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Tag: Aladura

  • Badoo strikes again, injures four at Ikorodu

    Badoo strikes again, injures four at Ikorodu

    …As residents set suspected kidnapper ablaze

     

    Ritual gang, Badoo Tuesday attacked again at Ikorodu injuring two women and their children.

    The incident occurred at a Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Aladura, situated at 4, Victor Anibaba Street, Owode Weigh Bridge, Ajegunle.

    The Nation reports that Tuesday’s attack was the first in Ajegunle since the murderous gang went on killing spree.

    It was gathered that a two-year-old child, who went to the church for vigil with her mother was also affected.

    Although the state of the children could not be ascertained as at press time, earlier reports indicated that they died on the spot.

    However, their mothers identified simply as Iya Dabira and Iya Ayomide were said to be battling for their lives at the General Hospital, Ikorodu.

    According to the founder of the church, Rotimi Ajidara, the killers struck around 2:30am, after scaling the fence.

    He said the women and children were asleep at another section of the premises after the vigil, while he retired to his apartment.

    Ajidara said he was woken up by the screams of his members, who discovered the attack, adding that he immediately alerted his neighbours.

    He said: “I went straight to the church, only to find the two women and their daughters in the pool of their blood and I alerted some of my neighbours, who in turn called the attention of other residents.

    “Since I have been hearing about the killings by Badoo, I never knew they would come to my church.  After checking round it was discovered that they scaled the fence into the church to cause the harm.

    “I don’t know what to tell the families of the victims, because they only came to my church for vigil. My prayer now is that God heal the two women who are still battling to survive.”

    Meanwhile, a woman suspected to be a child kidnapper was burnt to death at Allinson Junction after a mob allegedly found a list containing specification and prices of children.

    According to Rasheed Fatuga, a source whose name he refused to disclosed said the mob overpowered the local vigilantes and police to lynch the woman.

    He said: “The source said the woman was in her 40s and she is suspected to be a kidnapper.

    “She was noticed by a meat seller and a fruit vendor at Allinson Junction, near United High School, ikorodu. The woman was acting like a mad woman but she suddenly stepped to a secluded area to receive a phone call.

    “When they saw it, they immediately accosted her but she couldn’t defend herself. People soon gathered and she was taken to Onyabo’s office at CAC Road.

    “On getting there, she was interrogated by the Deputy Chairman of Onyabo. They searched her bag and found an IPhone 7, juju ring and a list containing descriptions of children such as age range, heights and price tags.

    “She confessed that she came from Isolo and she was not alone. She said that others fled immediately she was caught.”

    Continuing, Fatuga said the vigilantes called the police to take the suspect but the mob, which demanded jungle justice, did not allow the operatives take the suspect.

    He said the man hijacked the suspect and set her ablaze, adding that the security operatives were helpless.

    “We were told that even the police could not control the crowd. They just collected her phone and said they would get classified information from it,” he said.

     

  • Aladura churches rebrand for impact

    Aladura assemblies under the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) have commenced retraining of leaders and pastors to change the negative perceptions about them.

    The training, according to the Chairman OAIC, FCT Superintendent Senior Apostle Michael Osamor, is aimed at changing myths and orthodox practices giving the churches bad image.

    OAIC comprises 57 different churches such as Christ Holy Church Int’l; Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim; Covenant Celestial Church of Christ; Celestial Church of Christ; Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement; Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), among others.

    Osamor, at one-day leadership training in Abuja, explained most of the misconceptions are due to ignorance and the many bad eggs in the fold.

    A lot of Christians due to lack of understand believe that that they do not truly teach Christ, when actually they teach the undiluted word of God.

    He said: “A lot of people especially Christians look down on our church believing it to be a church for poor, illiterate people.

    “Some of them go as far saying that we are not Christians; that we are not teaching Christ but if you come closer to us and spend the time to look at what we are doing, you will find out that indeed we are teaching Christ.

    “We may not flavour it to make it sweet for people, to make it convenient; Christianity is not about convenience.

    “It is about teaching the undiluted word of God and by being his disciples, by absorbing and being empowered by what Christ said He was going to leave a comforter with us, which is the Holy Spirit to guide, teach and direct everything we do.

    “So our way of life is guided and directed by the tenets of the teaching of Christ.”

    He added: “Part of the way we are going to go about improving the perception of people is by being a bit more structured by teaching our church leaders to go back to their own churches to be able to portray us in better light.

    “Some little things that we do that people may fault us for, like visioning, visioning is not bad.

    “What we are doing is to mitigate those areas and retrain the bad eggs because a lot of them it is just a matter of how they present their messages.

