me. When I fall into temptation I have the grace to walk to my fathers. When we confess our sins we expose Satan. Confession of sin is the best way to defeat Satan from roaring. This has helped me. It’s what is keeping me to date.

 How did you get working as an administrative secretary at the national PFN since 1996?

It was completely divine. As I said earlier my eyes were on banking as a career. After I finished the national youth service job, searching for a job was like a curse. I attended several job interviews, and performed very well but was never given any employment letter. The only job I was close to securing was blocked by a relationship. But one day I was driving when I saw my pastor’s car develop a fault on the road. I picked him up to drive him to where he was going. He asked if I didn’t go to work. I told him I was a job seeker. He asked me if I would love to work at the PFN. I said yes. He then introduced me to the PFN. After my application to the PFN in July 1995 for employment I didn’t get any response from them all through that year.

In January 1996, I decided to do my Master’s at Ado Ekiti. The very day that I was going to Ado Ekiti for my transcripts, the PFN invited me for an interview. I missed the interview but eventually got the PFN job by miracle. So, I started work at the PFN national secretariats on February 6, 1996, during the tenure of the now-late Archbishop Benson Idahosa as the PFN national president. The archbishop boosted my faith in God when he was the PFN president. There was a day he was drinking juice and he tossed some to me. There was another day I was going to his house on okada and he saw me in his car. The car was filled and the Archbishop carried me on his lap. When we got back to the secretariat, he told the PFN to give me a car. That was how I got my first car.

The Founder, Victory Life Bible Church Int’l, Apostle Lawrence Achudume has called on leaders to work for the collective good of the citizenry.

He spoke while hosting the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council on Friday in Abeokuta.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Achudume said politicians, irrespective of their political ideologies, must understand what it takes to be a good leader, how to be one and strife to be.

He urged those in the corridors of power not to use their positions to enrich themselves but to make life better for the poor masses, adding political office holders must positively impact on the society.

According to the cleric until the nation has a set of leaders who are first responsible for the people who voted them into power before thinking about their personal gains, the nation will not get better.

He further argued leaders have no business with religion, stating that some people are using it to divide the nation which is affecting the overall development of every sector.

He also urged Nigerians to vote based on merit and what individual candidate has to offer and not based on a candidate’s religious belief. 

This, he noted, will help the nation to elect credible leaders and not dummies who will use their positions for personal gains.

Chairman of Ogun Council of N.U.J, Comrade Wale Olarenwaju said the visit to the Lead Pastor of  Victory Life Bible Church Int’l was to intimate him about happenings in the  Ogun  NUJ since the new exco came on board. 

Olarenwaju described  Achudume as a friend of men and women of the profession, adding that his support and guidance are needed as one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the state.

About 150 Christians in Adamawa State have been listed for pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.

The 150 who comprise people in the grassroots, at least five from each of the 21 local government areas of the State as well as officials, have been okayed at the state level for the exercise.

Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board, Rev Zidon Love, who disclosed this on Monday, said the final screening of the pilgrims is set for Tuesday, February 7.

Love, who spoke to newsmen at his office in Yola, said officials of the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) will conduct the final screening.

“We have done the documentation at our level. The NCPC will be here on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 to ensure that all documents are as required,” he said.

He added that the NCPC would, after their screening of the intending pilgrims, go on to procure visas for the pilgrims and then fix a date when the pilgrims will depart Nigeria for the holy pilgrimage.

He said the selection for the current pilgrimage was done in such a way as to include people from down the grassroots.

He said, “We’ve done everything to ensure that Adamawa people participate in the current pilgrimage by Nigerians to the holy lands.

“The government has arranged for almost 150 to go, but not in the usual manner. The state government directed that the pilgrims should come from the grassroots. The local government chairmen generated the list of people to go.”