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Tag: cleric

  • Blame church for Nigeria’s woes, says cleric

    The Senior Pastor of Word for Word Centre Lagos, Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, has attributed the nation’s woes to the failure of the church.

    Nigeria, according to him, is down because churches have failed to deliver on their mandates.

    He also blamed churches for the increasing loss of moral and spiritual values in the nation.

    Akinyemi said: “The failure of the nation is the failure of the church because the church is expected to stand out in the system it finds itself.

    “Nigeria is worn out today because the church has not measured up to its expressed mandate.”

    He lamented most ministers in the nation were not operating in the supernatural, pointing out this is why they cannot rise about environmental hindrances.

    Ministers, he said, must carry supernatural powers, otherwise they won’t be able to face the challenges of life.

    He spoke last week at the ministers conference tagged 2017 Bible Speaks with the theme One from above.

    The cleric said ministers should bring down the supernatural to bear in the current state of the nation.

    According to him: “We should be able to bring down supernatural power of God to change the situation of things.

    “You must be able to bring hope to hopeless situation; that is why we are called.

    “Identity with the supernatural is having the life of God in you; if we do not have God to show to others then we have no business in ministry.

    “We are meant to serve the pattern of heaven on earth and if people fail to see the pattern, then there is a problem.”

    Also speaking at the conference, Church Growth expert, Dr Bola Akin-John, told the ministers to upgrade their leadership knowledge.

    He also asked them to take good care of their marriages because ministry is marriage and vice versa.

    According to him: “Ministry is not grown by anointing alone but by sound knowledge as it is a lifetime work.

    “Therefore, a minister must keep learning, unlearn and re-learn, be open to ideas, innovative and must have strategic planning for the enablement of the church growth.”

    He encouraged ministers not to let their ministries destroy their marriages or let their marriages destroy their ministries.

    Ministry and marriage, according to him, are like Siamese twins such that any attempt to remove one will kill the other.

    He advised ministers to settle their issues if they have one because it will reflect in their ministry if they don’t.

    Akin-John said: “If your attitude to money is not right, you will miss it in ministry.

    “God doesn’t condemn money or prosperity but God condemns wrong attitude to money, like stealing.”

    He warned ministers to be careful with handling money so that they don’t worship it but put their trust in God.

    “Don’t do ministry with politics or bitterness. In the cause of ministry, things will happen that will injure your heart.

    “Don’t let it make you bitter because bitterness is like a poison that eats you up,” he added.

  • Why Nigeria is down, by cleric

    The Minister-in-Charge of Motailatu Church of God, Oke-Ira Lagos, Rev Dr James Akinadewo, has blamed bad leadership for the nation’s woes.

    Nigeria, according to him, has been pegged down despite enormous human and natural resources by bad leaders and docile followers.

    Akinadewo, in a statement, lamented that the situation has driven the nation to the precipice, insisting something drastic must be done to reverse the trend.

    He said: “With the mineral, material and human resources endowed Nigeria by God and the resultant biting hardship faced daily by the populace, Nigeria is a huge disappointment.

    “We have disappointed God as a nation and a big letdown to humanity.

    Recent discovery shows our leaders are inhuman with no welfare for the populace.

    “Countries less endowed are enjoying but we are suffering in the midst of plenty owing to bad leadership.”

    He also lamented the choking level of corruption across the nation, saying “if we don’t rise, posterity will have our heads on a platter.”

    Pointing out Nigerians have become despondent, Akinadewo said the responsibility to provide basic amenities lies with government and not God.

    “Nigerians daily blackmail God with prayers for amenities. It is government’s duty, not God’s,” he stressed.

    He described unemployment as a time bomb and youth restiveness as a sticking sore, arguing that something must give way to save the nation.

  • Cleric seeks counselling centres for depressed 

    Resident Pastor of the Elevation Church Mainland Centre, Lagos, Pastor Debo Omotunde, has called on the body of Christ to build structures and centres that will provide counselling and support to people going through depression.

    Omotunde spoke with our correspondent last week at the launch of a marketplace evangelism group, Manifesting Jesus by Babatunde Adebola, in commemoration of his birthday.

