The Nation Newspaper

Category: worship

  • Cleric urges Nigerians not to despair

    Cleric urges Nigerians not to despair

    Again, Nigerians have been told not to despair as the present economic challenge being faced in the country is temporary.

    The General Overseer of Seed of Christ Golden Church, Apostle Solomon Mustapha also known as Sebioba expressed confidence that Nigeria would get out of the woods.

    He also maintained that his prophecy that the naira will be strong again, and the dollar would be disgraced, will come to pass, saying he was only voicing what God told him

    He, however, warned that the government and Nigerians in general should not expect that prophets would be the ones to fix the country.

    Mustapha made the comments during an interactive session with newsmen.

    He said he had no apologies concerning the prophecy he made that the dollar would crash against the naira because he only relayed what God told him.

    “The work of the prophet is to declare the word of God. When I said the dollar would crash, I was simply obeying God. The point is that the following day that I made the prophecy, the naira began to gain value and it gained value for about a week before it began to lose value again. So, I wonder why people were picking holes in the prophecy. Prophets are to prophesy not fix exchange rate?”

    He said it is unfair to blame a bad economy on the prophet who says what he hears from God.  “It was what God told me that I shared with the people. Elisha prophesied concerning the situation in Samaria in Bible times and things changed almost immediately. What happened in the time of Elisha was worse than what we are experiencing today. People were eating themselves. If God could do it then, he can do it now”

    Mustapha, however, noted that the prophet can’t play the role of the government. “The role of the prophet is to declare the word of God. It is left for the government to do the needful” He said.

    The cleric who claimed to have been called by God in early 2000 said he does not patronise those in government. “If they want to seek counsel on what to do, we can counsel. But I will not go out of my way to meet government officials. I stay in my lane.”

    The situation in Nigeria according to him calls for concerted efforts on the part of both the government and the people.

    He said, “We should pray. But then, I think we need to begin to change our confession concerning Nigeria. In the US, the slogan is, God bless America. Their dollar has the inscription, in God we trust. But what inscription do we have on our naira?” he asked.

    According to him, “The prophecy of God concerning Nigeria is that the country will be better. And we must also know that prophecies may not happen immediately.”

    He cautioned politicians and government officials against corruption while urging them to stop siphoning the nation’s wealth abroad and gratifying their selfish desires.

    Read Also: ‘Nigerians don’t have any business importing fertilizers’

    He pleaded with young people to begin to think outside of the box if they want to get out of poverty and the frustration in the country.

    “Sometimes I wonder why a university graduate will keep complaining there is no job. If you went to the university to study a course, why must you be looking for a job when you can start something small? The bane of many young people is that they want to start big.”

    He cited the instance of a veterinary doctor he counseled to start rearing chicken after he searched for a job to no avail for four years.

    “The beauty of the story of this young man is that he has become a successful farmer now. He started with just about 10 chickens. His farm is now so big that he now travels in and out of the country. People should learn to start small. Anything you want to do, if you start from the top, you will come down.”

    Citing his example, he said, “I left a five-bedroom flat in Ekiti, Ekiti State to go to Ibadan, Oyo State, to do ministry. God asked me to go to Ibadan. I left the comfort of where I was. My wife and I rented a one-room apartment in Ibadan and we pleaded with the owner of a primary school to allow us to use the place for our church meetings. That was how we started. Today, the ministry has grown.”

    He said the ministry has been involved in many social works and has invested heavily in people’s health.

    “Our ministry sponsors eye operations for about 200 people at every given time. We have a hospital in Abuja where these people are attended to. We house them, give them food for the period they are in the hospital, and sponsor their eye surgeries like the removal of cataracts. We also buy artificial limbs for people who need them.”

  • Elevation church lifts residents with free fuel

    Elevation church lifts residents with free fuel

    As part of the effort towards spreading kindness within its neighbour, The Elevation Church (TEC), Lagos has donated N2,000 vouchers of fuel to 500 cars within the mainland area of Lagos.

