Posted by By Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt on
When the immediate past governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke completed the Tinapa project, he hoped that the business resort would boost the economy of the state. People of the state are still waiting for this to happen.
•It gives spiritual and economic boost to Cross River
When the immediate past governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke completed the Tinapa project, he hoped that the business resort would boost the economy of the state. People of the state are still waiting for this to happen.
However, today, there is another Tinapa in , Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The only major difference is that while the government- sponsored Tinapa resort is to guarantee profit-laden free trade, this other one guarantees spiritual uplift and succour for those who as the Holy Book says, "labour and are heavy-laden" but want rest.
It is called, "Morning Dew," a monthly crusade of the Christian Central Chapel International Inc, Calabar, located on the outskirts of the capital city, popularly known as "8th Mile"
Each last Friday night of every month, people troop into the area from far and wide in search of solution to their spiritual problems and needs.
The General Overseer of the church, Evangelist Emmah Isong said the monthly programme has become another boost for the tourist profile of Calabar.
He said: "Morning Dew is a revelation God gave me when I got tired of tarrying night. That dew refers to the presence of God's showers of the Holy Spirit.
"It is true that as early as 5.30am, people start trooping here for the programme. It will grow from glory to glory. It has a great future. I see people coming from many different nations."
Evangelist Isong, who has become a household name in the state and neighbouring Abia and Rivers states, also talked about the place of Morning Dew in the rising tourist profile of Calabar.
The cleric said: "Morning Dew has also highlighted to tourist profile of Calabar. It is now a spiritual pilgrimage. Every last Friday night of the month, people troop in from across the country and beyond, checking into hotels in Calabar.
"The mission is to provide a forum where we can gather to pray in the morning and receive deliverance."
And each time he was faced with the usually overflowing crowd of worshippers and it is difficult for him to move around, the clergyman said he would send, "remote controlled anointing" from the pulpit by merely speaking the word to the crowd.
"I have prophetic grace with emphasis on deliverance and healing", the graduate of Banking and Finance of the University of Calabar said.
Earlier, the 40-year-old General Overseer had reeled out prophecies for the new year.
Although he said that 2008 would be a great year, Evangelist Isong advised that families must pray for divine protection against the loss of loved ones via "mysterious deaths."
He said that the founder and Bishop of an unidentified white garment church in the country would pass on just as the wife of a prominent politician and "a certain First Lady" might die.
Also in the offing, according to the clergyman, are rampant cases of flooding eventhough the first four months of the year would record unusually strong heat waves.
Back to the political scene, he warned that a state governor would be in trouble and that the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) would undergo, "internal crisis, fragmentation and disagreements".
Evangelist Isong also predicted tougher times ahead for armed robbers and unusually high fire incidents.