As Nigeria celebrates another year of freedom tagged as Nigeria @ 64, the presiding pastor of Celestial Church of Christ, Liberation Parish, Alagbado, Venerable Superior Evangelist James Aso has urges Nigerians across the world to embrace unity, hope and progress to ensure a new dawn under the current adminstration.

In a statement from the church’s media department, the popular Celestial shepherd who recently held prayer session for Nigeria believes that only prayers will help the leadership of the country not violence or any form of discrimination.

The statement reads:

“I want to congratulates every Nigerians across the world for celebrating another year of freedom, Nigeria @ 64. On this note, I urge every citizen of this great country to embrace unity irrespective of our cultural differences. Only unity can give us hope and progress. By the Grace of God, Nigeria shall encounter maximum breakthrough. This new years shall be the beginning of greater transformation in our dear country.”

The statement read further:
“On the part of our leaders, I believe that no leaders will come to power to punish Nigerians, there is hardship of foods and other things but we are praying to God to empower the leaders with maximum wisdom and understanding that will give them absolute breakthrough to get things right from now in Jesus name,” Aso prayed for federal government.

Some Islamic clerics have accused the reinstated Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, of disrespecting religious traditions after a photo of him walking on a customized rug engraved with his adopted name, ‘Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi ll,’ surfaced.

In response to the allegations, Emir Sanusi defended his actions, stating that the intentions behind his actions are what truly matters.

He referenced religious teachings to clarify that he meant no disrespect to the Prophet Muhammad.

The discourse intensified following a video featuring Muhammad Sharif, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric, who criticized the emir for not adhering to the protocols established by the Tijjaniyya founders, Ahmadu Tijjani and Ibrahim Niasse.

Sharif pointed to the late American boxer, Muhammad Ali as a model of respect, recounting how Ali declined to have his name placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to honour the Prophet.

Ali insisted that his name, which he shares with the revered figure in Islam, should not be defaced and requested that his star be mounted on a wall instead.

In 2002, Ali was indeed honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but in a departure from tradition, it was installed on the wall of the Kodak Theater rather than on the sidewalk like other stars.

The cleric said, “I saw how Muhammad Sanusi, claiming to be the Khalifa of Tijjaniyya, is walking on a carpet inscribed with Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi. The name Muhammad is above someone to walk on if you truly respect the name; not even the Khalifa of Tijjaniyya or any other Muslim/ even non-Muslim who knows the right thing can walk on Muhammad’s name.

“For the Khalifa of Tijjaniyya walking on Muhammad’s name, I doubt if he is truly a disciple of Ahmadu Tijjani (the founder of Tijjaniyya).”

Another cleric from the Tijjaniyya sect, Ali Abdulrahman, said if the Emir had walked on Muhammad’s name in the time of Imam Malik, he would have been punished for disrespecting a religious creed.

As scepticism continues to spread like wildfire and the Lord’s Chosen Charistmatic Revival Ministry faces accusations of fabricating divine encounters, the Head of Public Relations and Media of the church, Pastor Chidi Louis tells OLUFEMI ADEDIRAN about the church’s unwavering faith in God’s power, and why some Nigerians remain unconvinced about miracles

Nigerians have accused your church of fabricating some of the testimonies shared by members. How do you respond to these accusations?

Everyone in the country today is seeing what is happening on social media regarding the videos being posted. The fact remains that someone doctored the videos to tarnish the image of the church. There are unabridged versions of the videos, but what these people did was circulate shortened clips on social media with the intent of damaging the church’s reputation.

This should not be the case, but since it has been done, we don’t need to engage in arguments with anyone. We have left them to act as they wish and allow God to be the judge.

There are unabridged versions of testimonies, such as one from a woman who dreamt of how she disarmed three robbers of their AK-47s, and another from a brother who testified that, in his dream, he was riding on the back of a lion, which directed him where to go.

We don’t have any issue with anyone, but it’s clear they are attempting to tarnish the church’s image. However, we thank God that they are inadvertently advertising the church.

The Lord’s Chosen is a holy church; we don’t engage in what others are trying to portray us as. What our pastor preaches is clear to the world—practical holiness and righteousness. We don’t fake anything. We stand firm, as holy brethren, with heaven consciousness. We are not like other churches.

Are members screened before sharing their testimonies?

We don’t conduct screening or interviews for people who come to share their testimonies because what we preach is holiness and righteousness. We believe that anybody who comes to hear the message of God and is touched, and says they are born again, should live right and maintain holiness and righteousness. So, there is no need for us to begin to doubt someone’s testimony.

If anybody comes and decides to give a testimony, we will give such a person the opportunity. We don’t teleguide or tell people what to say or how to say it. You are free to say it as you like

Your members have been associated with funny methods of evangelising on the streets. What is the reason for this?