    The Resident Pastor of TEC, Bola Adisa mobilized members of the church to distribute the vouchers to residents who showed up at the 10 filling stations within the neighborhood.

    Speaking at the Northwest Filling Station, Pastor Adisa said, “February is a month of love and we have decided to show love and impact our environment positively.”

    Recognizing that the price of fuel had gone up, Adisa said the church decided to go into the community to assist the community. “We decided to spread kindness with the N2, 000 vouchers of fuel with the hope that will help a little cushion the challenges Nigerians face at this time.

    Read Also: Fuel subsidy windfall  

    “We want to encourage other churches to do this within the environment where they belong. One of the major purposes of the church is to show love, and kindness and exemplify it. We encourage more churches to join and keep sharing love everywhere they are”, he said.

    Responding to the kind gesture, a driver, Ibrahim Muhammed said that he was elated at the gesture of the church, saying that no help was small at this time for Nigerians to survive the present economic challenges that the people are going through.

    Also, a businessman, Femi Abiodun who had benefited from the kind gesture of TEC during the COVID-19 pandemic was full of joy about the N2,000 vouchers and said “I am very grateful for this gesture. I came to buy fuel and am getting an additional N2,000 worth of fuel. I appeal to other churches to assist in any form to those in need around them.”

  • ‘Seraph hymns inspirational, invoke God’s presence’

    ‘Seraph hymns inspirational, invoke God’s presence’

    The Founder and Senior Pastor of Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Bible Ministries, Pastor Gideon Oyedepo, has underscored the importance of Seraph hymns, saying the hymns have the power to strengthen, inspire, and lift Christians to higher spiritual ground, as it invokes God’s presence.

    This was as a Special Apostle (Evang.) Babajide Daniel pointed out that the most beautiful aspect of the Seraph Hymns is the fact that it points to Jesus Christ not only as our Saviour, but also as the Leader of the church movement.

    According to him, we can say assuredly that Seraphs hymns are the only church hymns that make it clear that the church, Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) was ordained of God for the salvation of mankind, while the hymns also help us live the gospel by inspiring righteous actions.

    He disclosed this in a lecture, titled: ‘Seraphim Hymns in Contemporary Christian Worship,’” he delivered at the 5th Dickson Adekunle Awode Memorial Lecture, held at the main Cathedral, Divine Blessing Cathedral, C&S Movement Church Worldwide, Alagbado, Lagos.

    The second lecture with the theme: ‘Praying your way through challenges with hymns,’ was also delivered by Rt. Reverend Ayomide Adeniyi, Bishop of the Methodist Diocese of Yewa in Ogun State.

    Read Also: Methodist Church member seeks restoration of hymns’ use in churches

    The annual lecture was instituted in memory of the late Patriarch of the Awode Family, Special Apostle Adekunle Dickson Awode, the Chairman of Victory District, C&S Movement Church, Ikorodu, Lagos by his children, led the Chairman/CEO of Chemstar Group, manufacturer of Finecoat and Shield Paints.

    Oyedepo, explained that the mode of worship in Cherubim and Seraphim has undergone a lot of changes through the coming of the Pentecostal Churches, however, noted that all C&S hymns are relevant to all Christian life as they impact lives and even the life of the new generation.

     “Hymns, psalms, and profound melodies are given by the Holy Spirit,” the cleric stated, adding that the advantages of addressing ourselves in hymns, psalms, and otherworldly melodies empower Christians to have genuine fellowship with God and love Him in Spirit and truth.

    Meanwhile, a Senior Special Apostle in C&S Movement Church, Dr. Remi Awode said the annual memorial lecture in honour of their father, was instituted to interrogate, deliberate, and explore topical issues as they concern Christianity and Christendom.

