…Jubilee ends today

By Sam Eyoboka

THE annual convention of Word of Life Bible with headquarters in Warri, Delta State which opening service on November 10 coincided with its General Overseer and immediate past Presi-dent of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, His Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s birthday anniversary celebration is expected to end today.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

The opening ceremony featured award winning gospel act, Mike Abdul and MoniQue Naija ministering in songs while Senior Pastor of Mustard Seed Assemblies, San Jose, California, Dr Ini Okpon ministered in word with a powerful message, declaring that God is not obligated to keep your potentials but He is obligated to keep His word.

Earlier that day, Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, fondly addressed by his numerous admirers as Lion of Africa, had led an array of personalities including the US-based Prophet Ini Okpon, to a nearly community where he expressed shock that such a community has been existing in Warri—a riverine town—without portable water for the people to drink.

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Declaring a multi-million naira water project open in Ekurede Itsekiri community in commemoration of his birthday to flag off his church’s annual convention with the commissioning of a multi-million Naira water project, Papa Oritsejafor tear-fully narrated how a member opened his eyes to the realisation that the community had been without portable water for some time.

“It was hard for me to believe that a community in Warri can be without water to drink. This is wicked. Has the nation become so bad? So I said whatever it will take I will bring water to the people of Ekurede Itsekiri. I didnt plan the commissioning for that day. it was three days to the event when I asked the brothers that were working at the site if it was possible to commission the project on that day and they had to work day and night to be able to complete the project,” he told Sunday Vanguard.

Accompanied by his wife, Mama Helen Oritsejafor and the US-based Nigerian Gospel preacher, Ini Okpon, Pastor Oritsejafor dedicated the water project on behalf of the Word of Life Bible Church and appealed to the youths of Ekurede Itsekiri to shun violence in any form and leave in peace with one another.

“I plead with the youths not to fight each other. There will always be little misunderstandings, but whenever there is misunderstanding please ensure that you resolve such misunderstanding in the spirit of love and restore under-standing. What we have done here today is a sign that God will do a good thing in this community. God will always be in the community,” he prayed, noting that he is not a stranger to the community.

While urging Christian leaders in the country to assist the different communities in the country, he maintained that “it’s been proven that only God can give comfort to people. I am grateful to God that we were able to do this very little thing for this community. Great things are coming to this community. I don’t want to say much, only to say that we must remain as brothers and sisters.

“I believe this is social responsibility which the Church must accomplish. Jesus gave the Word of God for three days and on the third day he commanded his disciples to give the people food to eat. Jesus said, I was thirsty you gave me water to drink, I was hungry, you gave me food to eat…

“I feel fulfilled that this is the will of a God and if God provides we will go to other communities and do more. The Church is set to change Nigeria. Wherever you are watching, we have a responsibility. We cannot leave our nation in the hands of politicians. Our nation is in the hands of God. Those of us who say, we respresnt God, let us do the right thing and let our people enjoy the dividends that God provides for His people,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Olare-Aja (Community Head) of Ekurede Itsekiri, Pa Rogers Okorodudu thanked the former CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor and the Word of Life Bible Church for what he described as divine project because “if you look around the community, you will see different water projects, but none is functioning.

“We were thinking of how to reactivate, at least one, to enable the community have access to portable drinking water.

“From the blues, this particular project was brought and we initially thought it will be a small project, but it turned out to be something much bigger than what we expected. For this, we want to give thanks to the Almighty God for His grace upon this community,” he stated, noting that portable water which is a necessity for people has become difficult especially in the Niger Delta where the natural rain water is no longer good for drinking due to heavy pollution of the environment.

“Rain water is now very acidic and unfit for human consumption. This has made people to resort to buying ‘pure water’ for their daily use. In a time when there is low economic activity and unemployment level is high, buying of water has increased poverty level tremendously in most communities in Niger Delta to wit Ekurede community,” Pa Okorodudu said, describing the intervention as God’s divine answer to prayers of the community.

Pastor Oritsejafor played host to the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Felix Omobude and other anointed spiritual giants from across the globe for this year’s Jubilee Word Festival. Other seasoned ministers expected for this year’s spiritual fiesta include: Pastor Michael White from the UK; Rev. Ini Okpon from the US; Bishop Charles Agyimasare from Ghana; Apostle Josephat Mwingira from Tanzania; Apostle Anselm Madubuko, Rev. Joshua Talena and Rev. Ayuk Raymond Ayuk from Cameroon.

Two multiple award winners, Mike Abdul of the Morire fame and Chioma Jesus will partner the church’s Milk & Honey Choir, Gospel Male Voices and others to thrill participants at the occasion.

Jubilee Word Festival is the Warri-based rotund multistory piece, in the middle of the Warri metropolis, Word of Life Bible Church’s annual convention often described as the gathering of eagles at the ultra modern 40,000 capacity church auditorium in Warri, Delta State. Theme for this year’s event is: “Advancement And Enlargement.”

One of the highlights of the nine-day spiritual fiesta apart from the free food to attendees and the numerous gifts for lucky participants, it was also provided an opportunity to bridge the gulf between Nigeria gospel preachers across the continent.

Before introducing one of the special guest speakers, Pastor Oritsejafor said there is urgent need for African preachers, with a better understanding of the African culture and tradition, to close the ranks for the collective interest of the continent.

“We are all over the nations of the world, but we are so far apart in Africa. We need to come together a lot more,” he said while introducing Apostle Josephat Mwingira from Tanzania who also charged Nigerian clergymen to rise up to to curtail the threat of Isamisation that’s blowing across the globe.

Declaring that Pastor Oritsejafor’slife has been a seed to the whole world becuase his steadfast commitment to the Word of God, the Tanzanian apostle argued that the only bedevlling the Arican continent is the need to break yokes that have held us down.

“The yoke I am talking about has to do with our generational background; the customs and the way we were born and live. In Nigeria, power is not steady. Its a yoke because Nigeria has oil. Nigerians don’t know how to do anything silently. It’s a yoke,” he noted.

Continuing, Apostle Mwingira charged his Nigerian counterparts to take authority and let us use what God has given us and take charge.

“If the Church is not angry about whats going on, God will never punish the wicked, He will punish His people who had failed to perform. Nigeria stop crying, wake up and do something,” he appealed, stating that “government will never listen to you until you conquer them.

“The theme of this event is ‘Advancement and Elargement’ but advancement has consequencies because the Church will not excell to the maximum until you possess the State House. Hear it, see it so that you can receive it,” he maintained.