The Nation Newspaper

Tag: church

  • ‘Abia Catholic Church not against Appeal Court judges’

    The Knights of St. Mulumba of the Umuahia Catholic Church have distanced themselves and the church from the position of a group called the Catholic Network of Nigeria (CNN) requesting for the removal of the Owerri Appeal Court judges due to lack of confidence in them.

    Reacting to the media campaign in which the protesting group is calling for a change of the Appeal Court judges, the Liaison Grand Knight of Umuahia, Sir Nwanevu Christopher said the Catholic Church is not a partisan group and does not support partisan politics or the aspiration of any political party.

    According to him, what the Catholic Church does is to advise politicians to play by the rule just as it did before the last elections by inviting candidates of various political parties to say what they intended to do for the people.

    To that end, he said that the Catholic Church has nothing to do with the decisions of the court and does not set up groups to interfere in such matters, adding that the church has no right to direct the actions of judges of a court.

    He made it clear that the said group is not known or directed by the church to embark on such protest, stressing that the Catholic Church cannot support the protest or be part of its campaign of calumny.

    Sir Nwanevu stated that no Catholic Church bishop or member will support the ugly act, maintaining that the Catholic Church will react to the development.

    Reacting to the issue, the chief press secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu said investigations revealed that the group is a contraption by desperate politicians of the opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to drag the church into unnecessary politics.

    According to Adindu, the aim of the group is to use the name of the church to settle political scores, something he said is ungodly.

    He said that the Catholic Church is a non-partisan organisation that stands for social justice, good governance and the progress of the society, adding that the church respects the rule of law and as a responsible institution cannot be instigated into denigrating the sanctity of the judiciary.

    Adindu said the state government has urged the Catholic institution in the state and country to rise in condemnation of the ill-conceived attempt by some infinitesimal group in Bende community to drag its name in the mud.

  • Church begins programme

    The  Motar Prophetic Ministry has kicked off this year’s Feast of Grace. It will feature an 11-day crusade/thanksgiving tagged Unmerited Favour.

    The event, whose theme is “Amazing Testimonies” began on Thursday, November 26 and will close on Sunday, December 6 at Gethsemane Church Hall, 9, Adejonwo Street Abogunloko by Ikotun Clinic off Carwash bus stop, Ijegun Road, Ikotun in Alimosho area of Lagos State.

    The crusade/thanksgiving service featured Prophetic Hour on Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 a.m., Choir Night on Friday, December 4 beginning from 10:00 p.m. till dawn and closes with thanksgiving service on Sunday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    Briefing journalists on activities lined up for the event in Lagos and what anyone who attends the programme stands to gain, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Ndubuisi Awom said: “This year’s event promises great manifestations and demonstrations of the unlimited powers of God Almighty who has been showering unmerited favours on His children. Many God’s children would testify the goodness of God and would remain unflinching in their desire to worship Him in truth and in spirit.

    “The challenge among God’s children is the unjustifiable reason to doubt that God is always there for us. These doubts mostly stem from what many regard as unanswered or delayed prayers. God’s ways are not our ways. He surely answers our prayers in accordance to how key He considers the objects of our prayers are to our well-being.”

  • Church begins programme

    The Motar Prophetic Ministry has concluded arrangements for this year’s Feast of Grace. It will feature an 11-day crusade/thanksgiving tagged Unmerited Favour.

    The event, whose theme is “Amazing Testimonies” will begin tomorrow and closes on Sunday, December 6 at Gethsemane Church Hall, 9, Adejonwo Street Abogunloko by Ikotun Clinic off Carwash bus stop, Ijegun Road, Ikotun in Alimosho area of Lagos State.

    The crusade/thanksgiving service would feature Prophetic Hour on Thursday, November 26, Choir Night on Friday, December 4 and closes with thanksgiving service on Sunday, December 6.

    Speaking while briefing journalists on activities lined up for the event in Lagos and what anyone who attends the programme stands to gain, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Ndubuisi Awom said: “This year’s event promises great manifestations and demonstrations of the unlimited powers of God Almighty who has been showering unmerited favours on His children. Many God’s children would testify the goodness of God and would remain unflinching in their desire to worship Him in truth and in spirit.