  • Some gospel artistes depend on drugs to minister – Ojo Ade

    Some gospel artistes depend on drugs to minister – Ojo Ade

    With the deluge of new gospel artistes, new vibes, styles, and beats have been introduced into gospel music. In this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, ace gospel minister and General Overseer of Christ Gift Revival Ministry (OGRM), Evangelist Ojo Ade at the 12th anniversary of The Mantle Prayer Ministry, spoke about the new trend in gospel music and how some gospel artistes, in their bid to trend, and attract the younger generation, perform under the influence of drugs.

    How would you describe The Mantle Prayer Ministry at 12?

    I can see the hand of God moving. The ongoing 5000-sitting cathedral being built on the mountain is a wonder to many. Here, they are not money-conscious or driven by mundane things. God is at work here and the people who are coming here are being saved. We thank God for his servant here. Every year, I see the development that God is doing and I am very happy for this ministry. The set man of this ministry should not be tired. He should continue the good work and never lose focus. God, who is working with the ministry, is still at work.

    Today, lots of people who are into gospel music seem to have prioritised money over God. What can you say to this?

    On gospel music, I do tell people that gospel music is not the problem but the church. When we gave our lives to Christ in the 70s and our lives were not in order with God, nobody would listen to our songs.

    It is also instructive that no gospel minister comes up without the influence of the church. It is the state of the church that determines the kind of artist we see today. I cannot blame the artistes for asking for money. The truth is that when a gospel minister goes and ministers in a church, and the congregants donate huge money to the church, and the artistes are there watching, what do you think their reaction would be? Now, inflation is at the top of the roof. I spent #50,000 to minister in a church in Ibadan and because I did not bill them, I was given #50,000, should I fight with them?

     The truth is that the Church is not producing men and women who have genuine salvation but people who are just dramatising their gifts. You can’t give what you don’t ‘have. Someone who is not saved will not value the things of the spirit. You find some gospel musical singing about hell and they are drumming and dancing. They don’t know what they are saying. My songs are inspired by my preaching, counselling, prayers, and studying of the bible. I do not compose songs to please anyone or for commercial value. I am not just a singer but also a minister of God, using music as my channel.

    Are you saying your generation failed to hand over the right gospel to the up-and-coming gospel artistes?

    It is the church that fails. Individual churches are producing artistes. So, gospel artistes are not trained like apprentices. It is where they started. When we started, the qualification for being a worker was genuine salvation that was real and evident, but today, gospel artistes are now wearing earrings, I mean men wearing earrings and some of the source of their inspiration is drugs and they are called gospel singers? In those days, if your salvation was not real, you would not climb the pulpit, but not today, even now the pastor’s spiritual stand is doubtful. It is sad that any songs you want to sing and you do not put some madness into it, will not be accepted. I can’t imagine someone singing songs like Afo pe fo lohun… the way we used to sing it, it will not fly today but when a bit of madness is added, then it will become acceptable.

    The songs we composed then were driven by the spirit of God, if the inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, it will not die. Some of the songs I sang 40 years ago are still in the market, and people are buying them because the word of God is everlasting and it will never be archaic. Songs that are sung to meet with the times will definitely go in no time with the times. Singing with some madness in it will never bring real genuine salvation, but sadly, that is what this generation wants to hear.  So, I went for a programme to minister in songs and as I was ministering, someone was sleeping and they woke him up and he said that he was sleeping because I dulled his spirit; the response they gave him was that it was because he was a child of hell. I know that not everyone likes my genre of songs but those who like it still like it.

    Read Also: What has kept me in gospel music, by Ojo Ade

    How do we go back to the old landmark?

    Unless revival comes, things will not change. The church produced the gospel artistes and when revival comes to the church, the songs will go back to where it belongs. Many churches of today don’t even sing hymns. When revival comes, everything will change. Our calling is not for showmanship but to show Christ to the people. It’s not a money-making project. If you truly follow God, He has a plan for your prosperity. There is nothing you do for God that He will not reward you. The problem is that most gospel musicians and ministers of God are in a hurry. They can’t wait for God’s timing to be blessed; they want it now, which is against the principle and character of God. God is a God of time for all His purposes.

