Category: worship

Rev. Mrs. Olabisi Aboyeji, the wife of the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, will lead other anointed men of God to minister at the 12th Surulere District Convocation of the organisation in Nigeria.

The convocation which is slated for September 2, 8, 9 and 10 will hold at the District Headquarters, 56 Karimu Street Off Ojuelegba Road, Surulere Lagos has the theme ‘Great Outpouring’.

In a statement by the District Secretary, Rev. ‘Femi Akinwande, other ministers lined up are the District Overseer and the host, Rev. Dr. E. O. Adejoro, the chairman planning committee, Pastor Peter Adeyeri and Deacon Olutayo Fase.

Among others, activities planned for the convocation include business meeting where spiritual and financial account of the district will be tabled and discussed; projections for the new church year, Aaron and Hur Conference, corporate social responsibility in form of giving back to the society, praise jam, prayer vigil, ordination of 19 elders, deacons and deaconesses, prayer for 2 newly elevated Licensed ministers and powerful word ministration.

Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria, is set to host Catholic Bishops and communication experts across Africa, as they gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS).

According to the President of CEPACS, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, Bishop of Oyo Diocese, the event, which is billed to hold between November 18 and 21 2023, will be attended by the Bishop Chairmen from each region of Africa; the Standing Committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); invited heads and officers of various communications outfits and schools in Africa, including other expatriate dignitaries from outside the assembly.

Founded in 1973 by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) for the Church in Africa, CEPACS was given the mandate of promoting the use of modern means of mass communications as tools of evangelisation in the African Church.  

To ensure a hitch-free 50th celebration, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, who chairs the Continental Organising Committee recently constituted a Local Organising Committee in Lagos, comprising astute Communications experts, both priests and lay faithful and other Church functionaries. He saddled them with the responsibility of ensuring the participants to be drawn from the eight regions of Africa enjoy an unforgettable experience during the historic celebration.

The Committee is headed by the Founder/Chairman of Lumen Christi Television Network, Sir Robert Soji Olagunju, KSG, while a renowned Chartered Accountant, Mr. John I. Nejoh is to serve as Secretary.

The National Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, the Director of Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese, Very Rev Fr. Anthony Godonu, Rev Fr. Andrew Kante from Kenya and Rev. Fr. Dieu-Donne Kofi Davor, Director of Communication, GCBC are part of the Committee to ensure that it delivers on its mandate.

Other members of the LOC include Sir Tony Chiejina, Mr. Seyi Martins, Barr. Mrs. Philomena Omorodion, Mr. Tony Agbugba, Lady Neta Nwosu, Mr. Philip Nwosu, Mrs. Anthonia Okonkwo, Dr. Mrs. Bisi Olagunju, Mrs. Henrietta Okonkwo, Mrs. M.O.D. Ewumi, Engr. O.M Otabor, Mr. Kola Akindele, Barr. Hannibal Uwaifo, Sir Ben Nkwo, Mrs. Adesuwa John-Nejoh. Also on the LOC are: Mrs. Veronica Afolabi, Mrs. Catherine Alabi, Mrs. Adewunmi Kissiedu, Mr. Peter Dada and Mr. Linus Okeke, Engr. Eliza Peters, John Achu and Peter Dada.

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Already, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), are excited at the prospect of hosting to the delegates which will also include high ranking Church officials from the Vatican City, Rome.

Similarly, the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has lauded the choice of Lagos as venue of the 50th celebration. He has also given his full support and enjoined the LOC to be at their utmost best. He promised to be on ground to welcome the delegates from across Africa to Lagos, Nigeria.

“We are happy that CEPACS has chosen Lagos as the venue for their 50th-anniversary celebration. By the grace of God, with the quality of personalities serving on the LOC, and with the support of the entire people of God in the Archdiocese, I believe that the event shall be a resounding success,” the renowned clergyman added.

The Thanksgiving/opening Mass will take place at The Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos and will be broadcast live!

To create a safe and positive entertainment that will help reach the unreached for Christ, Gospel Reggae artiste Righteousman recently stormed Ikeja Computer Village with messages of salvation through music and entertainment.

The event headline A-List Gospel Artistes included Buchi, Radata, King Wadada, Orit Wiliki, and Covenant Child, among others.

The open free air concert was put together by reggae music powerhouse, Righteousman and his Praise Affairs International outfit.

In an interview with The Nation, Righteousman said that the vision behind the concert was to bring the sound of salvation to all nations through reggae music. “The sole aim of gospel reggae is to reach the unreached irrespective of their denomination, tribe, race or tongue.”

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He noted that “our vision is to take the sound of salvation to all nations, from the church to the street, we are after one lost soul in the parable of Luke 15:1-17. “That one soul is lost, depressed, rejected, ignorant, confused, abused, sick and poor that we are after.”

He added that there is joy in heaven when a soul is converted and runs to Jesus for their salvation, saying the group is after the lost souls.

He disclosed that the Gospel Reggie Dance is not an annual event as the organisers plan to take the gospel of Jesus everywhere there is a soul living, come rain and come shine. “We will be visiting prisons, habitation centres and places where we can share the message of the cross too.

