The Nation Newspaper

Category: worship

  • The Holy Communion – the master key that opens all doors

    The Holy Communion – the master key that opens all doors

    By Venerable Henry Adelegan

    Text: “……and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you…… And this day shall be unto you for a memorial…..” Exodus 12:13-14

    When I was much younger, there was a black liquid medicine called ‘Gbogbohunse Epa Ijebu’, meaning ‘the Ijebu medicine that cures all sicknesses’ which my parents give and recommend to anyone that was sick of whatever ailment because they believed that it was the master key with capacity to cure all ailments. I am sure that if COVID 19 had showed up then, my parents would have recommended it as a cure. Later in life however, we realised that there was no earthly drug with the curative power for all issues of life apart from the feast of Passover. The passover was an incident ordained by God in the Old Testament as a memorial, instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ at His last supper as a Communion feast and re-enacted for the post-crucifixion era, which we are in today, for the world, as a tool for a new dawn. There is no time than now across the world that the blood and flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ is much needed, and no thanks to the pervasive hopelessness across the globe. In Nigeria for an example, the challenges that have beleaguered our beloved nation and by extension the citizenry covers the economy, power supply, security, education, health and infrastructure etc.

    This unfortunate scenario once played out in biblical history when the Egyptians held the Israelites in bondage for 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41). As a result of King Pharaoh’s stubbornness and wickedness, which cascaded into his determination to hold on to power over the Israelites, God’s anger was ventilated on the Egyptians and they passed through lots of hardship. From our text, God consequently announced to Moses that the angel of death was going to visit Egypt but whatever doorpost that the blood of the flesh was seen, death would pass such a household over. True to God’s word, and the following morning, there was wailing in the household of the Egyptians for the loss of their first born children but the homes of the Israelites were spared because of the blood of the lamb on the lintel of their houses ( Exodus 12:30). God therefore instructed Moses that the Passover must be a memorial.

    It is however illogical to assume that ‘ordinary blood’ can wade off the angel of death but Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise”. It had always been in God’s habit to use things and people that are seemingly useless as his tools of deliverance, breakthrough and for major feats. Samson used an ‘ordinary jawbone of an ass’ to slaughter thousands of men (Judges 15:15-17). Gideon deployed an “ordinary army of 300 men” to fight the mighty aggressors and won (Judges 7:1-12). Not only that, with ‘ordinary songs and praises’ Judah destroyed the armies of the Ammonites, Edomites and Moabites (2 Chronicles 20). Besides that, it was ‘an ordinary stick’ that brought out the lost axe-head (2 Kings 6:1-7) and it was an ‘ordinary stone’ that destroyed the intimidating Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49).

    In the New testament, Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26:26-28) and enjoined that it must be observed in His remembrance (Luke 22:19). The Holy Communion, apart from having power to protect from the hands of angels of death, it also enlightens one’s eyes of understanding, provides insight and gives direction with regards to all life issues (Ephesians 1:18 cf Luke 24:30-35). Not only that, the Holy Communion opens the doors of grace paves the way for unmerited blessings ((cf Acts 2:46-47). Lastly, the Holy Communion facilitates long life, provides good health and opens the gateway for showers of blessings.

    Let me ask you beloved, what juncture are you presently. Are you scared about what the future holds. Are you experiencing challenges with regards to your health or adverse issues of life concerning any member of your family? Do you need divine security such that you are protected from the evils of the land. Are you desirous of a better life than now? Do you want your eyes of understanding to be enlightened for better opportunities? Are you trusting God for great wisdom to lead your home, family members? I have good news for you, the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ is the master key, it is the solution provider and it is your gateway to greater testimonies.

    To enable you get maximum advantage of the Holy Communion, Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 that you must surrender your life to Jesus Christ and endeavour to live a holy life so that you don’t bring damnation to yourself.  As a follow up to that, the Holy Communion must be taken reverently, not with disrespect to the poor and needy, and must not be taken with unbelief. What this posits is that for the passover feast to be maximally effective, it must be taken with all seriousness and with the reality that what you are partaking of are not ordinary wine and bread but the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.

    As we remember the day when the Holy Communion was instituted today (Maundy Thursday), I pray that starting from this first day in the month of April and start of a new quarter this year, where men cannot take you, the grace of God on the Holy Eucharist shall begin to work for you and doors of blessings shall begin to open for you. The grace of God shall make your impossibles possible, shall level your mountains, shut the mouths of every lion and deliver you from the challenges of life in the name of Jesus Christ.