    Nigeria’s economy is a bit challenging right now, what is your word of hope and succor?

    God is angry with Nigeria and we are just blaming those in authority. I produced a record recently and I said that with the state of things in Nigeria now, even if Chief Obafemi Awolowo comes back; he will not do it well. Nobody comes to power and will not want to make things better. God is angry with Nigeria.

    I sang a song many years ago saying, who will deliver if God does not in Nigeria? Is it the military or civilian administration, no one can do without God. Unless, we go back to God for him to give us rest on every side, until then nothing will change.

    CEFA is more valued than the naira. There is no problem in any town that God does not know about. Let us go back to God. If we desire to come back to God, it will not take God much time to intervene in our situation as he did in the days in Samara when they needed help in the scripture.

    Who are those troubling Nigeria? They include traditional rulers, politicians, and pastors who have replaced the call of God upon their lives for filthy lucre. It is not Tinubu. Those who have come before him, do we say they did not do well? God is using them as a cane to whip us to His own purpose. Let us return back to God, when we do, things will change. The church God would have used is sleeping.

  • It is not over with you, says the Lord!

    It is not over with you, says the Lord!

    Have you gotten to an end of the road financially, politically, physically or matrimonially? Have you lost out in the electioneering process? Is the path before you blocked and there are threats of death from your rear? Does it appear that you are helpless and hopeless? Please be informed that with God, there is no road closed. It is surely not over you. You are going to bounce back. The blocked roads shall soon be opened for you. With Him, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). When He decides to bless anyone, He suspends protocol and changes the red light to green. In Genesis 21:1-5, Doctors and nature confirmed that the 89 years old woman will never have a baby, when God stepped in however, He reversed the laws of nature and turned her menopause to ‘menostart, and she gave birth at age 90 without any complications. It is surely not over with Nigeria and it is definitely not over with you. Roads that were closed before shall be opened by the power of God into an expressway and you shall have an easy passage to your Promised land.

    The Almighty God is the creator of heaven and earth; He is the One that makes a seemingly bad case perfect and “…. by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist”. (Col. 1:16-17). When He decides to visit your life, He would give you a testimony of awe, such that people who knew you before will be amazed at the turnaround of your situation; He would take the weeping of the night time away from you and give you an endless morning of joy (Psalm 30:5); He would orchestrate a circumstance that will compel people assigned to lift you up to overlook your educational gap, to suspend your no experience issue, to close their eyes to your family background, not to remember that you are younger or older, as it played out with Jephtah the Gileadite in Judges 11:1-8 when people that previously rejected him returned to beg him to be their leader.

    In a local community years back, a man made a steamboat which was the first to be constructed in the area. When he was through, he called everyone to come and see ‘what the Lord has done’. The people of the community followed him to the bank of the river, but skeptically and with disdain. In a sarcastic manner, they requested him to put the steamboat to work. With excitement, the innovator puts his hand to ignite the steamboat to get it working. It was very unfortunate that the innovator tried countless times but the steamboat didn’t come on. The community people burst into uncontrollable laughter and started mocking that, “Henry’s steamboat will not start”. The man was undaunted and continued to try while they were all giggling. Suddenly, the engine came on and Henry jumped in with great excitement and was driving the steamboat all over the water. The people were startled, but they refused to give up with their pessimism. So, they changed the level of their mockery to another level and were all chorusing that, “Henry’s steamboat will not stop. Henry made a steamboat that wouldn’t stop”.  Eventually, and in the face of the mockers, Henry brought the boat safely to shore and they now gathered hugging him and saying “Henry has performed a miracle. Wow, Henry is a miracle worker”.

