•Excitement as CRBC celebrates 20th anniversary
By Kehinde Aderemi
Pastor John Oluwadare, General Superintendent of Christ Redemption Bible Church (CRBC), Ketu, Lagos, has a word of advice for Nigerian leaders.
Until they show genuine repentance and truly return Nigeria to God, the country might continue to totter and toddle, even in adulthood, Pastor Oluwadare asserted. He also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to organise a genuine national prayer so that the country might regain its lost glory.
The cleric spoke recently at the church headquarters in Ketu, Lagos, while briefing journalists on activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the church.
The man of God, a Bible teacher, author, televangelist and deliverance minister, also urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country. He said the rampaging songs of discord and disunity among the various tribes in the country could only draw the nation backwards, insisting that God had destined Nigeria to be a great nation.
The cleric noted also that though God is still very much interested in the Nigeria project, the leaders should rise up and allow the fear of God to rule them.
“I have, on several occasions, had encounters with God concerning this country. I have related this several times on our weekly television programme on LTV, Heal My Land. I can assure you that God is still at work and that is why I am advising President Buhari to urgently declare a national prayer for the nation to regain its lost glory and be among the blessed nations of the world,” he said.
Oluwadare said this year’s convention at the CRBC was unique because it signified two decades of promoting the gospel of God through the church. He explained that the theme, – The Bread of life – Walking in Dominion, is to glorify God and win souls through the various activities and programmes slated for the event.
Chairman of the convention planning committee, Pastor Sunday Olaluwoye said: “A chain of activities have been lined up for this year convention, beginning with the four-week training and empowerment programme, where people learn various vocations, including fashion designing, hairdressing and other self improvement endeavours. A family summit programme and get-together with the theme, ‘Family as God Intended It,’ would be held to discuss issues relating to the family. The church is also giving back to the community. We shall be commissioning a water project for the church’s immediate community and we are embarking on the repair and grading of the road leading to the church. This is part of the corporate social responsibility programme of the church. There will also be a Ministers’ Conference, revival service and crusade as well as the church leaders’ conference. These are tailored towards developing the spirit of excellence in the church leaders.
“There will also be a general workers’ conference with the theme: ‘Surviving in the wave of economic turbulence. The church is also organising a 20- hour praise and worship session, holding between 8 am and 4 am the following day. There would also be the ordination ceremony of some servants of God in the church. The event will be rounded off with the convention thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 15,with prominent guests gracing the occasion,” he said
Some of the guests expected at the convention, the organisers said, include the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, among others. There would also be other prominent personalities from across Nigeria and abroad, he informed.
The convention would also parade an array of respected men of God, including Pastor Samson Bamigbayan, Pastor Dapo Ojo, Pastor Joseph Adelakun and Pastor Anu Ojo.
Aside praise and worship songs from the Redemption Voices, Evangelist Olubukola Akinade (Senwele Jesu) is expected to thrill guests at the event.
Wife of the General Superintendent, Pastor Mrs. Martha Oluwadare called on Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliations, to attend the soul-lifting event, assuring participants of sundry life- changing experiences.
“This is a total transformational experience and I believe our lives would never be the same again after the convention,” she said.