    • Prayer: Oh Lord, let the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ continue to work wonders in my life in Jesus’ name.
  • Politicians using religion to destroy Nigeria – Bishop Ighele

    Politicians using religion to destroy Nigeria – Bishop Ighele

    As the crisis between Christians and Muslim lingers over the wearing of Hijab in missions schools in Kwara State, the Presiding Bishop of Holy Ghost Mission (Happy Family Centre), Bishop Charles Ighele, spoke to Adeola Ogunlade about the crisis and the role of leaders in promoting sustainable peace in Nigeria.

    The hijab crisis in Kwara State has cause a lot of friction among the Christians and Muslims, what is your take sir?

    A nation is made of people with different spiritual beliefs. Spiritual believe can be dicey. It is the duty of the leadership of that country to make sure that all these people with different social belief are safe and pursued their different belief in peace without tampering with the liberty of other people. That is how we can have a peaceful society. Nigeria is under developing in almost every aspect of life. Educationally, we are under developing. The quality of the English people speak today is below par to what we have few decades ago. Some of the religious disharmony was not there in the 1960s. Though, religion has always been a factor but the disharmony was not this deep. I went to St James Grammar in Isoko and religion was not an issue. When I was in Secondary school in Isoko government area, children from the north has exchange programme. Children from the north came to Isoko while children from Isoko went to school in the north.

    Religious harmony, impunity, bribery and corruption is by far higher today. So, I don’t want to blame Christian and Muslim. I am a marriage counselor, I know parents who put the heads of their children together for their benefit. It happens but is rare. When you are a Governor of a state and you see your children (Muslim and Christian) fighting, you are suppose to reconcile them. I saw the video and I saw it as nauseating. I refuse to blame the Christian and Muslim but the deterotion of the quality for the leadership across board in Nigeria.

    The quality of leadership we have to today in every aspect of national life is not civilized enough. People go to school for their mind to be refined so they can get to society and make he society better and not bitter. The education is screw to create criminals, no nation like this can prosper. The leadership looks at things from ethnic interest and not from national interest. We are too low in thinking. We are myopic. Afenifere will speak, Arewa will speak, the Middle belt is speaking and they are speaking fire. What kind of leaders do we have when they do not like Nigeria or think Nigeria. The political leaders of Kwara state should be able to create a conducive religious atmosphere that will allow pupils to go to school without a mindset of religion,I will suggest that the Muslims in the Christian schools who insist on wearing hijab be relocated to government schools or Muslim schools where they can freely wear their hijab. This will bring temporary peace that can improved upon.

    Why are religious leaders fueling crisis

    Leaders generally lead people into peace and prosperity and progress. A leader’s lead. When we fight over issue that are so ephemeral. Then, we have failed as leader and we need to come to the drawing board and see how can right the wrong. Like Rwanda President who is taking the lead to develope the country beyond primordial sentiment.

    Paul Kegame is alleged to be dictatorial?

    What am saying is to reconcile everybody in a more civilized manner. He has learnt his lesson from the Genocide in 1994 and is working hard to develop the country through a united front. One of great books in my library is the book written by the Dubai King. He is a civilized leader, who is making effort to reconcile people and promoting women into leadership. I am so angry when the things happen.You see Ohanase kicks, middle belt forum cries fouls and other ethnic groups crying fouls of maginalisation.

    CAN has made its position, and the crisis lingers, are you in support of CAN position?

    The problem is that we have gotten to a level where people are not willing to settle but quarrel. We are looking for excuses to quarrel and I don’t want to be part of that. Let us go beyond quarrel. The leadership of the nation has polarize the nation over the years in a such as manner that is mind blogging. It started with the military and today we are faced with the worst social atmosphere any country can have. Nigeria states is a quarreling state, no nation like that succeeds. Let us start a new way of thinking. How can we begin to think above our myopic mindset? Sometimes ago, we saw a girl from the far north, a teenage girl. We notice that she will be a spoil girl if we did not do anything to help her. We called her and put her in a fashion school. She finish and today she is married and doing well. I never for one day say come to my church. I believe in helping humanity. The parents are still around doing security work with us. One lesson from the story of the good Samaritan is that he did not ask for your religion before he helped. The bible says love your neigbour and now that is the teaching in the bible.