    Read Also: Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    From our text, the Israelites after their deliverance and departure from Egypt were faced with a Red Sea cul-de-sac at their front and death from their former captors was hot on their trail, they complained very bitterly to Moses and were downcast. Moses encouraged them to stand still and see God’s power in action but God told him that they should match on to the Red Sea. And as he stretched forth his rod over the sea, their hopeless situation was turned around. Instantly, the Red Sea parted sideways, the waters piled on their right and left hands such that they could scoop water from their sides and when they got to the other side, the army of Pharaoh got into the same path they followed, the water returned and the soldiers, their chariot-men, their weapon of warfare and their horses were consumed by the sea.

    Are you jobless despite degrees from the university? Is it that you are of marriageable age and their is no suitor? Are you or any of your children trusting God for the fruit of the womb and time is going towards menopause? Is it that you are trusting God for elevation at your place of work or ministry? Is it that people that ought to help you have been turned against you? Please note that God is alive. He is the same yesterday as He is today and shall be forever (Hebrews 13:8). What He did yesterday, He is going to do in your life this season, your cast down shall turn to your lifting up and you shall testify to His goodness. God is going to step into your life. He would send an angel to liberate you from the ‘Herod’s captivity’, all that the captors have taken from you shall be restored with great interest, doors that have been shut shall open unto you of their own accord and the Herods running after your life shall make mistakes that will end their lives in the name of Jesus.

    For you to be qualified as a partaker of His awesome miracle during this time of Lent, you must surrender your life to Jesus Christ, confess your sins to Him, ask for His forgiveness, be determined not to return to sin again, be reconciled with all that have wronged you, live peacefully with all men, put on the garb of holiness, have faith in Him and pray for a miracle that “eyes have not seen, that ears have not heard and not come to the imagination of men” (1 Cor. 2:9). As He lives, you shall testify of His faithfulness soon and your miracles shall be proclaimed in your tabernacle and heralded for the world to hear about in Jesus’ name.

    Prayer: Oh Lord arise and turn my challenges into testimonies in the name of Jesus Christ

  • Theme You shall return to dust!

    Theme You shall return to dust!

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

    • By 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, when things are very difficult globally, where promises made by people placed in positions of authority are shamefacedly broken, where our words are no longer our bonds, 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.

    Read Also: Emefiele’s $6.2m trial: Buhari’s signature forged, says ex-SGF

    The Almighty God is calling on everyone to remembrance on this auspicious day that we shall 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, 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.

  • Tope Alabi speaks on worship concert, new album

    Tope Alabi speaks on worship concert, new album

    Gospel singer Tope Alabi has spoken on her annual worship session tagged “Praise the Almighty.”

    Alabi talked about the musical concert during a recent session with journalists in Lagos.

    She described the event as a way of giving back to God and a means of appreciating him for His love and care for the past years. 

    According to her: “Praise the Almighty is a programme that was designed by God and it has come to have a life of its own. 

    ‘We are having the 14th edition at the Police College in Lagos on February 18. It is going to be a mind-blowing experience with God.”

    Alabi said the choice of February 18 for the concert is deliberate. 

    According to her: “We needed to look for a time that is not crowded . We needed a free time where we can freely express thanks to God in a formal way. February seems to be that time.  November, December and January are usually busy. We saw that February is always free. That is why we fixed the date in February.”

    Besides, Alabi explained that February is a month of love. ‘ for us as believers our definition of love is the love of Jesus. He is our Valentine. So we are giving love and showing love by separating time to glorify our father in heaven. ‘

    The music icon used the opportunity to shed light on her new album titled ‘Toluwani.’

    She said  it was God that made the album a reality. ‘Normally we don’t release album every year. But this particular album was not something we deliberately set out to do..we had just finished recording a particular track and we were rounding off.

    ‘ In fact we had rounded off. It was my husband who said we should spend time to praise God. Since the camera man was still around we decided to engage him. I quickly went to change my cloth while my husband invited some of our neighbours to join us. That was it. 