    “The challenge among God’s children is the unjustifiable reason to doubt that God is always there for us. These doubts mostly stem from what many regard as unanswered or delayed prayers. God’s ways are not our ways. He surely answers our prayers in accordance to how key He considers the objects of our prayers are to our well-being.”

  • ‘No one can destroy our church’

    ‘No one can destroy our church’

    The General Treasurer of Assemblies of God Nigeria, Rev. Vincent Alaje, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on allegations of embezzlement against the leadership by some ex-communicated members and sundry issues. Excerpts:

    Is it true that some top officials of the church, like you are under the probe of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)?

    There is no such thing like that.  As I speak with you, we have not received any official letter from the EFCC to that effect. I think that it’s just an imagination of some people. There is nothing like that.

    How do you react to the allegation of financial recklessness and embezzlement against the leadership?

    Well, it’s very unfortunate. It’s because sometimes some media practitioners are not doing their job. Because before you go into the public, before you go out and send a message to the public domain, you must have done proper investigations.

    These individuals that have written this are not members of Assemblies of God Nigeria. They were once Assemblies of God members but they have been excommunicated.

    Besides, the Trustees of the church have no knowledge of what they are saying. In October 2014, we had our National Meeting where over 7,000 delegates attended the conference and the financial activities of the church were presented to them.

    They received it and approved it because the financial activities of the church has gone through internal and external auditors and approved the account of the church. So where they got their information we don’t know.

    Let me also say in the last 10 years, this church has not been able to raise up to N100 billion so where they got their figures only God knows. I know of course its speculative but it is wickedness and very unfortunate.

    So you are saying the allegation is not true?

    It’s not true I can tell you authoritatively because I am the treasurer of the church by the grace of God.

    What kind of mechanism exists to prevent financial mismanagement in the church?

    Assemblies of God has a structure. You cannot spend a kobo without a requisition. And your requisition will go through all levels of what it should go through. The officers that need to sign will sign. Monies are not just given out by anyone because the same thing applies from the local church to the National level.

    Monies are not just given out; there are people that have the responsibility of looking at what should be spent. A decision has to be taken. They will approve what should be spent and it has to be authorised. A cheque to that effect will be issued and all the authorities to sign will sign.

    Are you saying in AGN, no one person can withdraw money?

    It is not a one-man church; so no man from the national level to the local level can bring out money from the bank.

    You said that the leadership got a clean bill after the last presentation of audited accounts.  Can you expatiate on that?

    Every year, the financial records of the Assemblies of God Nigeria are presented to the External Auditor. After looking at it, whatever is found they will question and we will answer it. It is when they are satisfied that we will now present it.

    In the last council meeting, the audited account for four years from 2010 to 2013 was presented. The entire council with delegates of over 7,800 ratified the account and infact they received it with applause.

    Who are the people who constitute these delegates?

    We have about 4,800 ministers and the rest were lay men from different sections of Assemblies of God Church all over the country. That is the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory.

    There is this perception out there that the crisis in the church is down to finances. Is that so?

    No! It‘s not about finance. It is about a mis-rule; it’s about an autocratic tendency. It‘s about one man who thinks that his word is the final authority. It’s about a man who did not submit himself to the authorities of the Church.

    It’s about a man who feels that when he says it that is the final that nobody should challenge him. Its about lawlessness, its about people who wants to take law into their hands.

    Why would these excommunicated members go as far as insinuating financial mismanagement in the church?

    I wouldn’t know for them, they had better answer that question but one thing I do know is that their days are numbered. They knew very well that their days are numbered and there is no way they can win this battle.

    So to them, they resorted to using every means of bringing scandal and begin to cast aspersions on leaders and so on. What they are doing mainly is propaganda and discrediting leaders. Thinking that if they can destroy their public image that is the best way to go about it.

    I want to say clearly that this is an issue that bothers on things that we need to say straight to the public. These men that are talking are excommunicated; they are not part of Assemblies of God. Whether it is on the net, print media or electronic media people should stop believing them.

    The Assemblies of God Church remains intact today. The meetings we have had this year show that the church is intact. From all over the federation people came for that meeting and there is no meeting we have this year that we have less than 75,000 people coming together in one single meeting.

    Besides that, we have 119 units today, only two units are there that are following Paul Emeka and they are insignificant as far as what we have today.

    What is your message to members of the church across the country?

