The Sun News On-line|Abuja Reports

From a humble beginning of coordinating prayer meetings, the Most Rev. Daddy Hezekiah has etched his name as one of the leading Christian lights in the land.

The church he founded 25 years ago, Living Christ Mission (LCM) dots nearly every community in the country Standing at nearly six feet, sturdily built and ebony complexioned, Daddy Hezekiah told Daily Sun that his ministry is the outcome of his personal experience and immersion in the Bible, thus, its distinctiveness. His style and conduct are modeled on Biblical teachings. For instance, well past 50, and not of the Catholic faith, he has made a vow of chastity.

Asked why he is still single, he replies: "I am married to Jesus. I am following the example of Jesus Christ, the example of Paul, the example of Elijah, the example of Appolos, the example of Elisha and some other people who devoted themselves to God"
He affirms that men of God are easily ensnared by the sensual urge of adultery and fornication, yet God has given them the grace to overcome such temptations.

"Three temptations pride, lust and love of money afflict servants of God. These three things are very dangerous to those who are not in the spirit. I overcame not by might, not by power, but by the spirit of God.

"When one is born again, he is a new creation, and if one is really a child of God, he will do what God says. Many people commit fornication and adultery thinking that these two things are difficult to abstain from, but if they were to be difficult, God would not have told us not to commit adultery. God would not ask us to do anything that we could not do. For the fact that God has condemned it means that He will give us the strength to refrain from it.

"Adultery and fornication are the two things that defile servants of God. Stealing and other things are done outside the body, but the immoral man sins against himself, that is why people are powerless.
“That is why Paul says let no one marry, but if you are controlled by passion and flesh, marry. Yet when you want to devote yourself to prayers, you should abstain, that will show you that even between husband and wife, God does not encourage such things anyhow.

“It is only God who gives one the grace not to love money so that when you have, you know it is more blessed to give than to receive, not to soil yourself with women and not to be proud. It is the spirit of God in us that help us to do the will of God"
Wealth Unlike other men of the cloth, Daddy Hezekiah readily admits he has business concerns. He proffers that there is nothing improper for the clergy to be involved in business affairs. He is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Victor Associates Nigeria Limited and numerous other limited liability companies.

"I am the Chief Executive of Victor and Associates Nigeria Limited, and some other limited liability company and I have some faithful members of my church who do business for me in foreign countries. And when money is collected I use it to the glory of God.

" I do not depend on the Church, because if I do, it will make me not to say the truth. The rich most times do not like to hear the truth, hence, Christ said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into His kingdom. I do some genuine business to generate funds, so I will say God is blessing me through various means to His glory.

"Yes, it is proper for a man of God to do some business to support himself rather than depend on the Church. it is important for a man of God to do other things, for example in the Bible, Paul made it clear that his hands were feeding him, he was a tent maker.

“Though an apostle of Jesus Christ, he was working. So unless you were called the way Peter was called. There were those called, like Peter into full time ministry, and those called like Paul who is also a full time minister, but he was also a tentmaker. It is important for a man of God, if it is the will of God to have something doing so that he will not be a burden to the brethren."

Worldly honours
Hezekiah who goes by the title of "Lion of the Tribe of Igbo" was among those recently conferred with national honours by the Federal Government. He was awarded Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) medal. And he proffers that there is nothing wrong with receiving earthly honours.
We receive honour from the Almighty God that is true, but we also receive certificates from human beings, and if God allowed me to study and get a degree in Industrial Chemistry, and he allowed men and women to teach me, then any honour that has nothing to do with shrine is also acceptable to me, This honour shows that my country loves me, that is why I accepted with joy and great happiness.
My title the Lion of the Tribe of Igbo shows that my people, the Igbo accepted me as their son, for example Jesus Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He is not only for the tribe of Judah, He is also for the 12 tribes of Israel and the whole world, this title shows that Jesus is my father, and my own tribe recognizes me. Yet, I am the servant of God working for God and mankind.

Beginning
Posted as a teacher to Inland Girls Secondary School, Onitsha for his primary assignment in the NYSC programme for 1979/1980, Daddy Hezekiah began a prayer meeting from which LCM was mid-wifed.
"I started from scratch, I did not divide any other Church in order to start Living Christ Mission, there was a time I used ordinary blocks to make a pulpit, there was a time I used side stools for a pulpit. The prayers started in my room, half of a classroom. Then I was using a double bunk bed, and I used the top of it as my pulpit. I laugh today when people say Hezekiah uses charms because of the power they see manifest in the ministry, how I stop the rain, and raise the dead. But some of these people who saw how I started will always testify for me.
“It was not easy, I was persecuted by the school authorities where I was teacher, even the big churches because then I was a member of the Anglican Church.
“They did everything discourage me, yet eventually God helped me to succeed"
Amongst other virtues which aided his success Hezekiah lists patience, endurance, persecution – which makes him draw closer to God, faith and confidence in God, love of and love for God, generousity to God and man.

He spoke on other topical issues:
Poverty in Nigeria
We have natural and human resources, but the problem is corruption and mismanagement. People think the end should justify the means, everyone wants to get rich. If our resources are well managed, there will be no poverty in our country. The right people should be appointed to positions they expertise in. The government should be truthful and ensure that corruption is fought against, not only by words of mouth, but by action.
There is religious intolerance even though Christians and Muslims pray together at official functions. In most cases, Nigerians believe in artificial performances, they are not genuine in certain things they do, that is why if anyone comes out to fight corruption, definitely people will start fighting against him. If those at the head stand firm to support people doing things that will move the country forward, the country would begin to progress.

Elections fall-out
Many people are pushing others to the wall to do what is inevitable, but we are praying against war. It is true that some people had done things worse than what caused the 1966 war, but we are praying against war.
Look at how people are suffering. If there is instability, the suffering will be worse. People should do the right thing, and should not take other for granted. I always say that it is the unwise people who rig elections, a wise person will prefer a free and fair election so that he will know if the people he want to rule really want him. A wise person will not impose self on others, but would want to be given a mandate to rule.
The cleric who has large followers East of the Niger, especially in the commercial city of Onitsha where he started and also in Nkwerre, in Imo State says he rarely travels and that he is visiting Abuja for the first time to receive an award.

How does he relax?
I do not have enough rest, I eat only once a day and do not move about, yet I am healthy, I believe God is the one taking care of me.
I eat any type of food especially rice, custard, beans, I love food that contains protein and carbohydrate. I love fruits more than solid food.