Search
Religion (16)
GOVERNOR BAGO OF NIGER STATE SHOUTS "HALLELUJAH"
Written by Kayode Olorundare
Mohammed Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, is shown on camera urging churchgoers to yell "hallelujah" during a ceremony. Onochie brought attention to the governor's comments on Monday by posting the video on her official X account.
After taking the pulpit, Governor Bago greeted the crowd with enthusiasm, exclaiming, "Glory to God! Can someone sing Hallelujah from this side? Can we make a loud shout? His plea appeared to enliven the audience, demonstrating the public fusion of spirituality and administration.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a former vice president, has urged Nigerian churches to emphasize the value of peace, productivity, and community development rather than riches and wealth accumulation.
At the weekend's 68th Anniversary and 58th Annual Convention of The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Osinbajo expressed this viewpoint during a lecture. Speaking on the topic of the lecture entitled "The Christian Faith in the Political Struggles: A Case Study of Nigeria," the former vice president contended that a sizable section of the populace, especially the youth, has become alienated from religious leaders. They are looking for more profound and influential messages from the pulpit because they are obsessed with wealth and opulent lifestyles. He pointed out that churches have been engrossed in the chase of worldly gain and personal prosperity for far too long, ignoring the gospel's genuine mission of fostering harmony, peace, and the general well-being of society.
He said that church leaders need to go back to their roots and teach hard work, compassion, and community service if they love this country and want it to rise again. "For far too long, our churches have neglected the true calling of the gospel to promote peace, unity, and the holistic development of our society in favor of the pursuit of personal prosperity and material wealth," the speaker stated.
The church needs to go back to its roots and preach communal service, hard effort, and compassion if we are to see Nigeria rise again and realize its enormous potential. "Only by changing our perspective can we encourage our people to act as catalysts for positive transformation instead of just being recipients of the prosperity gospel." Osinbajo issued a warning, saying that when preachers prioritize incentives and perks, especially for Christians in positions of power and government, it taints people's minds and prevents them from acting morally.
He claimed that although many wealthy countries lack natural resources, poverty lurks in many others with abundant national endowments because people there do not follow the standards of productivity and hard labor. Osinbajo continued, saying that many of the European and American nations that the United States aspired to emulate prospered because of the real gospel of Jesus Christ, which was proclaimed from the pulpit, along with other virtues like diligence, production, integrity, and poverty protection, among others. According to him, a lot of preachers prefer to dismiss concerns about their followers' financial situation and instead credit miracles for nearly all unexplained money and riches.
"Propagating the correct version of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the major responsibility of Christians and the church, and it is that correct version of the gospel that has transformed other nations of the world," continued Osinbajo. "The gospel of Jesus Christ and the virtues of hard work, productivity, integrity, and protection of the poor preached from the pulpit transfer this nation," the statement reads. "The nations that we copy, the nations we want to emulate, the nations whose developments we have seen, the nations in Europe, the nations in America."
He emphasized that for Christians and the Church to have a significant impact on their countries, we must be careful about the lessons we teach. These lessons should uphold the values of honesty, diligence, and production while also showing compassion for the less fortunate and needy in our community.
Yesterday, there were numerous rumors on social media regarding the suspension of the Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the City of David Parish, Region 20, Idowu Iluyomade. However, it was discovered that the pastor had just been moved to a different parish.
Despite the rumors that suggested Pastor Iluyomade was placed on leave for three months, a source claimed he was simply moved to the mission's headquarters parish, Throne of Grace, in Ebute Metta, Lagos. According to a source within the church, on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at the monthly thanksgiving ceremony performed in all RCCG parishes, Iluyomade's move was formally announced and confirmed.
His new position, according to the source, is as the Pastor-in-Charge of elders in the RCCG Region 1, Ebute Metta. It was reported that Pastor Iluyomade had complained about not having retired at the age of seventy. A further source disclosed that Pastor Charles Kpandei, who oversees RCCG Resurrection Parish in Region 11, was invited to take Iluyomade's place at the City of David Parish. The source stated that the two pastors were scheduled to be transferred after each serving eight years in the two parishes.