    Jesus teaches us how to behave in a civilized manner. The bible says if they slap you one side, turn the other chick. He means that we should behave in a more civilized manner. I don’t want to go into the terrain of fighting. We can defend ourselves. My worry is that the distrust is too much. Some of our people are relocating to Benin Republic and is troubling.

    While is the atmospheres in Benin Republic better than that of Nigeria because Benin leaders are more civilized than Nigeria. We are bush people.

    How can we prepare a new breed of leaders that will think Nigeria?

    When you look at the history of nations, leaders will emerge. Normally, leaders emerge through elections if the electoral system is not corrupt. When you see people jumping from other party to APC and they say Nigerians are behind us and we are the voice of Nigeria. They fail to understand that Nigerians do not belong to any party. It is the same political class jumping from one party to the other. These people are not popular among the people. We see a detested people moving from a detested party to another detested party. The ENDSAR protest which am not part of it but I observed all that was going on. I see that this was the voice of the Nigerians and political class in their millions. It was not just ENDSAR but it’s mobilize and woke people up and this nation was shut down by protestants that were unknown. If I were government, I will go and study so that we will not repeat the same.

    In great Britain, the elite mobilize everything and the peasants were left with nothing. All these people were there suffering jut like Nigerians are suffering. As a church leader, I am aware as people come to us.

    In Britain, the commoners’ revolt and after the revolt, its open doors for other revolts that led to protest that made Britain to have the social environment they have today. Our leaders have started business as usual. The nation is sinking, education, naira and corruption sinking. We have not seen trouble yet. Under that kind of atmosphere created, there will mass revolt and then the revolt will lead to a revolution. Revolution nobody can resist. Government can lead in the revolution by taking step by meeting the social demands that led to ENDSAR protest.  Government need to address the social injustices in this country, create necessary dimension to peace and stability.

    There are social intervention programmes put in place by government to help the masses, are they not enough to address the growing concerns of the Nigerian people?

    Survival funds cannot develop a nation. They are palliatives. They don’t make a man strong. We are talking about institution. The situation whereby people don’t have equal access to education, health, and finance is a misnomer. Most children of local government officials and other political leaders don’t attend the schools they build. This means that the opportunities for Nigeria commoners are not the same with the elite’s class. A very brilliant child who should have been like another Steve Job from Nigeria but end up in mushroom school, they can’t become great thinker as the education is taking to favour the rich.

    The education budget is so low. The amount budgeted to repair the refinery is more than the budget to education for some years. We have two groups in Nigeria: the lower class and the elite.

     

     

  • Same sex marriage threatens to break Methodist Church

    Same sex marriage threatens to break Methodist Church

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    As the debate and rift around same sex marriage in Methodist Church lingers, The United Methodist Church Episcopal Area in Nigeria (UMCN) has threatened to leave the Church’s global body; if it endorses same-sex marriage at its 2022 General Conference.

    This was disclosed by an official of UMCN, Bishop John Wesley Yohanna at a press conference in Jalingo, Taraba State.

    Yohanna, who insisted that Nigerian laws are opposed to gay marriage, revealed that the issue is one that the Nigerian body would not tolerate.

    “If the plan succeeds conference, we will not be part of UMC that will change the language of the Book of Discipline to accommodate same-sex marriage. Our loyalty is with Jesus Christ, Bishop Yohanna stated.

    Further, he disclosed that the debate on whether the Church should accept homosexuality or gay marriage didn’t start today; adding that the controversy actually began as far back as 1972. However, he stated that the majority vote then was against gay marriage and homosexuality. Specifically, he revealed that the votes cast in 2019, had stood against homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teachings.

  • PFN honours Olukilede, Akinola, others

    PFN honours Olukilede, Akinola, others

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    In celebration of their exemplary leadership within the body of Christ, The Arinko Success chapter Ogun State Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has conferred awards on the Founder and Presiding Minister of Heal The World Ministry, Dr Tola Olukilede, Bishop Taiwo Akinola and 23 others.

    The event was held at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Ogun Province 10 Headquarters, Elim Parish, Sango-Ota, Ogun State. The awards were given to the recipients during a one-day minister cum church workers conference by the chapter.

    Other awardees include: Bishop Dr. Taiwo Akinola was represented by Prophet Abiodun Owoborode at the event. Other pastors honoured include Pastor Adeola Adenuga, Rev. Kayode Oluwasijuwomi, Rev. J.K Amah and Rev. Francis Ubaka.

