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We have attained age of maturity

By Chris Irekamba
02 January 2017   |   3:19 am
Pastor Lazarus Muoka is the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries. The church, which came into existence in 2002, clocked 14 years on December 24.
Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Pastor Lazarus Muoka is the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries. The church, which came into existence in 2002, clocked 14 years on December 24. The celebration also coincided with the December programme of the church, which held from December 24 to 26 at the Chosen ground in Ijesha, Lagos. At the end of the three-day event, the founder of the church spoke to journalists on the anniversary, Mgbidi Crusade 2017, and why men of God are solution providers, among other key issues. Chris Irekamba was there.

Mgbidi crusade 2017 in Imo shall be the greatest of all programmes

How would you describe the ministry in the past 14 years?
BY the special grace of God, we clocked 14 years on December 24, and we are very grateful to God Almighty, Who has made this possible. We thank God, because He has been so wonderful to us. Every year, we have new branches and these branches are increasing numerically. Spiritually too, we have the assurance of making heaven. So, I can say that God has done wonders in these 14 years of our existence.

Is this 14th anniversary celebration more important to the ministry than Christmas?
Fourteen is a double perfection and these 14 years God has really proved that He was the One that called us and established this church. We are using this occasion to thank and appreciate His faithfulness. So, I can say that in these 14 years, we have attained the height of maturity. He has done a lot of things in the life of every member. They are happy serving God with the assurance of making heaven at last, therefore, we give Him all glory.

What are the challenges so far?
We have encountered a lot of challenges, no doubt. For instance, we encountered fraudsters who came to the church pretending to be true Christians, but in the actual fact, they are not. Such people came to church only to rubbish the image of the church and because they didn’t get what they wanted, they decided to go to the newspapers, Internet, YouTube and stuff like that to attack the church. Of course, you know that the church is an open place, where we don’t have to restrict people from coming in, bad ones used the opportunity to come in, only to tarnish the image of the church. But the Lord said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

As you prepare for your yearly event in Mgbidi, Imo State, this month, what are the expectations?
First, our Mgbidi crusade 2017 starts from January 6 to 8 and the theme of the three-day event is, “What God Has Determined Shall Be Done.” I want you to understand that God has a lot of things in stock for the people that are coming. In fact, I have assurance that as many that shall grace the programme without salvation shall go home saved. Those who are not sanctified shall go home sanctified and those who are not baptised with the Holy Ghost experience shall go home baptised with the fruits of the spirit. And above all, we are sure that God will minister to every one’s need because He is the only One that has answers to man’s problems. He has promised that“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” and so, in this coming programme the blind shall see, the lame shall walk, the deaf/dumb shall hear and speak, while those who were oppressed and barren shall go home rejoicing. In fact, God Almighty has determined that no matter the problem that people are coming with, especially in this recession in Nigeria, He is going to bless His people beyond measure because He’s the Omnipotent God. He is not in any way restricted by any economic recession. He has said, “In the time of famine thou shall laugh” because our supply comes from above. So, I urge Nigerians to get ready for His manifold blessings at Mgbidi crusade 2017 in Imo State. In fact, this year’s event shall be the greatest of all programmes.

The country is currently in a critical situation to the extent that the government is confused. Are there things men of God like you are doing to change the situation for good?
As far as solving problem is concerned, men of God are solution providers in any nation, even though they may appear not to be known, but as we pray to God of heaven in this coming programme I believe He will do something to change the country’s situation. I believe also that men of God in general have roles to play and that is lifting the nation up before God, because prayer changes things. So, as we gather at Mgbidi on January 6, I am sure that God is going to do wonders, He will touch this nation, as well as, those that have confidence in Him. We have solution and that solution is prayer. We are collectively going to pray and consult God concerning this nation and I believe He is going to change our situation for good. In our last programme in Abuja, I told the people that God has sworn to bless His people and in fact, things are changing already.

The impression everywhere is that Nigerians will experience more hardship in 2017. Do you share the same view?
The problem of people all over the world is that, they do not know God, as they should. If actually they do, they should have believed His ability to make things happen. For instance, He single-handedly fed the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years without receiving any assistance or help from any government, organisation or group of people. So, you can’t compare that with the recession of barely two years. I encourage Nigerians to have absolute trust in God, He will take care of His own people, and will not forget Nigeria as a nation.

There are happenings, which point to the fact that the end of the world is near. How prepared is the church for rapture?
It is very clear that whatever is happening here or in any other part of the world is an indication that the end is very near. The prophecies that the Bible spoke about are being fulfilled, it is telling us as children of God to be aggressive in preaching the gospel and ensuring that people are saved, so that when the rapture sounds they will not miss it. So, whatever that is happening today either in Nigeria or outside the country is a sign that the coming of Jesus is at hand. People should draw closer to God and stop behaving as if these pestilences and troubles Jesus spoke about are man-made, they are not man-made, but prophecies that must be fulfilled and that is what we are experiencing today.

What is your message to Nigerians?
My message is very simple: they should seek God and pray. If you are a Christian I encourage you to seek the face of God through prayer, and for those who are not Christians, they should repent and become born again, because the future of this country is in God’s hand. If everybody knows God and obeys Him intimately, we’ll have fewer crises.

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