By Philomina Attah

The Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Oliver Abba, has encouraged Christians to rise above the negativity of their past.

Abba made the call in his sermon at the Cathedral of Unity, Wuse Zone 3, in Abuja.

The cleric, who is on pastoral visit to Abuja, emphasised that “Jesus Christ, the epitome of peace, offers a path of peace to all who follow Him.”

Addressing the congregation, the prelate stressed the importance of unity, highlighting the need for people to come together in spite of their differences.

He urged them to spread joy and happiness to one another, emphasising that every act of kindness towards others is seen as an act towards God.

In an interview with newsmen after the service, the Archbishop expressed hope for Nigeria, noting the resilience and zeal of its people.

He cited the Biblical story of Ezekiel and the dry bones and likened Nigeria’s current challenges to the dry bones, asserting that there is hope for restoration and revival.

“With the current economic hardship in the country, it is good to show love to one another.

“We should try by putting smiles on the faces of our neighbours because that’s the teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said.

The prelate emphasised the significance of love, citing Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of selfless love.

He commended President Bola Tinubu, saying that his position was divinely ordained and called on Nigerians to support him for the nation’s progress. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Isaac Aregbesola

By Taiye Olayemi

Pastor Lawrence Oji, popularly known as “Pastor Solution”, on Monday urged clerics in Nigeria to focus more on salvation rather than prosperity, in their sermons.

The cleric, who was a drug addict and an ex-habitual offender, made the call during a news conference in Lagos.

Oji is a minister with the New Covenant Church, London and Coordinator of Saving Hands for Alcoholic and Drug End-Users (SHADE).

He said that increased cases of depression, drug abuse, urge to rape and commit all forms of atrocities among Nigerians, result from limited access to messages of salvation.

He noted that majority of the clerics preach prosperity, neglecting the challenges people were confronted with.

He advised clerics to deliberately focus on the gospel of salvation rather than prosperity.

“ Clerics must begin to priotise preaching on the theme of salvation and minimise that of prosperity because many people have not received salvation and are confronted with serious challenges that cannot be compared to material possession.

“ The ministry of every Christian is to look out for those in bondage and ensure they are released.

“ Many are in the ministry for self interest. Pastors should begin to teach people the word of God in line with salvation so that they can have personal encounter with God,” he said.

Speaking on his journey to salvation, Oji said he wasted over 30 years of his life engaging in hard drugs and later got depressed as a result of his quest to leave the habit.

“ I was always giving out drugs to people who desired to have them but were not financially buoyant to get. That made me acquire the nick name ‘Mr Solution’, then,” he recalled.

According to him, while being addicted to drugs in Italy, he was imprisoned countless times.

He said his horrible sojourn in drugs necessitated his taking up evangelism, “to put those suffering from drug abuse and depression on the right path of God”.

“ Peer group influence led me into hard drugs. I also led many people to drugs in Nigeria. My addiction was so bad that I tried going to the hospital to be rescued, but to no avail.

“My mother went to different places to take me out of drugs and she was told my destiny was spiritually tied to drug.

“I am sharing my story so that people in similar situations can be hopeful. Through this, I got depressed and, at a point, stabbed myself so as to die.

” Within a year I destroyed five cars because I just wanted to end it all. I deliberately bashed those cars.

“ But, on March 21, 2001, the desire to smoke left me after being prayed for by one of the prison ministers at the highest prison in Italy.

” At this point, the authorities were already tired of me, my name was among those to be deported after serving my sentence.

“But, somehow, God intervened and I was not deported as planned. People should not give up on their loved ones. They should rather pray for them and preach to them to be free from every bondage.

“ Now, I go to prisons across the world to preach salvation. I also go to places that are abodes of drug addicts. I make sure they are delivered. So, clerics should do more,” he said.

Oji said he was from an affluent family and joined the Nigerian Police at a point in time.

“I later moved to the banking industry and was a pioneer member of the Institute of Bankers.”

Oji said he was disposed to golden opportunities but never took advantage of them due to drug addiction.

“ My utmost desire now is to establish a rehabilitation centre that will cater for victims of drug abuse and depression without financial commitment from beneficiaries,” he said.

The cleric also spoke of his love for late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

“ While in the Nigerian Police Force, I was assigned to guard Fela after his house was burnt and he was hospitalised at the then Creek Hospital in Lagos,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lawrence Oji is from Abia State and holds a first degree in Economics and a Masters degree in Theology and Religious Studies.

He has published seven books in his bid to relay his life experiences to encourage and inspire others.

The books are – From Prison to Pulpit; Soul Winning Made Simple; Not Without a Scar; Depression: The Silent Killer, causes, consequences and cure; Positioned by Grace; Stubborn Faith and Power of Hope. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraim Sheyin

By Uchenna Eletuo

Bishop Edoho Ighalo, the Senior Shepherd of A Touch From Heaven Ministry, says the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos State remains united.

Ighalo said this at a news conference in Lagos to disabuse people’s mind of any crisis in the body.

He said that contrary to the news being circulated that there were divisions in PFN after the annulment of its election in Feb., the fellowship remained united.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that PFN on Monday, Feb. 5 held an election to pick a new executives for the body, however, the election was annulled by the PFN National President, Bishop Wale Oke.

Addressing newsmen, Ighalo, said that Kehinde reportedly floored his opponent and former chairman, Apostle Enyinnanya Okwuonu, with a wide margin.

The Shepherd of the touch from heaven ministry said that the election was annulled because of inadequate awareness and those meant to oversee the election were not well constituted.

According to him, this development was observed that some members were trying to disorganise the sanctity of PFN through certain inciting publications.

“My advice to everyone is to work toward building peaceful operations of the organisation.

“The Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) is not meant to interlope in the affairs of PFN.

“I want the CAN National President, Bishop Stephen Adegbite to focus solely on the activities of CAN and not interlop in PFN affairs.

“In view of the annulment of the PFN election in Lagos State, as a father, I maintain an unbiased position.

“Some members are trying to disorganise the sanctity of the organisation of the PFN in Lagos State.”

He advised Adegbite to stay on his side of the line.

” We should not bring ethnicity to play in kingdom business.

“Any statement that is insightful is not advisable in the body of Christ.

“We are not going to sit down and watch what our founding fathers laboured to build to be destroyed by challanters.

“I advise Adegbite to engage Bishop Wale Oke, the Head of PFN and not render inciting statements in the newspapers,” he said.

Also, the President of Agape Worship Ministry, Apostle David Odi, said:”there is no fight in PFN; Lagos is one of the most organised, we are united.”

Similarly, the President of Voice of His Words Ministry Nigeria and Overseas, Apostle Bolaji Akinyemi, urged all Christian to work unanimously in ensuring sanctity in PFN and CAN.

Akinyemi, however, said that a committee would be constituted to see to the issue at hand.

He described CAN and PFN as stewards in God’s vineyard where discord should not be condoned.

NAN reports that PFN is the umbrella body of the Pentecostal churches in Nigeria (NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu