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Tag: ECWA

  • Dapchi: ECWA declares 3-day fasting, prayer for Leah

    The ECWA Church has declared a three-day fasting and prayer for the release of Leah Sheribu, one of the girls abducted by insurgents at the Girls Technical School, Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Dr. Jeremiah Gado, ECWA President, announced the Church’s resolve to crave God’s intervention in Leah’s case at the end of a four-day General Church Council meeting in Jos,yesterday.

    “We want to fast and hold special prayer sessions for Leah Sheribu. All ECWA members should fast and pray for God’s intervention toward freeing Leah,” he said.

    Gado, who read the communique to newsmen, directed members to also use the period to pray for God’s intervention in the security and economic situations of the country.

    According to him, the fasting and prayer will start on April 27 and end on April 29, 2018.

    “The fasting and prayer will be rounded off with special Church services in all ECWA Church branches the world over, on April 29,” he said, and urged other Christians to join in the intercessory prayer.

    Read: Bring back Leah

    The Church tasked the Federal Government to extend the negotiation mechanism being applied to free the remaining Chibok girls, to free Leah, and called for stringent measures to end such abductions.

    It decried the worsening spate of killings and kidnappings across the country, and urged government to strive to end attacks on rural communities allegedly by herdsmen.

    It kicked against suggestions that the violence was a clash between herdsmen and farmers, and claimed that it was “an expansionist mission meant to takeover people’s ancestral land”.

    The Church endorsed the call by eminent Nigerians asking citizens to defend themselves, and challenged government to make that unnecessary by protecting Nigerians from such invaders.

    Fifteen -year-old Leah, who was abducted along with 115 other girls last month, is the only student still in the captors’ custody.

    She was not released along with others because she refused to denounce her Christian faith.

    The Federal Government has promised to ensure her release, with government officials stating that negotiations were ongoing toward securing her freedom.

  • Women pray for safe rescue of 110 school girls

    Women pray for safe rescue of 110 school girls

    Task FG to rise up to security challenges in Nigeria

     

    Women under the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) have taken  time off to pray for the safe rescue of the over 100 Dapchi, Yobe state school girls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgent.

    The women also urged the Federal Government to rise up to the security challenges in parts of the country, particularly in the northern part of the country.

    The prayers took place in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    Speaking on the abduction of the girls, South-West Women Leader of the church, Mrs. Florence Alashi said: “We urge the Federal Government to do something about the girls.

    We pray that very soon they will return to their homes. But we can only pray that the FG will not take things lightly this time around. Government should take it seriously because of the homes that are affected. Even those of us that are here, we are also affected as mothers.

    “It is not going down well with us. I will implore all of us not to relent in our prayers to the God that is all knowing and can do all
    things for this kind of thing to stop in this country. As any of us can fall victim of the incident.”

    The prayers were parts of the activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary conference of the women fellowship of the church.

    The conference is slated for Wednesday 7th and 10th of this month in Igbaja, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.

    Earlier, Chairman, Central Planning Committee Emmanuel Malomo said ECWA as a whole had been one of the hardest hit by the activities of the Boko Haram Islamists. Said Pastor Malomo: “On the part of Evangelical Church Winning All as a whole not just the women fellowship, we are not happy about the happenings in Nigeria.

    Over six thousand members of the church are affected. Even in the recent kidnap. Scores of our pastors have been abducted, some killed as a result of the security challenges in parts of the North. Great number of ECWA churches have been burnt down in Yobe, Borno and other parts of the nation by these Boko Haram terrorists.

    At present, we are want to challenge the Federal Government of Nigeria to rise to the security challenges in the country. Even as the church continues to pray.

    “Government should do more to secure the lives of our children, these are the future leaders of this country. That is our prayer and
    commitment. For us as a church we will join forces with security outfit there to secure the lives and properties of our people.”

    On the 2019 elections, Pastor Malomo enjoined members not to shy away from their civic rights by participating in the ongoing continuous voters registration exercise.

    “It is our sole responsibility to register and get our voter’s card. In fact, if we are part of the nation and we want the country to grow
    and want the economic to be effective and we want the government to do the right thing we have to express our constitutional right in voting for the right people in the nation.

    “As a church we have saddled our members to come out en-mass and register in the ongoing voter’s registration exercise. It is necessary.