What prompted us to do everything you’ve been seeing us do on the streets is our vision and mandate. Let me briefly explain the vision, as it will help people understand our actions through that lens.

The first vision is grassroots revival across the world, which involves going to the nooks and crannies of the globe to preach the gospel of repentance to all, regardless of status, geographical location, or gender. The Holy Bible has already commissioned us for this mission, as stated in Mark 16:15.

Our mandate is to spread the gospel of repentance to every corner of the world, telling people that Jesus Christ came, was crucified for humanity’s sins, died, was buried, and on the third day, rose again for our justification. To fully appreciate the redemptive work He did for us on the cross at Calvary, we must repent of our sins, give our lives to Christ, and sin no more.

We are tasked with telling the world that sin is an aberration and the root cause of the world’s problems. The challenges we face today are due to the wickedness of men, which is why the world is in crisis. So, we tell people that the key to success is holiness, for righteousness is what exalts a nation. We must carry this vision to the farthest reaches of the world.

Chosen member claims lion rescue from kidnappers, church dismisses video as doctored
The second vision is the revival of apostolic Christian experiences within the body of Christ. By apostolic experiences, I mean those of holiness, righteousness, total dedication to God’s service, love, unity, and peace. The apostles embodied these experiences, and that was what sustained their joy in the Lord and enabled them to spread the gospel worldwide. The Lord’s Chosen was established to reintroduce these experiences to the body of Christ.

In this dispensation, God’s spirit is moving among men, and the Lord’s Chosen has been emboldened and inspired to revive these experiences, especially in a world so desperately in need of unity and love. That is why you see us passionately ensuring these values are shared with the world. If there is peace and unity globally, there will be no need for the police, no crime, and all these crises will come to an end.

Our third vision is the revival of heaven’s consciousness in the heart of every believer. Before the Lord’s Chosen Revival Charismatic Ministry, many pastors focused on deliverance, believing Christianity was only about prayer and invoking God’s presence. But that is not the core of Christianity. We made people understand that the essence of Christianity is to prepare souls for heaven.

We attend church not for any other reason but to ensure that, at the end of this life, we gain a place in heaven. These visions are our driving force. That’s why you see our members preaching the gospel daily, evangelising the word, and sharing this vision with others. We have a mandate to bring 10 billion souls into the kingdom of God.

Some wonder how we will reach 10 billion souls. We want them to know that generations come and go, and if Jesus tarries, we will actualise this vision.

How has the church been coping with the trolling on social media?

Our pastor has travelled around the world, and the church has been experiencing a tremendous impact. We now have a presence in almost 120 nations. Beyond that, people have been receiving their healing; thousands of armed robbers and prostitutes have surrendered their lives to God. Let’s set aside other supernatural encounters and focus on what is most meaningful to us—when someone gives their life to Christ. Armed robbers surrendering their lives to Jesus and kidnappers turning to Christ—that, for us, is enough. We are happy these things are happening, regardless of what others may be saying.

How has this affected the church?

I don’t think what is happening has any impact on the church. Our general overseer is not bothered by it. It’s normal—once you’re doing the right thing, people will criticise you. I actually pity those involved because the Bible says, “Every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit is not forgivable. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” I hope those doing this know the Bible. The issue is that some Christians involved are ignorant of God and of what Scripture says. We’re not troubled by this; we pity them. We let them say whatever they want—it’s between them and God. The church is not disturbed at all. The Bible clearly states that if you do wrong, you will face the consequences.

What is the church’s message to the trolls on social media?

Social media came with a big bang but later, some started using it against others. If I were to be among those mocking the church, I would have gone there to conduct an investigation.

The church gate, the church service and everything happening there is open to everyone. People can come and investigate; they can even meet with the people who gave those testimonies and interview them.

They can’t just go to social media because they have data and phones, and can post anything, whether good or bad.

People can’t just go to X and begin to post whatever they like. The things of God are very mysterious. At times, human knowledge cannot comprehend what God is doing. A lot of things are being done here and I wish that people could just come to the church and investigate one or two things.

A lot of people have doubts, but we will continue to pray that one day, they will come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.

In a recent interview, Bernice openly shared her profound remorse regarding her choice to marry a pastor. She expressed that marrying a pastor was the most significant and regrettable mistake she has ever made in her life.

She gave instances where her pastor husband chose praying for prostitutes over having intimate moment with her.

She also shared that being married to a pastor has been difficult and she has endured a lot since their wedding.

Bernice revealed that her husband is highly focused on his pastoral duties, leaving her feeling neglected. She longs for more attention from him and wishes he would express his love for her more often, as she desires emotional support and affection.

She recounted meeting her husband during a time when she was heartbroken, and how he comforted her with Bible verses.

At the time, she saw him as a calm, kind man, which led to the beginning of their relationship. She accepted his proposal after he made grand promises and said sweet things to her.

