Women Turn Pray Warriors For Ailing Ekiti Deputy Gov

Ekiti State women converged on Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday and prayed for the ailing Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

Wife of the Governor, Bisi Fayemi, convened the session, a statement by her media aide, Akin Oyedele, said.

Other female government officials and appointees, as well as wives of top government functionaries attended the prayer session.

 Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, led other clerics to intercede on behalf of the deputy governor and the state.

Ajakaye, in his homily, urged the people to stop peddling rumours about the health status of the deputy governor, but to pray to God to restore her health soon.

He urged them not to despair, warning that negative utterances were capable of worsening the health condition of any sick person.

He said the deputy governor was indisposed and only required proper medical attention, as she was currently receiving.

Pianist Arraigned For Picketing Pas.Okotie’s Church

A former pianist with Household of God, Mr. Dafiaghor Okiotor, was again in the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, presided by Magistrate Oshodi Makanjuola, on Tuesday for breach of peace and disorderly conduct.

It was said Okiotor, 40, on July 15, picketed the church owned by popular man of God, Rev. Chris Okotie, over an alleged N39m Okotie owed him.

The sum was supposed to be Okiotor’s entitlement for working in the church for 14 years.

Okiotor, who is Okotie’s kinsman as they are both of Urhobo ethnicity, had been remanded in prison for about three weeks.

At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, counsels to the complainant (Okotie) requested that journalists should be sent out from the court.

Pastor.Chris Okotie

However, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Robert Igbinedion, argued that the court was a public place and that court proceedings should be public knowledge.

 Makanjuola declined Okotie’s lawyers request.

Two witnesses, Adeolu Omotayo and Harold Turay, who were members and guards of the church, testified against Okiotor.

Omotayo said Okiotor had sent two letters threatening to disrupt the church.

He said, “He made good of his threats on that Sunday as he suddenly appeared and became disorderly and raucous at the church entrance. He sang songs in his native language. The reverend had to stop sermonising, and the service was stopped. We called the policemen at Area ‘F’, and they arrested him.

 “But on the evening of that same day, Okiotor came back to the church. He was arrested again and later charged to court.”

Turay, said, “When Okiotor protested at the church, he wore a white T-shirt. Inscribed on it was, ‘Rev. Okotie, you either pay me, or kill me. He was so disorderly and noisy that he disrupted the service.”

During a cross examination by Igbinedion, Omotayo said Okiotor was a volunteer at the church and was not entitled to remuneration.

Makanjuola adjourned the case till April 26, 2013.

The Church and Its Elusive Unity

                                               Our Stand

                 The Church and Its Elusive Unity

At present, as the Church becomes more vibrant and continues to dominate every sector of the world economy, there is a huge dent neutralizing its unprecedented vibrancy. There is a missing ingredient in its role as a unifying spiritual institution-as a place where unity and love should be tenaciously preached and held on to.

Christianity is a religion that often advocates peace, love and unity. The Bible is replete with many sermons preached by Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul and several others in this direction. These prophets left a strong instruction for the Church: to always stay together and united. One of such is a Scripture that asks ’’how pleasant is it when brothers live in peace?’’ There are several parts, according to the book of Corinthians, but Christians are urged to all be one, despite their various gifts, callings and denominations. The Church is urged to see its diversity as a strength and an asset to forge a united and common front and not as a liability or as a cause of disunity.

But Christians seem to have long ignored these biblical and divine instructions, as what pervades the Church today is a far cry from what the Holy Book stipulates, and the early prophets advocated. Rather than seeing one another as brothers, as one in Christ, the Church is, at present  riddled with constant strife, conflicts, discrimination, segregation, seclusion and is divided along doctrinal and denominational lines. The Church, to a large extent, is currently and widely polarized. It is divided along itself. There is unnecessary competition among Christians/churches to outdo one another. There is this rat race of wanting to be the best, and in a bid to achieve this selfish and unholy end, denominations decide to preach against one another and greatly criticize the doctrines and practices of other denominations, whose presence appears to be posing a great threat to their survival.Mostly disappointing is that those who are supposed to be in the forefront of ensuring unity and love among Christians, the custodians of Christian faith, are the ones advancing the cause of hatred the more, thereby,  further fanning the ember of prolonged disunity in the Body of Christ.

One should expect a servant of God to, at anytime, he mounts the podium to  preach ,to be more concerned about messages that will edify and be beneficial to his congregation, rather than embarking on severe criticisms of other church denominations-of their doctrines and beliefs. Through this, hatred is further inculcated in the congregations, who, based on what they have heard about other denominations, therefore consider them devilish, thereby, doing everything to circumvent, jettison, avoid and discriminate against them.

Similarly, the unnecessary pursuit of selfish, narrow and parochial interests of the church denominations, rather than the overall interests and growth of the Church as a whole, is another factor fueling outright disunity in the Church and among Christians, who are implored to live in unity. The reigning practice among Christians is ’’My Church,’’ ‘’My pastor’’ .This is what they have been indoctrinated with. One would have expected that Christians should be more concerned about God, rather than their pastors who are mere instruments in God’s vineyard. One should have thought Christians to be more concerned about the Church; the Body of Christ, knowing full well that their church membership will never count when they get to heaven and will be required to give the accounts of their stewardship to He that sends them.

For the Church to grow in leaps and bounds, Christians must forge a common and united front, as they are expected. The constant and unhealthy emphasis plays on denominations and doctrines in the Christendom should be deemphasized. These duo, have for years, been the destructive factors encouraging further disunity and divisions in the Body of Christ.

Christians, by the virtues of their chosen religious beliefs, are expected to be at peace, live in love and get more united, complementing and assisting one another to grow in Christ, irrespective of their denominational differences. ‘’Though, there are different kinds of services, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working but the same God works all of them in all men’’, submits the Bible. If the foregoing are the words from the Bible, then why the unhealthy competition among Christians? Are they not in the same race? Are they not given the same assignment with the same end in mind-preaching the Gospel and making it to heaven?

