By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

UNITED States-based Indian preacher and senior pastor of Covenant Family Church, Pastor Stephen Rathod, was born in India and graduated from high school at the age of 16 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat India. He entered Gujarat University in 1966 and graduated in 1970, with a B.Sc in Chemistry. Four years after, he received his Masters degree in Organic Chemistry from the same university.

Worshippers praising God during the Praise and Worship on the 2nd day of the RCCG 2014 Holy Ghost Congress

Afterward, he travelled to the United States to further his education. In May 1977, he received a B.Sc in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In September 1974, he answered the call of God to serve Him in full time ministry. He entered Rhema Bible Training Centre in 1977 and received a Diploma for Ministerial Training on May 19, 1978. In August 1980, he was ordained as a pastor by the founder of Redeemed Christian Church of God, the late Rev. Josiah Akindayomi in Lagos, Nigeria.

Speaking at the ongoing 17th annual Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp, Tuesday night, on a topic titled; ‘The Author and Finisher’, Pastor Rathod outlined three things Christians must embrace to make heaven and they include: sanctification, rules and holiness.

According to him, as far back as 1980, he announced to the crowd of participants that the founder of RCCG, late Pa Akindayomi was his guest in Tulsa and he was driving the old man home when a driver suddenly appeared on his way and almost caused an accident.

In his bid to impress his African guest, he involuntarily abused the rough driver and his spiritual father uttered one sentence which was interpreted to him to mean; “You need to be sanctified.”

Continuing, Pastor Rathod said what “Pa Akindayomi told me in 1980, I also say to you today. You will never be alone in the journey. Don’t quit! Stay in the race,” warning “if you don’t have the grace of the Author and Finisher, don’t attempt to go. Do not try to be some body else in the race.”

Obeying rules

Pastor Rathod who likened Nigeria to his home country, India, both of which he said do not like rules, said “Pa Akindayomi told me, in this journey you must obey rules. In other words, you must be disciplined and your preaching must reflect what you believe and stand for. Something that is   going wrong in Christendom worldwide today is that people are no longer willing to obey rules.

“When Pa Akindayomi told me, I need to be sanctified, I asked him what he meant and he replied; ‘You are out of control.’ Its important for me to tell you that your holiness will not take you to Heaven. You can only make Heaven by the grace given by Author and Finisher.”

His third nugget which is needed by every Christian who is willing to make it to Heaven includes, perhaps the most vital, holiness. According to Pastor Rathod, no candidate for the Kingdom, should endeavour to sell his/her birthright, stressing “you must not compromise the message of holiness. You must abide in Jesus.”