    As far as we are concerned in ECWA, we do not belong to a particular party, but as electorates we have the right to vote.”

  • Herdsmen attacks: ECWA prays for Nigeria

    The Kaduna South District Church Council of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has held special prayers for the peace, unity and development of Nigeria.

    The church said it wouldcontinue to pray for God to expose, unseat and judge any leader behind killings in the country.

    The Secretary, Revd. Enoch Joshua Bitiyong, who condemned the herdsmen attacks, called on the Federal Government, security agencies and relevant authorities to tighten security in the affected states.

    His words: “If all is not well with Nigeria and Nigerians, nobody is safe, and we all know the evils that are happening in this country, nobody is happy, it takes only a crazy person to be happy with the present state of our country.

    “I wonder if our leaders go to sleep while innocent people die every day. Look at what is happening in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and other states, yet no serious action is being taken to end the killings. As a Nigerian and a Pastor, I am unhappy when I see people crying, when I see children massacred, when I see parents killed, when I see caskets and mass burial taking place all over. Yet, we have a President; governors, senators and other lawmakers. Nigeria must change.

    “As Christians and as a Church, we will continue to pray. I call on all Christians to intensify prayers for God to unseat and reveal any leader behind these killings. We will ask God to judge between us and our leaders over what is happening.”

    Chairman of the council Rev. Iliya Yunana said the economy and security challenges in the country calls for prayers.

    According to him, religious, traditional and political leaders must rise up to their responsibility of educating people on the need to live in peace with everyone, irrespective of ethnic, political or social differences.

  • Herdsmen killings: ECWA prays for Nigeria

    Herdsmen killings: ECWA prays for Nigeria

    Following killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen across the country, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Kaduna South District Church Council on Sunday held special prayers for the peace, unity and development of Nigeria.

    The church said it will continue to pray for God to expose, unseat and judge any leader behind the killings going on in the country.

    Secretary of the church’s council, Reverend Enock Joshua Bitiyong while condemning the herdsmen attacks in some parts of the country, called on the Federal Government, security agencies and all relevant authorities to intensify security in the affected states and also do more in tackling the menace.

    According to him, “If all is not well with Nigeria and Nigerians then nobody is safe and we all know the evils that are happening in this country, nobody is happy. It takes only a crazy person to be happy with the present state of our country Nigeria.

    “I wonder if our leaders, President Muhammadu and all Governors go to bed and sleep while innocent people are being killed every day.

    “Look at what is happening in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and other states of the country and yet no serious action is being taken to end the killings. As a Nigerian and as a Pastor, I am not happy when I see people crying, when I see children being massacred.  I am not happy when I see parents being killed, when I see caskets and mass burial taking place all over. Yet we have President, we have Governors, Senators and other lawmakers. Nigeria must change.

    “As Christians and as a Church, we will continue to pray. I call on all Christians to intensify prayers and I tell you we will continue to pray for God to unseat and reveal any leader who is behind these killings.  We will ask God to judge between us and our leaders over what is happening

    “It is the responsibility of government according to Nigeria’s constitution to provide security of lives and property of its citizens, but what we see in Nigeria is only when people are being killed before security is provided. I think something is wrong somewhere

    “This was not what we know Nigeria to be in the past. Our Leaders must do something to restore the lost glory of this country, he said.

    In his own remarks, Chairman of the council, Reverend Iliya Yunana said the present economy and security challenges facing the nation calls for prayers.

    He said, religious, traditional and political leaders must rise to their responsibility of educating the citizens on the need to live in peace with everyone irrespective of ethnic, political or social differences.

    According to him, “Government should do all within its power to fish out those involved or sponsoring the kidnappings, armed robbery and the frequent attacks in communities across the country.

    The prayers which is part of the church’s Annual Consecration week brought many clergy men and members of the Church together to seek God’s face in the year 2018.

  • ECWA constitutes visitation panel for Bingham University

    The Bingham University Board of Trustees has constituted a 9-man visitation panel for Bingham University, with Professor James Saliba of the University of Maiduguri as Chairman.

    Inaugurating the panel in Jos, Chairman, Board of Trustee of Bingham University, Karu described the panel as very important in the administration of the university.

    According to him, the time has come for another honest, true and objective evaluation and assessment of the achievements recorded by Bingham University and the challenges it has faced in the past five years.