The Church is more divided along the lines of various ministers of the Gospel, whom their following see as more spiritually experienced than others, as they are ready to criticize other servants of God to praise theirs, in a bid to express their love for their own. But the Bible has an answer to this in the book of 1 Corinthians 1:12:’’What I mean is this: One of you says “I follow Paul”, another, “I follow Apollo”; another ‘’I follow Cephas’’, still another, ’’I follow Christ’’. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

Apostle Paul, in his lifetime, always tried to banish divisions from the Church, as he constantly warned the Church against it: ’’I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought’’ ,Apostle Paul advised.

Today, the Christendom lacks preachers like Apostle Paul, who will discourage divisions among Christians. They rather encourage divisions because it is in it that their denominations thrive, therefore, trying to further disunite the Body of Christ. Apostle Paul was not selfish; he was not particular about his denomination; he was more concerned in populating, irrespective of denominations, the Kingdom of God, by simply depopulating the kingdom of Satan. Such men like Paul are today rear among the existing God’s generals. The Christendom needs men, who are ready to place emphasis on the general welfare, growth and well-being of the Church as a whole than a mere denomination.

The Christendom that is devoid of love and unity will not augur well for the growth and spiritual effectiveness of the Church and what the Church stands for. Little wonder, the Church has not been able to wrought miracles as it was in the time of old. Selfishness, narrow and parochial interests will further dent the image of the Church in the comity of religions. The situation where preachers ,who should be in the vanguard of unity are rather plunging the Church deeper into further destruction make mockery of the roles they are given to play. The interests of the overall Christians should be of utmost importance in the hearts of all Christian stakeholders.

The situation where fellow Christians see one another as sworn enemies and therefore, try to avoid any contact with one another, make mockery of the Gospel of holiness, righteousness  and unity often preached by the Bible. If unity, love and peace are conspicuously missing in the Church/Christians, then one cannot but wonder where else it could be found?

The situation where beneficial businesses, social associations and proposed sizzling marriages are disrupted on the grounds of different church denominations make nonsense of the biblical submission in 1 Corinthians 13;13 ‘’And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is LOVE’’.

The situation where those who call themselves Christians cannot pray together, because of the issue of doctrines, denominations is not helping the advised togetherness the Holy Book admonishes the Christians about. It is discouraging when Christians join non-Christians to openly criticize a particular church denomination or a servant of God, with the excuse of ‘’we don’t that in our church’’.

Christians must learn not to wash their dirty linen in public, in the midst of sworn enemies of Christianity. Whenever a church denomination or man of God is ridiculed by faithful of opposite religions, the whole Body of Christ is ridiculed. Christians, of whatever denominations, must learn to fight for Christ and the Church, by protecting whatever denomination that is being criticized by anybody. The fact that the name of our Saviour Jesus, the Church and Christian faith is about to be soiled by these ''pagans'', is enough reasons why some peaceful resistance should be put in place, for the Body of Christ, not for a particular denomination. We should all, as a matter of urgency, be in the vanguard of peace, unity and love in the Christendom.

Let us all roll up our sleeves to work towards a Christendom, that is totally devoid of internal strife, conflicts, hatred, segregation, isolation, demarcation and discrimination against fellow Christians, regardless of our denominations. In as much as we all believe in the Word-Bible, the Birth, Death and eventual Resurrection and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must all stand united in the Body of Christ. There must not be divisions among us-the people of God. Let us all work together to jointly build a Christendom where denominations will be downplayed; where doctrinal issues will not engender divisions among Christians. Where we will come together under the umbrella of unity and good brotherliness,  as it is stipulated in the Scriptures. Where we will collectively become united, jettisoning our irrelevant denominational interests but the overall unity of the Body of Christ.

It is by so doing, Christianity and the Church will find their strong footings and Christianity as a religion, will be greatly envied in the comity of religions. We must all stand for peace, unity and love-the greatest is LOVE!

   

Dino Melaye Blames Church Attacks On FG

                                                                                               By: Frank Eboye and Mercy Obeka

·         Urges Christians not to retaliate

·         Says Church has lost focus

·         Advises preachers to go back to first love

The Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Network, Hon. Dino Melaye has blamed the frequent church attacks on the Federal Government, whom he said lacked the capacity to contain these attacks.

Melaye recently said this when fielding question from The Christendom in Abuja.

His words: ‘’The truth of the matter is that I blame the Federal Government for the attacks on churches. But I will not want to give it a religious colouration because it is not .It is not actually a religious crisis; it is an economic crisis. You see somebody saying he is fighting for Sharia but he will enter another person’s house and carry a bag of rice; enter another person’s house and carry a television set. What does a television set got to do with religious crisis? And unfortunately, the Federal Government has not demonstrated the needed capacity to contain it. This thing we are experiencing now, we are not experiencing for the first time. In 1981, there was Mata sini crisis which was even bloodier than Boko Haram. The ravaging effects, the magnitude and intensity of mata sini, was fiercer than what we are experiencing now-from Boko Haram .But the difference between in 1981 and now is that the civilian government of Alh. Shehu Shagari, the then Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Adewusi and the then Commandant that was moved to Kano, Major-General Muhammed Buhari, were the men on ground and they contained the Mata sini crisis in Kano and Yola. Now the difference between Matasini crisis and Boko Haram is the capacity of the government to contain. This particular government lacks the capacity, lacks the intelligence know-how and it is blindfolded by corruption because the security agencies are making money from the process, instead of confronting the issues’’.

Hon.Dino Melaye

Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives, who spearheads the fight against corruption, through his newly-established Anti-Corruption Network, urged Christians nationwide, especially those in the North, not to carry out reprisal attacks, as they lack the capacity to fight for Christ:’’ My advice for the regularly-attacked Christians is that the Bible is very clear. God has said vengeance is His. Christians must not fight for themselves or fight for God. We do not even have the capacity to fight for God. Christians must know that the Bible is clear about it. Vengeance is God’s. Christians must not carry arms, must not carry ammunition or try to retaliate. All we can do is to continue to pray and worship. More of worship, because the Wall of Jericho did not come down by prayers; it came down by worship. Paul and Silas did not come out of the prison by prayer but by worship. That is why the Bible says: ’’ in every situation give thanks to God’’. We serve a God who has the capacity to tame all situations. So, we should keep calling on Him, once we call on him in righteousness, He will answer us. The Bible never told us that we would not face persecution. The Bible told us. Those Christians of old faced the same persecution. Even Apostle Paul was a persecutor before he met God on his way to Damascus. Persecution is there. The Bible says;’’ in this world you will face persecution’’. So, if what we are experiencing now is part of our own persecution, we should take it as persecution but we need to pray. One thing that is sure is that we shall overcome. We shall overcome as we continue to pray. But no Christians must take up arms to fight. If you think you want to fight for God, you cannot fight for God. Because you do not have the capacity to fight for Him’’.