"It is typical to have a change in leadership," he stated. Most pastors in the RCCG are transferred. Since the church rotates its pastors, Pastors Iluyomade and Kanpdei were both up for transfer. They were both reassigned after serving as regional pastors for more than eight years. Pastors of the RCCG may even be assigned overseas. It is unrelated to politics or other events. It was time for them to be transferred.
Remember that just nine days had passed since Herbert Wigwe, a prominent donor to the parish and the late chief executive officer of Access Holdings, along with his wife Doreen and son Chizzy, perished in a helicopter crash in the United States, raising controversy surrounding the City of David Parish?
It was said that the General Overseer of the RCCG, Enoch Adeboye, became enraged at the development.
PASTOR ADEBOYE’S RESPONSE TO BILLIONAIRES OVER TITHE
Written by Kayode Olorundare
The General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Adeboye, relates stories of billionaires questioning their tithe expenditure. Pastor Adeboye hesitantly gives thorough updates at first, hoping for divine intervention. The millionaires experience financial losses during a two-year period, which they attribute to divine vengeance. Pastor Adeboye tries to show grace, but dissidents quit the church and become less wealthy. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), related a story about a meeting with a few billionaires from his church who had questions about how their tithes were being handled.
Pastor Adeboye described the story of these wealthy members approaching him and asking for a thorough breakdown of the church's use of their tithes in a video that went viral. Pastor Adeboye was first apprehensive because he thought that this kind of examination went against biblical principles. However, he ultimately gave in and expected God to step in and answer the billionaires' challenge.
The billionaires realized that their acts had contributed to their misfortunes and that their investigation into tithe practices had brought them into divine disfavor. Pastor Adeboye's goal was to show off God's kindness and his dislike of conflict, but in the end, those who disagreed with the holy tithing ritual left the church and saw their fortunes decrease, giving up their billionaire status.
In a new video, Pastor Adeboye discussed the value of tenacity and unshakable faith. He used the biblical tale of Naaman from 2 Kings 5:1–14 to highlight the transformational potential of tenacity. Introspectively, Pastor Adeboye related an instance in which he and his spouse encountered an insurmountable obstacle and decided to fast for 40 days in an attempt to find a breakthrough.
They fasted for a long time and prayed a lot, but the expected result did not come to them right away. According to him, "Remember the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-14. If Naaman had stopped after 6 times, he would have died a leper because it was after the 7th time that he came up and his skin was like the skin of a newborn baby - 7 times. I remember years ago, when my wife and I, wanted something desperately. We decided, okay, we know what we will do, after all, Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before his breakthrough came." "We fasted - 40 days, 40 nights, no breakthrough came.
We began the second cycle, and despite 40 days and 40 nights, nothing changed. We agreed, my wife and I, and I said, "Look, you will follow me up to 40 days and 40 nights after that you will wait if we haven't gotten the result yet and I will continue." This was our third attempt. After 40 days and 40 nights, I remarked, "Alright, sweetheart, you've done your share. You may now stop, and I'll go on."She said, "ahn ahn, (no), you continue, I continue with you."
After 42 days and 42 nights, I cracked because I didn't want to kill someone else's kid, Ojare, after noticing how she was looking. But then something happened. Time to give it another go. You've tried, fasted, and prayed, but the outcome is still elusive. Give it another go.
RENEW YOUR CONNECTION WITH GOD PASTOR ADEBOYE ADVISES
Written by Kayode Olorundare
Pastor Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, has urged Nigerians to reestablish their connection with God to enjoy the abundant and contented life that God has planned for them. Yesterday, Adeboye, Ebute-Metta delivered the admonition at the RCCG headquarters' monthly thanksgiving ceremony at The Throne of Grace. He spoke on the theme of "Renewed like Eagles," and he offered prayers for all dads, moms, single parents, widows, widowers, children, and adolescents who are with their families.
HOW ACTOR WHO PLAYED JESUS CHRIST IN THE FILM PASSION OF CHRIST WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING ON LOCATION AND SURVIVED
Written by Kayode Olorundare
Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in the 2004 film "The Passion of Christ," was hit by lightning during the film's last scene. Later, Caviezel said that the lightning hits required a lot of medicine in addition to two heart operations, one of which was an open procedure.