    I will like to say that once again we want to thank them for remaining faithful to their confession trusting that the Lord Jesus Christ the owner of the church is building His church and the gate of hell will not prevail over it.

    They should remain stable and steadfast and be law abiding. In the face of intimidation, in the face of challenges, in the face of the evil that these people are doing. They should remain committed and unmovable because God is ready to fight for them.

    Nobody should take law into their hand but the thing is that they have every reason to protect their house. The law is on their side to protect them but they should not take law into their hands.

  • History in Jos as church conducts mass wedding for 52 couples

    History in Jos as church conducts mass wedding for 52 couples

    • Presiding bishop condemns same-sex marriage

    Jos, the Plateau State capital, witnessed a mass wedding involving an unprecedented number of couples last Sunday. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports the convivial atmosphere that characterised the unusual event.

    Jos, the Plateau State capital, witnessed an unusual event last Sunday as a Catholic church joined 52 men with 52 women in a mass wedding ceremony involving an unprecedented number of couples. St. Moses Parish of the Catholic Church located in Tudunwada, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, facilitated the tying of nuptial knots by the love birds who took turns to take marriage oaths before they were formally joined in holy matrimony.

    The mass wedding was the first of its kind not only in Jos but the entire Plateau State. Of course, there had been mass weddings before that day, but none of them involved more than 20 couples at a time. The ring road that passes through Tudunwada community became almost impassable for motorists as the community where St. Moses Catholic Church was located witnessed the biggest crowd in its history. The road witnessed the most hectic traffic congestion ever as both the celebrants and their guests and relations as well as other road users struggled to wriggle their ways out of the snarl. Ironically, many of the new couples were happy that their wedding could account for so much traffic congestion.

    Interestingly, all the couples had been married in the traditional way and most of them had lived together in marriage for years. Many of them had even raised children and were looking forward to their grandchildren. But they felt that their lives were not complete because they had all along shut Jesus Christ out of their marriage. Even in the church, there was a limit beyond which they could not rise because as far as the church was concerned, they were not officially married. Even the larger society mocked them, hence their resolve to take their marriage oaths before the congregation.

    It was observed that many of them could not arrange for white garment wedding before they began to raise children due to their poor economic conditions. Because they could not afford the cost of church wedding, the husbands and wives agreed to go ahead to raise children while praying for the day they would have enough savings for church marriage.

    One of the couples identified simply as Mr and Mrs Samuel, said: “As Christians, for everything we do in life, we ask God to take control of our plan. Ours is to have the plan, it is God that executes it. We also believe that God’s time is the best. We might have had it in mind to confirm our marriage all this while, but that did not come to be until today. So, we believe that this day is the day chosen by God for our church wedding.

    “It is all for good because even without coming before God in marriage, God has been with us. God has blessed us with children. God gave us boys and girls, and we consider that as a huge blessing in our lives.”

    Another couple, Mr and Mrs David, said: “All fingers created by God are not equal. Organising a church marriage in this modern life is not easy. But you must get married at the ripe age irrespective of your economic situation. So after our traditional marriage, we decided to postpone the church wedding pending when we would have sustainable income to sponsor our wedding.

    “But we appreciate God for sparing our lives till today to make our plan real. Some were not lucky to get to this day, so this wedding is a celebration of our married life. It is about celebrating God for the number of children He has blessed us with. It is also a thanksgiving to God for our lives.”

    Mr and Mrs Stephen: “It was a burden on our heads that we were not able to have our marriage confirmed by God. We feel so relieved today that we have taken that burden off our heads.”

    According to the Parish Priest of St. Moses Catholic Church, “the essence of marriage is for a couple to live happily. These couples have had happiness in abundance in their lives since they have been together. They are happy and contented irrespective of their weak financial positions.

    “So, marriage is not about money or expensive marriage ceremony. It is all about the couple being happy and contented with where God has placed them in life. So I see their holy sacrament today as a celebration of happy life, happy couples and happy family.”

    Interestingly, some of the couples had to wait for their children to sponsor their weddings. They had struggled to train their children only for the children to grow up and realize that their parents’ marriage rites were not completed. It became a challenge to them. To them, their parents must have sacrificed the money they would have used for marriage to pay their school fees and feed them. So when the children discovered this, they picked up the challenge to pay their parents back by making sure their marriage rites were performed. The church has the record of members who need to complete their marriage rites. So it decided to set a date for such members. The chosen date was October 11, 2015.