On what is currently missing in the Christendom, when the present Christendom is compared with that of the old, Melaye, who believes the present Church has gone commercial, said the love of materialism and the regular preaching of prosperity have made the Church to lose focus as a change agent it is used to be. ‘’The truth of the matter is that Christianity, these days has gone commercial. Men of God are now men of men. Many of our bishops and Christian leaders spend more time at the Villa than on the pulpit. Many ministers of God have commercialized their consciences and monetized their callings. The love of materialism has taken over the love of Christ. Church is supposed to be a change agent because in the New Testament, even in the Old Testament, the Church was a change agent. When a particular king-in our own case, the president, in the Bible was doing anything contrary to the will of God, the prophet would approach the king to tell him what he was doing was wrong. Those days, the Church was a change agent, but today the Church is partnering with politicians and corrupt leaders to bedevil our economy. Today, very few people preach holiness and purity. Very few preachers preach the Old Order. Very few preachers these days preach about the old Church. Everything has been overtaken by the love of materialism and preaching of prosperity. Prosperity has taken over the preaching of old doctrines, ordinances, purity, rapture, holiness, sanctification, and righteous living-all these are hardly preached these days.

‘’Recently, I was surprised when I was watching the television; I saw an advert of a particular church, calling people to come and attend a seminar on how to make quick money. That is what the Church has turned into. Most of our bishops and church leaders today, are buying jets. And the truth of the matter is that children of God are now servicing the international jet-setting lifestyles of our church leaders. I do hope that those who have acquired jets will use them for the purpose of God. Because the Bible says ‘’go ye and preach the Gospel to all nations not only Nigeria, but all nations. Since they have acquired jets now, I challenge to use those jets to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Peru, Kuwait, Saudi- Arabia, Afghanistan, preaching the Gospel. The Church has absolutely derailed from the Christ-like lifestyle. The Holy Spirit is a meek, humble, quiet, dove-like spirit. But today, our ministers have become so flamboyant, they carry convoys of vehicles. Some of them with body guards .Some of them with sirens. Jesus Christ, while on earth, hired a donkey to go to Jerusalem; He did not even own one. Today, churches do not pay tax and still live flamboyant lifestyles. Even Jesus Christ Himself paid tax. When there was no money to pay, He asked them to get a fish and got money from the mouth of the fish to pay his tax and that of others. But today’s churches do not pay taxes but they live an extravagant, materialistic and worldly lifestyle. So, the Church must refocus her energy at soul-winning, which is the primary occupation of the Christendom. Today, we have lost focus; we have lost direction; we have lost our callings and the consciences of our Christian leaders have been monetized. There is a need for spiritual rejuvenation’’.

Also speaking on the growing divisions and unhealthy competition among Christians, the young Christian family man, who said the old Christianity preached purity, holiness as against prosperity, love of money and materialism that are commonly preached in today’s churches, believes the causes of divisions in the Church today is the love of materialism .His words: ‘’The causes of these divisions is the love of materialism. Each bishop, pastor, CEO and overseer wants to overshadow the other. So, there is immoral competition among churches. This General-Overseer wants to build a bigger auditorium than this one. This one wants to drive a better car than this. This one wants more membership than this. It is immoral competition that is causing these sectional differences’’

Nigerian Bishop Sets To Establish Seven Varsities In Africa

The Chancelor,Covenant University,Sango Ota,Ogun State,Nigeria- a private university owned by a church in Nigeria- Living Faith Church,Bishop David Oyedepo,has promised to establish seven more universities in addition to the two existing universities already owned by the Church.The new varsities are to be sited in Nigeria and other Africa countries in 2013.

The preacher made this announcement recently at the 10th Founders' Day Anniversary of the University. According to him,the foundation of the Church's third university in Nigeria was laid in January 2013.

Oyedepo who said his intervention in the education sector of Nigeria was to prove that sanity could be restored to the much troubled sector of the country,informed that the plan to establish four universities in Nigeria and other three to be located in West,Central and East African nations was part of the Church's resolve to reclaim the continent's lost glories.

The 2012 Forbes Magazine-rated Nigeria's Wealthiest Preacher,also hinted that the third university,which would be named Crown University,would be sited in Calabar, Cross River State,South-South, Nigeria.The new University,according to him would primarily focus on Maritime studies.

Bishop Oyedepo doubles as the President of the Church and have many business concerns world over.He is also known to be in cordial relationship with the Redeemed Christian Church of God 's General Overseer,Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

Lagos State Government Demolishes N100m Church in Epe

Officials of the Lagos State Government have demolished a certain ‘Pure Fire Miracles Ministries International’ (PFMI) church located at Afero village on Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The church was having its annual convention with over 10, 000 worshippers from 12 foreign countries in attendance when the officials stormed the building.

The bulldozers from the taskforce moved in immediately and three of the buildings were brought down before the traditional ruler of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, Chairman of Epe Local Government and other prominent citizens in the community intervened to stop the exercise.


It was gathered that men of the Lagos Task Force, accompanied by officials from the Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD), carried out the demolition over allegation that there was no approval for the Attention of the building.

The church structures, worth over N100 million, were erected on a 10-acre of land. The structures comprise six auditoriums, offices, residential buildings and buildings for other purpose.

According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, “there was no approval for the church building and notices had been served to the church asking them to vacate the land, because the land fell within the proposed Lekki International Airport”

The church however disputed the claims by the government that it had no approval. A document from the legal adviser to the church’s pastor, Enoch Idowu Aminu, Messrs Ibrahim A. Shittu and Co., of Probono Chamber, showed that the land was purchased from Ikujenya Okanlawon Ikuforiji Chieftaincy Family, with the address at 3, Ikujenya Street, Bado Oke, Epe, Lagos State, on 21 May, 2010.

