WHEN Lagos City-Wide Crusade kicked off on September 8, not many people envisaged that the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor William Kumuyi, at 74, would be able to go through the 18-day non-stop event, let alone travelling from one location to the other with all the stress involved. But he did, in what some participants described as utmost sacrifice for the souls of people.

The results, understandably, were overwhelming, as the crusade, organised by the DCLM, in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), recorded over 40,000 converts to the Christian faith, aside diverse miracles that took place.

In Ikorodu, alone, over 4,682 people surrendered their lives to Christ, while in Badagry, over 5000 people received salvation. In Epe, information gathered revealed that about 4,000 people got converted, while in Agege over 1,500 people reconciled themselves with God.

In Surulere, a 22-year old man, Uche Nwaogbola, a deaf and dumb from birth, spoke for the first time. His teacher in the deaf and dumb class, Ms Lovett Osondu, was amazed, saying: “It is a miracle.” Martins Nwankwo, who was paralysed and was bed-ridden, was also miraculously healed at the Surulere crusade and can walk now.

During the Shomolu crusade, which was held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), a 200 level Law student, Miss Ayomide Akinbode, testified to her miraculous healing. A year ago, according to her, she noticed a lump in her breast and she had visited the hospital several times, but she could not receive any solution to it. But after Pastor Kumuyi’s prayer, the lump disappeared.

The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Isolo, Ejibo and Oshodi Province, Archbishop (Dr.) Peter Febusoro, who was overwhelmed with the manifestation of God’s power, pointed out that the crusade not only brought unity within Christendom, but also helped to rebuild lives, which had been in shackles.

Febusoro said: “It was a well organised crusade. Everything was in order. Everybody that came there saw the presence of the Holy Spirit. I just think that such thing could be coming up once in a while so that people can be revived.

“It will help to reshape the lives of people in the state because a lot of things have been happening in terms of criminal activities, immoral acts and other vices. The crusade could tackle these acts. Like Isolo, most people attended the crusade and I am sure that some people would have changed from their wayward ways of doing things and come to God.

“The General Superintendent of DCLM, Pastor William F. Kumuyi, talked on so many things that would touch the lives of the people. Even in that area where the crusade was organised in Isolo, they were many area boys there, whom the gospel would have changed their lives for better. In my own perception, the crusade was very good and everybody, who was present there, was touched. The crusade was organised by DCLM in conjunction with CAN and PFN,” he stressed.

The Managing Director of Jones-Olu Nigeria Enterprises, Jones Bagbe, was particularly concerned about the follow-up of the converts to enable them establish and sustain their conviction in Christ, noting that it would enhance positive socio-moral disposition in Lagos State.

According to him, the level of immorality, criminality, cultism and waywardness in the state had been high, but the crusade had brought a lease of life to many families.

Bagbe said: “The impact of this crusade can never be overemphasised, looking at the participation and the joy that pervaded the entire arena where the crusade was held. It will drastically reduce the level of criminality in society and not only in the criminal aspect of the society, but also in other areas.

“From my own point of view, therefore, the crusade has been a huge success, judging from the report so far received and the testimonies that were shared in the various crusade locations, and the response to altar calls.

“The Lagos State Moderator of DCLM, Pastor Joseph Fasanmi, had, earlier at a press conference, stated that the crusade was to address not only the alarming rate of robberies, cultism, drug abuse and corruption, among other ills, in Lagos State, but also to spread the good news about the kingdom of God.

Fasanmi explained that respective governments in Lagos State, since the advent of democracy in 1999, had made significant efforts to improve the socio-political and economic situation in the state, but noted that their collective actions could not “sufficiently lift the state because of the peoples’ attitudinal dispositions, moral and spiritual make-up.”

He stated: “The leaders, themselves, are outcrops of a depressed environment, and cannot be expected to provide enduring solutions to the multifaceted challenges facing mankind and summed up in one word – sin. We make bold to state that it is only a completely changed heart of man by God through the gospel that can bring about a fundamental and unadulterated transformation in our broad landscape.

“All those that have conquered the basic challenges of development have done so because, at one time or the other in their history, they had embraced the commanding imperatives of the gospel,” he added.

Kumuyi, while noting that the crusade was a divine assignment, stated: “I think the secret is the grace of God. This is the first time we will go through a crusade like this for 18 days non-stop, travelling from place to place in the state.

“We give the glory to God and the cooperation of the people as we have worked together in unity. There is unity in strength and I felt the unity of the people, not only Deeper Life, but CAN, PFN, everybody, even the media,” he added.