    ‘What you see in Toluwani is a product of that spontaneous praise. God manifested Himself greatly as we decided to praise Him.”

    Read Also: Tope Alabi, Mike Abdul, Beejay Sax, others to headline 2024 Alimosho Arise

    She explained further that the 2024 praise night will be a time of refreshing and revival among all participants.

    The theme of the event is ‘revival.’ She added: 

    “Many other gospel artists will join us in praising God. As we do that everything that is dead in our lives will be revived. The heart of all participants will at the end of the event yearn for more of God.”

    Despite the controversies that have trailed her career in the last couple of years, Alabi said she has remained undaunted because “God has been solidly behind me. He has been my staying power.”

  • Church warns against Valentine’s Day abuse

    Church warns against Valentine’s Day abuse

    Ahead of Valentine’s Day celebration, a church, Faith Revivalists Christian Mission (Aladura), Somolu, Lagos has warned Nigerians against abusing the day by indulging in unholy practices.

    Speakers at the church’s 15th Walk in love gave the warning at an interactive session it organised to herald the day. It had as its theme “Owe no man anything but love one another“.

    The speakers, who were drawn from the church’s hierarchy and membership, were Assistant Pastor Olajide Oluga, and Prophet Olu Ajayi. Others were Most Evangelist PeterTaiwo and Senior Evangelist Tosin Adeyanju.

    They said the celebration is not meant for Nigerians to indulge in fornication and adultery as these are sins and are punishable by God. Specifically, they said whoever wants to celebrate it must do so according to God’s principles only.

    Oluga criticised the way Valentine’s Day is celebrated by the youth and some adults, saying that was not what God intended love to be and that what these people practice is lust and anti-God’s teaching. Rather, he said, God commanded parents to teach their children the virtue of real love. Principally, he warned against the love for money in place of love for God, which he said could be found among true Christians.

     “We have to return to God by finding the time to pray and read. Your love for God must not be based on material things. You don’t have to be a millionaire to show love. You don’t allow your love for God to be determined by other things, ” he added.

    He cited King David and some prophets as those who showed true love for God.

    Ajayi urged Nigerians to show love for their country like the Americans who say, “God bless America” and refer to their country as “God’s own country”. He added that there was a need for us to show love to our church who Jesus died. 

    Read Also: Valentine’s Day 2024: NACA advocates safe celebrations, abstinence

    To couples, he said their life is for a short time. So, they should learn to tolerate themselves and allow the marriage to be rancour-free. Disagreements should be quickly settled and learn to be of good character to their children.

    Most Senior Evangelist Oluga tasked Christians with love, saying it is their responsibility to love themselves and their neighbour. 

    To show that they could be loving, he charged Nigerians to always show affection, learn to forgive, respect and honour others. He said where these attributes are missing, then there is no love.

    Adeyanju advised parents too to bring up their children in the way of God. “Don’t indulge them. Read the word of God to them. Teach your children the word of God,” she added.

  • l did not participate in Lagos PFN election, says Kasali

    l did not participate in Lagos PFN election, says Kasali

    The Senior Pastor of Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA) Rev. Yomi Kasali has said he did not participate in the just-concluded election of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter as widely reported.

    Kasali spoke with reporters at his church in Surulere, Lagos. 

    He said he never participated in the election as reported by some online publications.

    “This is a response to an online publication about the just concluded PFN election for Lagos State.

    “The online publication said I participated in that election that took place on Monday February 5th.

    “This news conference is just to state the fact that I did not participate in that election as the online publication stated that my name was on the ballot,” he said.

    Kasali, who said that his name which was on ballot could be either an error or mischievously, added that he chose the latter because of what transpired on Jan. 29.

    “Before the election, I got a call from the South West Vice President  of PFN, His Grace, Archbishop John Osa-Oni.

    “He asked me if I was available to attend the PFN meeting scheduled for Feb. 5.