    Also honoured were Rev. Dr. Donatus Obi, Rev Noah Okaula, Pastor Isacc Ogundipe, Pastor Fagbohun Matthew Alani, Pastor Sam Ayegbusi, Apostle Earnest Osayede, Rev. Mrs. Felicia Owoborode, Prophetess Felicia Adu, Evang. Adeniran Odeyemi, Rev. Dr Isreal Odeyemi, Apostle Sam Adeyemi and a host of other ministers of God.

    Olukilede, whose birthday coincided with the event, said, “I want to appreciate you for this award, for deeming it necessary to honour me on my birthday. This will encourage us to continue to do the work. I am going to keep it, cherish it and remember it for the rest of my life.”

    Speaking on the theme, “Exceeding grace for next level in life and ministry”, he said, “I want to tell you the meaning of grace, when you carry the grace, what you think is not possible will become possible.

    “Exceeding grace for the next level in life and ministry is what you need; I need it because I am not satisfied with where I am now. I need the exceeding grace so that I can jump the fence, I can climb the mountain and I can fly. Grace has been keeping me; how much more exceeding grace”, he said.

    Olukilede, a philanthropist of note with over 200 students on his scholarship scheme said further that the covenant of prosperity in life and ministry is the message God gave to him and he has been preaching it since 1999 saying it is God that owns and gives wealth.

    He then charged his listeners to establish a covenant with God to enjoy His promises.

    “If I want to talk on the covenant of prosperity, I cannot get tired because that is my core ministry. That is the only ministry and message God gave to me which I have been preaching since 1999. Let us look at what the scripture says in Deuteronomy 8:18. Do not forget your God. It is God that owns and gives wealth. You must remember this God. According to the scripture, wealth is not the covenant but God has given us the power to get that wealth that He might establish the covenant with us.”

    He reasoned further that the purpose of wealth is to establish a covenant with God saying Abraham was already blessed before he made a covenant with God.

    ”The purpose of that wealth is to give you an opportunity to have a covenanted work with God. Whatever you could see as wealth because wealth is not only money, it is given to you to establish the covenant. The covenant is what you do to enforce the promises of God into your life, ministry, marriage, business, and every of your life endeavour. Any promises of God needs a covenant to bring it into manifestation and fulfillment.” He asserted.

    In his words, the president and founding Pastor of The House of Increase Ministry, (THIM), Dr. Mobolaji Sodiya who preached at the gathering on why ministers are poor; urged the participants to invest in businesses and profitable organizations.

    He warned them against depending on offering for survival noting that if they depend on offering and tithe poverty is inevitable.

    Sodiya, however, charged the church leaders not to go into ministry because of money adding however that since they cannot survive in ministry without money, they can do other businesses that could impact the ministry positively.

  • Yayi, Owolabi, others for Urjah rally

    Yayi, Owolabi, others for Urjah rally

    By Ayomide Otitoloju

    The Senator representing Lagos West, Senator  Solomon Yayi, the Member of House of assembly representing Ifako-Ijaiye, Hon. James, Ifako-Ijaiye, Local Government Chairman, Prince Usman Akanbi Hamzat have been billed to grace yearly Urjah rally, organized by Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) Ifako ijaye Chapter on the 3rd of April in celebration of this year’s Easter.

    The CAN Chairman, Ifako Ijaiye, Olubode Shobukola made this known yesterday in an interview with The Nation, said that Urjah rally, is a program for Esther period where Christians comes together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in Ifako ijaye,

    He said that the major thing is to remind ourselves about who come to the world to suffer, to die on the cross and to remind us that somebody came to this word to die for us,

    He noted that the gathering is not about the launching alone, the launching is by the way, the gathering is about celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ, coming into this world to suffer for our sin, and like you know now, we are in the lenting period, we’re fasting for our sin.

    He stated that apart of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also want to appreciate our past leaders, the excos, the executive that succeeded will be given an award, and at the same time we will lunch our Secretariat with N20million and land for Secretariat at Ifako ijaye local government

  • Anglican holds 10th anniversary launches N25million building project

    Anglican holds 10th anniversary launches N25million building project

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    The Diocese of Egba West, St Mark Anglican Church Magboro has concluded plans to hold its 10th anniversary and Launching of #25million building Project on Sunday, 25th of April at the church auditorium.

    To officiate at the event include: the Diocesan Bishop, The Archdiocesan Ibafo, Archdeaconry, the Vicar The Rt Rev S. O Ogundeji, the Rev Canon Oladejo, the Chairman, Barrister Joseph Eneigbose and Chairman Planning Committee, Sir George Amadi.

