As Adeboye, Ademowo, Adefarasin, Okonkwo, Others Grace 2018 Thanksgiving Service
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday expressed optimism that the State will experience new and wonderful milestones this year.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the State’s 2018 Annual Thanksgiving Service held at the Lagos House in Ikeja with the theme, ‘Ceaseless Praise’, said that despite the several economic and security challenges that enveloped some parts of the country, Lagos has continued to experience peace and prosperity over the years.
Attributing the steady progress of the State to divine intervention and the grace of God, the Governor said he was confident that the State would record more landmark achievements throughout the year.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have called on God at the beginning of the year and our prayers have been prophetic as He always granted our desires beyond our expectations. At a time when the nation was in recession, our State was experiencing economic growth and while there was insecurity in other places, Lagos remains calm and peaceful.
“This is not as a result of what the Government has done but by the special grace of God. And all we need to do is continue to give Him praise and thanksgiving and He will continue to bless and provide for us as Lagosians and a State.
“In this New Year, we submit to Him again and I am confident that irrespective of whatever is happening elsewhere, our State and all our people will continue to excel in peace, good health, prosperity, love and joy. God will continue to shower His blessings on us as a State and our families and homes will experience new and wonderful milestones by His grace,” Governor Ambode said.
He said the Annual Thanksgiving Service presents an opportunity to commit the affairs of the State to God, in acknowledgement of His supreme power in the development of the State.
“It is my prayer that as we come to His Gates and Courts with thanksgiving and with praises today, He will release His blessings upon us, guide and direct our path and lead us through the year successfully,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor also used the occasion to appreciate the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye and other religious leaders for their prayers and support for the State since the inception of his administration.
“I offer my sincere gratitude to all our religious leaders for your presence today and continued support for the peace and progress of Nigeria and Lagos in particular. God bless you all,” he said.
In his sermon, General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye urged Nigerians to draw closer to God, assuring that when they do so, they will continue to enjoy special favour and blessings from God.
Among dignitaries who graced the service include Governor Ambode, his wife, Bolanle, first Civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, his wife, Abimbola, Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, Chief Rasak Okoya, Professor Pat Utomi, Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, Pastor Ituah Ighodola, Rev Adebola Ademowo, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, among others.
Alhaji Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abu has emerged the new Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque.
He was turbaned on Friday afternoon at the mosque shortly before the day’s Juma’at prayer.
Abu emerged the 10th Chief Imam of Lagos after a rigorous selection process.
The position became vacant following the death of Alhaji Garuba Akinola Ibrahim, the 9th Chief Imam who passed away on September 24 at the age of 79.
The new Chief Imam was turbaned by the mosque’s Head of Missioners, Sheikh Tijaniy Gbajabiamila and another Imam, Mujitaba Giwa.
Alhaji Abu is a practising Electrical Engineer and a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the prestigious University of Ilorin.
He is well learned in matters of Islam and a graduate of the Daru-Dawa wal Irshad, Arabic and Islamic College, Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria.
The 18th edition of Shiloh, the annual gathering of members of Bishop David Oyedepo’s led Living Faith Church Worldwide, (aka Winners Chapel), was held in Canaanland, Ota. The event which took place between 5 and 10, December, 2017, recorded multitudes of war-tingling testimonies and manifestation of God’s power.
The ELITES captures the event in pictures
”Few days ago, I got some calls over something that was going on the internet that were credited to me, about somebody talking of tithing…That they should come for a debate. …
I have a Ph.D in Theology and a Ph.D in human resource Administration, not to argue.
The Bible says in 1st Corinthians chapter 2 vs14 , A natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit of God, they are foolishness to him. He cannot know them, because they are spiritually designed. It’s stupidity for me to sit down and speak over spiritual matters with a logical reasoning.
The Bible says in 1st John chapter 2 from verse 20, “You need not any man to teach you but the anointing which you have received teaches you all things. Your pastor or social media should not teach you about tithing. Go and ask God. We must be careful, so we could differentiate from religious ‘rascality’ and spiritual maturity. There’s so much religious rascality. To talk is cheap, to post things on the internet is very cheap.
If you are against pastors or you fault what pastors do; no problem, start a church, run it for 10 years and do it the way it should be done; then we listen to you.
Having followership on the internet is different from having in real life. Because there are certain truths that are too real to be debated. I have read the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations 36 times. And I know from the Bible that anything you want to support your point, you will see it, even if it is negative, you can twist scriptures. You can say Levites are of the order of Abraham not of the orders of the pastors of these days. That means the Bible was written to the Jews. So let’s drop it for the Jews and look for the Bible written to Nigerians?
The issue of tithing is because of the way certain young, new generation preachers who are in a hurry to compete with ministers who have been there for years, not knowing that 90% of these ministers who are very blessed–their private businesses. Omega began in 2004, I was already a millionaire before it started.
If somebody says tithing is wrong, tell the person THANK YOU. People who argue are shallow people. Deep people are silent over perceptive beliefs. The Bible says in 2nd Peter 1vs 20 ” No scripture is of private interpretation”. No prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. Genesis 6vs 3 “My spirit will not strive. The Holy Ghost does not argue. You talk back at people–they don’t pay tithe. Tithe is not real–tithe is real.
Talking to the congregation, He said; the tithe I pay every Sunday is more than the tithe all of you pay for two Sundays. I pay tithe to ministries, I pay tithe to ministers. It’s a personal revelation.
Jesus said to Peter saying “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. They were arguing–“who do men say I am?” Some said you are this, some said you are that. And Peter said you are the Christ. So controversy didn’t start today.