He was dumped on by someone and unintentionally whipped twice, resulting in a 14-inch scar on his back, and dislocated his shoulder from the weight of the 150-pound (68-kg) cross. and it caught fire in his hair during the crucifixion. He suffered from hypothermia and pneumonia as a result of the scenes of him hanging on the cross during the bitter Italian winter, which had 25°F/-4°C temperatures and 30-knot winds. He said that by the time the movie was over, he had dropped from 210 pounds (95 kg) to 168 pounds (76 kg). After the film was finished, he needed heart surgery.
Speaking about the lightning occurrence, Caviezel remarked, "I felt like a Christmas tree lit up." I knew it would hit me about four seconds before it did, as I was giving the sermon on the mountain, so I stated I would get struck. And as it was happening, I witnessed the extras seize the ground in front of me. Five minutes after I was struck, Jon Mikalini, an assistant, approached me and said, "Are you okay?" before also getting struck. I said, "I can burn up or die, but I always think about it." The most embarrassing part of it all, though, is that Jon had already been struck when he approached me.
The chance will always be there for those who choose not to take it, and the best part is that it will follow them for the rest of their life. They will constantly be approached by people who want to talk to them about the movie they were in, and it will always trouble them.
This is how I feel: I think I was meant to play the part, even though I've always had doubts about my suitability. Although He doesn't always pick the best, He did pick me, and I had the chance to say yes. I did so, and when I looked up to call my fellow Americans and people around the globe, I told them that I wanted them to go out into the public and openly express their faith, which is exactly what I've done here.
ADEBOYE ADVISES HIS FOLLOWERS TO WORK ON THEIR TALENTS
Written by Kayode Olorundare
Pastor Adeboye stressed the significance of welcoming regeneration and reawakening latent abilities. He shows us that we can reawaken our dormant potential and skills. He said, "I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who used to be a practicing physician. Then he went on to something else for whatever reason. He remarked, "Ah, I don't even know medicine anymore because things have changed," during our conversation on medicine.
He provided me with an example, saying, "Back when he was a practicing physician, if you had an operation and needed to be sewn up, they would use a piece of wire to accomplish the stitching. Once the wound healed to a certain extent, you would return to the hospital and the wire would be taken out. However, doctors now stitch you up with material that will dissolve with your body as you heal."
"There's no need for you to return after surgery to have the wire removed since science has advanced. Those are the days when they employ incredibly sharp light to accomplish certain very specific operations. They can even utilize regular light these days.
After the procedure is completed, there won't be much blood loss. Science has advanced to the point that surgery today is identical to the one God carried out on Adam, putting him to sleep taking a rib from his body and turning it into a woman. You are aware that no record exists indicating that a drop of blood hit the ground. Therefore, you cannot even practice medicine if you have been a doctor for a long time but have temporarily stopped to be one. Many of us also possess abilities that we no longer employ. I hope and pray that we will awaken today! and that such abilities will be revitalized.
TINUBU CELEBRATES PASTOR ENOCH ADEBOYE AT 82
Written by Kayode Olorundare
In honor of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), on his birthday, March 2, 2024, President Bola Tinubu celebrated the grace of "stewardship and leadership upon" his life on Friday. Tinubu thanked the "Lord's servant" for his regular prayers for the nation and his "wise counsel."
A
The cleric was praised by him for his "manifest determination to see Nigeria succeed" and his "patriotic zeal." The President congratulated Pastor Adeboye on "hitting another milestone" and joining the "Body of Christ in thanksgiving for the General Overseer's remarkable life of impact that transcends cultures and borders" in a statement signed by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Advisor on Media and Publicity. In addition to wishing the General Overseer and his wife continued health, the President prayed for many more years of faithful service to God Almighty.
After apparently getting shot in the face while attempting to thwart an attempted auto theft on Sunday morning, a Tennessee pastor was taken to the hospital. Just after nine in the morning local time on Sunday, New Zionfield Baptist Church was the scene of a gunshot, according to Memphis police. After being discovered, a guy was transferred in severe condition to a nearby hospital. The guy was recognized by a churchgoer as 70-year-old New Zionfield Baptist preacher Clemmie Livingston, Jr. According to reports, Livingston was shot while trying to stop two guys from robbing a Sunday school teacher of her car.