     

  • Church holds celebration service for patron

    Church holds celebration service for patron

    In marking the 71st years of its grand patron, Celestial Church of Christ, Seed of Mustard Cathedral (Oko-Oba Parish III) holds special thanksgiving service to celebrate Venerable Most Senior Evangelist Gabriel Ojediran (JP) who has been the frontrunner of the parish since its establishment over 40 years ago.

    Ojediran turned 71 years old on March 25, 2021 and in honor of this huge achievement, the parish is throwing a special Sunday thanksgiving service on March 28, 2021 at 9b, Jonathan Coker road Fagba, Lagos.

    “I can’t thank God enough for bringing me this far in life. I might not be a billionaire, but God has blessed me with life, good health, happiness and peace of mind. These gifts are worth more than all the money and treasures of the world ,” said Ojediran.

  • Lenten Message: Praise – your pathway to victory! (2)

    Lenten Message: Praise – your pathway to victory! (2)

    Venerable Henry Adelegan

    Text: ” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always…..” John 11:41-42

    Nothing decomposes, suffers decay or dies in praise. Praise has the capacity to bring lives, families, education, businesses, ministries and nations that have been classified as dead back to life and reckoning. From our text, Lazarus was a hopeless case. He was in the grave for four days. He was already stinking in the grave. When Jesus Christ stepped, He requested to be taken to where the hopeless situation was. He asked that the stone be rolled away. He lifted up His voice of praise to God for always hearing Him, power descended, fresh life came to the rotten life, stench of decomposition received the aroma of God and the dead came alive. Let me ask you, does it look as if you are hopeless? Do you think that your tomorrow doesn’t have bright colors? Have you been written off by people and the society. I have good news for you because nothing dies in praise. It doesn’t matter for how long you have been in that untoward situation or position, something great will happen through praise. If praise is your lifestyle, victory over the delay, decay and decadence is your heritage.

    Besides that beloved, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over threats, humiliations and embarrassments are your heritage. Are you in an embarrassing health, matrimonial or financial situation? Are you being harassed by certain powers to bring you down? Are you experiencing situations that are asking where is your God? I have good news for you because all those situations are small pies in the face of praise. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath stood against the army of Israel. He threatened and humiliated them for days. But the moment David, a man of praise, came into the scene. He knew that Goliath was a goner in praise. True to his words, Goliath fell with just a stone. Beloved, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over the Goliaths around you is your heritage.

    Kindly be informed brethren that when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over bad health becomes your heritage. Are you feeling unwell, have you been informed that your ailment is terminal and people are buying and selling in your system, please note that it is never over with a believer who is committed to praise. Praise is therapeutic. When the people raised praises to God shouting “Hosannah to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and chased away buyers and sellers from the temple (Luke 19:36-46). As you are the temple of God ( 1Corinthians 3:16, powers that are buying and selling drugs, x-rays and injections inside your system shall flee in the face of praise. When genuine praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over sickness and afflictions becomes your heritage.

    Not only that, when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over lack, shame and disgrace becomes your heritage. The multitudes following Jesus Christ were hungry but there was no food and shame was imminent. The story changed when Jesus took the five small loaves of bread and two fishes, He praised God and as He was breaking, they were increasing. The multitude were fed and had leftovers of 12 baskets of fragments (Mark 6:40-42). Beloved, nothing decreases in praise and when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory over shame is your heritage

    Dear brothers and sisters, please note this also: when praise becomes is lifestyle, victory over powers blocking your way to God’s promised land becomes your heritage. Have you been trying to make a headway in life. Are things quite difficult for you, I have good news for you because those powers cannot withstand praise. When the Israelites were marching to their Promised land, the ancient walls of Jericho withstood them but with a loud shout of praise after traversing the walls seven times the walls were brought down.

    Finally, when praise becomes your lifestly, victory over reproach, condemnation and vile remarks becomes is your heritage. In 2 Samuel 6:15,16 when David returned to Jerusalem with the ark of God singing songs and dancing, Michal, his wife reproached him and she was judged by God. It doesn’t matter what you may be passing through now, you are going to end better, greater and stronger in the name of Jesus.