    Due to the importance the Catholic Church attaches to marriage, the oath is often conducted by the Archbishop himself. So on that fateful day, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, His Grace, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, was there in person to officiate. When it came to taking marriage oaths, he asked all the 52 couples to repeat some words after him, and they all did. The couples took the oath in chorus, exchanged the marriage rings at the same time and later signed the marriage certificates under the watch of the Archbishop.

    Bishop Kaigama, who is the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, said: “The Catholic Church will not relent in its support of procreation in the country, against the ideology of some societies campaigning against it. The 52 couples joined today is an unprecedented number in the growth of the family of Christ and the diocese. The sacrament of marriage also witnessed alongside the sacrament of confirmation of 217 soldiers of Christ.”

    He added: “We, as leaders saddled with the responsibility to shepherd the flocks of God, the church would continue to support procreation in the world because the living God said we should go into the world to multiply and fill the earth.”

    Bishop Kaigama expressed deep concern about the negative ideology of some countries in the world championing same-sex union and want to compel other nations in Africa and other parts of the world to legalise the same-sex ideology.

    He said: “Let me use this opportunity to warn the rest of the world not to accept the ungodly ideology of same-sex.”

    The Parish Priest of St. Moses Catholic Church,Wada, Jos, Rev. Father Joseph Mancha, who used the opportunity to eulogise the Bishop of Jos Catholic Diocess, described Bishop Kaigama as a true Shepherd whose selfless work is not just within the diocese but the world at large.

    Father Mancha described Kaigama is an ambassador of peace, following his recent award by an Italian based reputable international organisation, Archvio Disarmo or Richerche International Institute as the recipient of their Golden Dove for Peace.

    Mancha said: “This is the fruit of your local and international tireless and selfless efforts in building bridges and the consensus of ecumenism on the interfaith dialogue, peaceful co-existence and inter-religious harmony in the world.

    “By this, we are proud to note that you have joined the illustrious company of great statesmen like Nelson Mandela, Perez De Cuellar, Jesse Jackson, Mohammed Elbardei and Jane Goodall in building a peaceful society in the world.”

    Mancha stressed that the parish and the parishioners were blessed with the presence of the Kaigama, adding that the bishop had strengthen the spiritual growth of his people.

    The newly confirmed couples marched out of the church to have their photographs at the end of the service. Most of them later took their guests to their family homes for reception as there were no enough parks or gardens in the city to accommodate them and their guests. Besides, it was obvious that most of them could not muster the funds to rent a park.

    Included among the new couples were: Mr. Chrisantus and his wife Lucy; Mr. Jonathan and his wife Catherine; Mr. Thomas  and his wife Christiana; Mr. Kenneth and his wife Evelyn; Mr. Augustine and wife Mary; Mr. Bitrus and wife Josephine; Mr. Francis and wife Catherine; Mr. Ishaya & wife Patricia: and Mr. Bitrus and wife Angela.

    Others were: Mr. Joseph and wife Margaret; Mr. Samson and wife Pekes; Mr. Raymond and wife Justina; Mr. Joefrey and wife Cecilia; Mr. Peter and wife Mary; Mr. James and wife Grace; Mr. Haruna and wife Charity; Mr. Emmanuel and wife Roseline; Mr. Williams and wife Esther; Mr. Bitrus and wife Margaret; Mr. Victor and wife Tabitha; Mr. Anthony wife Grace; Mr. Francis and wife Regina; Mr. Sunday and wife Rose; Mr. Peter and wife Sarah; Mr. Luka and wife Mary; Mr. Thomas and wife Esther; and Mr. Ernest wife Esther.

    Also on the roll were: Mr. Godwin and wife Ruth; Mr. Isaac and wife Magdaline; Mr. John Paul and wife Hanatu; Mr. Thomas and wife Victoria; Mr. Daniel and wife Josephine; Mr. Lawrence and wife Grace; Mr. David and wife Charity; Mr. Samson and wife Mary; Mr. Theophilus and wife Antonia; Mr. Boniface and wife Tabitha; Mr. Yohana and wife Deborah; Mr. Cletus and wife Longret; Mr. Peter and wife Grace; Mr. Joseph and wife Abigail; Mr. Kefas and wife Charity; Mr. Moses and wife Ruth; Mr. Moses and wife Mary; Mr. Peter and wife Angelia; Mr. Raphael and wife Margaret; and Mr. Stephen and wife Gloria.