    “I asked him what for and he said it was an election that my name had been nominated to be the chairman of Lagos state PFN and he will like me to come and participate in an election process.

    “My response after I thought about it was that I was not interested hence, I declined,” he said.

    He added he did not believe in election but consultations for the sacred office because it remains a call to service.

    “The reason why I declined is that it is an election. I did not decline to serve the body of Christ if they will like us to serve, I declined because of the process.

    “This was how everything went until when the election was held and he told them that I declined but why is my name on the ballot.

    “I called Rev Toyin Kehinde to congratulate him but he didn’t pick up, we thereafter exchanged text messages on the same.

    “I am still part of the PFN family and we will do our bit as a church in our little way,” he said.

    The South West Chairman of PFN. Bishop John Osa-Oni, who spoke to The Nation, admitted Kasali declined participation in the election but his name was already on the printed ballot paper. 

    Read Also: PFN president visits Ibadan explosion site, condoles govt, affected residents

    He said he was surprised a private conversation went public. According to him: ”If everybody had kept quiet, it will not have generated any issue. The need for a State PFN Chairman is long overdue.

    “Anyway, we had a situation like this in 1995, Pastor Enoch Adeboye was the National President of PFN and we had an election at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Headquarters in Lagos. Bishop Benson ldahosa was out of the country and then someone nominated Bishop Idahosa and Pastor Adeboye was also nominated. Bishop ldahosa won the election overwhelmingly. We are family,” he said. 

    He added: ”If he had won in a landslide will all these be said? You look at the pros and cons. I am the one and l take responsibility.” 

  • CTPAN re-elects Kristilere as President

    CTPAN re-elects Kristilere as President

    Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), the umbrella body for all private Christian pilgrimage operators in Nigeria, has re-elected, Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere as President for another term of three years. 

    The election of new officers marked the high point of activities during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Tuesday in Lagos. 

    The physical and virtual AGM afforded all members of the association spread across the West, East, North and South of Nigeria the opportunity to fully participate in the meeting.

    Other members of the executive committee elected with Kristilere the CEO of Oasis of Faith Intercontinental Ltd are Dns Mopelola Oluokun (Beulah Travels) as Vice President; Pastor Olajumoke Adeniyi (Pasture Travels) as General Secretary; Mrs. Bola Mapaderun (Air Pearl Travels) as Deputy General Secretary; Pastor Taiwo Akinsola (Unique Travels) as Publicity Secretary and  Pastor Favour Lajuwomi (Disciples Travels) as Financial Secretary. 

    Other members of the excos are Pastor Taiwo Gabriel (Journey Craft Travels) Treasurer; Rev. Okey Ikeri (Aerologistics) Chairman of Disciplinary Committee; Mrs Adetutu Sulaiman (Flash Travels) Auditor; Barrister Simon Onu (Tsalianim Travels) Legal Adviser; Mrs Adeola Adekola (Ideal Travels) Ex Officio 1 and Rev. Dr. Julius Akinrinade (Julius Travels) Ex Officio 2.

    Kristilere appreciated all members of the association for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work harder towards greater improvement in the processes of private Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

    Read Also: CTPAN elects Kristilere President  

    Responding to a journalist who asked for his opinion on the recent appointment of Bishop Dr. S. T.V Adegbite as the New Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, (NCPC) by President Bola  Tinubu, Kristilere, who is also the Lead Pastor of Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos stated that the President could not have appointed a  better person. 

    According to him: “Dr Adegbite is a round peg in a round hole. The man knows the job, he is prepared for the job and very capable for the job.” He stated that Dr Adegbite, who had been his friend of many years since their doctoral programme at the University of Ibadan will definitely take Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria to enviable heights.”

    Speaking on the relationship between his association and the Commission, Kristilere pointed out he and all members of CTPAN are already looking forward to a cordial working relationship and meaningful partnership with the newly appointed Executive Secretary and members of the Board of NCPC.