Nigerian Clerics seek end to allocation of oil wells to individuals

 

 Council decries fuel scarcity, budget logjam, workers’ pay arrears
The Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church Nigeria, yesterday, demanded stoppage to allocation of oil wells to individual Nigerians in line with the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Rising from its 34th yearly conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Prelate, Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, said the exploration of oil should no longer be shrouded in secrecy.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the event, the clerics expressed concern over the persistent scarcity of petroleum products, especially petrol and charged the President to urgently appoint a substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources who would be answerable to him and not him assuming the role as such, according to them, “has proved counterproductive.”
“Mr. President has so much work to do for us and so should not be a Minister of Petroleum,” the council stated.
It also expressed concern over the menace of Fulani herdsmen, stressing that their activities were becoming worse than the onslaught of the Boko Haram insurgency, urging the Federal Government to take immediate action in establishing ranches rather than creating grazing zones.
On the 2016 Budget, the clerics charged the Executive and the Legislative arms of government to resolve the logjam so as to address the provision of social amenities for the general good of Nigerians. They frowned on the inability of some state governments to pay workers’ salaries in spite of the bailout funds.
“Some state governments are still owing their workers many months in arrears of salaries. The Federal Government must ascertain the appropriation of the bailout funds to the various states as a way of fighting impunity and corruption.”
The council also condemned the operation of joint account between the local councils and state governments, alleging that most governors pilfer council funds thus making grassroots development impossible.
While commending President Buhari over “his anti-corruption crusade, which would hopefully lead into a new era of accountability in governance and other spheres of life,” the clergies enjoined well-meaning citizens to support the President in the arduous task.
The clerics also appealed to government at all levels to look into the predicament of the girl-child, the rights of female children and all children in general, saying they were not comfortable with the situation where the abducted Chibok girls were yet to be rescued.

Culled from The Guardian newspaper,Nigeria

C

Don't Arrest Jonathan,Northern Christians Warn Buhari

Christians in the north, under the umbrella of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 19 northern states and Abuja, yesterday cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against any plan to arrest former President Goodluck Jonathan following the ongoing prosecution of officials who served under his administration.
The association explained that: “Every honest Nigerian can see that the popularity of the current administration is dwindling rapidly in many quarters both home and abroad. It is therefore not advisable to consider or plan to arrest former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as rumours have it.”

A statement issued by the association in Kaduna signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Reverend Joseph Hayab, stressed that: “Such a misadventure, if it is true, will set a wrong precedent, which could open doors for mischief makers to set this nation into disarray.
“What Nigerians need urgently is availability of fuel, electricity, prompt payment of salaries and the security of lives and property. If the alleged plan to arrest GEJ is meant to amuse the international community and prove that Nigeria is fighting corruption then we must not forget that in many parts of the world the former President is being celebrated as a hero of democracy for his decision to accept defeat at the 2015 elections, a gesture which is exceptional in Africa.”
He added: “The government must understand that there are personalities serving in the current administration who have been accused of corruption at various levels but since there are claims that nothing has been established against them, they walk free and are holding key and sensitive offices in the nation.
“Why should government imagine the arrest of a man like Jonathan who no crime is yet to be established against him? On this ground, CAN Northern States wishes to counsel that such an arrest, if carried out, has the propensity to lead to misinterpretation with grave consequence to peace and stability that could affect Nigeria economically and much more.”

Culled from The Guardian Newspaper,Nigeria

Al-Jazeerah Says 6 Million Muslims convert to Christianity in Africa yearly

 According to Al-Jazeerah’s interview with Sheikh Ahmad Al Katani, the president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity.
Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity in Africa alone so you can imagine the worldwide numbers. How many others of them convert to Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism or just plain atheism? MILLIONS.
After reporting this Al-Jazeerah has since removed the interview and details but we got the screencap from the original story.

 Islam, SVM News, 1 January, 2007: Millions of Muslim converts to Christianity celebrated Christmas throughout the world. According the reports of the various missionary organizations and news medias.

.

The Salem Voice Ministries evangelizing Muslims in  India and many other Muslim nations. There are about 500 evangelists  ministering among Muslims  in different African, Middle East and Asian countries. A vast number of Muslims finding the truth and attaining Salvation of Jesus Christ day by day.

.

‘More Muslims converted to faith in Jesus Christ over the past decade than at any other time in human history. A spiritual revolution is underway throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. As a result, a record number of ex-Muslims are celebrating Christmas this year, despite intense persecution, assassinations, and widespread church bombings’. These are the words of Joel C. Rosenberg, the author of the New York Times best selling political thriller.