    He stated churches must be deliberate in efforts at keeping the congregation’s hope alive in Jesus Christ as the pressure around them keeps draining their hope.

    He said that there are increasing numbers of unemployed youths, homeless, destitute and orphans going through physical, emotional and social problems needing someone to talk to.

    Omotunde asserted that many immature Christians are lost in the crowd and they could be possessed of the devil if they are not helped and trained to act like Jesus in every situation.

    ‘’We can also refer cases that cannot be handled by just attending church services promptly to the counselling centre as depression does not set in in a day,’’ he advised.

    He challenged Christians to focus more on God and be sure that no matter the situation that comes their way, He will not leave them.

    ‘’We should never get to a point when we think our lives are our own as the Bible says we will one day give account of our lives and therefore we must be faithful stewards of our lives,’’ he said.

    “Let’s do everything to receive help. We should fight until there is no more breath in us. We should be faithful and responsible stewards of our life,” Omotunde charged.

    He lamented that many Christians are concerned about economic recession in the country, which, according to him, is wrong.

    ‘’This is not consistent with the Spirit of God, as we operate under a covenant that secures our prosperity, peace, joy, health and our capacity to resource for heaven so we can fulfil God’s plan,” he noted.

    He added:  “There is a direction and instruction for the now that will enable you to do what God will have you to do.

    “Jesus said that the Gentiles are worried about material things of this world but He enjoins us to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto us.”

    Convener of the programme, Babatunde Adebola, said the ministry is predicated on Roman 8: 19.

  • Nigeria will rise again, says cleric

    Nigeria will rise again, says cleric

    General Leader and Chairman, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District Headquarters, Special Apostle Prophet Sunday Funsho Korode, has charged Christians to remain steadfast in service of God and maintain their relationship with Him.
    He said Christians must up their game in serving God and stop getting in and out of sins, which makes nonsense of the lessons and spiritual gains of the Lent season. He also urged Christians to be who they are during the Lent and after the Lent, even into the New Year.
    Prophet Korode, who spoke on the lessons of Resurrection, entitled: The humble and exalted Christ on Good Friday at the Surulere Headquarters of the church, said: “It is about time Christians up their games. If you continue to think of the past you will be repeating the past. And you can never log in to your future. When you get in and out of sin, you are colourless in terms of opportunity with the Lord. At that time, you have lost your eternity.
    “When you get out of Christ, you get into crises. Anybody who has gone into forty days of Lent and self denial, and after that he gets back into drunkenness, kidnapping and a number of negatives, he is getting back to sins. You cannot escape the judgment of God. Be who you are during the Lent and after the Lent, even into the New Year. You have to strive to constantly keep your relationship with God. But, you cannot do it on your own. It needs prayers and fasting. Be true Christians all year round.”
    He said that notwithstanding the economic challenges and prevalence of other negative things, Nigeria would rise again because God is forever true.
    According to him, the greatest breakers of the laws are the makers of the laws. “We see it in our country today. They rejoice in it, celebrate impunity and sin. Nobody is being prosecuted. There are no consequences for misconduct. Until that starts happening, it might be difficult to change the country,” he added.
    He however stated that there were scattered islands of disciples of God who were doing their best to ensure the banner is raised high, noting that ‘’we must turn to God for salvation and we are learning so much yet little is being put to use. I am a confirmed optimist that Nigeria will turn a good leaf. And life will be a lot better for Nigerians’’.
    He described the situation in Nigeria as a paradox where the greatest proponents of the gospel were the greatest offenders, noting that it was important for the nation (leaders and the led) to build culture of excellence and internalise the gospel of God as ‘’we have only taken it on the surface’’.
    “Your father killed the prophet, the children worshipped their tombstone. That is what is going on in Nigeria. The change mantra of President Buhari is instructive, let the change begins with you. Who, you shouts in my ears, I cannot hear what you are saying.
    “However, we have great hope of life and whatever circumstances we find ourselves, here on earth we can always log out of them eventually by power of resurrection. God is not God of one chance but multiple chances. Each time we are down, we can come up again. That is one of the lessons of resurrection. Your negative experiences are transient. What we call afflictions is momentary because we have a hope of something better than what we are in. We are rolling from glory to glory because God has prepared us for that. But, the greater issue of resurrection is that there is life at eternity for you and me,” headed.

