Mgbidi crusade addresses people’s needs and problems —Muoka

The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries clocked 17 on December 24, 2019. To mark the event, members and friends of the church gathered at the Chosen ground in Ijesha, to thank the Lord for His faithfulness. At the event, the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka gave an insight into the church’s success and the journey so far. CHRIS IREKAMBA reports.

The church just clocked 17. What is the secret behind its success?
The secret of the success of the Lord’s Chosen is God. Whatever we have achieved is through God’s grace. We are not the one doing it, but God. The Bible says: “for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do His good pleasure” and of our own…we can do nothing.” The Bible also says, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” So, God has enabled us to be where we are today. God convinced me that I have 10 billion souls. And as a result of that conviction, I see it from the beginning that it was a mega church.

What have been the challenges and how were they overcome?
There have been numerous challenges. At the very beginning when a child is born, you need to give him/her education and a sense of direction. That is one of the biggest challenges, because it is one thing to have a church, and another how you run it.

The first challenge was ensuring that the church has a standard, and that everybody builds on that foundation. This, God did for us. Another challenge was when the devil stirred up some people to push things that were borne out of envy. They were not happy that their members moved from their former churches to the Lord’s Chosen, and as such, they fought us from every corner. They spoke evil against the church and to God be the glory, those who spoke evil against us are coming back to make restitution and say they are sorry for speaking against the church. But one thing they did not know was that, as these members came, many of them became genuinely born again and things began to change for them and so, they stayed. In all that, God saw us through. So, God has been the source of our victory in all the challenges.

How do you preach in places where there is strong animosity against the gospel?
Well, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Master said He would build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So, whether in America, China or Middle East, God is the Owner of the whole earth and He says the earth is of the Lord and the fullest thereof. As long as He is the One that owns every soul, He will establish His church anywhere in the world.

For instance, sometime ago, some scientists said they went to the moon and saw something. As they picked it up, behold what was written on it was John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Because of that experience, they began to say that Christianity is the only true religion. The point is that God can build His church in the moon. Finding John 3:16 in the moon tells you that God can as well build His church in the Middle East, Asia and any other part of the world where people oppose the gospel. And so, by God’s grace, the Lord’s Chosen has entered those places and is doing well.

How you do cope with negative stories against the church?
When you have the truth, it is very easy to diffuse things that are contrary to the truth. It will not bother you, because you should be able to know who you are and what you have. If you have the truth and somebody comes to say, ‘you know what you are saying is not true and such things, in time, that error will expire, because it is only the truth that abides forever.

When I retire to bed, I turn to the Lord, and He will take care of the whole issue and give you victory. The Bible says when the enemies shall come in as a flood, the Spirit of God shall lift up a standard against them, and if God be for us who can be against us? And He says, “I will contend with those that contend with you… ” I rely upon Him in everything.

How do you give back to the society?
The ministry is all about service, and because the ministry is about charity, by God’s grace, we are meeting the challenges of charity as a church. Everything about the church is about charity, and we will continue to help the masses wherever and whenever, as long as we have the resources.

If you were to change some things, what would you like to do differently?
I don’t think there is anything I need to do differently than what I am doing now. I think I’m doing the right thing, as what I’m doing today is still the standard. Matthew 6:33 says ‘seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and every other thing shall be added to unto you.’ The point is that, as you go on to do God’s Will, God will take care of every other thing. So, I will still go back to that standard, which is doing God’s Will.

How is your end-of-year programme different from Christmas?
Our programmes are aimed at saving souls; they are not for fan fare. It is not a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Rather, it is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a doctrine of those who don’t read the Bible. No place in my Bible talks about Christmas. We only take advantage of the holidays to preach the gospel to people, and this programme tagged: ‘Only God can do it,’ is a special programme for the people to come and appreciate what God has done for them from January to December. We also use the occasion to minister to every outstanding need of people. So, through the programme, God takes care of people’s needs.

What should Nigerians expect, when you hold Mgbidi 2020 Crusade?
We have a yearly programme that starts in January, which we call Mgbidi Crusade. Come January 3, we shall gather at the Chosen International Secondary School, along Oguta Road, Mgbidi, Imo State for the event. The title of Mgbidi 2020 Crusade is: ‘What God Has Determined Shall Be Done.’ It holds from January 3 to 6 and time is 8am daily.

Because of what God is going to do in the life of His people, I am using this opportunity to invite every Nigerian to the event. This programme is an international one, whereby we host the world. It addresses people’s needs and problems, from the beginning of the year to the end. Indeed, what God has determined for us in the new year shall come to pass, and every opposition or barriers that want to stand in the way of God’s people shall be taken care of by the power of prayer, after which people shall have their way and what God has determined for them will come to pass. Year 2020 will be the church’s greatest programme because God of Chosen is a progressive worker. God is going to perform wonders, which no man can do and Nigerians shall have their way in 2020.

What are your expectations in the New Year?
By God’s grace, and as God’s children, we don’t depend on the nation’s economy. The Bible made us to understand that our supply comes from Heaven and because of that, we are not looking at the economic situation in Nigeria. Rather, we look unto Heaven, and God will meet our needs. Again, the Bible says fear not. The Bible is full of the phrase ‘fear not.’ So, we should have faith in God. If He could divide the Red Sea, there’s nothing He cannot do. So, there is nothing to fear about 2020. God is able to meet His people’s needs.

Some people believe payment of first fruit is a scam. What is your view on this?
Some people are not Bible and they are not God. It is only what He said that matters, and not people’s opinion. The word of God is God and it is the final authority. The Bible says, ‘there are many devices in the heart of man but the counsel of the Lord that shall stand.’ The issue is that, if the word of God talks about first fruit, we stand by it, no matter what people say. Those who are paying it are doing God’s will, but those who fail to pay it are cheating themselves.