 “We will be following up with them. We are the church. Our aim is not about the church but about making men know about Jesus and his saving grace. We are not after a multitude but that one soul that needs to repent,” he said.

He pointed out that the event came after five years of thinking and planning.

In his words, Nigeria reggae gospel artist, Buchi Atuonwu said that the focus of the programme is on Jesus, and not just reggae music.  We see a lot of people who have been inspired and their lives changed through gospel reggae music. “

As Nigerians continue to face the challenge posed by the removal of subsidy on petroleum, the Founder and General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC) International, Lagos, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, spoke with Adeola Ogunlade on the state of the nation, the proposed palliative promised by the federal government, and the need for Nigeria to fix it refineries to beat down the price of petroleum products in Nigeria.

As things get harder, many are looking up to the church for assistance more than ever before; what help can the church render in this situation

I think the role of the church has been according to the Bible is to pray for the government – right? We are praying for them. You know when you are trying to give serious fact-led suggestions, they think you are partisan. What we do in a case like that is to maintain our God-given role of praying for those in authority; praying for those in government. Asking that God bless those in authority – I think God knows how to do it. I think the role of the church is to keep praying, that’s our God-given responsibility. For those who are courageous enough to enter politics, may the Lord bless them (I mean the pastors and leaders); but I will maintain my primary role – I will pray for them.

What about members; what can the church do?

What the church can do for its members is to help them; give them suggestions on how they can put two plus two to earn four. Suggestions by ways of empowerment and getting them to be self-sufficient and to be self-sustaining also; that’s what the church can do – to look for ways of helping them to think of what to do.

People are saying that the PFN as a body has been quiet since the inauguration of this administration; as a key stakeholder, what is your take?

The PFN as a body has not been quiet; before the election, during the election, and after the election. People that are thinking or saying that the PFN is quiet are people that are expecting the PFN to take a stand whether we are for this government or whether we are not for this government.

As responsible PFN leadership, we cannot do a thing like that. Like any responsible body, the PFN is made up of people from different political parties; definitely, we just have to be careful because we might make decisions that we think will please the majority of the people, which might not go down well with others. So, the PFN is very outspoken but maybe it’s not the way people expect it – that’s why they are saying that the  PFN is quiet but I know our leaders, those of us and the president have been talking, but very positive also. It may not be what people are expecting; they can’t expect PFN to come criticising and condemning. No; we are not condemners, we are reformers.

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What is your take on the current economic crisis?

With the current economic situation in the country; I think we are just trying to have hope that things will improve, things will get better. I don’t know how God will do it but, I don’t think that leaders can be so heartless not to listen to the cry of the people.

God will give them wisdom to find a way out of these really, hard times. Maybe by the time those who think they are green become brown, I am sure God would have heard our prayers because many of them are trying to rely on the reserves that they already put in place. But the reserve will somehow fade; so, I pray that God will touch their hearts and ensure that there are some good policies that should reduce the level of suffering. The removal of the oil subsidy was a good thing but at the wrong time. I think the government should have settled down first, and look at how things are going before implementing a policy as strategic as that. We are just hoping that things will get better; that’s the truth.

The president in his address recently read out some palliatives for MSMEs…

It will go back to their pocket, it doesn’t work. The people that will swallow it are like those people that said snakes swallowed how many billions the other time; so they are human snakes; so, it doesn’t work. Policies like that favour those that have already been favoured. It doesn’t work; they are not thinking about the poor masses because palliatives and all these things will end up in their pockets. They have their own people that it will go to – it does not work. That is not the type of policy that someone will think is meant to help the poor.

What approach would you want the government to adopt?

The approach I will suggest or wish for is before the removal of the subsidy, which is too late now. All these billions; if they put half of it to revamp our refineries, the prices will come down. I have never seen them talk about fixing the refineries. At least, we have three, or four refineries in this country; we are producing crude oil; we are exporting crude oil, and we are importing refined oil, it’s not good. If they have said, let’s save this money and we will put it to fix our refineries; within one year, there will be a turnaround and prices will come down. If we are refining here, definitely people will buy cheaper; that would have been my suggestion. I have never heard them talk about revisiting our refineries, so what are they actually looking for? They are just getting fatter because if we can fix the Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries people will buy petrol cheaper, and all the small refineries that creek people are doing are being destroyed – people trying to use their brains to build small refineries are being pulled down. They are refining gold in Niger and other Northern states; they are not touching them, so they know what they are doing.

Are you pleased with what is happening in your home state of Edo?

I am currently in Edo State; though I am from Edo State, I am here now; but because I have not been here for years, I cannot really talk about the politicking in Edo State. The only thing I can say is that I came into this place about five, six days ago – the roads are bad; worse among them are the federal roads. I think the way the government would have done it is not to make it too visible that they are anti-federal so that the citizens of this state will have some leverage. You know most of the federal roads in Benin City are written off – Sapele road, the bye-pass; it will take you almost two hours which would have taken you maybe 30 minutes. For example, I left my house to go to Mama Idahosa’s 80th birthday on Saturday; it took me two hours in Benin to get there. Before, it would not take more than 30 minutes; so, it’s the level of understanding of the government – you don’t play politics that will affect your people drastically; you will use wisdom to manage situations. That is my take on happenings in Edo State.