Boxcar according to Kavion Woodin, Livingston's 17-year-old grandson, was supposed to preach during Sunday's service, WREG on Nexstar reported. He claims that his granddad frequently gave people the sermon "Another Chance." "My grandpa stepped up when someone tried to take one of the church member's cars," Woodin recalled. He had no fear of evil. He had no fear of evil, so he left the chapel to guard a car.
"He never did wrong towards anybody. He was a man of giving, willingness, kindness, and compassion," Woodin said, adding that his family is begging the community to put an end to needless gun violence. "To be honest, I'm weary of seeing people killed by automobiles and gun violence. Because of gun violence, I've lost seven friends. I'm just 17 years old, yet I've lost two friends to vehicles," Wooden said. "The bloodshed needs to end. It's time to put an end to the murders and robbery. It's time to put down the firearms.
According to the police, Livingston's condition is stable at this moment, and they are looking for two suspects who were wearing hoodies when the incident occurred. Authorities said that the suspects drove off in a silver 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.
More...
MARRIAGEPope: We disagree with your position on same-sex marriage, Nigerian Catholic Bishops SpeakOriginally published on February 19, 2024Written by John Gabriel Nigerian Catholic bishops have voiced their dissatisfaction with Pope Francis' stance on same-sex marriage blessings. They said that the Pope's position may be interpreted as supporting same-sex unions. This was spoken by Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji during his remarks on Sunday at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja, during the official start of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the CBCN.
He said that pronouncements or statements made by the Holy See ought to promote harmony and communion regarding matters of theology, morality, and liturgy. Still, sadly, Fiducia Supplicans had the opposite effect, harming the Church's unity and catholicism. "We have to honestly acknowledge that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's Fiducia Supplicans (On the Pastoral Meaning Blessings) Declaration, which was released on December 18, 2023, has made our suffering worse," the speaker remarked.
He claims that although the text forbids same-sex couples from receiving liturgical blessings, it also encourages couples in atypical circumstances to receive spontaneous pastoral blessings, which includes same-sex couples. It further emphasized that these pastoral blessings should not be given in conjunction with or even about civil union ceremonies, nor should they be given with any attire, gestures, or speech appropriate for a wedding.
"The document quickly aroused mixed reactions of acceptance, skeptical reserve, and outright rejection from Episcopal Conferences and individual Bishops across the world, given the ambiguities in the Declaration," according to Ugorji. He pointed out that the text's release caused shock, indignation, and disbelief among the faithful in Nigeria as well as other countries in Africa and the world due to the media hype surrounding it. Many pious Catholics in the communities wondered how a priest could bless same-sex couples who live in a sinful union permanently without causing confusion and scandal.
"We must, as Pastors with the pastoral task of safeguarding the deposit of faith in its purity and integrity, uphold the teaching of the Church based on Holy Scripture and Tradition amid this confusion and pushback," he said. Instead of conforming to this world, we should renew our minds and allow ourselves to be changed to understand what God's will is—that is, what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
We must persist in instructing our followers that same-sex unions and couples cannot be blessed in the African Church. Acts of homosexuality are gravely depraved, inherently evil, and, above all, against the laws of nature. We must therefore never stop emphasizing that God summons sinners to repentance so that they can have life, to fulfill our pastoral and prophetic missions.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye recently revealed a stunning encounter with God on YouTube, highlighting the miraculous manifestation and divine intervention he encountered. Adeboye said how he felt God spoke to him, asking him to consider his relationship with fire and his readiness to embrace it once more. He said, "I felt like God was speaking to me. He responded by asking his kid, "When was the last time you saw fire, naked fire?" I said, "Daddy, I'm sorry, it's been quite a while".
"Do you want your fire back?" he asked. I stated, "I will do anything, I will pay any price". I think someone is hearing from God. I followed his instructions. Soon later, when I was preaching at the Camp, I made the altar call and people began to rush forward. Suddenly, there was a fire blazing at the top of my head on the roof. It's recorded. And I was supposed to give way so the firefighters could get to work.