  • Church supports Buhari’s anti-graft war

    Church supports Buhari’s anti-graft war

    •‘NASS members are selfish’

    The Anglican Diocese of Abakaliki has called on Nigerians to join the on-going war against corruption being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The church spoke through a communiqué at the end of the third session of its sixth synod at the All Saints Cathedral, Abakaliki.

    The communiqué, signed by the Rev. Monday Nkwoagu and clerical synod secrtary, Ven J.C. Agbo, re-echoed President Buhari’s words that “if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us”.

    The church noted that corruption had robbed Nigeria of infrastructures like good roads, electricity and portable water.

    “In every sphere of our lives now, Nigeria wears the look of worn-out clothes because of how corrupt officials have dealt with this country.

    “It is responsible for the high rate of unemployment, which in turn predisposes young people into joining dangerous gangs such as the islamic insurgents and other dreaded men of underworld,” the church said.

    It called on President Buhari to sustain the fight against the scourge to restore the country’s lost glory.

    The church also said the present members of the Bukola Saraki-led National Assembly have abandoned their core mandate of providing service to the people and are out to serve themselves.

    “The synod believes that if politicians are truly representing the electorates, members of the National Assembly would not have engaged themselves in tussles immediately upon resumption.

    “Their actions in the open floor of the lower chamber showed nothing but a group of people serving themselves.

    “The church therefore warns that such show of embarrassment and shame beamed to the whole world should not repeat itself.”

     

  • Synagogue collapse: Between Coroner’s verdict and the church

    Synagogue collapse: Between Coroner’s verdict and the church

    The battle to enforce the verdicts of Lagos Coroner into the collapse of a six-storey building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) resumes tomorrow. Sunday Oguntola reports on the intrigues and twists that have characterised the tragic incident.  

    Should Lagos State enforce the Coroner’s indictment of the Synagogue Church of All Nations and its engineers for the September 12, 2014 collapse of the church’s six-storey building that left 116 persons dead?

    The Federal High Court in Lagos will determine this tomorrow during the hearing of a suit before it by the church challenging Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s directive to security agencies to arrest the indicted persons and enforce the verdict.

    The verdicts

    After the rubbles of the collapse 85 South Africans, 22 Nigerians, two Beninoise, two Togolese and six unidentified persons died from collapse of the building, which served as a guest house close to the church that attracts thousands of worshippers worldwide monthly.

    The victims were believed to be waiting for the miracle services of the church conducted by its renowned founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua. The building was under construction as at the time of its collapse.

    The nationalities of the victims attracted international outcries, making Lagos State Government to institute a Coroner’s Inquest into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

    Ten months after tedious sitting, the Coroner on July 8, 2015 finally came up with a report. It indicted the church for “criminal negligence” and recommended its prosecution.  The church, it said, did not get the requisite approval before commencement of the building.

    The Coroner’s Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, stated that the “death of victims of the collapse was consistent with blunt force trauma that would normally be sustained from a collapsed building.”

    On the cause of the collapse, the court attributed it to structural failure as well as a combination of designs and detailing errors. It said the alleged aircraft which SCOAN claimed hovered over the building minutes before it collapsed was not the cause of the collapse of the building.

    Komolafe said: “Alleged aircraft was not the cause of the building collapse. Building permits/approval was not obtained in respect of the collapsed building. The foundation failure was a remote cause of the collapsed building.”

    The court said that the contractors Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, both engineers of Hard Rock Construction Co. Ltd, that handled the collapsed building project for SCOAN be investigated and tried for criminal negligence by the relevant authority.

    Recommendations

    The Court went on to recommend that the state government should as a matter of urgency carry out detailed ‘fitness for habitation test’ on all the structures/buildings within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, situated at Segun Irefin Street, Bolorunpelu, Egbe, Lagos State.

    Based on testimonies at its sitting, the Coroner said the DPO of Ikotun Police Station, CSP Haruna Alaba, should be replaced with immediate effect because he has allegedly become too compromise to supervise a credible inquiry into the incident.