    According to him, members of the panel have been carefully selected and tasked to bring to bear their vast experience in carrying out their assignment. While appreciating the members for accepting to serve, he reminded them that their report will be critical in repositioning the university in order to fulfill its mandate.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Visitor to the University and ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gado acknowledged Bingham University as “a gift from God,” adding that every gift that comes from God has to be handled very well because it is very precious.

    The Visitor said, “We are not out to find fault but to find out what is wrong and address it. ECWA is on a mission to have an Everest of all universities beyond Nigeria…”

    Responding, Prof. Barnabas Williams Qurix, who spoke on behalf of other members, thanked God and appreciated ECWA leadership for choosing them to serve.

  • ECWA to inaugurate digital TV July

    The Evangelical Church Wining All (ECWA) says  it will inaugurate its digital TV in July.

    Pastor Gideon Titus of  ECWA Goodnews,  Gonin Gora, made this known in Kaduna on Sunday at a thanksgiving service.

    Titus said that about N85 million was expended on the project, adding that the needed manpower had  been recruited.

    According to him, the ECWA digital TV will  be a crucial tool in propagating the gospel in order to  bring people closer to God.

    “Very soon,  ECWA TV will hit the air waves. It will strengthen the bond of the ECWA family and spread the gospel of God to all nooks  and crannies of the world,’’ he said.

    He also said that the church had  floated an investment company for members  to pool resources  together  and  share dividends.

    The cleric, who said  ECWA has huge undeveloped land  across the country, explained that
    investors  would develop the  land  and put them to economic use.

    “Residential houses, office  accommodation, shopping malls and  complex would be built and leased  or rented  out to end users, “he said.

    The cleric  also revealed that the ECWA Headquarters in Jos had  generated more than N800 million in 2014, N900 million in 2015 and over one  billion in 2016.

    He said that the amount was generated from the 15 per cent monthly remittance from the  District Church Councils  across the country.

    The amount excluded  other sources of revenue, particularly ECWA investments across the country.

    The thanksgiving service is a quarterly programme of the church. (NAN)

  • ECWA Ilorin celebrates at 70

    ECWA Ilorin celebrates at 70

    SEVENTY years after it started with just seven worshippers, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) will next Sunday roll out the drums to celebrate the milestone.

    Formerly known as Evangelical Church of West Africa, the church, which has since spread to most parts of the country, started in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on 7th April, 1946.

    The first ECWA church now boasts of 10,000 worshippers with over 28 branches planted.

    According to the information sub-committee of the 70th anniversary: “Rev. C. P. Jensen and Elder J. A. Afolabi, who conceived the idea of starting ECWA in Ilorin met after a Sunday service at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Sabo – Oke Ilorin.

    “The duo met on 31st March, 1946 and agreed to start an SIM Church the following Sunday.

    “They moved with faith and the church started in the residence of Rev. C. P. Jensen on 7th April, 1946.

    “First ECWA Ilorin started with 7 worshippers on the first day of meeting – they were Rev. C. P. Jensen (host), Mrs. Helen Jensen and Elder J. A. Afolabi. Others are Mr. Thomas Akande, Mr. Elisha Omoteji, Mr. Joseph Adewumi (Joseph Cook) and Mr. Joseph Aboyeji (Boyeji Oloko).

    Activities marking the celebration include an anniversary lecture by Professor Yusufu Turaki, on Friday, 8th April.

    Keynote address will be delivered by Dr. John Ndanusa Akanya (OON), former Director General Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

     