  • Cleric donates items, cash to indigent people

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has donated cash and food items to 1, 000 poor people, the aged and the physically-challenged to mark Easter.

    He said the gesture was to share with the less-privileged and show them love.

    Ezeokafor advise rich persons to do likewise.

    He urged the beneficiaries not to see their condition as an opportunity to engage in crimes.

    The cleric implored beneficiaries to thank God despite their condition, warning against laziness.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the beneficiaries hailed the bishop for the gesture.

    “This is not the first time the church is doing this, as we usually gather once in a month to receive spiritual and material blessings from the bishop.

    “We are grateful to him for sustaining the gesture.

    “We pray God to give him good health and divine direction to continue the good work,” a beneficiary, Mrs. Nneka Ezeome, said.

    Some of the items distributed include clothes, yam, beans, rice, gari, coconut, onions and cash, among others.

  • How to make Easter counts, by cleric

    Senior Pastor of Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, has called on Christians to utilise the Easter season to reflect and appropriate the life and principles of Jesus Christ.

    Adetoyese-Olagunju spoke in an interview at the church Special Praise at La-reel Hotel VGC, Lagos.

    According to him, Easter is a season of transformation, rebirth and reflection on the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind from sin and its eternal consequences.

    He lamented many Christians only profess the person of Jesus but jettison the life and principles of Jesus in their daily lives, making the sacrifices of Jesus of no effect.

    The cleric said: ”Jesus remains the light of the world and his children are supposed to reflect his life, principles and values in all that they do.”

    He noted that the early disciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch not because they were professing Jesus alone but because their lives, characters, dispositions, attitudes and values were replica of the values Jesus stood for.

    He asserted that developed nations of the world became great when they make the teaching of Jesus their watchwords and ways of life.

    ”It is not enough that Nigeria has so many churches and few people are truly living their lives in line with God’s word. That will only displease God,” he stressed.

    ”The world is looking up to the church for answers and solutions to economic, social and physical and mental problems, which the sacrifices of Jesus have borne. We must be alive to this reality and take responsibility as God’s children,” he challenged.

    He recalled that the death of the doctor who committed suicide recently on his way from the church gives lots of concerns as to the messages and teachings in some churches.

    He challenged church leaders to refocus their teachings by pointing members to God and his principles, which are sufficient to lead a better life.

  • Cleric chides Senate for ‘rascality’

    Cleric chides Senate for ‘rascality’

    Activist cleric and founder of the Foundation of Truth Assembly Rev. Yomi Kasali has chided the Senate for “legislative recklessness and rascality”, adding that it was wrong for the National Assembly to hold the executive to ransom.
    He said Nigeria may not make progress, unless the National Assembly was “invaded” by aggrieved Nigerians and shut down in protest.
    Kasali said: “The legislature should not behave as if it is above the law. It is not superior to the judiciary.”
    The priest warned against holding the Presidency to ransom, adding that the recent actions of the Senate has made Nigerians lose faith and confidence in the Red Chamber.
    Kasali spoke with reporters in Lagos on the state of the nation during the flag off of the church’s Easter programme, Cross Concert.
    The cross campaign, which is billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Easter Sunday will feature many priests, evangelists and gospel musicians, including Lenny Leblanc, Pastor Wale Adenuga, Tope Alabi, Chioma Jesus and Dan Bulaun.
    Kasali explained that the programme would employ spiritual means to drum support for national unity, and ethical value reorientation, adding that the church will also give award to cross crusaders.

  • Cleric recalls losing five children, three wives at 60

    Cleric recalls losing five children, three wives at 60

    Lagos cleric, Prophet Lai Bamidele, has recalled his travails in the service of God, saying it was only perseverance that had kept him in the vineyard.