    “A lot of people are scared of going to OAIC churches because they are afraid that once they come in, they will reveal all their innermost secrets.

    “Some other organised churches also see such visions but the way it is handled by the pastors is different and does not scare people away.

    “Those are the kind of things that we are going to be learning over a period of time. We are going to be having one of such trainings ones at least every quarter.

    “Other Christians after now should expect that the OAIC churches will be able to mitigate some of those negative things they think that they know about us.

    “We will learn how to promote those positive things about us because most of these Christians and non Christians come to us at nights for special prayers because they know that our prayers and way of life is effective.”

  • Prayer in the foundation of Aladura churches (3)

    Our daily Bread:

    Give us today bread for the coming day. (Matt 6:11) Let’s look at some explanations of this: 1. The bread has been identified with the bread of the last Supper. 2. The bread has been identified with the spiritual food of the word of God. 3. The bread has been taken to stand for Jesus Himself. Jesus called himself the bread of life. (John 6:33-35.) 4.

    It has been taken as bread of the heavenly kingdom. Luke 14:15, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.” Essentially this was a prayer that God will supply us with the things we need for the coming day. When we see that this is a simple petition for our everyday needs, certain tremendous truths emerge from it.

    1. It tells us that God cares for our bodies. We do well to remember that God is interested in our bodies. 2. Teaches us to pray for our daily bread, for bread for the coming day. It teaches us to live one day at a time, and not to worry and be anxious about the distant and the unknown future.

    3. This petition gives God his proper place. It admits that it is from God we receive the food, which is necessary to support life. All living things come from God. Our food, therefore, is the direct gift of God. 4. This petition very wisely reminds us of how prayer works. It reminds us that prayer and

    Work go hand in hand and that when we pray we must go on to work to make our prayers come true. Prayer, like faith, without works is dead. When we pray this petition, we are recognizing two basic truths – that without God we can do nothing, and that without our effort and co-operation God can do nothing for us. 5. Jesus taught us Give US our daily bread and not Give ME my daily bread. The problem of the world is not the supply of Life’s essentials; it is the distribution of them. It is a prayer, which we can help God to answer by giving to others who are less fortunate than we are. This prayer is not only a prayer that we may receive our daily bread; it is also a prayer that we may share our daily bread with others.

    Forgiveness Human and Divine.

    When we come to see what sin really is, we come to see that it is a universal disease in which we are all involved.

    Outward respectability in the sight of others and inward sinfulness in the sight of God may well go hand in hand.

    This is a petition of the Lord’s Prayer, which we all need to pray.

    Of all the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, this is the most frightening.

    ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.’ The literal meaning is: ‘Forgive us our sins in proportion as we forgive those who have sinned against us.’ In verses 14 and 15, Jesus says that if we forgive others, God will forgive us; but if we refuse to forgive, God will refuse to forgive us. It is quite clear that if we pray this petition with an unhealed breach, an unsettled quarrel in our lives, we are asking God not to forgive us.

    Forgiveness, like Peace, is one and indivisible. Human forgiveness and divine forgiveness are inextricably intertwined.

    Our forgiveness for one another and God’s forgiveness of us cannot be separated. If we remembered what we are doing when we take this petition on our lips, there would be times when we would not dare to pray it.

    If we have not put things right with our neighbors, we cannot put things right with God. If we are to have this Christian forgiveness in our lives, three things are necessary. 1. We must learn to understand. There is always a reason why people do things. A person may treat us with suspicion or dislike, may be they have been misinformed about something we have said or done. Forgiveness would be much easier for us if we tried to understand before we allowed ourselves to condemn.

    2. We must learn to forget. As long as we brood upon a snub or an insult, there is no hope that we will forgive. “I can’t forget what so-and-so did to me” these are dangerous sayings, because we can in the end make it humanly impossible for us to forget. We can print the memory indelibly

    upon our minds. Nothing but the cleansing spirit of Christ can take from these memories of ours the old bitterness that we must forget.3. We must learn to Love. We have seen that Christian love, agape, is that unconquerable benevolence, that undefeatable goodwill, which will never seek anything but the highest good of others, no matter what they do to us, and no matter how they treat us. That love can come to us only when Christ, who is that love, comes to dwell within our hearts – and he cannot come unless we invite him.

    To be forgiven we must forgive, and that is a condition of forgiveness, which only the power of Christ can enable us to fulfill.

