As Christian faithful gather for the Rhema World Convention 2019, with the theme, ‘Total Victory in Christ Jesus’, that is commencing today. The Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers (RCC&T), Bishop Taiwo Akinola in this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU spoke on his expectations from the convention, among other issues. Excerpts:
What can you tell us about Rhema World Convention 2019?
Since the beginning of creation, God gave man the power to dominate his environment, to subdue and to triumph over all circumstances of life (Genesis 1:26-28). And, as we know, even after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, this divine unction to man dominate to has ever remained with God. Hence, man became restored to the platform of dominion through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No wonder then that God gave us as a theme for this year’s convention, ‘Total Victory In Christ Jesus’. And, without any doubt, this Rhema World Convention 2019 provides another opportunity for individuals, families and nations to obtain divine solutions and intervention for all problems and issues, and to dominate situations and circumstances of life.
I have boundless assurance that participants at this year’s convention can look forward to access the keys that will open them to the world of total victory in Christ Jesus in all areas of their lives, including dominion power over sin, poverty, sicknesses, barrenness, and spiritual attack, deliverance from curses, fear and satanic spells. Also, during this event, genuine salvation will be served by the Lord for those who are yet to be born-again, and those whose aspirations include making it to heaven at last. I firmly believe that every participant will, by reason of divine performance, have new songs to sing after this gracious event, in Jesus name.
I use this medium, therefore, to invite everyone to join Champions all over the world to be at the Rhema Christian Church International Headquarter, Champions Peace Cathedral, Temidire, Sango Otta, for this annual event, which kicks off 9am Sunday, 3rd and runs through to 2pm, Sunday 10th November 2019.
What is the mandate of the church for this annual convention?
In line with the glorious vision given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we are still marching forward in God’s plan of raising a multitude of people all over the world, who have been foreordained to be partakers of His grace and glory. As a marching order, He said to us: “Raise with me a glorious assembly of Jesus people; a people of my power, purity and purpose, and in this place will I give peace”.
Rhema Christian Church and Towers, with the International headquarters at Sango Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria, was birthed on the 2nd of November, 1991 solely to fulfil this divine agenda stated above. And, since then, it has been our privilege and honour to spread the good news of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ round the world with outstanding results and testimonies of God’s goodness through preaching and teaching of the infallible, unquestionable and inerrant Word of God.
In the past 28 years, our ministry has spread its tentacles across the globe. Presently, besides our various branches in Nigeria, we have our presence in the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, to the glory of God. As a nation-Church, our earnest mega-vision is to love Jesus Christ passionately, and with the help of the Holy Spirit to enthrone Jesus Christ in the hearts of very many people all over the world. And, based on this heart cry, over the years, we have received some measures of grace to forge ahead to impact mankind in various ways through our churches.
What should participants at the Rhema World Convention expect this year?
Just like last year, the unique feature of this year’s convention is the assembly of stars and anointed gospel artistes that would minister daily throughout the convention. Gospel artistes lined up include, Mike Abdul, Wunmi Sax, Olufunke Akins, Folasade Taiwo, Bois Olorun, Praise Machine and others.
Each day of the convention, there will be morning, afternoon and evening sessions: 6am, 9am and 5pm respectively. On the 8th of November, there will be our popular Hosanna Night, a time of victorious and miracle invoking praise, where anointed gospel artistes have been lined up for divine ministrations. The Grand-Finale on Sunday, 10th of November, starting 8am, promises to relaunch and to commission God’s people into a supernatural and overflowing blessings for them to begin to operate victoriously.
Meanwhile, notable and highly anointed ministers of God are billed to preach under strong Holy Ghost unction and to minister in the word alongside my humble self at the convention to launch participants into their new realm of total victory. These include, Rev. Dr. Kunle Adesina, Bishop Ayo Olubusuyi, Bishop Victor Akilla, Bishop Dr. Abiodun Akinteye, Bishop Israel Alaya, Pastor Femi Gbenjo, Pastor Sina Olufade, Pastor Tofunmi Opaleye, to mention a few. I look forward with greatest excitement to welcome all to the best convention of its time in Jesus mighty name.
Free medical tests and services will be offered for all participants during the event. Again, a financial empowerment session will be hosted for some small scale business entrepreneurs before the close of the convention, by the grace of God.
Away from the convention; what is your take on the current state of insecurity in Nigeria?
Insecurity has certainly laid the country low on her back, somehow. Some major highways are now being avoided by travellers for fear of being kidnapped. Interestingly, albeit weird, kidnapping is fast becoming the country’s most lucrative business.
Nigerians everyday in the present time is being inundated with reports of killings, robbery, banditry, kidnapping, with resultant disasters and economic depression. A government panel found that bandits collected over N3 billion in ransoms from 2011 to May 2019, widowed 4,983 women, orphaned 25,050 children and displaced 190,340 persons in Zamfara State alone. In the first four months of 2019, said the police, 1,071 persons were killed. Kidnapping, banditry and communal strife have emptied farms and destroyed the livelihoods of many citizens in many parts of the country.
Starkly, the Global Terrorism Index estimates that Fulani militants killed about 1,700 persons from January to September 2018, six times more than the number killed by the bloodthirsty Boko Haram Islamist sect throughout that year.
Thinking that the incumbent administration has always promised to deliver on good governance; even though we can see some measure of intervention on some roads, like Ibadan-Ife Road, yet we still urge government to please do more in the area of security. And, there can be no more urgent time than now. I recommend community policing and inclusion of men of goodwill in our neighborhoods in these security enhancement projects.
Youth unemployment is considered a ‘gun powder’ waiting to explode; how do we as a nation handle this challenge?
According to statistics, youth unemployment is presently put at 55.4 percent. As a Church committed to the progress of our dear country and the citizens, we are concerned that the rising spate of unemployment in Nigeria has remained unabated over the years. We observed that this critical situation has needlessly resulted in some youths taking to crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud as well as being ready tools in the hands of insurgents, politicians and sponsors of communal crisis.
Meanwhile, we view this development, not only as a by-product of lack of fear of God, but also of gross disparity inherent in the nation’s planning and haphazard execution of projects aimed at generating employment opportunities that should absorb the numerous youths and young graduates being turned out annually by our tertiary institutions.
We are, therefore, urging this administration to please arise to the necessary duty of fulfilling its promise of generating jobs as one of its cardinal projects to empower the youths and make them productive for the advancement of the country.
SEYI JOHN SALAU