The purchase, according to the cleric, was carried out as a result of the information contained in the Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette, No. 29, Volume No 27, September 1, 1994.

This was confirmed in the official receipt of payment, dated 23 November, 2011, in the sum of N1.64 million. The church claimed that the government lied by saying that the property fell within the proposed airport as other buildings in the same vicinity were not demolished.

Nigerian Church of Brethren loses 109 Members to Boko Haram

Indication emerged recently that the Nigeria's deadly Islamist sect,Boko Haram has so far snuffed precious lives out of 109 members of the Nigerian Church of Brethren across the North Eastern parts of Nigeria,mostly in agonizing manners.
This was the revelation of the pastor in-charge,Rev.Daniel Mbaya.

This shocking revelation was given recently at a church service,with the Nigerian president in attendance,at the headquarters of the Church,located at Utako,Abuja.

Mbaya informed that the Church had lost no fewer than 109 of its members since Boko Haram began its attacks on churches in the north.He said the church members were killed during the sect's attacks on about 50 branches of the Church.

His words:"Our church which is predominantly in the North East is worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgence.About 50 of our churches have been burnt and 109 of our members killed in the North by Boko Haram"

Redeemed Church Pastor Criticizes Pastor Adeboye Over Politicians

A former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Bankole Solomon, has criticized the General Overseer of the church, Pastor E A Adeboye, for allowing politicians into their annual RCCG Holy Ghost congress.

Bankole Solomon's words:

"I know this post will attract a sharp condemnation because I worship in RCCG and I was once a pastor before I resigned voluntarily because of rights violations in the name of religion. I resigned in December 2010 but I am still worshiping there as an ordinary member. So, whatever I have here is without prejudice.

Pastor.Enoch Adeboye

"Holy ghost congress of our great church is now a political congress where all shades of corrupt leaders will mount our altar to fool Nigerians on what they will do.

"Holy Ghost congress is now a supermarket where all kinds of people like charlatans and political opportunist come shopping turning God to father Christmas to give them end of the year bonus.
"Jonathan was even there turning our once sacred altar to political podium talking deceitfully and indirectly campaigning for 2015. My question is this? On what ground was president Jonathan allowed to speak to people. Is he a pastor? Because the gathering is purely a spiritual gathering and event.

"I've been a pastor in Redeemed for the past 10 years and I've not got any opportunity to sit on that altar not to talk of holding mic. If because Jonathan is a President and he is recognized, it means some are more equal than others.

"Immediately I left camp on Saturday morning, I looked at the camp very well because I know that would be the last time I will set my foot to that Eagle Square called Redeemed camp."

Cleric flays Nigerian politicians For Sending Children Abroad For Education

Any Government Official who educates children abroad indicts Nigerian education- Rev. Etim

Nigeria government officials had been warned to stop sending their children abroad to study, as doing this simply means passing a negative message to the rest of the world that the country’s education has collapsed.
This was the submission of a Presbyterian Church reverend, Rev. Daniel Etim, who was recently speaking at the 50th Birthday Church Thanksgiving Service of Sen. Ita Solomon Enang, at the Presbyterian Church, Wuse II, Abuja.
Rev. Etim, in his sermon said: “Any government official who sends his /her children outside the country for education is simply telling the whole world that education has collapsed in Nigeria. If you go on medical trips to other countries, you are telling the world that healthcare has failed in Nigeria. Because the putting of all these in good shape is the reason why you exist. You are telling other countries to help you educate your children as your country cannot. This is shameful, because it speak volumes of how greatly you have failed as leaders’’
Etim, who implored Nigerians to collectively come together to pool their resources together as the country’s huge population should be seen as an asset and strength, not as a liability, urged Nigerians to shun everything that will break the unity of the country, calling on the government, to move Nigeria forward and make Nigeria a place where peace and unity will reign.

Rev.Daniel Etim

Etim, who hinged the numerous problems facing Nigeria on a tripod of: bad governance, corruption and economic imbalances, reminded government officials that they all had a responsibility of making the country a better place. He equally implored them to use their talents and positions to restore the lost glory of the country, praying that ‘’with God, we shall conquer-with God, all things are possible’’.
Earlier in his sermon, Rev. Etim, who began the sermon with a rhetorical question; ‘’why are we here and where are we going from here?’’, told the Church that the essence of going to church was to worship and be part to serve God, in God‘s own house, in God’s own name, adding that any thing other than this constitute a Contempt of Worship’’.
The fearless servant of God, in his thought-provoking sermon said’’ when we worship God, the Bible says ‘let us bow down and drop whatever we have’, added that church is not a social place, where people come to flaunt their newly-acquired material things but a place to serve God, in all seriousness and sincerity.
While highlighting the reasons why people worship God, the bulky preacher, mentioned the reasons to include: people worship God for whom He is, because of whom God is, for what God does and had done as well as because of the unknown future.
Rev. Etim advised Christians to draw a line between their needs and wants, noting that they need a shelter, not skyscr*per; they
need a car not a fleet of cars. He cautioned them not to kill for wealth, as doing so shows that they underrate God’s capacity of a Great Provider-Jehovah Jireh, who has the capacity to make provisions for all their needs.
Etim, on the final note, asked: ’’Where do we go from here; hell or heaven? ,said ‘’heaven is our home and destination, ’’urging Christians to forsake their crooked ways, as all human beings would pass through judgment for all they did while in flesh

12DG: COZA Ignites Abuja With Murdock, Ashimolowo, Others

The Commonwealth of Zion Assembly,popularly called COZA has ignited the city of Abuja with the holy presence of many great servants of God during its 2013 12-Days of Glory.

These renowned servants of God flooded the city to bless,heal and prophesy great blessings into the lives of the children of God as they enter the new year.

They all took their turns to storm the city for the church's annual programme called 12-Days of Glory.12-Days of Glory is the church's annual programme that marks the church's start of a new year.