  • Agege stands still for ECWA at 40

    The ever-bustling Agege suburb of the Lagos metropolis stood still in awe as the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Agege recently rolled out the drums in glorious celebration of its 40th anniversary.
    The week-long event came into a crescendo on penultimate Saturday with a carnival-like launching of a N25 million development/investment fund.
    Dignitaries at the event were the legendary Evang. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi (a.k.a. Ebenezer Obey) who single-handedly built and donated the church’s first auditorium on October 8, 1975 and gospel singer Tope Alabi.
    Alabi roared the whole church into frenzy with her evergreen numbers of infectious appeal.
    The Church Minister, Pastor Moses Ayando, listed ten other churches that had been “planted” by the church in its environs and assured that more will still come up under its expansion programme.
    They are ECWA Churches in Ipaja, Gowon Estate, Agbelekale, Alakuko, Sango, Ifo, Lafenwa, Akinde Youth Centre, Maidan and Iju.
    Very soon, he said, another one will be opened in Iyana Iyesi, Ota where, according to him, a member had already donated two plots of land for its building.
    In addition to planting of new churches, Pastor Ayando said that ECWA Agege operates a “small clinic” where routine blood pressure and sugar level checks are done free while it single-handedly runs the 30-minute Radio ELWA weekly programme on Bond FM Radio, Lagos every Saturday 8.00 pm.
    The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Engr. S. B. Balogun, said that the celebrations provided an opportunity for the church to renew its spiritual vision and honour some of its founding ministers and members with awards.
    The awardees included Evangelist Obey who bagged the “visionary award”; the church’s first choir master, Evang. Emmanuel Oladotun; the first wedded couple in the church, Mr.& Mrs. Segun Adesanya and Rev. and Mrs. F.O. Oke for the church planting award.
    The Merit Award went to Pastor Ayando.
    Some of the founding members who also received awards were Elder D.M. Osajare, Pa and Mrs. A.O. Kodaolu, Mrs. M.A.Akinremi and Elder and Mrs. Shina Akinremi.
    Obey recalled his first encounter with ECWA Church at Challenge, Mushin where, he said, he was attracted by melodious gospel songs “while I was hiding from my Papa Ajao landlord over unpaid house rents”.
    He congratulated the Church for its achievements and urged its leadership and members to remain dedicated to serious evangelism which, he noted, was the bedrock of ECWA and Christianity.

  • ECWA trains 700 on agric techniques

    ECWA trains 700 on agric techniques

    Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Railway Local Church Council (LCC) Bauchi, has concluded training for over 700 of its members on new agricultural techniques to improve their farm produce.

    The training ended a two-day revival service conducted by the church.

    Experts took the members on how to cultivate produces such as soya beans, sesame, groundnuts, fish and poultry farming profitably.

    LCC Overseer, Shuaibu Byal, said the training was necessary, particularly as this year’s rain has stated falling and planting would soon begin in earnest.

    He said: “The training is borne-out of our desire to empower and equip members with necessary skills to enable them engage in best agricultural practices.

    “Most members in our local churches are peasant farmers, who engage in different agricultural activities but often at a loss due to lack of knowledge and the right skills.

    “So, we felt there is need, to equip them with skills and techniques that would improve their productivity.

    “The skills would encourage members to engage in farming activities to boost their income and sustain their families with what they produce.” have awarded scholarship to seven students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Yabatech.

    The awards marked the formal transition of the body from Professional Accountants Christian Fellowship (PACF).

    The body also launched a new logo in line with its new status.

    The beneficiaries are accounting students who came top in the group’s qualifying test.

    According to a statement from the group, the scholarship covers the ICAN lectures, examination fees and feeding stipend for the winners.

    The body added: “The scholarship subsists until they qualify and it will be an annual award to deserving members.”

  • ECWA Agbelekale celebrates 20

    •Elevates pastor

    It was triple celebrations for Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Agbelekale under Mushin District Church Council Lagos last Sunday.

    Members and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the church, dedication of the Walter Gowans Multi-purpose hall and elevation of the parish pastor, Femi Ikusagba, to a Reverend.

    Ikusagba said the assembly started as a prayer centre under ECWA Agege in January 1993 at one of the members’ residences in Ekoro area of Abule-Egba.

    ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Prof Samuel Kunhiyop, charged leaders to choose to be servants like Jesus did.

    According to him:”The rights and privileges of a leader diminish as his responsibilities increase”.

    He paid special tributes to pioneers of the assembly, saying their contributions and sacrifices made the church grow.

    Kunhiyop said every servant has rewards and charged the newly ordained to remain good ambassadors of Christ no matter where they find themselves.

    Former President of the church, Rev Anthony Farinto, advised the new reverend to stay clear of internal politics, saying it could overwhelm and cloud his ministry.

    Chairman of the anniversary committee, Elder Bamigbade, described Reverend Ikusagba as man filled with the Holy Spirit who has brought numerous achievements to ECWA Agbelekale.

    Ikusagba attributed his elevation to the hands of God, declaring that he remains a ready tool in the hands of God for propagation of the gospels.