.

He said, he and his wife and kids were lived in the Mideast for three months. During that time, he had the privilege of interviewing more than three dozen Arab and Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders throughout the region. The picture they paint is one of Christianity being dramatically resurrected in the region of its birth.

.

More than 10,000 Muslims accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour throughout India during the last year. The Bible Society of India publishing thousands of New Testaments for the Muslims with their own terminology and vocabulary in different Indian languages and Tazi language. Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries is one of the key persons of the Bible translators of the Bible Society of India to reach the Gospel to the Muslims. He is in the midst of persecution. Recently also he was threatened by the extremists to count down his days along with the whole family.

.

In Iraq, more than 5,000 Muslim converts to Christianity have been identified since the end of major combat operations, with 14 new churches opened in Baghdad, and dozens of new churches opened in Kurdistan, some of which have 500 to 800 members. Also, more than one million Bibles shipped into the country since 2003, and pastors report Iraqis are snatching them up so fast they constantly need more Bibles.

.

Thousands of Muslims turned to Christ and worshiping Lord Jesus in Morocco, Somalia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Maldives.

.

Around a million believed in Jesus over the past decade in Egypt. The Egyptian Bible Society used to sell about 3,000 copies of the JESUS film a year in the early 1990s. As per the figures taken from the Millennium campaign in 2000, they sold 600,000 copies, plus 750,000 copies of the individual cassette tapes (in Arabic) and about a half million copies of the Arabic New Testament. Ramez Atallah, the General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt informed Pastor Paul Ciniraj by email. “Egyptians are increasingly hungry for God’s Word,” he said.

.

‘Last Christmas, I had the privilege of visiting the largest Christian congregation in the Middle East, which meets in an enormous cave on the outskirts of Cairo. Some 10,000 believers worship there every weekend. A prayer conference the church held in May 2005 drew some 20,000 believers’, Rosenberg told.

.

There were only 17 Christians from Islam in Afghanistan on 2001. But there are more than 10,000 believers at present. Every week dozens of baptisms being held there.

.

In 1990, there were only three known Christians in Kazakhstan and no Christians in Uzbekistan, but now more than 15,000 in Kazakhstan and 30, 000 in Uzbekistan. There were only 500 Christians in Iran on 1979, but more than one million Iranians believing Jesus Christ today, most of whom meet in underground house churches.

.

In Sudan, more than one million have converted since 2000, and some 5 million have become Christians since the early 1990s, despite a radical Islamic regime and an on-going genocide that has killed more than 200,000. Seminaries are being held in caves to train pastors to shepherd the huge numbers of people coming to Christ. Why such a dramatic spiritual awakening? “People have seen real Islam, and they want Jesus instead,” one Sudanese evangelical leader said.

.

In December 2001, Sheikh Ahmad al Qataani, a leading Saudi cleric, appeared on a live interview on Al-Jazeera satellite television to confirm that, sure enough, Muslims were turning to Jesus in alarming numbers. “In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity,” Al Qataani warned. “Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity.”

.

Stunned, the interviewer interrupted the cleric. “Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have six million converting from Islam to Christianity?” Al Qataani repeated his assertion. “Every year,” the cleric confirmed, adding, “a tragedy has happened.”

.

One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims — including Shiites in Iran and Iraq — are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible and guidance on how to follow Jesus. This is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy of Joel, “in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days….And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Joel 2:28-32).

.

Within few years all of the Muslim nations will come to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. Satan knows it, that’s why he tries to discourage and destroy the Christian workers and the believers through the persecution and brutal murdering. But our Lord Jesus will have the final victory. Pastor Paul Ciniraj said.

.

Idris Salahudeen, the Pastor of the Salem Voice Ministries said, hundreds upon hundreds ordinary Muslims believing Jesus and secretly converting into Christianity by seeing brutal behaviour of fundamentalists towards Christians. Maybe this torturing is a purification of nominal Christians to have more faith and courage.

Incredible:10,000 Pakistani Muslims Accept Christ in One Night!

Pst. Anwar Fazal

 

Pastor Anwar Fazal is touching millions in Pakistan by sharing the Gospel in the Islam dominated country. Senior Pastor Anwar Fazal from Eternal Life Ministries (ELM) in Pakistan arranges a big Healing Crusade every Wednesday in Lahore, and thousands of People attend every week in Lahore. It is reported as the biggest Healing Meetings in Pakistan by far. Gospel will not stop, but it will go to the ends of the world.

