By ‘Gbenga Bankole
Christ Apostolic Church, Apapa Districts’ Coordinating Council (DCC), Apapa, Lagos on Saturday June 12, 2021 held refreshers course for ministers and workers.
The programme which was held at the DCC headquarters of Apapa DCC in Agegunle, Lagos had in attendance ministers and workers from the DCC.
While delivering the welcome address, the DCC Superintendent of Apapa DCC, Pastor John O. Igbokwe said there are many half truth messages being passed across from the altar to the weak hearts and babes in Christ.
He further said they approached the truth of the gospel from the angle of prosperity and “good life” only, saying these messages have succeeded in producing half baked Christians and inadvertently caused the diminishing of Christians of character and self denial which is the condition of discipleship by the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Only the reprobate in the mind will not see the level Christianity has degenerated to. The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do in the church, the big mansions we build, the crowd we gathered, the degrees we obtained, the countries we have been to and so many other things we have achieved – but the relationship we maintained with God and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. How old was Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola when he was asked by the great leaders of the church then to stay away until they finish their discussion on issues on their agenda at Ilesa now in Osun State? The Holy Spirit changed the whole protocols pointing them to what He called them to do. “Rescuing the perishing in the power of the Holy Spirit”. History had it that the same Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola was rejected after some months of undisputable signs and wonders at Ilesa by some sections of the society who felt that their businesses and hospitals had been deserted by the people who trooped the revival ground,” says Pastor Igbokwe.
He noted that it is time for the church to genuinely start to reward character, self denial and genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
According to him, crimes and thuggery strive in our societies because that is what make many to make quick money, even in the church, we scarcely reward our God fearing, prayerful and loyal ministers or members, adding that we should not be rewarding only the radicals.
Pastor Igbokwe: “we must start to think about balancing the recognition and respect we accord the rich and educated against the poor to avoid making the numerous persons who are not educated or rich run into depression. We must continue to recognize genuine prayer warriors and Spirit filled Ministers. In the year 1988 I received a revelation which in simple interpretation means that we must enter into the work of the ministry through the calling of God in our lives. Prophets must be trained by genuine prophet; evangelist must be trained by the Evangelist, Administrative gifts of Pastor and Teacher should be trained under the divinely anointed Pastor.”
The programme had different powerful sessions and lectures that blessed lives beyond measure.
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