I regret marrying my husband, who is also a pastor, says Kumawood actor Bernice Asare pic.twitter.com/3qQmGnYZZz

— 𝕏 Ghana 🇬🇭 (@xghana_) September 16, 2024

Founder and senior pastor of the Grace Nation Church International, Dr Chris Okafor has advised Christians to run away from pastors who convert church offerings to personal use.

The well-known cleric was unapologetic in a recent Sunday worship service as he laid into pastors who spent church monies without having a care about the consequences of such brazen indiscretions.

He told a full house of worshippers in a service that also climaxed the women’s convention that held all week in August that Christians who tarried in churches where such unwholesome breaches of God’s statutes were practised were living dangerously as they are as liable as the offending ministers themselves.

“Run away from churches where pastors ‘eat’ the offering because it is a dangerous place to be in,” Dr Okafor said.

“Converting church monies to personal use is actually inviting death. Death in the sense that church money is God’s money held in trust that is being breached when a pastor who is supposed to be accountable as a servant in His vineyard dips his hands in the till. And God does not take kindly to persons who take things they are not permitted to take.

“In more than 20 years in ministry, I have never taken, asked to be taken or spent money that belongs to our church, Grace Nation. As a matter of fact, the church’s cheque book is not in my hands. I don’t touch church money, and I don’t ask the church to pay me salary as well.

“This is the standard I have stuck with in more than two decades of active work and walk with God. And to tell you the truth, I have been better for it because God pays my bills.

“So, am telling Christians everywhere not to tarry a second longer in any church where the pastor or the general overseer spends the church money as if he owns it. The scripture cannot be broken. Jesus Christ, we are told, is the head of the church. We who serve Him as ministers are accountable to Him. The money people bring as offering to God in His church is for Him and not any pastor, apostle, evangelist or prophet. It is solely for God,” he added.

He would also mock the folly of some pastors who continue to publicly discredit the practice of tithing in order to seek human validation, insisting that they lacked understanding.

“Some pastors have continued to undermine the practice of tithing that God expressly commanded in His word, the Bible. They have continued to advance all kinds of reasons why it is not necessary to pay tithe. But I want to ask, what happened to the tithe they earlier received from members of their various congregations before their newfound discovery? I am yet to see any one of them giving back the tithes they collected before they happened on the new discovery that made tithing obsolete.

“So, my warning to Christians who attend churches where the pastor does not pay tithe is to flee because they will end up just as stagnated as the pastor is. Every boss has a boss. This means a pastor must have a father who mentored him. My advice to believers in Christ Jesus is to avoid having anything to do with any pastor that does not have any one he proves sonship to.

“Then, again, I will say this. Like the priest, like the people. Any church that people don’t willingly give, check it very well. It is the problem of the priest who either does not practise covenant principles or arbitrarily spends church money on his personal desires, than on God’s.” he said.

-Freedomonline

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has disclosed how his ambition to lead a paramilitary group led to a significant personal loss.

Adeboye recounted an incident from years ago when he was deceived by someone claiming to offer him a prestigious position.

He said the man, who presented himself as a recruiter for a new paramilitary agency, convinced him to invest in the venture.

The clergy revealed this in a post on his X handle on Monday.

Describing his decision to trust the man as a lapse in judgment influenced by his past fascination with the military, Adeboye admitted that his desire to fulfil this role led him to act prematurely.

He narrated, “Years ago, I was duped by a man who promised to make me a commandant of a paramilitary group. This man had been sending messages to me through my secretary for a while, and so, one day, I gave him an audience. He explained to me how a Boy-Scouts-like group had evolved into this new agency, and that he was sourcing for who would lead the group spiritually.

“Normally, I ask God before getting involved in anything at all, but this time, my love for the military in my younger days beclouded my best instincts, and I agreed to be their head. He told me that they needed some funding, which I gave as the prospective head. However, I later found out that the man was a fake.”

He, however, noted that the experience birthed the Redemption City corps and a local police post.

“My desire to be part of a paramilitary group made me run ahead of God, but God had already purposed for Redemption City to have its own corps of chaplains as well as a local Police post. He knew the desire of my heart, and He had planned for it to be fulfilled in His own time. I thought that I could bring my desire to fulfilment in my own time, but I was wrong. What I lost in that experience was money, but for someone else, it might have been their life or a loved one.

“However, I later found out that the man was a fake. My desire to be part of a paramilitary group made me run ahead of God, but God had already purposed for Redemption City to have its own corps of chaplains as well as a local Police post. He knew the desire of my heart, and He had planned for it to be fulfilled in His own time. I thought that I could bring my desire to fulfilment in my own time, but I was wrong. What I lost in that experience was money, but for someone else, it might have been their life or a loved one,” he added.