The 12 day-long programme featured variety of programmes such as praise and worship,exciting performances from the church's choir group,popularly called the Avalanche,great sermons,prayers, among others.

The programme which started with 12-day fasting and prayers, commenced on the 2nd January and ended amid pomp and pageantry on the 13th January,2013.

The programme featured great and exciting preachings from great men of God such as:Bishop Thomas Aremu, Bishop Felix Adejumo,Pastor.P.K Olawale, Mckinney Hammond, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Pastor Leke Sanusi and Dr.Mike Murdock.

The programme which was held at both International Conference Centre(ICC) and the popular Thisday Dome, drawn a huge number of worshippers from all walks of life,as the venues were filled to their full capacities.

The Chief-Host,the young and vibrant Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo,hosted these servants of God,who individually took their turns as the programme proceeded.

The unusual God's anointing on Pastor Biodun was praised by various men of God,who said they were happy about how far he had gone in God's works,even at his age.

Pastor Felix Adejumo, personally praised the young God's servant,when he said: "I used to think age equates wisdom but when i met Pastor Biodun, I think otherwise".

Dr.Mike Murdock,during his sermon on the last day of the programme, congratulated the congregants for having such an anointed man of God of Pastor Biodun leading them.

The church's ever-ready choir group,however stole the show with their electrifying performances,as they were highly commended by virtually all the invited preachers,who could not hide their admiration for their persistent electrifying renditions.

Many of the preachers admitted they envy these pack of talented choristers.

Pastor Ashimolowo, when praising the church's spirit of excellence,which the church has been known with,over the years,said: "When I showed your (COZA) platform to some of my pastors in London and asked them where they think this church is located.Some told me perhaps in UK.Other said maybe somewhere in New York.But i told them i am proud to tell them the church is in Abuja, Nigeria!

The ever-happy congregants ,whom are known for their joyful noise-making added great glamour to the 12-day programme, as they were always seen leaping and shouting for joy.

Adding colours to the ground finale,on Sunday,were the Christ Embassy's multiple award-winning gospeller, Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassy, whom Pastor Biodun said has not lowered his standards,among others.

Though this year's 12-Days of Glory had come and gone but what have refused to go are the exciting experiences,great preachings,numerous blessings, healings, miracles,among others, that its attendees will live forever to remember.

According to Dr. Murdock,the church's phrase of "I celebrate you!", is fast becoming a common phrase around the world.

Primate Ayodele‘s 2013 Shocking Predictions

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, as part of his annual tradition, made public his 2013 predictions to the press in August, 2012.

The reputable prophet, who is well-respected for the sharp accuracy of his predictions, as usual advocated prayers to ensure the negative ones-of the predictions are not realized.

Primate Ayodele had predicted a whole lot of event that have come to pass in 2012 in the country and world over. Parts of his numerous predictions that had come to past included: the deaths of the Malawian president and ex-Super Eagles’ player, Rashidi Yekini. Others were the overtake of opposition in France, the re-election bids of Segun Mimiko, Adams oshiomhole and Barack Obama.

The prophet, who said, it is not his business to review what God had said in the past about people or events, informed that he was not happy that some of the warnings not bothered about by those concerned did not come to pass.

His words: “I’m not after predictions, especially unhelpful ones, coming to pass; I would even be a happy person when people heed warnings and pray to God to avert them’’.

Below are some of his major predictions for 2013:

I foresee the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin being removed from office. The air force, navy, customs and immigration chiefs, I foresee them saying goodbye to their jobs.

Hunger will push Nigerians to launch bloody revolution, unless we pray well and act fast.

CBN’s cashless policy will not help Nigeria in any way; in fact, it will further impoverish Nigerians. If it is suspended, Nigeria will be better for it economically. CBN will still print the N5, 000 currency. God has also shown me that it will print N10, 000, current resolution notwithstanding.

All Nigerian local government chairmen will face serious crisis; some will not finish their current term in office. They must seek God’s face so that they will not face serious embarrassment or fall sick.

Ogun and Oyo States, I foresee, will be captured by another political party in 2015, unless the ACN governments sit tight and seek God. They must be very prayerful. Also, in the coming governorship election in Edo State, I foresee ACN losing to PDP.

President Jonathan, Obasanjo, Chief Clark and BamangaTukur will have problems with one another. Jonathan’s 2015 ambition will break state governors into factions. Some will support Jonathan and some will go with a new team that I foresee will be formed from the PDP ahead of 2015.

Boko Haram will be eliminated, we have predicted it before. But Al-Qaeda terrorists group will attack Nigeria next year. The situation will be more terrible for Nigeria than what Boko Haram did.

Governor Mimiko will win a second term in Ondo, with serious prayer and commitment. He must not leave for ACN to take power from him because God has not said he will not retain the seat in 2015. The battle is just between ACN
And Labour Party. God said that Mimiko will face a lot of court cases against his victory after the election.

Lagos ACN, I foresee it splitting into two before the next general election. The party in Lagos State must be very careful.

I foresee AsiwajuTinubu going for a major surgical operation. He must pray over his health. There will be big problems in Lagos State over senatorial tickets. Also, there will be serious in-fighting in Lagos ACN over the choice of next governor. In 2014, there will be serious rainfall that will cause Lagos State a lot of money. The problem will extend to neighbouring states.

There will be wild rumour over President Jonathan’s health. He must watch his health.
I foresee the death of another African president and vice-president. Let us pray to avert it. Power sharing among African Union leaders will cause serious frictions. AU and ECOWAS will face challenges and member countries need prayers.

CAF will face problems and officials must pray to avert death. Africans must also pray against an impending disaster. FIFA President, SeppBlatter, will face a lot of problems. He should be prayerful. Nigerians must pray against religious crisis. There must be total cleansing in Aso Rock. I foresee a bad news coming from there. It may affect a worker in the Villa. I foresee Nigeria mourning, I see Nigeria’s flag flying at half mast in 2013. I foresee a very important personality in Nigeria passing away. Let us pray.