    Alaba, according to Komolafe, did not observe happenings in his area but chose to rely on information from the Police Headquarters.  He also tasked government to cut down the cost of obtaining necessary building permits/approvals as well as removing all administrative bottlenecks to encourage individuals/organisations go through the due process of obtaining necessary permits before commencement of building construction.

    According to him, “Synagogue Church of All Nations should be prosecuted by the relevant authorities for not possessing necessary building permits.

    “Individuals/Organisations must endeavour to obtain relevant building permits before commencement of any building construction.

    “Individuals/Organisations must engage the services of qualified and competent Engineers/Consultants in carrying out building constructions.

    “Government agencies responsible for ‘monitoring and inspection’ at every stage of construction should be alive to their responsibility and vigilant. Alternatively, the function of ‘monitoring and inspection’ be outsourced to competent professional body that will detect violation of building law and regulations early before any failure.

    “Statutory/First Responders should be adequately equipped to perform their functions effectively and efficiently.

    “The Government, NGO’s and other ancillary bodies should educate and sensitise the public on the need to always allow the statutory/first responders perform their duties during rescue operations/emergency cases and not take over the duties.

    “Government should make it mandatory for professionals involved in the design and supervision of major structural building constructions to have professional indemnity.

    “Government should take steps to secure and preserve the site of any collapsed building, so as not to compromise the conduct of investigation at the collapsed site.”

    Ambode vowed that his administration will enforce the coroner’s verdicts immediately after the report was made public.

    Commitment to enforcement

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, Ambode reiterated the state government’s commitment to uphold and enforce the law in the state and called on residents to respect them.

    He also said that the state government would also prosecute the Synagogue Church of All Nations for neglecting to obtain building approval before commencing the building, contrary to the provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010.

    The governor unequivocally declared that the case must be pursued to a logical conclusion to serve justice to the victims and serve as a deterrent to future offenders.

    Not pleased with Lagos State’s moves to enforce the verdicts, the indicted engineers of the church approached the Federal High Court for enforcement of their fundamental human rights. They claimed entitlement to fair hearing, human dignity and personal liberty as provided under Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

    Appeal for nullification

    According to them, the Nigerian Police, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Lagos State Government (Respondents) will act upon the Coroner’s findings by proceeding to arrest, investigate and/or prosecute them for criminal negligence.

    They also contended that if these aforementioned acts are carried out by the Respondents, their actions would amount to a likely breach of their fundamental human rights to fair hearing, human dignity and personal liberty.

    They are asking for nullification of the Coroner’s verdict, perpetual injunction restraining the Nigerian Police from arresting or interrogating them, perpetual injunction restraining COREN from causing them to appear before any investigatory or disciplinary panel.

    In reaction, the Lagos State Government filed a counter affidavit and preliminary objections to the suit arguing that Synagogue Church and the engineers were granted audience at the Coroner’s Court and availed the opportunity of tendering their depositions and making oral evidence.

    It also contended that the Coroner did not issue a “judicial indictment” on the applicants but made recommendations that they should be investigated and, if found culpable, prosecuted for criminal negligence.

    Will the victims die in vain? Will they be served justice? The process may begin after tomorrow.

     

     

     

     

  • Church holds programme

    THE Church of God Mission (CGM), Lagos State has held an event titled: The Burning Bush at its Mafoluku headquarters.

    Its state Bishop Egwowa Matthew said: “This is one of the programmes God gave to me through the late founder of the church, Archbishop Benson Idahosa.  I discovered that people become busy at the expense of their spiritual lives. At this time of the year, there is an increase in vehicular activities. These are done without preparations. As a result, there is an increase in casualties.’’

    The programme, which ended penultimate Sunday, was aimed at reexamining people’s lives to withstand satanic attacks. He warned that when people do things without spiritual preparations, then there would be problems.

    He dispelled the notion that the three months of the year are dangerous. “There is nothing dangerous about them. It’s people’s imagination. Activities increase but people do not prepare for them,’’ the senior cleric said, adding: “Since the programme started, we have been seeing results.’’

    The event, which coincided with the country’s 55th Independence anniversary, also coincided with the Bishop Egwowa’s 55th birthday. In a message, the Bishop said: “Pray that God blesses our leaders with a revolutionary spirit of change. The quickest way to bring out what we need in the country is: “If you want to serve, you must be prepared to respect people’s rights.’’

