By Omiko Awa

• Rhema World Convention to hold from November 1 To 8, 2026

The Archbishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Dr Taiwo Akinola, has charged Christians to reject limitations, embrace their covenant identity and relentlessly pursue their God-given destinies.

He disclosed this during the Friends and Family Day celebration held at the Champion Peace Cathedral along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, Sango-Ota, Ogun State.

The Presiding Archbishop, in his keynote address stated that continual advancement is part of God’s purpose for believers. He urged Christians to refuse stagnation and rise above circumstances that seek to prevent them from fulfilling their divine assignments.

“God did not design His children to live defeated, stagnant or imprisoned by limitations,” Akinola said, drawing inspiration from Genesis 26:13, which states: “And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great.” He described Isaac’s experience as a model of progressive advancement for believers.

The cleric said being unstoppable does not mean that Christians would face no opposition, but that they must refuse to surrender when confronted with challenges.

According to him, believers are expected to keep moving forward, growing in faith and advancing from one level of grace and glory to another.

Identifying covenant identity as one of the foundations for overcoming limitations, Akinola urged believers not to allow their background, past failures, age, gender or present circumstances to determine their future.

He cited 1 John 5:4 and noted that believer’s identity in Christ should provide the confidence to confront life’s challenges.

Akinola gave ex amples of biblical personalities like Deborah, Esther and Jephthah, and said their experiences demonstrated how covenant identity could become greater than earthly disadvantages. He called on Christians to see themselves through the lens of God’s purpose rather than through the limitations imposed by their circumstances.

The Rhema leader also emphasised the renewal of the mind, citing Romans 12:2. He explained that transformation begins internally before becoming visible externally, urging Christians to continually meditate on the Word of God.

He said faith grows through hearing God’s Word and that fear and doubt could give way to confidence when the mind is aligned with biblical truth.

On the place of obedience, Akinola stressed that believers must be prepared to follow divine instructions wholeheartedly. He cited the crossing of the Red Sea and River Jordan, as well as the fall of the walls of Jericho, as biblical examples of breakthroughs associated with obedience.

He further charged Christians to deploy the weapons of spiritual warfare, including prayer, fasting, worship, faith and the Word of God.

Quoting 2 Corinthians 10:4 and Luke 18:1, Akinolaemphasised the power of prayer and the spoken Word in confronting spiritual resistance, urging believers to speak God’s promises rather than magnifying their fears.

The Archbishop warned against limiting mindsets, noting that negative experiences, destructive words and false conclusions about the future could become barriers to personal progress. He cited the lives of Joseph, David, Esther and blind Bartimaeus as examples of people whose difficult circumstances did not ultimately determine the fulfilment of their destinies.

He urged believers to persevere in the face of opposition, stressing that persistence is essential to breakthrough. He noted that Isaac continued digging wells despite opposition until he reached Rehoboth, where he declared: “Now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

The Friends and Family Day also provided an opportunity for engagement and fellowship with traditional institutions in the Ado-Odo/Ota axis, with traditional rulers represented at the event. Their presence, alongside clergy, political stakeholders, families and friends, underscored the importance of community fellowship, collaboration and unity.

Meanwhile, the church has concluded arrangements to celebrate Rhema World Convention to mark the church’s 35th anniversary.

The convention, themed: “More Than Conquerors” and anchored on Romans 8:37, is scheduled to hold at the Champion Peace Cathedral, Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, from November 1 to 8, 2026.

Akinola said the anniversary and convention would provide an opportunity for the church community to celebrate God’s faithfulness while looking ahead with renewed commitment to its mission.

The Friends and Family Day also provided an opportunity for engagement and fellowship with traditional institutions in the Ado-Odo/Ota axis, with traditional rulers represented at the event. Their presence, alongside clergy, political stakeholders, families and friends, underscored the importance of community fellowship, collaboration and unity.