Abia and Imo State governors must be very careful. Oyo State governor must also be careful. There will be serious chaos in Oyo and Ondo NURTW. A House of Assembly member will be impeached. I foresee the death of a prominent member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

I foresee a Nigerian air force plane land-crashing. Let us be prayerful. Big scandal will rock the aviation industry. I foresee an international plane overrunning its runway. Let us pray.
Some police commissioners will be retired unexpected. Another bar beach surge will rock Lagos. President Obama will retain his seat in America.

Electricity will be permanently stable in Nigeria in 2016.
Nigeria will have the opportunity to be at the Nations Cup 2013. But they are not going to lift the Trophy. Nigerian Super Eagles will have a very slim chance to scale through. The Liberian football team that is coming to Nigeria, Super Eagles coach, Keshi, must be very watchful because I foresee a 2-0 victory against the Liberian team. But if Nigerians are not prayerful about the game, it is going to be 1-1 draw. So, we must pray for our team. In church here, we normally organize prayers for our national soccer team. Super Eagles may come up with the second position. Nigerian team will also go to World Cup but we will not make a reasonable impact. We need to really pray over it.

I foresee kerosene, petrol and food prices getting higher. In January 2013, Nigerians will face scarcity of petroleum. I foresee crisis at NNPC.

Let us pray against the death of a Lagos Oba. President Jonathan will fight his VP Namadi Sambo and Northern leaders will gang up against Jonathan. President Jonathan will contest in 2015 but his attempt will cause a lot of problems for Nigeria. There is danger on Third Mainland Bridge. Let us pray against casualties there. Kidnapping will rock Lagos State.

Boko Haram may invade Southwest using cigarette sticks to bomb. I foresee them changing their attack strategies. There may be fire outbreak in Aso Villa.

House of Representatives Speaker will face serious challenges. Senate President David Mark will face serious election battle. I don’t foresee him winning. There will be serious clash between soldiers and police in Lagos, and I foresee bloodshed at LASTMA. Let us be prayerful. There will be problem between President Jonathan and the Minister of Finance. The Lagos Tax boss will survive sinister plots. He must avoid a clash with top leaders and he must be very prayerful. He will survive it. Some state commissioners across Nigeria will lose their offices. Some pastors will be caught for engaging in rituals.

Ritualists will be on the rampage in Lagos State. The United Nations will face serious challenges. There will be threats of secession in Nigeria.

Guru Maharaj ji Says Kumuyi Visited Him for Salvation, Advises Young Men Not to Marry

The Nigerian self-acclaimed Perfect Living Master,Sat Guru Maharaj ji, yesterday released a bombshell, when he informed, during a press interview with The Sun Newspaper's reporter, who took him one-on-one on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

The spiritualist,who claimed to be 'jesus in a black body', maintained that the General Overseer, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi,was among several others who pay him a visit, said the Deeper Life helmsman came to visit him at his Lagos headquarters in Iju, Lagos State, sometime in 1987.

The self-acclaimed fountain of knowledge, informed further that the Deeper Life preacher visited him but never came back to fulfill his promise to come for knowledge.

His words:'' His visit was more than a courtesy visit but like i said he never came back to acquire knowledge. Somebody of his caliber does not come here on courtesy visit, it goes beyond that Kumuyi had come for salvation but he didn't exercise sufficient patience as he left without acquiring knowledge.''

While fielding questions from the journalist,the Ibadan man,who was born in December 20,1947,also accused pastors of using mystic powers on their members, said: ''Yes.Quote me:all of them use juju(charms). How can a pastor touch somebody and he falls down?That one is juju at work.Our people are very foolish and ignorant.How can you touch somebody and he falls down.There is something behind this''.

When asked whether or not he is married, Maraji who equally informed that many politicians and leaders always pay him visits said he had neither a wife nor a biological child.He also advised young men not to get married,as doing that would put them into trouble. ''... even up till now I'm not married to anybody.My advice to young men of these days is that they should not get married.This is not the time to go into marriage because the situation is not conducive...'', Maharaj ji advised.

Women Should Be Allowed To Wear Trousers In Church-Pas.Okehie

The Senior Pastor and Founder ,Wailing War Gospel Church, the church that now prefers to be called Victory Wall Gospel Church, Pastor Chris Okehie, has strongly affirmed that women should be allowed to put on trousers to church.

The gentle servant of God said this; recently while fielding questions from The Christendom, in his office in Abuja.

He made the statement while reacting to DR.D.K Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, who recently banned trouser-wearing females from the church.

His words: ‘’Trouser-wearing should be allowed in the church, head-covering, women should cover their heads. These things are spelt-out in the Bible. A lot of time, people confront me with the issue, saying in the book of Deuteronomy 22:5 says women should not wear the things of men. This is my bold declaration: In those days, if you read the history, what were women’s wears and what were men’s wears? Go down the history, you will discover that in those days, the kind of the clothes they were wearing were not what they are wearing today. Jesus wore flowing gowns and a lot of that.

‘’And why did I make that assertion and believe in it? In the New Testament, Jesus never said anything about trouser-wearing. Paul never said anything about trouser-wearing. Peter never said anything about trouser-wearing. As a matter of fact; I was just discussing this matter with one of my pastors this morning. But you see, when it comes to hair-covering, in the New Testament, Peter taught on hair-covering. Let us not use one Scripture in the Old Testament to judge the new because Jesus said,’ I do not come to condemn, I come to fulfill”.

The preacher, who said as far as he is concerned, trouser-wearing for Christian ladies to church is not a case, therefore, he encourages Christian women should be allowed to put on trousers to church but must cover their heads, because the Bible is very clear on the covering of hair.

On whether or not the pastor would still support trouser-wearing for female Christians, who come to church services with extremely tight, transparent, deliberately-torn and skimpy trousers that reveal sensuous bodily curves, shapes and contours that often cause concentration problems to male worshippers, Pastor Okehie, who said he liked such a question said the leadership of the church should be blamed for that.

His words: ‘’very very important! I like this question! Because the question you asked now is where the pastors, the leadership and the doctrines of the church come to play. When it comes to that, it must be decent. Women should wear decent trousers .When they wear indecent trousers, that is where indecency comes to play .When a woman trousers is showing her back-sides or other parts of her body that are supposed to be hidden and wears a kind of blouse showing her breasts-that is where indecency comes in .The Bible teaches that women should be decently dressed. So, if a woman wears a trouser that is decent in the church, for God’s sake, it should be allowed!’’, he finally submitted.