God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM) is set to begin its 24th Annual Power Conference in Lagos from August 14th to 20th.

The weeklong conference with the theme “THE UNLIMITED GOD: From Minimum to Maximum” holds at the Mercy Revival Centre, at 25/33 Alake Lakoko Street, Ileepo Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos. 

The conference features a “Building the Builders International Ministers Conference” during which pastors and church leaders from different denominations will gather for special seminars by 2:30pm every day while revival services start by 5:30pm. Aside from a youth conference which is also part of the weeklong celebrations, an Impartation service will wrap up the conference on August 20 by 9am.

According to a statement by GOMERM’s Director of Public Relations, Pastor Femi Kolawole, anointed men of God who will minister at the convention include Dr. James Akanbi, GOMERM’s General Overseer; Pastor J.F. Odesola, Continental Overseer at the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Archbishop Osa-Oni, Presiding Prelate, Vineyard Christian Ministries; and Bishop Abraham Olaleye, General Overseer, The Pentecostal Congregation.

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Others include Reverend Samson Ajetomobi, President/Founder, Men of Issachar Vision; Pastor John Oluwadare, General Superintendent, Christ Redemption Bible Church; Reverend David Amosun, Senior Pastor, Victory Tabernacle Church; and Dr. Francis Bola Akin John, President, International Church Growth Ministry (ICGM) among others.

“As a ministry, the power conference is an opportunity to thank God for his faithfulness to us in GOMERM since the church was founded in 1999. We also believe that God will be revealing Himself in His unlimited dimension and is set to reverse irreversible cases in the lives of people and enlarge everyone during the conference,” Pastor Kolawole said.

His Love Foundation, a CSR arm of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has rolled out plans to feed one million primary school pupils in Lagos.

This comes as a progression of their recent efforts, during which the foundation successfully provided meals to 8,954 children in 118 schools within Lagos for the third academic term.

According to HLF, 106,728,606 people have been fed globally through its various feeding initiative and in the 28 daily feeding centers in Lagos.

Speaking on the initiative, the Assistant Continental Overseer, and the Intercontinental Overseer CSR, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, noted that the foundation is committed to providing quality eduction and addressing hunger issues among young children.

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He said: “HLF/RCCG CSR firmly believes in providing every child with access to quality education, recognizing that addressing hunger is pivotal to achieving this goal.

“The School Feeding Initiative serves as a testament to the organization’s commitment to uplift communities, following the mandate of compassion and support found in the biblical book of Matthew.

“Guided by this divine inspiration, the initiative aims to nourish not only the bodies but also the minds of the young generation, empowering them to exceed expectations and make a meaningful impact on society.

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“HLF/RCCG CSR acknowledges the urgency to fill the void of hunger and extend support to vulnerable segments of society. Aligned with the theme of RCCG’s 71st Convention, “Beyond Expectation,” the initiative aims to break perceived limitations and create a transformative impact on the lives of a million students in Lagos.”

“The firm belief is that hunger should not hinder a child’s ability to learn and thrive. By providing daily nutritious meals to 1,000,000 students, the initiative aims to break barriers and pave the way for a brighter future where no child is left behind.”

For her invaluable contribution to the course of womenhood and mankind, Gospel minister and founder of Gospel Academy, Manelli Hawley has received the prestigious I Am Super Woman award.

The cheerful London based, South African who has contributed positively to the gospel genre as well as mentoring young artistes in not only sharpening their skills but providing an environment of love and spiritual encouragement.

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Though a recipient of many awards, Hawley popularly called Sister Manelli ia grateful for this award and blurted: “I Am a Superwoman is an event that is so beautiful. I am so blessed to be part of it. It was wonderful, I have met so much beautiful women and everybody was amazing. I really felt so blessed to be part of it. I would say a big thanks to Dr. Pauline Long for inviting me. It was like a surprise and to my mentor HRM Florence Okonkwo. I adore them these two women. I am learning a lot from them. They are so amazing in my life. I feel so blessed to have them in my life. It is rare to come across these two people in life.

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I feel great to be called a superwoman. It encourages. At the end of the day we feel empowered knowing that we feel great about what we do.”

The talented musician Manelli Hawley hails from Umlazi, Durban. She was raised in a Christian background and her first experience of gospel music came through her mother’s sisters who were gospel singers. It was that environment, coupled with a fervent desire to know more about God that led Manelli to heed her calling to be a musician from a tender age. This would see her become a member of various gospel groups and eventually decide to leave Durban for Johannesburg to pursue her calling at a higher level. In her journey, she has worked with Ray Phiri and Stimela as backing singer, and also Sharon, Rebecca Malope among others. Later her family relocated to England which led to changes that would culminate in the release of her debut album in 2013.