The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has honoured its founding fathers and past leaders for their immense contributions to the growth of the Pentecostal movement and national development, as the body marked its 40th anniversary.
Among those honoured at the Thanksgiving service held at Redemption City, were Archbishop Benson Idahosa (posthumously), late Rev. Uma Ukpai, Rev. Charles Osueke, Rev. O. Ezekiel, Rev. D.O. Ogunkanmi of Christ Gospel Church Mission, Pastor William Kumuyi, Rev. Samuel Odunaike, Pastor E.O. Abina, Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) and Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The event brought together Christian leaders, clerics, and dignitaries from across the country to celebrate four decades of unity, evangelism, and advocacy within Nigeria’s Pentecostal community.
In his remarks, the National President of PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, commended the vision and commitment of the PFN’s founding fathers, saying their labour and sacrifice laid the strong foundation upon which the PFN continues to stand today.
He recalled that the PFN was birthed out of the “Greater Lagos for Christ” crusade by the late renowned evangelist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, in 1985.
Oke described Ukpai as a great apostle with an unwavering passion for soul-winning and a detribalised servant of God whose ministry transcended ethnic and regional boundaries.
Speaking on the theme, “PFN: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” Oke said the fellowship has remained a unifying force for the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria, fostering spiritual growth, national impact, and a collective vision for the future of the Church.
In his sermon, the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has called on Christians to actively seek and apply divine wisdom to address the nation’s challenges.
Bishop Oyedepo highlighted the church’s contributions to education, the economy, healthcare, and other key sectors, urging Christians to take the lead in addressing the pressing challenges confronting the nation.
The cleric stressed the need for the church to rely more on divine wisdom to increase its positive impact on society.
“Through wisdom, kings reign and princes decree justice. Jesus is the wisdom and the power of God. We have continued to celebrate power; now, let us move forward and start celebrating wisdom. Divine wisdom is our heritage in redemption; we now have the mind of Christ with the capacity to create solutions.
“It is time to start calling down the wisdom of God to keep creating solutions to the seemingly impossible challenges of life around us.
“Let us ask from God the wisdom that will show the way forward towards our enthronement in our various areas of endeavours.
“We need to tap into the wisdom from heaven to enhance our rate of impact on the world around us. The Lord will send forth His wisdom into the church that will cause it to begin to rule and reign in various spheres of life,” Oyedepo said.
Delivering his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the fellowship for its enduring impact on national development and moral leadership.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Christian Matters, Rev. Bukola Adeleke, said the fellowship, through its crusades and leadership networks, has raised men and women who continue to positively shape society.
“PFN has also served as a moral compass for our public life, speaking truth to power with courage and grace, calling leaders to accountability and upholding the sanctity of life, justice and peace.
“In times of national uncertainty, PFN has prayed, in moments of moral decline, PFN has spoken, when the soul of our nation has been tested, PFN has stood firm. A watchman on the walls of Nigeria. Through its leadership, the fellowship has continually reminded us that spiritual power must work in hand with moral integrity and that faith without conscience is no faith at all.”