Church Attacks: Nigerian Preachers Go Angry Say This Nonsense Must Stop

A cross-section of Nigerian preachers has all lent their voices to the frequent church invasions, bombings and shootings of Christians in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria.

 The angry reactions are coming on the heels of string of attacks on church buildings and innocent Christians in the year 2012.

 Year 2012, like year 2011, had both witnessed huge series of unending attacks on Christians and Churches by the nation’s Islamist Sect, Boko Haram.

Primate Nicholas Okoh

 While reacting to the frequent invasion of churches by suicide bombers, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, has called on the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies in the country to expose those perpetrating acts of terror being witnessed in different parts of the country, especially in the north.

 Reacting to the bombing of the St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Kaduna, which left about 10 people dead, including a priest and nearly 150 others injured, in a statement made available by the Church’s Media and Public Relations Officer, Rev. Oladapo Daramola, the prelate said “Until those behind these series of acts of terror are exposed, there is the possibility that the blood-thirsty people will not stop.

 “It is surprising that since these acts of terror began, nobody has been arrested and brought to justice. This is more like an endorsement for them to carry on in these evil acts. It is a license to hell. Until those behind these terror plots are brought to justice, we may see more repeats of their kinds of acts. The big question, however, is how many more innocent people would have died before we declare a full-blown and effective war on terrorism? At least, by now, we should know those who are contending with and what their motives are. Is it a declaration of war against Christendom or as attempt to frustrate and make life unbearable for the government of the day?’’



Rev Ola Makinde

 Also reacting on the series of heartless attacks on Christians and their religion, Prelate of the Anglican Church Nigeria, most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, while delivering a lecture recently in Abuja said: ‘’The Christian faith is seriously under attack in Nigeria from without and within. From without, we are concerned about violent expression of Islam represented by Boko Haram. In some parts of the North, the Christian faith is endangered specie; Boko Haram is not just against Christians but has stated, emphatically that it wants the Christian faith rooted out of the North. This is the idea behind the bombing, shootings, slaughtering and maiming it has be executing’’.

 Similarly, while reacting, Rev. Yunusa Nmade said: “I condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric get of terrorism which, through aimed at the Church, has claimed the lives of innocent Christians and Muslims of all tribes.’’

 “Our lives have been hunted like animals in the bush. The Church in the Northern Nigeria is in even biggest trouble. Please mobilize global prayer for us”, submitted a victim.

 Benjamin Kwashi, after one of the major attacks on a church said: “Weekends are now a terror for Christians in the northern and central Nigeria. My heart bleeds at the unnecessary killings and I am deeply saddened that in a nation like Nigeria, there are people who sponsor, plan, train and support people to execute evil specifically targeted against worship of God on Sunday on  Christians in Church’’

Pastor.E.A Adeboye

 Immediately after the November 25^th, 2012 bomb attack on a Church at a military formation in Kaduna, CAN described the attacks as ‘madness’ added that it was regrettable that no one was helping us (Christians) out of this situation.

‘’What is happening now is unfortunate. These are people who have senses of reasoning. Therefore, there is no reason why worshippers of Almighty God should be killed. So one is getting informed as to how to respond to this kind of mockery, stupidity and madness, which is being perpetrated by people we claim that we don’t know”.

Also reacting after the military formation attack, former commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, condemned the bombing. Tsav, who called on Nigerians of goodwill to help expose them said. “I dare say, there is a military connection to this. If they (extremists) could go and bomb a church inside a military formation in Jaji, where can’t they go?’’ Where? He asked.

In his own reaction, Pastor Chris Okehie of Victory Wall Gospel Church said: “I think this madness should stop! Because here, there have not been anytime we heard that mosques were bombed. We always hear that churches are been bombed; people are shot in churches. For Jesus’ sake, it is high time this thing stopped! These attacks should stop! If nobody talks about it, we should rise up and talk about it. They should stop bombing churches and call political challenges and all that! This is an attack on the Church! And if we take arms and begin to bomb mosques, it will become a challenge. Please, for Jesus’ sake, they should stop it and it is high time they stopped!’’

 Pastor Chiaka Hyacent of GLIM, while reacting about the string of attacks on church buildings, said: “It is very painful because it will be inhuman to discard it, as nothing because we are talking about life. But we also need to understand this fact: we that are here, how safe are we? I drove all the way from Abuja here in the early hours of the morning, about 4:00am. I got close to Lokoja, without seeing a soldier or policeman on the road. It is God that is saving us. Attacks on churches and Christians are very painful’’.

Recently, Kaduna had witnessed a series of bombings on churches, among which the October 28, 2012 bombing is one of the examples.

 Kano also, in recent months, had witnessed the persecution on Christians and Christianity. There have been a series of shootings, slaughtering and killings of Christians. With the latest, on 25 November, 2012 being the killings of a Christian family of three, who were on their way to church. It was reported that gunmen on motorbikes waylaid them and deprived father, mother and their young son of their precious lives.

Northern Nigerian, especially Kaduna, Kano, and Borno in recent years, proved to be Boko Haram hotbed.

Christendom Newspaper Out to Preach Peace, Love and Unity-Editor

·         It’s God-given mandate

·         Urges Christians to patronize to sustain it

By: Kenneth Osumah

The Editor-in-Chief of the newly-launched Christian newspaper, The Christendom Newspaper, Frank Eboye, had said the newspaper was out to preach the gospel of unity, love and peace, especially amongst the Christians, and by extension, in the Nigerian society, at large.

Eboye said this recently while fielding questions from newsmen before the official launch of the maiden edition of the newspaper, which is expected to flood the whole country.

His words:”The birth of the Christendom Newspaper is divine; it is, indeed, supernatural .It is divine in the sense that it is God’s owned project; God’s owned newspaper for the Christendom. It is  a God-given mission to preach unity, peace and love in the Body of Christ ,specifically and by in the society.

You would all agree with us that the church seems to be divided and deviated from what it used to be. You would also have noticed that there are divisions in the Body of Christ, as against what the Bible preaches. This is what God had mandated us to do-unite and correct this in the Christendom through the instrumentality of journalism.

