By Sam Eyoboka

THE motto of the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN which was established in 1976 was derived from the Bible book of John 16:6: ‘That they my be one,’ but sadly Christendom in the country is perhaps one of the most dis-united organization on Planet Earth.

The reason is not far fetched. For too long the Church neglected the true foundation of the faith and celebrated and influenced b temporal and mundane inducements until it was invariably sandwitched betwixt the Devil and the deep blue sea as faithful saints are now being daily maimed and martyed.

As far back as 1991, a missionary couple, Edwin and Jody Mitchell had alerted the world and warned church leaders in Nigeria of diabolical plans and satanic activities aimed at world take over by both the Roman Catholic Industry and the Islamic Confederacy but what did the Nigerian Church? Nothing! It be-came obvious that something needed to happen to cause a shaking in the Church to bring the giant back to the true foundation—the message of the Cross.

Some church leaders who received copies of the warning of the current holocaust, instead of joining forces to declare a solemn assembly to pray against a systematic religious cleansing, deluded them-selves believing that the more the secret is revealed, the more powerless their plan would be, and continued to build empires with donations from the sponsors of the satanic moves. The turning point is now. It’s now time for an Asuza-type revival in the Church; thanks to Boko Haram.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

It was therefore gratifying to see Christian leaders from the 17 states that make up south-ern Nigeria gather the other day under an umbrella to be known as Southern CAN to break all walls of Jerico and fight for the survival of the Church of God.

But, by far the most gratifying news coming from the Church was one event that took place in Okwagbe in Delta State penultimate Saturday that went almost unnoticed. It reminds one of the Azusa Street Revival on April 14, 1906 which gave rise to modern day Pentecostal movement.

Okwagbe is an Urhobo town in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State with two sub regions; Okwagbe Inland and Okwagbe Waterside, near Warri. It is two towns in one; Okwagbe Inland and Okwagbe Waterside. It is a commercial town located along River Forcados almost midway between Bomadi and Burutu. It has the largest local market in Ughelli South LGA.

The hospitality of the people, the commercialization and security of the town as well as the abundant opportunities for investment in it has attracted many people to settle in the town.

A revival programme by the Covenant Teaching Centre of Word of Life Bible Church in Okwagbe on April 21, 2012 with a simple theme: ‘Bring it to him’ was attended by all church denominations in the twin town. The St Patrick Catholic Church, Baba Ido Memorial Baptist Church, Christ Salvation Ministry sent in their different choirs to min-ister at the programme among others.

Ughelli South branch chair-man of CAN, Anglican Bishop Arhawharen was accompanied by other executive officers to grace the occasion. In his remark, he extolled the virtues of the national president of the umbrella body of Christians in the country, saying “Papa is a lion of Africa.”

On behalf of CAN in Ughelli South, he appealed to Pastor Oritsejafor to prevail on the indigenes of the area in high public places to remember their roots and attract government presence to the area.

In the same vaein, the chairman of Okwagbe Inland, Mr. Patrick Kpaive described Oritsejafor as a great advocate of Africa, not forgetting to re-mind him that the community had been building a town hall since 1975. “We believe, Papa, that with your prayers today it will soon be completed,” he appealed.

Before preaching the sermon of the day, the national president of CAN, Pastor Oritsejafor used the occasion to lament the spate of insecurity in parts of the North, expressing happinness about the mammoth crowd of other ministers of the gospel at the event.

He was particularly impress-ed by the ministration of the Catholic Church choir, saying: “When you begin to see all churches together like this then you know that the coming Jesus Christ is near. When all churches begin to come tog-ether then you know nothing is impossible. The Bible said when the-re is unity in the Church then God commands blessing.”

He explained that when there is unity in the Church, God would be moved to command blessing.

In the North, he continued,  “where some people perpetuate evil, they don’t ask whether you are a Catholic or Pentecostal; they bomb any church in view and the bomb will not select a particular set of people to kill. Rather, they kill or injure those around.

“The last terrible one that happened in Kaduna was targeted at the various churches on the street including ECWA but vigilant Christians stopped him at the entrance to the street and so end-ed up bombing a cluster of Okada riders,” he added.

Oritsejafor therefore appealed to Christians in any part of the country not be annoyed if they asked to pack their cars away from their church premises.

“We cannot stop worshipping God because of terrorists. Let us therefore put aside our differences and fight together. We need to wake up from our slumber to our collective responsibility in unity,” he explained, noting that the impression being created in the international community suggests that it is the Nigerian Christians that are the aggressors.