     

    Being part of the sermon delivered by Otubu PhD (London), Dip. Theology (Ibadan), the General Evangelist of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide under the leadership of: His Most Eminence, Baba Aladura (Dr) Motailatu Akinadewo Primate, Founder and Supreme Head, MCCSW at the 50th anniversary of the church in Lekki Lagos.

  • Prayer is the foundation of Aladura churches (1)

    Prayer is the pivot on which hangs the entire faith of the Cherubim and Seraphim Churches hence the name “Aladura Churches” in Yoruba meaning “Praying Churches.” The church believed in the absolute efficacy of prayers. Every member was expected to pray at least five times daily (6.00am, 9.00am, 12.00noon, 3.00pm, and 6.00pm).

    The founder Saint Moses Orimolade ordered that certain objects and places must be used to ascertain the efficacy of Prayers. Sacred words such as Halleluiah, Iye, and Hossanah were used as songs of Praise to God and are believed to possess the same charisma as the shouting of the Israelites over the wall of Jericho.

    Fasting is an injunction of Christ for support of prayers. Fasting is used by believers in Christ to increase their spiritual strength and to achieve success in temporal as well as spiritual matters. Members of Aladura churches were required to fast twice weekly (Wednesday and Friday) and also during the forty days of Lent. Candles were used in worship in connection with lampstand with seven branches (Exodus 25:31-37) and the seven golden lamps of Rev. 1:12-13.

    Moses Orimolade ordered the use of candles in prayer. The number of candles used at each was symbolic; 7 for the seven powers of God, 5 for the five wounds inflicted on Jesus during his passion, 3 for Trinity and 1 for One God. God himself ordered incense, to Moses and Aaron in the days of the Tabernacle. Incense raises prayers and supplications of believers to the throne of Grace.

    The Aladura churches were encouraged to use incense in worship and family prayers. Consecrated Water was used by Aladura churches for healing because of the power of God in water and power in baptism. Pharaoh was conquered by water. Noah was saved by water and Naaman was cured by water. Consecrated oil was used in healing. Olive oil was used for healing and ordaining officers.

    Sword is used for Prayers and services as a mark of warriors, which the Cherubs and Seraphs are. Staff is used in prayers by the elders as used by Moses to separate the sea and also bring water from the rock. The Aladura churches had sacred places for prayer.

    They went to mountaintops in imitation of Jesus Christ who prayed often on Mount Olivet and was crucified on Mount Calvary. Some of the popular mountaintops include Oke Igbala (Ondo), Oke Calvary (Ikare), and Okejigbo (Abeokuta). The most popular seashore is the Bar Beach in Lagos, which is still used today for prayers.

    The wearing of white garment (Praying Gown) was also significant for prayers in the Aladura churches. White clothing signified white heart and oneness in heart. It is believed that purity of heart symbolized by the wearing of white garment enhanced the efficacy of prayer. The traditional kings in Yoruba land also wore white attires as symbols of Royalty.

    It is important to note what Moses Orimolade had to say about efficacy of Prayers at the founding of “SERAFU” church on 9th September 1925.

    Hear what Moses Orimolade had to say about Prayer in September 1925.

    “There is no time in life that a Christian should be far away from our Lord Jesus Christ. The only means by which we could be near him always is by praying unceasingly.

    The only way a Christian can succeed in life’s struggle is to fast, watch and pray always with a clean hand and conscience. While we pray we keep ourselves near our God. As a strayed sheep is always a prey of robbers, let us always draw near our God which privileges abound incessant prayers.”

    “Some Christians complain that many times when they pray, they receive no reply all. It is indisputable that God answers pray but there are three major causes, which deprive one from receiving pertinent answer to his prayers namely

    1. Prayers without faith;  2. If the subject of the prayer will not be absolutely favorable to the offer or if answered, God being a merciful Father and knows the beginning and end of man, will not grant the prayer; 3.If you committed secretly or openly a grievous sin and have not found adequate time to repent it wholly and solely as to receive God’s pardon, there is little or no hope of your prayers being answered.

    The prayers of a faithful and honest man are always answered, provided such answer would be to his best advantage.

    The Classic Prayer

    It is a prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples to pray and it represents the classic prayer for all Christians.

    Matthew sets the whole Sermon on the Mount in the context of the disciples. (Matthew 5:1) ‘And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came up to him.’

    Luke tells us that Jesus taught this prayer in response to the request of one of his disciples. (Luke 11:1)’And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us how to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’

    Lord’s Prayer is not a child’s prayer or mere family prayer; it is specifically and definitely stated to be the disciples’ prayer; and only on the lips of a disciple has the prayer its full meaning. The Lord’s Prayer can only be prayed when those who pray it know what they are saying and they cannot know that until they have entered into discipleship.