What we will be preaching and doing through this God-given medium are what are well-spelt out in the Bible. As our slogan implies: ‘’Preaching the Gospel, uniting the Christians’’.

Gospel preaching is a God-given commission to all Christians, which is stipulated in the Scriptures, so is the living in peace, love and unity. The Bible says ’’how pleasant is it when brothers live in unity’’.

On the scope of the newspaper, the young editor said: ’’We are for Christ; we are for the Church. We are sent to whole the Church. And we are going to cover all the churches in Nigeria by giving them equal coverage, attention and representation. We are not discriminating, segregating or circumventing any church. We are out to unite the Church. We are out to water-down the emphasis often placed on denominations and doctrines, which are the prime causes of divisions in the Body of Christ. We are out, as divinely mandated to do public relations as well as peace and conflict resolution and management for the Body of Christ.

Also, you will agree with us that there is so much worldliness and vices that are creeping into the church-the supposed God’s holy place. The news coming from the Church these days is grossly unpalatable and most are dragging the name of God and that of the Church in the mud.

God has sent us out to banish these vices through preaching against all these. We are out to sanitize, sensitize and rebuild the Church, and not to accuse, condemn or criticize. There will be no name calling, no blacklisting whatsoever; we are out to politely correct. We are on the path to rebuild the Church for Christ. We are out to sanitize the Christendom so that it can be restored to its past enviable and glorious path, as we once had in the Christianity of old. We are sent to halt the growing ‘trading’ in God’s temple. And to do this successfully, we need the support of every Christian stakeholder.

On how to achieve the mission, the Editor said they had lined up a couple of programmes to bring Christians of whatever denominations back to where they belong-under one umbrella. He mentioned those programmes to include inter-denominational sports tournaments, quizzes, debates, seminars, workshops, among several others.

Giving the account of the divine-mandate of the newspaper, Eboye said God gave them the assignment seven years ago, with God choosing the name, the slogan and every other thing for the paper. He, however, said God became more emphatic about them starting it this very year.

According to him, ‘‘the newspaper is taking up from a position of strength, though we ,at present, lack the required funds to make it a national newspaper God wants it to be, now .God wants us to circulate the newspaper in the 36 states ,including the FCT; bringing to the people, the Gospel of salvation ,unity, peace and love. We started not because we have all that is needed but we are standing on what God instructed: ‘‘start from where you are, with what you have’’

He, however, called on Christian stakeholders across the country to help make this God assignment succeed.

His words: ‘We are appealing to Christians, who believe in God to come out to help this divine assignment .They should know this is  their newspaper; they should try to patronize it as well as placing advertisements in  it. Our advertisement rates are much cheaper and affordable and our editorial content very rich.

The brilliant editor, who said the newspaper should be weekly, but will, in the interim, published fortnightly, added that there was a lot to read  and gain in the newspaper, as it  would surely be readers’ delight’’. He noted that the newspaper, whose magazine version would be launched soon, would have a lot to offer its teeming readers across the country. He mentioned the areas to be covered to include news, insightful analyses of Christian events, educating articles, motivating and inspiring tips on business, management, career, church leadership, discipleship, spirituality among others

‘’The newspaper will similarly serve the information, education and entertainment needs of its numerous audiences. Everybody will find one or two things interesting-the church leaders, singles, married, youth and so on. It is an all-encompassing package. Very enriching, informative, entertaining and educative. Even the non-Christians will equally find it beneficail’’, he noted.

On support from Christian stakeholders, especially the custodians of Christian faith, the God’s general, the Lead City University’s graduate of Mass Communication and Media Technology said the responses from them have been encouraging and overwhelming, as many have signified interests in the divine project. 

Primate Ayodele Counters Pres.Jonathan On Power Stability

           Power‘ll remain stable in 2016-Primate Ayodele

          No! Power‘ll remain stable in 2013- President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan recently countered the submission of Primate Elijah Ayodele, who earlier, in his 2013 predictions announced that power would be permanently stable in Nigerian in 2016,

The reputable prophet, who is known for the accuracy of his predictions, in August 2012, while intimating the press with the 2013 predictions said:’’ Electricity will be permanent stable in Nigeria 2016”.

While launching a counter-attack on the prophet’s prediction as regard power situation in the country, President Jonathan, in far way Islamabad, Pakistan, while talking to Nigerians who are living in Pakistan said power would be stable in June 2013.’’At that time quite a number of cities will begin to have 24-hour light’’.

The President, who attributed transmission problems as one of the factors that is hindering the constant supplies of power, equally blamed the experienced set backs in some areas to flooding.

His words: ’’We have the major flood that really set u back in some areas, otherwise we promised that those in the Diaspora, when they come home this Christmas, they would see significant changes. The kind of airports they will pass through, then the roads they will drive from the airports to the cities and when they enter the cities may be you are used to not seeing light and putting on generator, you will not begin your stay by talking about the price of diesel again because you will have light throughout. We may not be able to achieve all that by December, because within the flood period, we could not work. Things that we had to finish by December were halted within the flood, there was stagnation everyday’’.

President Jonathan, who had earlier promised Nigerians stable electricity in December, 2012 tacitly made a U-turn, shifting further the pole on the actualization of stable power in the country to 2013.

 In a similar development, Primate Ayodele, predicted possible food crisis in his predictions, but the Federal Government has through its Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, has assured Nigerians that the country would not suffer any food crisis as a result of the flood disasters in some parts of the country.

Adeshina, who recently, in a statement, noted that though the flood caused a huge challenge on food security in many parts of Nigeria, the country would not experience food shortage.

His words:’’ let me assure you that the Federal Government is taking all measures to mitigate the impacts of the flood. Nigerians will not have famine. We will not have a food crisis. We will recover from the flood.’’

Adeshina further informed that government‘s efforts, this year alone, from maize, rice, cassava and sorghum, had added a total of 8.1 million metric tonnes of food for domestic food supply. That this was 70 per cent higher than the target of five million metric tonnes that was set for 2013 and 41 per cent of the total target that was set for 2015.