Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
A woman Christian leader has lent her voice to the ban on the advertisement of miracles on the screen.
A woman Christian leader has lent her voice to the ban on the advertisement of miracles on the screen.
In an interview with Daily Sun, Founder and General Overseer of the Life-Light Christian Church (LLCC), Revd. (Mrs) Rose Okoji Ogbonnaya insisted that miracles of God should not be subject of advertisement to claim glory.
"Our Lord Jesus Christ performed several miracles but certainly not for personal ego but rather, to demonstrate to the Gentiles what God could do so that they can believe miracle is not key to salvation of the soul. It is manifestation of power of God to the unbelievers so that they could be convinced," she said.
The founder of the fast growing church in Idimu, Lagos, was also unequivocal in her opposition to the call by some Christian leaders that men and women of God should join the politicians in the murky water of politics to gain leadership in the country.
In her words: "Our Lord Jesus Christ who is our model in all things was offered earthly crown but he rejected it. So where did we get this idea to join race in the contest for worldly crown rejected by the Lord? I do not support it because our Lord has given us a greater assignment to prepare for his second coming when he will come to gather his own."
Background
I was trained in Catering and Hotel Management. I worked for some time before I got married. I am from Imo State but married in Abia State.
I was born into a Christian home. At a tender age, I was baptised in the Anglican church. So from young age, I grew up in the Lord before I got married. And ever since, I have been growing up in the understanding of God's purpose by holding on firmly to the scripture.
Being born again Christian is not something one can begin to advertise. To me, being born again is to accept God in truth and in spirit. And having the knowledge of what God called us into this world to do and knowing that doing those things, one will be in good relationship with God. And it is one that involves the temporary life here and the eternal life to come.
Turning point
Yes, it is true that I have always been in the Lord, but when my husband, Apostle Isaac Okoji departed this world on May 17, 1997, everything changed. His departure marked a turning point in my life. Though, I was the one that preached the word to him to be converted, when God separated him from me, I was persuaded to do the work of God which I'm doing now in all totality. I became totally involved in the work of God. I can tell you that my life has changed. I cannot stay here and be commending myself that I am born again because it is not the he that commends himself but he that God has approved. What I'm saying is that I know what life here on earth with Christ means and the life to come with Christ.
Challenges
As a widow working in God's vineyard and somebody without physical children but rather with abundant children in the spirit, the challenges are so enormous and daunting that one cannot begin to recount them now. When I started, I never knew it was going to be like this in my life time. It was really rough in the beginning.
It is a calling; a journey that you could not predict what would follow next or where you will be in the next moment. But through the grace of God, I did not accept defeat. Challenges were manifold and in different dimensions.
As a widow and young, there was a lot of pressure from men which was to be expected. There was also pressure from friends, relations and even from the church. Those you expected to stand by you during such a trying moment suddenly turned against you.
I was intimidated, humiliated and turned to object of ridicule. In fact, at a time, I became object of jest and common joke. It was as bad as that. But glory be to God. He strengthened me through the spirit to withstand and cope successfully with the pressure. It is not something one can overcome through the flesh. I do not hold it against anybody because I believe it was God that allowed those challenges to take place in order for His purpose and grace to be manifested.
Life-Light Christian Church
My departed husband and myself started the church together. So I see the church as an establishment God gave to us to manage. That is why I never see him as dead but rather as somebody who departed a scene to another scene. When he was alive, there were pressures too, but through the grace of God, he was able to overcome and when he departed, he left happily. So he is not dead. So what God has started in the church will surely be completed.
Christian leaders and politics
Jesus Christ is our role model in all things. So we should do things according to what he did when he was with us here on earth. When Jesus Christ was doing a lot of miracles with signs and wonders, at a stage, they offered to crown him as the earthly king. But he rejected it. So why should Christian leaders join the fray to swim in the murky water of politics for earthly crown?
I don't support it because Christ has called unto us a greater assignment, to prepare for his second coming when he shall come to gather his own. Those who are righteous in the Lord will surely reign along with him. So why should we join the race for crown in this wicked world when we have assurance of eternity through the grace we have in our Lord Jesus Christ?
Advice to women clerics
They should remain focussed and should not allow themselves to be distracted by the pressure of the world. Above all, they should hold on to the word, the Bible and meditate upon it day and night while putting on the armour of prayer. If they do that God will surely guide and uphold them.