The Redeemed Christian Bible College (RCBC) in conjunction with Pentecost University, Ghana, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, America and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), has stressed the need for Africans, particularly Nigerians to contend in prayers against cosmic forces that serve as barriers to the fulfillment of purposes and destiny.
[ad]
This was disclosed recently at a conference with the theme, “Life is war: Social Militarisation and the Culture of Prayers in Africa,” held at the Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State. Speaking at the event, the National Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Nigeria, Pastor Sunday Akande, said Africans must embrace spiritual warfare and militarise their prayers against cosmic forces that are holding back social progress, as well as initiatives that address existential realities.

He said: “A nation must realise that while building a strong military defense, its trust must ultimately be in God. The danger of total faith in military defense apart from the God of war, is as great as danger on its own. Prayer in its intensity is an expression of faith, imbibing prayer as a way of social life, is saying that prayer will have a greater impact than all those physical things you have to do.”

In his keynote address, Professor Opoku Onyinah, Pentecost University, Ghana, said although Africans have different cultures, prayer is one thing that cuts across all boundaries. He explained that prayer, as a universal practice is communication with God.

He said: “God should be seen as a father and not as someone who appears to be unapproachable. When you approach Him, you are approaching a loving father who understands you. So once you are praying, you shouldn’t stop what you’re doing. You need to work and you need to act. Prayer is doing what you need to do and asking God to bless all the effort.”

Onyinah, who said that science cannot solve all societal problems, cited the crucial role prayer played in fighting COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, Professor Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, America, who delivered the lead paper at the event, said the aim of the conference was to support African theologians to engage in African scientific approaches. According to him, “Life is war and war is life. From the academic view, war is to protect our country. So, war is both destruction and also to preserve life, while spiritual warfare also embodies death, killing and the preservation of lives.”

Adogame said prayer is an impersonal but also personal communication between a human being and a extramundane entity that can be seen in three aspects, which include prayer as an action, prayer as a tool, and relationship with mental health with emphasis on the role of the church in the reduction of crimes.
[ad]