The church in Nigeria has been under attack by Boko Haram, and persecution from some quarters in the recent past. However, Reverend Adepoju Ademola from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ojodu-Berger is taking a different approach and view about the persecution. For Ademola who was a guest minister at a recent 21-day prayer vigil, focus should not be on the persecution of the church; rather on getting the church and its people ready for the second coming of Christ. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU
Are you disturbed about the rate of attacks on the church in Nigeria?
Personally, I will not say am disturbed. There is something we need to understand about this world; the bible says the end time will come, and when the end time comes different things will begin to happen. We have to consider this as part of the different things that are going to happen if we are expecting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, things like this will happen. But, what matters is, let every Christian prepare themselves – the coming of our Lord is at hand. If you let the things that are happening now to destabilise you and you begin to run around; many will lose focus in that process.Jesus said it that when he is coming back different things will happen – all over the world; I was reading a book written around 1980’s that was talking about the crisis in China today; I saw it and started weeping. That guy wrote a book and has given the warning in that book that in the year 2020; it was specific in that book that there was going to be a Wuhan sickness, and where did coronavirus start? It started from a village called Wuhan: this man wrote that book in 1989 and now its manifesting this year 2020. So, we don’t need to let that fret us about the Boko-Haram and everything that is going on; Christians should prepare themselves and pray. Boko-Haram wants you to manifest the totality of God in you. The bible says we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities and power. Now, the question is; the Christians of today are we loaded to face the terrible situation that is even at hand? If you have Christ in you and you know your goal is heaven, those things should not bother you because you know God will take care of you and he will strengthen you.
So, in other words, what you are saying is that the church should not bother itself about present persecution?
The church should focus on the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; preparing itself and winning more souls. The devil will bring some things to distract us from fulfilling the purpose of God. From my own end, this is a distraction for us to look away from what the Lord wants to do. Let us be focused; we can win the Boko-Haram to Christ, we can win the herdsmen to Christ with the power of God backing us. With the theme of this programme saying ‘With God all things are possible – the unfailing God’; let us trust him and he will see us through.
What is the significance of this programme to your church?
We are here rounding off a programme that started exactly 21 days ago; this is the last day of that programme. It is a normal programme that is being held in this church by my father in the Lord,Pastor Isaac Olawusi, the founder of Christ Apostolic Church, Land of Fulfilment.
The revelation for this final day came from you; what influenced the revelation?
It is a direction from God. We have started a journey for 21 days; we are rounding off with praises and the significance of the white is just for people to present themselves clean before God. Even from the heart, it is not compulsory that you are wearing white or not; but coming into his presence making this place glowing white, giving him a sacrifice of praise for what he has done and that will prepare the people to have an expectation of greater things after this programme.
What would be the take-away message for the worshippers?
The message I want them to take away is total reliance on God. The theme of the programme is ‘The unfailing God.’ This year is a terrible whether we like it or not, and we have just started; the only thing that can see us through this year is total reliance on God – dependence on God; and that is what I want everybody to take back home: not on self, not on money or connection; with God, the bible says all things are possible. The bible says in Ephesians 3:30; it says he is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. So, people should get themselves prepared to expect greater things from God after this programme.
How do you relate this programme to the annual lent in Christendom?
Definitely, I believe there is a link because lent is a religious activity for every Christian, so it is meant for everybody. For us here in the Land of Fulfilment, we are preparing our people for the year. Lent as a religious obligation preparing us for the death, resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is more or less a celebration time. It has been more religious, however, what we have done for the past 21 days is to get our people prepared not even for this year alone; but even for the next decade because we know that this is going to go a long way.
