When many years ago he found himself in a part of Lagos State that is regarded as a slum, Bishop Leonard Nwaoma Umunna never felt dejected because he knew the purpose of his calling and of his being there.
He says that when he received the call of God, he asked Him where he wanted him to carry out the assignment in his life; that he wanted to be in some choice areas of Lagos, but God said, No, that he should go to Ajegunle and be of help to the people there. And, in obedience, he began a ministry in what could be described then as the remotest part of Ajegunle- Fasasi Street.
Not an easy decision
“When we came to Fasasi Street at Wilmer area, close to New Road, it was a den of robbers and all manner of crimes were committed there. This is because there were heaps of refuse as high as a storey building that dotted the street. The heaps had been there for many years. So, no security agent could go there once the criminals escaped into that place and nobody could pursue them because all manner of things were done there. But that was the place God said I should carry out his business of winning souls” Umunna recollected during a chat with BDSUNDAY.
“Indeed, it was a tough decision having to live in an environment where hardened criminals ply their nefarious trade. It was a battle between light and darkness. Since I was convinced that God had sent me there, I knew it was a matter of time for the criminals to disappear. The scripture says darkness cannot comprehend the light; it was very tough at the initial stage because people dreaded coming to the Church and they were wondering why on earth I decided to site the church there in the first place,” he added.
Attack from hoodlums
“You know, when we came here, they saw us as a threat to their criminal activities. They would snatch people’s bags and run into their den; so, at every time you would see people’s bags and personal effects litter the entire space. So, they know that our coming would affect their illicit trade so to say. They began to be hostile to us. I was attacked on several occasions. But we were not seeing them with the eye of hatred because we knew they were the reason God sent us to the area,” the Bishop volunteered.
The darkness disappears
The Bishop said that Fasasi Street is today a popular street in the entire Ajegunle and that it is now better known by many people as Bible Life Street or Avenue.
According to him, it has since been reclaimed from criminals and has become a ‘Beautiful Gate’ so to speak. Not only that the hoodlums have since disappeared, the area has opened up for people to live in and do their business without any form of molestation.
“It took a lot of courage for me to insist on staying in the area. In the long run, we have been able to change the story of the area and the Ajegunle narrative in general. When the government in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government saw what we had been doing through self-effort, they began to show heavy presence. Before now, there was nothing like electricity in the area, no road, nothing, absolutely nothing; you wouldn’t be able to see anybody standing two poles away because of the high heaps of refuse and dirt all over the place; but today you could stand at the beginning of the street and see someone at the other end,” he said.
Bible Life Church
Despite the threats from the criminals and their fight against worshippers, membership of the Church was growing every meeting day and the cleric attributes this to God’s abiding grace. “When God says ‘Go’, if you obey, you will never regret it, he says, adding, “you know we are not just any other Church, we are a unique Church. God told me that he was sending me to preach to a neglected people and give them the assurance that He is with them. When God called me, I told him, I was ready to preach that message no other minister would be ready to preach and go where no other preacher would be willing to go”.
Continuing, he says, “I gave my all in answering the call. I had every reason to surrender my all to God because of the miracle that surrounded my childhood. Today, I can say that Bible Life Church Worldwide is moving from strength to strength. God has used the Church to give hope to millions of hopeless people even beyond Ajegunle, beyond Nigeria, as we now reach to the outside world with the undiluted word of God”.
A rare membership
The Bishop sees members of the Bible Life Church as unique and a people who have the consciousness of heaven in their lives. Every year is better in Bible Life Church and members show incremental commitment every day of their lives.
“I must point out here however, that in this race, not everyone will see things from the same perspective”, he reasons, explaining that there are some who have been with them, but today they have left for one reason or another. “But one thing with God is that he never lacks people to worship him in truth and in spirit”, he assures.
He believes that the messages God gives at Bible Life Church through his preaching are very wonderful to prepare the people for that ultimate inheritance adding, “our hope is not here, but in that life where we shall be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; this is the hope of every Bible Life member and we are running with it”.
Beyond the pulpit
The Bishop told BDSUNDAY that every activity of the Church revolves around the pulpit. According to him, whatever the Church is doing in terms of community services, etc is aimed at harvesting souls for God and His Kingdom.
“When you talk about our activities beyond the pulpit, I want to say, in all modesty, that whatever we are doing on and outside the pulpit are geared towards winning souls for Jesus. Today, we have a hospital that takes care of the sick; we have schools and other establishments that help us to render services to not just our members, but also non-members. We offer scholarships to children in the school and the hospital is there to take care of people also. Bible Life Church also reaches out to the needy in society. I can tell you that souls are won for Christ through all these avenues”, he says.
No one gave me chance to succeed
Sixty-two years ago yesterday, Bishop Leonard Umunna was born in Umuoma Okpofe in Itu, Ezinihitte Local Government Area of Imo State with a life-threatening ailment that nearly ruined his life but through divine intervention, he was delivered.
“I was born vomiting multi-coloured substance and doctors battled for my survival. Again, early in life, I was paralysed from waist down which hindered me from going to school like my mates. Whenever my parents were going to the farm, they would put me inside a hole dug for me. My waist and legs would be inside while the upper part of my body would be outside. One day, I was listening to a melodious song played by someone around there and I began to dance.
“Suddenly, I crawled out of the hole and stood upright. I started to walk to the amazement of everybody. It was a miracle. Lest I forget, while I was being put inside that hole and without going to school, I was still helping my mates to do their homework. They would bring their books to me and I helped them to solve the problems. So, you can see that my life has some divine force behind it,” he asserted.
Destiny
“There are those who have destroyed their destinies by their actions and inactions, but once you stay through and be guided by the word and spirit of God, you are sure to arrive safely. I have every reason to thank God for the gift of life despite several challenges to truncate my calling on earth. Every living being on earth must endeavour to work out their destinies and believe in God for divine manifestation. Today, I can say by the special Grace of God I am working out my destiny in the Lord,” Umunna explained.
Other achievements
Umunna is today the general overseer of Bible Life Church. He has authored many intellectual and inspired books which are sold all over the world and he has over 16 music albums to his credit. Despite his poor background, the cleric is today a proud holder of Master’s in Education, Doctorate Degree in Divinity- GMF and Literature- USA; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Administration, Fellow, Strategic Finance and Administrative Institute, Visiting Faculty London College of Theology and, currently, General of GM chaplain and professor of Christian leadership.
He is into philanthropic activities through his Prof. Leonard Umunna Foundation, GOSEC and others. He is the chairman of a number of companies including Leonard Umunna College, Extra Real Nursery and Primary School, Umunna Hospital, and Leonard Umunna Theological University.
Umunna is a father of six children. He lost his beloved wife in 2011.
He is an educationist, public commentator, televangelist, a prolific writer, a music writer and singer. Umunna is endowed with divine wisdom that enables him to contribute intelligently such that he has something to say on virtually everything under the sun.
Zebulon Agomuo
