By Sam Eyoboka

THE sleepy town of Mgbidi (an Ibo word for wall) in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State has again successfully hosted the 2017 Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries annual 3-day international crusade that attracted participants from about 57 nations of the world. Over three million worshippers converged at the already overstretched facilities of the Chosen International School for the crusade with a theme: “What God has determined shall be done.”

The event which started on Friday, January 6, at 8.00 a.m., with opening prayers, praise and worship sessions naturally provided a veritable opportunity for business-oriented indigenes and others from different parts of the South East geo-political region as well as traders from far-flunged areas like Lagos and Abuja to make brisk business, selling all manner of wares throughout the duration of the crusade.

There are no hotels in Mgbidi, so to provide accomodation for the teaming population at the crusade people had to travel to Owerri, the state capital and neigbhouring Oguta, the headquarters of a local government of the same name, while thousands others had to make arrangement with landlords who readily gave parts of the houses up for various fees. In like manners, local landlords charged fees for allowing participants park their cars in their premises or surroundings for the period of the crusade with several worshippers using their cars as places of abode.

An estimated crowd of over 1.5 million worshippers in their respective national colours for proper identification underneath the now legendary Chosen apron, overwhelmed the local population in Mgbidi which is already in search of a bigger space that can be developed to a permanent international crusade ground. The current space measuring over 5,000 hectares of land has become inadequate and the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka has hinted of plans to develop another befitting crusade venue for the convenience of millions of worshippers who throng the place on a yearly basis.

Pastor Muoka, a very compassionate man, assured that subject to the availability of funds, the church would soon relocate the army of worshippers to a more comfortable crusade ground far from the current place where there is no roof over participants. Long before the flag-off of the just concluded crusade last Friday, thousands of worshippers from different parts of the country had secured positions in front of the upraised altar where they slept on the school ground in the scorching harmattan weather.

As at 8.00 a.m. on Friday when the crusade when the programme officially kicked off with familiar gospel songs, most of which have customized to extoll the God of Chosen, over a million people had already converged in Mgbidi.

One of the strong points in every Chosen programme which often runs from 8.00 a.m. till 8.00 a.m. is testimonies about miraculous occurences in the lives of the people. There were testimonies of instant healings, deliverances, financial breakthroughs, as the G.O. urged the mammoth crowd of worshippers to repent of their sins, stressing that God will not hesitate to uplift the living standards of all redeemed persons this year.

L-R: Head, Public Relations and Media, Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Chidi Louis, General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Joy Muoka, at the annual international crusade tagged; “What God has determined shall be done” in Mgbidi, Imo State.

26-year barreness delivered

Among the most intriguing testimonies was that of a woman, Sister Ngozi Chukwugbo who held the large crowd spell bound when she claimed to have been delivered from a 26-year spell of barreness. “I thank God for breaking 26 years yoke of barrenness in my life. For a period of 20 years, I had been barren, but during a particular service day, pastor was praying and made a declaration saying, “You woman of 25 years barrenness, receive your child.” That was how I took in the next month and all through the period of my pregnancy, I had no complication and I delivered my baby like a Hebrew woman.”

There were several out of the ordinary testimonies of what the God of Chosen has been doing in the lives of the people.

At least three babies were delivered during the crusade which proved the handiwork of God to complement the numerous testimonies. The first delivery in the newly commissioned Chosen medical facility in the crusade ground was by Mrs Gloria John, who was brought to the crusade by her sister. “I came to the crusade on Thursady, January 5, after carrying the pregnancy for nine months and two weeks. We came at about 3.00 p.m. and four hours later, I began to notice labour. So, I was taken to the hospital and I delivered at about 8.45 p.m.,” she stated.

Continuing, the woman who joined Chosen in 2014, maintained that what God had determined will always be done, pointing out that she didnt nurse the idea of coming to this year’s Mgbidi crusade but “I thank God for seeing me through because after carrying the pregnancy for over nine months, I knew there was a problem, but fortunately, I am now free.” Two other babies were born. One of them was 27-year old Mrs. Tombare Ikpobare from Bidere, Gokana in Rivers State who delivered a baby girl.

Matron of The Lord’s Chosen Mission Hospital, Mgbidi, Mrs Eugenia Lemchi said the hosital was commissioned a few days ago, adding that Gloria’s baby was the first baby to be deliverd in the facility. “We came from the church headquarters of in Lagos to take care of health challenges including delivery at the crusade. Mrs. John was brought to the hospital from the old clinic and we attended to her. After some hours, she delivered a bouncing baby girl without any hitch at about 8.45 p.m.”

One other memorable moment of the 3-day event was the dexterity of choristers from Philippines who sang fluently in Igbo language, extolling the virtues of the God of Chosen and received a tumultuous applause from large crowd of mostly Igbo worshippers. Campus Choir of The Lord’s Chosen, Chosen Choir, Youth Choir all took turns to entertain the audience which was very appreciative.

Among the special guests was the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bayelsa State chapter, Archbishop Jacob P. Akpiri, who acknowledged that he was a partaker of declarations by the General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka. He appealed to the General Overseer to come over to Bayelsa State for a crusade.

In his usual manner, the General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka enjoined the army of worshipers to repent from their wicked ways, emphasising that God will do great and mighty things in the lives of the redeemed this year. According to him, a sinner is not a Christian, and a Christian is not a sinner, admonishing prostitutes, murderers, cultists, kidnappers, women who adorn themselves with male apparels and vice versa to desist from such practices and strive to make it into Heaven.

The preacher who took so much time to pray for the deliverance of the oppressed, the sick, the afflicted, deaf, dump, blind, barren and the needy with testimonies following, before every sermon, also insisted that the current economic hardship will be a thing of the past, but advised Nigerians to pray without ceasing.

Muoka also prayed for the well being of Nigeria and the world at large asking God to restore the lost glory of the nation. “The glory of Nigeria will be restored. It is obvious that what God has determined for those who believe in Him shall be done. So, humans should believe in God and do the right thing for God’s purpose to be actualized,” he said.

In an interview with newsmen, Muoka said: “The solution to the various problems confronting our country is in the hands of God, and what He has determined shall be done.”

According to him, the current venue of the crusade may soon give way to a bigger and more modern one with modern facilities. “By the special grace of God we have plans to provide a better place for the people in the shortest possible time. A place has been acquired to provide a shelter fcurrentl rowing people of participants. If God gives us the resources we will move to the site very soon.”

His message for the nation is for every Nigerian to draw closer to God “and I believe that God will deliver us from the current economic challenges,” and on the happenings in southern Kaduna, he urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers for God to calm the situation in that part of the country.