Grace of God Mission ordains 140 Reverends
ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU writes that the Grace of God Mission International at the weekend ordained One Hundred and Forty (140) Pastors to become Reverends in order to strengthen the spread of evangelism in this era of challenging times.
Those Pastors selected have been in the ministry a minimum of ten (10) years and have been found worthy in learning and character to be ordained Reverends for higher responsibilities in the ministry, so said Administrator of the Grace of God Mission International, Barr (Elder) G.N. Afah who administered oath of canonical obedience to them. He said the Reverends were dedicated, committed and devoted with impeccable records.
The Presiding Bishop, Grace of God Mission International, Bishop Dr Paul C. Nwachukwu Amb, P (UN) performed the ordination with the support of other twelve (12) Bishops at His Glory Cathedral , Grace of God Mission ,3-3 Trans-Nkisi, GRA, Onitsha during the 5 day 2018 convention with theme ‘’The Glory is here’’.
The 2018 Convention which lasted from November 21st to November 25th featured medical outreach, teaching, workshops, Youth Empowerment and marriage symposium as well as prayer rally and consecration of Reverends. There was also thanksgiving by Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma Theology graduates of the Grace of God Bible School among others.
As well, Bishop Nwachukwu presented a 97 years old Elder Osita Nwokeabia, who served the Church as an Executive council member , Trustee and first Auditor of the Church for 45 years without any hitches or trouble to the Church but rather used his resources in working for the Church. He stopped early morning evangelism 5 years ago. He was given a special appreciation for his good service to the church all through his life time as funds running into millions were raised for him with Grace of God presenting N500,000 and Bishop Nwachukwu N100,000 while other guests and worshippers as well as groups donated to Pa Nwokeabia whose wife , Mrs Monica Nwokeabia, 85 years old was beaming with smiles for the unexpected glory of God to them. He is from Achi and was instrumental to the establishment of Grace of God Mission in almost every community in Oji River axis even parts of Ufuma in Anambra state.
The Presiding Bishop while saying that time of wickedness is over as God has a special plan and purpose for Nigeria, insisted that the glory of the later house shall be greater than the former and it is going to be great and powerful that Christians will take centre of the road and as well will be the ones to reshape the nations.
He warned that the era of occult men occupying leadership positions is over even as he regretted the activities of fake pastors and men of God who entertain audience rather than preach repentance to Christians.
He lamented that the problem of God’s people is ignorance and inability to comprehend God’s purpose, even as he warned preachers of the gospel against undermining God’s intentions and purpose.
Bishop Nwachukwu who is the founder and Archbishop of Grace of God Mission , explained that: “the aim of the convention was to awaken Christians and let them know that the glory is here. Also to tell them the urgent need to preach the gospel of kingdom.
His words: “the problem of Gods people is ignorance and not understanding God’s plan and purpose. God works with time and inside time, purpose. God is restoring glory to the church.
“People are looking at darkness as political crises, instability, murder, rape and others but they don’t know that it is beyond that. Some Christians believe that God has forsaken the church, but God made us to know that in the midst of that darkness and gross darkness that the glory of God shall rise upon his children.
Even in the face of crisis ravaging the country presently, Bishop Nwachukwu disclosed that the church is the only answer to the problems of Nigeria. He however assured that there will be a lot of surprises in the country as God will pull down some and exalt some. “The time of wickedness is over. It is time for God’s divine intervention”, he said.
He further stressed that things will not remain the same in Nigeria. “We know there is crisis in the state, some of these was caused by wrong decisions from people particularly our leaders. That’s why we need to pray to God so that those at the helm of affairs in the state and country will make good decisions for the interest of the citizens. Countries move forward and at some points backward all because of good or bad leadership.
He however, urged the people of Anambra state to get their Permanent Voters’ card (PVC) as the 2019 election draws closer even as he see it as a panacea for bad leadership.
The clergy also blamed people that sale their votes for money emphasizing that such people should hold themselves responsible for the state of the nation.
Earlier, Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, urged churches and men of God to preach repentance even as he assured that it is only repentance can bring the country out of the challenging state.
Obiano represented by the Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, commended Bishop Nwachukwu for the undiluted word of God targeted at repentance unlike what is obtainable in some Churches that emphasize prosperity, adding that Anambra state has experienced low voter turnout in the past and pleaded to all who have registered for PVC to obtain their PVC as it will enable them vote for the candidates of their choice in the forthcoming general election.
While appealing for support for APGA in the forthcoming elections, Obiano appealed to Bishop Nwachukwu to assist the Government pray for repentance for people of Fegge in Onistha as the zone remained a challenge for the state government due to daily crime wave. He said Anambra is difficult to govern hence the need for prayers for his government and called for religious tolerance and freedom of worship in the country.
In an interview, the Chairman Convention Planning Committee, Elder Walter Akuruka described the event as awesome , noting that the church used the convention to pray for the nation and the states in an era of uncertainty and total economic collapse. He added that the national convention prophetic mandate was to transform and transport lives into divine destinies.
Speaking also in an interview, Bishop Paul Nwachukwu Jnr informed that the Grace of God Mission International has a mandate to spread the gospel with good education to the hard to reach areas like the Pacific and Atlantic people. He reminded that the Reverends ordained after minimum of ten years as a Pastor showed that really God called them because in the vineyard, many are called but few are chosen.
Bishop Nwachukwu Jnr said the resource persons included his father who is the Presiding Bishop of the first indigenous Pentecostal Church in Igboland with over 2000 Satellite churches across three continents, Bishop Abraham Chigbundu, Presiding Bishop of Voice of Freedom Ministries , Benin, Edo state; Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo , Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Center (KICC), London; and Prophet Isa El-Buba, President of El-Buba Outreach Ministries International , Jos Plateau state.