And Jesus gave us the strength of revelation. It says flesh and blood does not reveal this to you. So there are revelations that come by flesh and blood, by logic–common sense. But He (Jesus Christ) said by the spirit, only the spirit of God can reveal something to you. If I talk to you in this church about anything, go back and ask God. The day-back Christians in Acts 17vs 11, were not just Christians who were researching. They were noble and they were not confrontational.
Anybody who wants to raise up a people must understand the place of the spirit.
You do not attack. You correct–nicely. Any movement you start under controversy is a cult.
Someone responded to Papa Adeboye, and I said ahh–for age sake, not for sentiments. I am not a sentimental person, I have no atom of sentiments in my blood and that’s why they call me controversial because I am not conventional. I don’t do what every pastor does. You must show me in the Bible. But that of tithe is a covenant–is an age-long covenant. I am a generous tither, and I don’t hope to change.
And I discovered the issue of tithing is an age-long debate. It has outlived all those who came to argue it, and it will still outlive others. Please ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you. Let God speak to you, ignore anybody that is talking anything.”
Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, otherwise known as Winners’ Chapel, on Friday chronicled his escape from a recent incident that could have led to a crash of the plane that he was travelling in.
It was learnt that Oyedepo was travelling from Cyprus to Israel in company with his wife and three other key members of the church.
He described the incident in a written testimony read out to the congregation by a church member during a thanksgiving service at the Canaanland headquarters of the church in Ota, Ogun State.
According to the testimony, it was the third potential plane crash that the bishop would escape.
He said the first was an incident in 1997 while travelling from Kaduna to Lagos while the second was during a Lagos flight to Kano in 1998.
In the 1997 incident, Oyedepo said “all hell broke loose” and “landing in Lagos became impossible” during a heavy thunderstorm.
He said the aircraft went up and down as the captain attempted to land during several attempts until he eventually landed.
He said, “In the second incident, one engine of our aircraft failed in-flight. On May 4, 1998, we were on a flight to Kano when I noticed our plane was going down. I went to the cockpit to ask the pilot what was going on. Then, he announced that we just lost one engine.
“Calmly, I told him to make a turn back to Lagos. We were eight on board. As soon as we landed and we were at our packing space, we heard a sound that announced the death of the second engine.”
In the third and recent incident, Oyedepo said the cause of the incident was a stabiliser trim motor failure, according to the report of the captain, Samuel Adeboga.
The bishop said, “After the failure, the auto-pilot could no longer exact the required pressure to keep the aircraft in the required altitude for stability.
“The captain disconnected the auto-pilot and returned the aircraft to the required altitude for that phase of flight. Because the aircraft was out of trim, during the take-over, the aircraft abruptly pitched up with much G-force and the captain counter-acted it with a pitch downforce.
“These two counter-forces caused the abrupt turbulence and movement in the cabin and the cargo hold. Heavy items in the cargo hold fell from their compartments and made loud bang noise. We thank the God of this great commission for making the pilot act promptly. Similar incidents in the past have resulted in fatal accidents and loss of life.”
Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell, would face a court hearing in Australia in 2018, a Magistrate said on Friday.
Pell is to answer what the police described as “historical sexual offences’’; he is the most Senior Roman Catholic Official to face such accusations.
Pell, 76, a top adviser to Pope Francis, did not speak as he was escorted to and from Melbourne Magistrates’ Court by police through a group of media, protesters and supporters.
He was not required to enter a plea.
Australian police said in June Pell had been summoned to appear on charges of “historical sexual offences’’ from multiple complainants.
Details of the charges have not been made public.
Pell’s lawyers have said at a previous hearing that he would plead not guilty to all charges.
He is not required to enter a formal plea until a magistrate determines whether there is cause for a full trial.
At a 20-minute hearing a magistrate said the matter should return on March 5 for a committal hearing to determine whether it should proceed to a full trial.
The magistrate set aside four weeks for the committal hearing.
Pell is on a leave of absence from his Vatican role as Francis’ economy minister, which he started in 2014.
The pontiff has said he would not comment on the case until it is over.
Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Ibrahim Akinola is dead.
Akinola died on Sunday in Lagos at the age of 79 years.
However, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed sadness over the death of Akinola.
The governor, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, described the development as a great loss to the Muslim Community, the State and the country in general.
He said the late cleric would be sorely missed and remembered for his bold and courageous sermons which stood him out in the present-day Nigeria.
The governor said the late cleric was a great man of God who spoke truth to power not minding whose ox was gored, and contributed immensely to the growth and development of the State.
He said: “It is with deep sense of great loss but total submission to the will of God that I note the demise of the Chief Imam of our dear State, Alhaji Garuba Akinola. He was indeed a respected cleric who was always mindful of his integrity and used his sermons to engineer positive changes in the behaviour and character of his followers.
“He was a devout Muslim; humanist and bridge builder and would be remembered for his fairness, boldness and thought-provoking sermons.”
Ambode, while commiserating with the family of the late cleric, urged them to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life and contributed immensely to the peaceful coexistence in the State until his demise.
“On behalf of my family and the people of Lagos State, I like to specially commiserate with the immediate family of the deceased and the Muslim Community for this great irreparable loss,” the governor said.
The Kano State Government has declared Friday, Sept. 22, as public holiday to mark the new Islamic year.
This is contained in a statement signed by the state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba and issued to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
The Islamic New Year, which is first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, coincides with activities marking the nation’s 57th anniversary celebration.
Garba quoted the acting governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar as congratulating the people of the state and Muslims the world over, for witnessing the new year.
He said Abubakar had appealed to Kano citizens to utilise the public holiday to offer prayers for peace and prosperity of the country.
He said the the acting governor had reassured the people of the state government’s determination to work hard towards improving their living standards.
He also called on Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country.
NAN reports that Friday, Sept. 22, is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calender and it marks the beginning of the new Islamic year 1439 after Hijra.
