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| The Director of Youth Affairs, CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Peter Olanrewaju, PhD |
By Rachael Oke
In a stirring call to action at the 2025 Christ Apostolic Church Youth Fellowship Academic Stars' Summit, the Director of Youth Affairs, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Peter Olanrewaju, has charged youths to embrace their priesthood identity, emphasizing God's urgent need for men of impact.
Addressing the summit participants at the prestigious Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Director observed that the summit’s theme “The Royal Priesthood” as cited in 1 Peter 2:9 is an identity that has not been fully understood by many.
He referenced the anchor scripture (1 Peter 2:9), stating that God is on a project to build spiritual house.
“God is currently on a project and the project is called building of a spiritual house and just like every other building, each block is placed on another until it becomes an edifice that will always fulfill the desire of the Originator,” he said.
The Director then emphasized that God is in need for a man to bring His purpose to actualization.
“It is not by coincidence that God has brought us together. Every time God gathers His people; He is always looking for a man. God is looking for a man through whom He wants to do something new. A man that He can start something with in the science dimension; a man through whom innovation that will solve societal problems will be birthed. God is looking for a man who will raise an altar for Him – a new altar that will alter the activities of the kingdom of darkness in your lineage,” he stressed.
Citing the instances of Daniel in Daniel 1 and Phinehas in Numbers 25, the Director noted that God is in need of a man who is current and will stand for Him in a corrupt system.
"Every move of God will always start with a man - a man who will be current and correct in a corrupt situation and society," he noted.
He then charged the participants saying, “If God is going to do more with us, He is expecting more from us. God is looking for man that He can trust with burdens. There are things God wants to do but He is looking for a man that can listen to Him."
"Only those who stay with God can hear Him and only those who abide with Him can He abide with. Those who will be willing to show forth His praise wherever He goes and demonstrate His power who by the presence of God will them make difficult situations fly like a mountain,” he added.
The Director emphasized further that God is intentional about addressing them and is specific about each one, stressing that they must therefore be intentional, as He is looking at them as ones He can depend on, citing Ezekiel 22:30.
According to him, the summit is a clarion call to every student to rise from the ashes of confusion, compromise and mediocrity and embrace the fullness of who God has called them to be.
Pastor Olanrewaju quoted Romans 8:19, noting that the world is not yearning for celebrities, but rather for consecrated students who understand their royal priesthood and step forward with wisdom, integrity, fire, and vision.
He then admonished them saying, "This generation is waiting for you to rise and take your place, not in pride, but in purpose; not in ambition, but in divine assignment. The days of casual Christianity are over! The time has come for students who will walk with God like Daniel, shine like Joseph, speak like Esther, and govern like Deborah. These were not just spiritual people; they were people of competence, courage, and consecration. That is your prophetic company."
Following the soul-stirring welcome charge, the Director led the participants in a powerful session of prayer.
The Academic Stars' Summit is an annual flagship program of the Christ Apostolic Church Youth Fellowship, designed to bring together CACYOF members from various tertiary institutions across Nigeria