     

    The event, which drew participants from far and wide was kicked off with a parade. It featured distribution of books, songs, prayers and cutting of the Bishop’s birthday cake, among others.  One of the guest speakers was Dr Lesile Eden from Cameroun.

     

  • Church dedicates building

    Determined to promote the growth and development of its affiliate branches and to further the spread of the Gospel as directed by Jesus Christ, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 10, Mulero, Orile-Agege, has dedicated eight church buildings within its provincial jurisdiction in Lagos and Ogun states.

    The parishes and zones dedicated were Mighty God Parish and Joy Assembly at Denro Ojodu, Lagos; City of Grace Parish Ajuwon Ogun State; Restoration Parish Abule-Egba; Garden of Love Parish, Agege; Zion Chapel Oregun; Excellence Parish Magodo and Fruitful Vine Parish Ajah, Lagos.

    The pastor in charge of Region 2, Pastor Joseph Obayemi led other men of God to unveil the plaque and cut the tape at the dedication ceremony.

    Mighty God Parish Denro Ojodu, Lagos was the largest among the eight church buildings dedicated. It boasts over 500 sitting capacity.

    The Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 10, Joseph Olagbadegun said the dedication of the church buildings would have been carried out before now, saying preparation for the last convention caused the shift in date.

    He thanked Pastor Obayemi for working hard to ensure that the ceremony held.

    In his sermon, Pastor Obayemi who quoted copiously from Psalm 127:1-2 said “except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman stays awake but in vain”.

    If not for the grace and help of God, it would not have been possible to complete the buildings.

    He said the essence of dedicating the buildings was to ensure expansion of the church which is one of the visions of RCCG to reach out to people.

     

  • Joy as church rehabilitates school

    Joy as church rehabilitates school

    Staff and pupils of Agidingbi Junior School, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State were full of gratitude to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Israel Parish, for refurbishing a block of three classrooms in their school. The rehabilitation offered them a safer and more conducive learning environment.

    Speaking at the renovation of the classroom blocks, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS), Education District Six, Mrs Amidat Anifowoshe, described the effort as remarkable.

    She pointed out that lack of conducive learning environment and parents’ lackadaisical attitude to their children’s education contributed to the poor results in the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and encouraged the public to assist government, through such initiatives.

    She said: “You (Israel Assembly) have helped to make life more comfortable and convenient for the children to learn and this is beneficial to the entire Lagos State, but not everyone is willing to do this. It is a remarkable improvement to the school. Government is unhappy about the recent WASSCE result, which I believe was compounded by the state of the school and we hope that with more of such projects, there would be improvements.

    ” The time these children spend with parents is very important also, because teaching is only complete when you see the children practicing what they have learnt. But the time they spend with their parents is militating against us in the school, as parents do not seem to be doing much. We need churches and other groups to help us advice parents. Government is spending to make sure we have good, reliable, efficient, leaders of tomorrow, but how are we helping the children to be useful in the future?”

    Mrs Anifowoshe, who said the commemoration of the classroom blocks was the first project carried out in her district since she assumed office less than two months ago, promised to ensure maintenance of the classroom block.

    Commemorating the event, Pastor of Israel Assembly, Dapo Awosika said a conducive learning environment in schools would help children do better and curb crimes in the society.

    He called on the society to engage in corporate social responsibility acts to uplift the nation.

    “The value of cannot be underestimated. Education is very important to any given society and when the environment is conducive, performance would be improved and we would not even need to pray too much for the children’s success. It would also help to curb crimes and remove jobless youths from the streets. It is high time churches, organisations and every one of us looked into the communities around us to see what we can do to take the youths off the streets,” he said.

    To the benefactors, he said: “I would only tell the children that there is nothing as good as being taught how to fish yourself.  So now, they have no excuse not to learn. if you are not committed to learning, the you are the architect of your own misfortune.”

    Awosika said more than N2 million was spent on the project, which was raised through donations from church members.

    Principal of the school, Mrs Oluyinka Fadeyibi assured the church that the classrooms would be well-managed and secured, saying: “teachers and class prefects would work hand-in-hand to make sure that hoodlums do not gain access into this place to vandalise our classes. And when the students destroy, we call in their parents to fix it, because the school has no money.”

    Vice Principal, Academics, Mrs Oluwatoyin Williams advised the children to learn from the good gesture of the church and strive to imitate such as they grow.