I just remained composed and let others who were speaking up do so; ironically, those individuals also chose not to flee. When they arrived, we had completed all the necessary procedures and given them to the counselors. I immediately stood aside, and the firefighters swiftly obtained a ladder and ascended to put out the fire; by the time they arrived, the fire had been out."
What was spoken at the Revival Fire Service by Pastor E. A Adeboye. During the Revival Fire Conference, held to celebrate with Bishop Wale Oke and his wife, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, told the tale of how a guy who won €75,000 was found sitting in rags in a damaged house. He said, "Whenever we discuss a new song. Positive lyrics from a new song might be, "I was poor, now I'm rich." That music is brand-new. I'm affluent today, but I was poor once. That tune is also fresh. I was well earlier, but I'm sick now. It's also a new tune. Both good and negative songs are present.
Which song would you choose to perform? Even in my early years, I have witnessed many individuals sing depressing tunes." He remarked, "That was a long time ago before some of us were born, far back in 1957. Someone won the lotto. Perhaps the elderly will recall. €75,000 is what! An apartment in London could be purchased for €25 in 1957. This individual made €75,000 in winnings. Thus, a classic illustration would be a man who was impoverished and suddenly became wealthy."
"Years ago, I was traveling through his town," he said. The man who was driving me in the car was an old man from the town. We spotted a man sitting in rags in a broken-down house, and I merely asked him, "What's wrong with that man?" Perhaps we ought to go ask him to the show. Is he ill in any way? No, he replied. The man who won €75,000 is the one." at last, "In the name that is above every other name, you will never sing a negative song."
Ekiti state governor’s wife, Dr. Mrs. Oyebamiji was one of the dignitaries in attendance at the 70th birthday celebration of the pioneer associate pastor of the Glory Tabernacles ministries Ojurin Bodija, Dr Mrs. Chi Obed. The governor, his wife, and children were staunch members of the Ibadan-based church before he was sworn in on October 16, 2022, to administer Ekiti state. Aside from the Ekiti governor’s wife, other personalities from the Christendom who graced the occasion included the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye; a retired UI lecturer and pastor, Prof. (Mrs)Janice Olawoye; Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah and his wife from Ghana; Revd (Mrs) Patience Oyor and Evangelist Toun Soetan.
According to Her Excellency, GT’s late Pioneer General Pastor prompted her husband to go for the gubernatorial position years back, an urge that came to pass. “Daddy Obed asked my husband about his visions and aspirations after 50 years on earth and he told the pastor he wanted to serve God. The pastor asked him: ‘Don’t you want to be the governor of your state? We want righteousness to reign in Nigeria,’” she told the congregation. Dr. Mrs. Oyebanji said further that after telling Governor Oyebanji that the years he served the state in different capacities were for training him for greater responsibility, Pastor then prayed by telling God that though the governor was not desperate for the position, he (Pastor Obed) was desperate on his behalf.
Her Excellency appreciated Pastor (Mrs) Obed for believing in the governor and the prayers she was offering on behalf of her family consistently. She promised the Ekiti First Family would not mess up, as they have a home to return to after serving. She presented a manual containing tributes, encomium, and appreciation of God’s goodness in Mrs Obed’s life. Also speaking, Prof. Olawoye recalled how her relationship with Pastor (Mrs) Obed started as a teacher to a student when she came for postgraduate studies at the University of Ibadan, but said that she was a different kind of student than many of the others. “I knew her husband who was also a lecturer and UI teacher and the relationship was a bit closer.
Dr. Mrs. Oyebamiji With Mummy Chi Obed
We moved from being teachers to students and became sisters, colleagues, and friends,” Prof. Olawoye said. She described the celebrant as an encouragement and supporter, praying for her to have many more years to serve God and humanity. On her part, Pastor (Mrs) Adeboye, who described the celebration day as beautiful and joyful, said that it serves as a remembrance of the day of one’s birth which was not terminated abruptly through divine grace.
She delivered greetings to the celebrant on behalf of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on God’s goodness and mercy Mrs Obed had enjoyed, praying that it would endure forever. Pastor Mrs Adeboye spoke on what drew her closer to Mrs Obed, saying that it was her heart of worship and breaking the bread of life which is the word of God. She led the congregation in prayer for the celebrant that God should continue to hold her hand as He leads her through the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.