The 63rd annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, with a theme, “The All-Sufficient God”, comes to a fitting end today with the promotion of 1,184 assistant pastors to the rank of pastors to feel gaps created by the phenomenal growth of the church across the nations of the world.
The number of pastors this year is slightly higher than the figure of 1,125 of last year and their ordination and a charge by a senior minister signals the end of the convention which General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye recently reminded Nigerians that when the church was still very small he predicted that it would play host to presidents and big time leaders but his listeners’ response was subdued.
“I moved further to say that God said presidents will be members of the church. They will be ushers but the members then found it difficult to swallow that but mark my words, whenever God speaks, the Holy Spirit sanctioned it”, he said matter of factly at a recent Church programme subtly telling doubting Thomases that those prophecies are already manifesting.
One of the highpoints of this year’s annual convention of the church tagged; “The All-Sufficient God” were two remarkable testimonies given by two high profile officials of government, giving credence to the fact that the church’s influence is waxing stronger and stronger. Recall that current Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a senior pastor with the church.
Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Nigeria’s 16th Chief of Defence Staff and Benue State governor, Deacon Samuel Ortom who attended the Holy Ghost service of the convention in company of the Vice President and the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, gave testimonies of how their respective elevations were products of Pastor Adeboye’s prophetic utterances. Whereas the chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff’s recent elevation was prophesied by Adeboye at the July Holy Ghost service on July 3 and his appointment was announced 10 days after, that of Ortom was a direct prayer from the man of God.
“In May Holy Ghost service, our Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo thanked the Lord for victory during the general elections. In June Holy Ghost service, the executive governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was also here to bless God for victory. In July Holy Ghost service during Daddy’s ministration, he declared that somebody’s level was about to change and I am here to announce that the prophecy was fulfilled in my life. I am here to bless the name of the Lord because He has changed my level,” the CDS testified.
Ortom’s testimony was as intriguing as it was inspiring. He was written off in 1979 when he dropped out of school in Form Four, worked in a motor park but managed to upgrade himself educationally before delving into the murky waters of politics and rose through the ranks. He resigned his ministerial appointment after Pastor Adeboye prayed for him ending the supplication, saying “my testimony was that in 1979, I dropped out of school in Form Two. At the same time, I met the All Sufficient God. Today through tutorials and distance learning, I have a Ph.D.
“I started working in motor park as motor park tout but through the grace of God, I went through series of leadership positions at the local, state and federal levels; the recent one was being a Minister of State for Trade and Industry. Before contesting the last election, I came to the camp with my pastor for God’s direction and I was asked to go ahead. I told Daddy Adeboye about my intention and he prayed for me, and I still remember the last statement of our daddy. He said: ‘God give me a testimony that May 29, 2015 that my son will be sworn in as the governor of Benue state.’ After passing through various trials, he usually told me that all will be well and today I am the governor of Benue State,” he narrated.
There were several mind boggling testimonies of the goodness of God in the lives of people. Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole also traced his latest success in politics to his association with the ministry of pastor Adeboye, saying: “The journey of my life in politics as a pastor started 15 years ago. Exactly eight years ago, I contested a primary election, I won but the ticket was taken. But I remember that Daddy Adeboye said that God is aware of our tribulations; God is with us and that at the end of the journey there will be victory. I contested again and to the glory of Lord, on June 5, 2015, I was elected the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly.”
Deaconess Oguntade Grace from Lagos Province 22 also declared: “I have been waiting on the Lord for 20 years for the fruit of the womb but last year Daddy G.O. came to our Province 22 in Ikorodu and publicly express surprise as he was not scheduled to visit another church. “Immediately, I told my husband that Daddy was there for our miracle and shortly after the visit, the womb that doctors said cannot carry a pregnancy carried, not only one, but twins. This is marvelous work of the Lord in my family.”
Brother Olubunmi Ayodele’s aunty was also delivered of a set of twins after 16 years of years of barrenness. “I came to the 2014 convention with a prayer request on behalf of my aunty who has been looking for the fruit of the womb for the past 16 years. I prayed at the auditorium altar and God instructed me to walk round the camp seven times and I was afraid if I could do it but God helped me. Few months after she got pregnant and delivered twins.”
Mrs. Treasure Bello from Delta Province 4 said: “As a teenager, I was possessed by marine spirit but because I renounced and rejected them when I gave my life to Jesus Christ, they tormented me, made me deaf, dumb and paralyzed. My parish pastor came to me, prayed for me and I vomited two keys and since that day I was totally delivered.”
One other feature of Friday’s miracle service was the prayer for all nations of the world especially nations passing through crises and various socio-political challenges, which was handled by the wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Folu Adeboye. The woman of God said Nigeria is lacking lots of things due to sin and that without the help of the All Sufficent God, the giant of Africa can do nothing and therefore urged the congregation to pray against the plagues of sin, corruption, darkness working against the progress of the country.
Leaders occupying place of authority including kings were not left out in the prayer, as the people prayed for divine wisdom and knowledge for the nation’s leaders to rule according to God’s instruction so that Nigeria can move from obscurity to greatness.
“Lord let Your light shine wherever darkness is hibernating in our nation, we cancel any iota of darkness, we challenge them in Jesus’ name. Those in authority from the kings to our president, we concel any power that will not allow them to do God’s will. We pray they will rule with the fear of God for us to live abundant lives, have more than enough so that our nation can move forward and attain her greatness. We are tired of stagnation. God open the gates of heaven and let there be rain of peace and joy.”
Also speaking at the convention, Rev. Joe Olaiya of Living Faith Foundation who preached at one of plenary sessions told our reporter in an interview that Nigeria needs faith and love to overcome the current challenges. Said he: “We need faith, love and truth. Have faith in God. What you want to do to others make sure it is what you want people to do to you. Be truthful and fair. Once we do that, we won’t have problems in life.
“The challenge is that the Church must know that the signs of the last days are complete, with the gay factor being acceptable to leaders of the world, it just shows that the days of Sodom and Gomorrah are here. If you want to know, judgment and rapture are close at hand. It’s better for the Church to wake up and get its harvest and be ready,” Olaiya stated.
Before his main message titled, “The All-Sufficient God”, Pastor Adeboye announced to the mammoth crowd of worshippers that 81 babies had been delivered during the convention, 41 of them being male and the rest 40 females.
He maintained that “God is sufficient for all our needs; physical needs because He is the God of all flesh if only we believe in Him. He is more than sufficent for material, emotional, needs. He is the only One who has the ability to promote man, He can pick someone from the dunghill and set him among princes in the palace. He is able to save to the uttermost end, He also has the ability to pick the worst person to be an Apostle of the gospel.”
One of the expectations of worshippers was to host the convention at the new Arena but Pastor Adeboye told the participants that it was not ready due to the paucity of funds and appealled to his friends, children and supporters to support him to complete of the 9 kilometre square Arena located at Simawa area of Ogun State.
“The new arena is yet to be completed because there is no money. All the people that promised big money have not shown up and I believe they will show up one day,” Daddy G.O. said, adding “for the first time in my life, I am almost becoming a begger. I have never asked for offering online. I did not know how to do fine bara, it is just circumstances beyond my control.”
Adeboye went ahead to appeal for more support for the project, stressing that God will keep on providing for the needs of the congregation and expressed optimism that the arena will be available for use during the December Holy Ghost congress.
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