    In conclusion brethren, whenever you come to a tough situation, stop complaining or grumbling, give a tough praise. When you see gross darkness, bring gross light by giving God gross praise. You can get God cheap with praise. Despise your crawling business, don’t give attention to your threatening family situation, scorn the mountains of your life and watch God level them up as you exalt Him. That thing which the devil thinks is enough reason for you not to praise God let it be the very reason for which you are praising God. Stop murmuring and complaining because those who murmur and complain don’t enjoy divine progress. When you stop appreciating God, you start depreciating. Remember that when praise becomes your lifestyle, victory becomes your heritage.

    • Prayer: Lord, give me grace to make praise my lifestyle and give me victory over issues of life in Jesus’ name.
  • Cleric launches familylifers.com to impact family, nation

    Cleric launches familylifers.com to impact family, nation

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    In a bid to create a one-stop site for young people and a better family, Living Home Ventures has launched familylifers.com.

    This site was launched at an Impressive Media briefing held over the week at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. The event which attracted journalists from a number of media houses was chaired by the Publisher of City People Magazine, Mr. Seye Kehinde.

    A family Life Coach and founder of Living Home Ventures, Pastor Bisi Adewale said the new online forum www.familylifers.com put together by his organization will go a long way to impact Nigerian families and the nation in general.

    Adewale said the site had become necessary given the myriad of challenges facing the world and Nigeria in particular.

    He said the site was designed to be a one-stop site for both the young and old.

    His words, “The thoughts of helping to solve many of our nation’s problems were the propelling force behind creating this website and its applications. The platform will help in wealth creation and eliminate unemployment as the platform will provide employment opportunities.

    “The platform will also empower young people and families. It will keep the youths busy and reduce crime rates. It will help parents in raising better children for society”.

    “The new platform which is an interactive platform will showcase skills, products, and services FREE OF CHARGE. “It will also be an avenue for unemployed graduates to be linked with employers of labour as they upload their CVs on the platform”, he said.

    Adewale who is known for his impactful teachings on marriage and family life said the ultimate goal of the site is to help the young ones, “reduce the crime rate and building families with the vision of seeing all youth in Nigeria living responsible lives, gainfully employed and building a very strong nation.”

    Earlier, The Publisher of City People, Kehinde commended the effort of Pastor Adewale describing him as a great inspiration in society.

    “I believe this kind of venture should be encouraged. Pastor Adewale has been around for a while and has been instrumental in mending homes and impacting families. We are grateful for a platform like this where people can come forward to share ideas, drop questions and interact. It is thus heart-warming,” he said.

    In her own speech, a Marriage Counselor and Wife of Bisi Adewale, Mrs. Yomi Adewale noted that the “rate of unemployment is now high given as 27.1% which implies an increase in the poverty level in many families. Many youths are out of jobs beyond gender, geographical or educational biased reasons.”

    According to her, “the initiative of creating an online platform was built to address structural and practical challenges faced by our youth today. It is a laudable idea as this will collaborate and support the efforts of the government to curb the rate of unemployment among our youths”

    Adewale a chartered accountant by profession and tax consultant stressed that “the online forum (www.familylifers.com) provides an opportunity for empowerment, employment access, acquisition of skills, advertisement of businesses for SMEs/entrepreneurs, etc. for our youth to engage them in meaningful ventures that will help them to shun activities that could bring set back to Nigeria and cause havoc on her citizens.”

  • CAN chairman to chair NEMA clergy dinner

    CAN chairman to chair NEMA clergy dinner

    By Adeola Ogunlade

    The Lagos State Chairman, of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Stephen Adegbite will chair a dinner being organised by the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA).

    The dinner is designed for church founders, pastors, church leaders, General superintendents, General Overseers, and various heads of denominations.

    The Lagos NEMA chairman, Pastor Edwin Ebeniro said in a statement that the dinner has been put together to intimate pastors on developments on various missions fields in the country and the need for the church to lend a helping hand to those fields.

    Ebeniro said the dinner had become necessary so as to create an interface between missionaries and the clergy. “Some pastors in Lagos are not aware of what is happening on missions’ fields, some don’t know how they can support missionaries. Some just don’t think missions’ is necessary.

    He noted that the first budget they cut if they have to cut funds is money for missions. We hope that the dinner will be a great platform to intimate them on the need to embrace missions and how they can assist missionaries on various fields.”

    The Lagos State Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev Toyin Kehinde is expected to minister at the event with the theme; Church and Missions and The Executive Secretary of NEMA Rev Andrew Gwaivangmin is expected to be a special guest of honour at the event.