At one rally in Pakistan 10,000 Muslims accepted Christ in one night, and over the course of the week-long rally there were many miraculous healings and more than 150,000 Muslims were saved out of 200,000 that attended. The personage of Christ himself has been appearing to Muslims across the Middle East in the form of visions, proclaiming that He is indeed the King of King and Lord of Lords, and that He will soon be returning to claim His throne.

The Work that ELM church does, and the incredible feeling of hearing 10,000 Muslims shouting, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” as they defy the certain death sentence imposed for those who leave Islam and accept Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour.

The number of Christians attending the meetings are very high. Generally Christians in Pakistan face persecution from the government and other officials. However, these brothers in Christ are persistent in their Faith in Jesus Christ. This short video is from 3 days Prayer Festival organised by ELM Pakistan shows the love these people have for Jesus. We pray that Pakistan would know that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.

Their Daily Broadcast in ISSAC TV is watched by thousands of Christians in Pakistan. It is by far the most watched Christian Channel in Pakistan.

We are One in Christ with One Voice and One Message, the message of Cross.

Nigerian Pastor Prayed Dead Baby Back to Life

 

 

On Sunday, February 7, 2016, at the Mountain Miracle and Liberation Ministries, a.k.a Liberation City, a dead child was prayed back to life in a suspense-filled movie-like scenario.
 The six-month old child said to have been ill for weeks was brought to the church by her parents for prayers. Unfortunately, the child gave up the ghost as soon as they arrived the church.
 Her frantic parents eventually wept and pushed their way through to the podium where the man of God ministered to other people, and he immediately took the child from them and prayed fervently. Then he dropped the child on the altar and commanded her spirit to come back and the child moved! The congregation exploded in tumultuous praise as the child continued to move and even later drank some water!


 In August of last year as well, the same scenario played out in Kogi State, at the Chris Okafor World Outreach Ministries Crusade venue, in Lokoja. God used Dr Okafor to bring the child in question back to life!

 

By the grace of God, Dr. Chris Okafor is known for accurate prophecies and the unusual ability to profer solution in every occasion.

Gunmen kidnap Dickson’s aide at Redeemed Church

Gunmen on Sunday kidnapped an aide to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Captain Henry Ungbuku (retd).

Ungbuku, who is the special adviser on aviation to the Bayelsa State governor, was abducted as he was about leaving the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Light House Parish, after service.

It was gathered that his abductors had waited close to the church located in Iwofe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State as early as 8.50am. They waited for their victim to come out of the church at the end of the service before pouncing on him.

  An eyewitness told our correspondent that Ungbuku, who came out of the church some minutes after 10am, was stopped by the hoodlums as he drove out of the premises of the church.

Ungbuku’s abductors were said to have asked him to open the door of his vehicle while one of them pointed a gun at him.

The gunmen, according to the source, drove their victim away to an unknown destination after forcing him into a waiting vehicle.

“They were about four, but we did not know whether there are others hanging around the premises of the church. They forced him out of the car at gun point and took him away.

“There was confusion around the premises of the church when the incident happened. The kidnappers were all armed and many people who saw the scene were all scared,” the eyewitness said.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, said he had not been briefed on the incident.

Source: The Punch

Mbaka’s transfer not punitive, says Catholic church

 

The Catholic Church has clarified the controvery trailing the transfer of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It said the priest was merely sent to where he would be more useful to the church.
In its first reaction since the controversy broke, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive.
Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Rev Fr Ralph Madu said transfer of priests was a “normal church procedure”.
Public criticisms had greeted the transfer of Fr. Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish where he had served for over a decade and established the Adoration Prayer Ministry. He is to resume immediately at his new post, Our Lady Parish, Emene.

 Speculations were rife that his transfer was a punishment for his support of a Muslim presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, over a Christian, Goodluck Jonathan.
Fr. Mbaka described his re-posting as a ‘calculated move to make him suffer’.
“I know I will suffer within now and a few months to come; I am going to suffer and suffer, I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer,” he lamented.
But Madu said: “Such frivolities have nothing to do with the posting. His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment – which the Bishop can do because he has the power.
“Mbaka’s own is not an exception. The Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.
“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing; a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years, on the Bishop’s discretion.
“That ministry is his private ministry; it does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job and overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.”
Fr. Madu hinted that Fr. Mbaka had done things that were unacceptable to the church in the past but received no punishments for them.
“He is supposed to be a missionary, what if the Bishop had closed down the ministry, which is within his
power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong which he might not be aware of.
The Bishop is free to move any priest at any time, it is his prerogative.