    Specifically, he said he lost three wives in succession and five children with all his life savings in Kano lost to ethno-religious crisis.

    Bamidele, General Overseer of Glorious Christ End-time Envangelical Church, a church with headquarters in Lagos, spoke on the occasion of his 60th birthday penultimate weekend.

    “It was as if I would never get out of those disasters when they kept happening, and like the Biblical Job.

    “I lost three wives in quick succession during which five children also passed on. I was virtually stretched to my wits’ end but I kept on in the faith.

    “But I have been undeterred because I know the devil, having caused those losses, had forgotten that the Lord is faithful. And by the grace of God, I have been enjoying divine blessings and increase.

    “To the glory of God, I have five other glorious children, who are doing well along with my beautiful wife,” a visibly moved Bamidele said.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently raise a think-tank of credible economic experts to lead the country out of socio-economic crisis.

    According to him, rising cases of suicide were clear indications that all is not well with the Nigerian economy.

    “That people are now committing suicide owing to hunger, joblessness and social neglect is an indictment on whatever economic policy that might have been put in place and it is now time for the Buhari administration to re-strategise by forming a committee of credible economic experts, who will help lead the country out of these doldrums,” he counselled.

  • Southern Kaduna: Christians must shun revenge, says cleric

    Founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) the Power of God Saves, Pastor Moses Olagunju, has called on Christians to shun any form of revenge no matter the level of provocation against them in Southern Kaduna.

    Rather than revenge, Christians, he said, should look up to God for defence regardless of the killings targeted against them.

    Olagunju spoke at the just-concluded annual three-day men revival service at the church’s headquarters in Egbeda, Lagos.

    According to him, persecutions against Christians have been on across the nation since 1970, pointing out that God has always come to the rescue of the church when Christians look up to him.

    He regretted some church leaders were inciting Christians to retaliate the attacks against them, contrary to divine instructions.

    Quoting the scriptures copiously, Olagunju said the strength of the church is not in fighting back but resorting to prayers for demolition of forces against Christians.

    He appealed for support for the ongoing anti-corruption war by Christians, lamenting previous governments have milked the nation’s resources dry.

    “Our ministry is concerned about the state of the country and if God’s people can unite and be patient with the government, better days are coming.

    “I can assure that the present government will make this country great again. This country is in the midst of troubling seas and it requires patience to make it work,” he said.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to be deterred by the socio-economic challenges facing the country, urging him to “please remain resolute in your quest for a better Nigeria and God will see you through.”

  • Cleric makes case for IPOB chief

    The community of Uke, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has become the rallying point for the feeble, poor and less privileged for some years now.

    It is so because of Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obimma who is credited with healing powers through his Adoration Ministry.

    It is said that state governors, ministers, spiritualists and idol worshippers have visited the place.

    Apart from spiritual matters, the cleric also lends his voice and weight to political developments. For instance, he has called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

    The ministry has rounded off a special sesssion spanning 33 days of prayer, whose theme was “My Year of Divine Enthronement”.

    The Reverend was the chief host, of course.

    It attracted unusual human and vehicular movements in the sleepy community with people from both within and outside the country in attendance.

    The sea of heads was indeed a sight to behold with people with different problems anxiously waiting for the appearance of the spiritual head of the Adoration Ministry.

    When he finally arrived that Sunday at about 9pm, the venue erupted, waiting for miracles.

    The ministry has also been in the forefront of rendering help to the poor and needy in the society including the widows.

    The Nation gathered that in 2016 alone, the ministry spent over N30  million in such charity work.

    Also, the ministry, it was gathered, employed over 15,000 persons in its schools and factories.

    The Rev father, who goes by the name “Ebube Muo Nso” Emmanuel Obimma, when he took over the microphone, said “I am not the healer but Jesus Christ”.

    According to him, “I have no power to do miracles unless it is given to me from above. The Adoration Ministry has recorded  unprecedented harvest of miracles”

    While speaking, he implored the federal government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Let there be equality, let love lead Nigeria, I am advocating for equity, justice and fairness. We say we are one Nigeria, but that is only in words,” Obimma said.