    The first 3 petitions have to do with God and the glory of God. The second 3 petitions have to do with our needs and our necessities. God is first given his supreme place and then only can we turn to ourselves and our needs and desires. The second part deals with our needs and desires. First asks for bread, which is necessary for the maintenance of life and thereby brings the need of the present to the throne of God. Second asks for forgiveness and thereby brings the past into the presence of God. Third asks for help in temptation and thereby commits all the future before the footstool of God.

    In these three petitions we are taught to lay the present, past and future before the footstool of God. When we ask for bread to sustain our earthly lives, that request immediately directs our thoughts to God the father, the creator and sustainer of all life.

    When we ask for forgiveness, that request immediately directs our thoughts to God the son, Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer. When we ask for help for the future temptation, that request immediately directs our thoughts to God the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the strengthener the illuminator, the guide, the Guardian of our way.

    Being sermon delivered by: Otubu PhD (London), Dip. Theology (Ibadan) General Evangelist, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary service under the leadership of His Most Eminence, Baba Aladura (Dr) Motailatu Akinadewo, Primate, Founder and Supreme Head, MCCSW

  • Otubu to Nollywood: Stop portraying Aladura as evil

    The General Evangelist of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), Professor Joseph Otubu, has appealed to Nollywood producers and script writers to stop painting the Aladura churches as occultic, wicked and criminally- minded.

    Though he noted some clerics have misrepresented the movement, Otubu said their practices are not limited to the Aladura Movement, stating that every denomination has its share of bad eggs.

    The gynecologist spoke last Sunday at the 50th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the church at its International Sub-Headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.

    He said although it is very easy to identify an Aladura member when he or she commits a crime, he stated that members of other denominations are culpable of greater crimes.

    He wondered: “Are the Aladura’s church members the worst of all persons in Nigeria? Are the Aladura the only people committing crimes?”

    The cleric added: “In every denomination, there are bad eggs but unfortunately our own bad eggs have been overemphasised and Nollywood should talk about sin and its repercussion in every assembly, denomination, association or religious association, not just in Aladura.”

    Praising the prayer fervour of the Aladura churches, Otubu said it is a remarkable legacy that must be sustained till the end.

    “Aladura churches have earned themselves the name because the foundation fathers of the Cherubim and Seraphim churches believed in the efficacy of prayers, God will always answer our prayers in his way, wisdom and in love.

    “I can tell you that the Aladura Church established by Orimolade is an excellent church built absolutely on the efficacy of prayer,” he stressed.

    He lamented that many churches organise prayer meetings with dirty hands and unclean hearts, expecting God whose eyes cannot behold sin to answer them.

    According to him: “If you are committing secretly or openly and have not found adequate time to repent wholly and solely as to receive God’s pardon, there is little or no hope of prayer being answered.”

    On the efficacy of prayers, he said: “Prayer is the key to opening the door to the presence of God.

    “Certain elements are required in prayer as exemplified in the classic prayer taught to the disciples in the Lord’s Prayer.”

    He stated churches must unite together as one big family to stem the tide of sin, unrighteousness and ungodly in the society.

    The National President of The Apostolic Church (TAC), Pastor Tola Odutola, also charged Nigerians to remain committed to prayers to fix the challenges facing the nation.

    “There is no hope aside from prayer and we must continue to pray. Our God will answer our prayer and will take all the problems that we have from Nigeria including the recent upsurge of insurgency,” Olutola assured.

    Dignitaries at the anniversary with the theme prayer is the key include Former Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, represented by Rev Femi Asiwaju; the President of the Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory, Pastor Tola Odutola; the head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc, Rev Emmanuel Gigawu, among others.

  • Aladura churches on schoolgirls’ abduction

    As the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State on April 15 enters its fourth month, the United Aladura Churches (UAC) have described the act as political. They added, however, that with prayers, the girls will soon re-unite with their parents alive.

    Addressing reporters on their 8th anniversary programme, President of the UAC, Superior Evangelist Olatunde Banjo, said: “What we can do is to pray for the safe return of the kidnapped girls and that such should not happen again. And that is what the church has been doing”.

    The man of God said if not for prayers, peace and prosperity would have completely eluded Nigeria. The church, he said, is led by the Spirit of God which nobody can control; adding that with prayers, God can change His mind on negative prophesies as well as change the minds of men to do His will.

    He said the UAC is not happy at the state of affairs of the country, but it can only pray for its leaders and for a better country. “God loves Nigeria that is why we are still one big, united great country,” the cleric said.