Lampstand Mission, Meiran, Lagos will kick start the new year 2023 with a prophetic meeting tagged, Saliva Covenant, aimed at breaking into the storehouse of unclaimed blessings for over 5000 long awaited testimonies. It will hold every last Friday from January 27 till March 31, 2023 at the church’s Zion Cathedral. Rev. Olufemi Olugbode, the Presiding Pastor of the church, shares with Christian Benefits what the Lord has in the storehouse for people at Lampstand in 2023, and his stance on the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the February 2023 Nigeria’s presidential election. Excerpts.
Please, can we meet you sir?
I’m Joseph Olufemi Olugbode, Presiding Pastor, Lampstand Mission, Meiran, Lagos.
Briefly share with us about your background and upbringing
I had a very rough upbringing; even right from birth. I was believed to be an Abiku because none of the children that my parents born before me stayed. My parents thought I wouldn’t stay too. Perhaps, those who were born before me but never stayed didn’t have any assignment on earth unlike me who stayed. Right from birth the Lord gave me an assignment, and He has been keeping me healthy till now.
Also, share with us your rebirth encounter by which you became a believer
I began my walk with Christ as a member of an evangelistic youth group of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C) Yaba, Lagos. As a youth group of singles, we regularly fellowshipped together, yet most of us had issue with been born again. So, despite being a member of that group I was still living in sin. But the righteousness of some of the brethren encouraged me and I eventually surrendered my life to Christ.
After your rebirth how did you eventually receive the call to ministry?
I received the call to ministry from what I saw in those that the Lord used for me. When I was having afflictions some prophets and other men of God stood with me. Through the grace of God upon their lives I overcame those afflictions and became victorious. On one particular day I saw in a vision one hand writing on the wall. I didn’t understand it but kept it to myself until a particular woman in the Redeemed Christian of Church of God that we call mama alawo interpreted the vision to me. She is a mother in the Lord to me and many other pastors that also attended her fellowship. She interpreted and explained the vision to me as a calling to ministry.
From this encounter what exactly is the mandate of your call into ministry?
Our mandate is targeted at the mind of man. Our slogan is developing the mind of man for global impact. We are called to connect the minds of people to God
What are some of the church programmes in line with this mandate?
In line with our mandate of connecting the minds of people to God, for instance, we are starting a prophetic prayer study of the Book of Ephesians on the riches of glory in Christ Jesus. It’s going to be an in-depth teaching with powerful prophetic prayers every Friday from February 2023. Our Sunday services will also be devoted to teaching the Book of Ephesians in February 2023. We have great testimonies from our programmes. Most of the youths I ever pastored are now graduates. The light shone upon their hearts by the reason of their coming under the grace of this ministry. Also, we are starting a 3-month programme, Saliva Covenant, every last Friday vigil in January, February and March 2023. It’s going be partially teaching and prophetic priestly unction released from above. These are some of our programmes for this year 2023
How long have you been in the ministry, and how will you describe your experience in the ministry over the years?
I was ordained a minister about 30 years ago. About my experience in ministry over the years, we have experienced some devastating effects of ministry, but to God be the glory, the one who called us is helping us. When you are particularly called into deliverance ministry you will experience severe challenges. But in all of the challenges we have experienced over the years God proved Himself wonderful. Today, those challenges are what many people testify of, or make boast about us. We have had many challenges and difficulties. We have also suffered reproach and mockery. All these are experiences one has to pass through in ministry. The Lord has helped us to ride through stormy times and we are better now to His praise.
How will you describe God’s move at Lampstand mission last year 2022?
The year 2022 is one year that the members of Lampstand Mission can say O we belong to a church where we saw God in reality. Previously they only saw the hand writing of God. But last year 2022, it was not just about God’s handwriting, there were physical testimonies and realities of utterances that God honored instantly. I can confidently say that our church members are now more convinced of God’s presence at Zion Cathedral (the church building). God’s angels are working in the cathedral. The members see God and His angels working in the cathedral. Almost all the church members including me have one testimony or the other to say, O, it’s marvelous in our eyes! I thank God for His call and honor upon us. I can say 2022 is one year that the Lord specially honored me. I saw God’s honor upon my life. I saw God’s honor upon His word. I saw grace worked for me. I also thank God for revelations in 2022. On many occasions I saw what people couldn’t see. Even in politics, on many occasions I received and shared revelations that challenged a lot of people as to the realities of the present politics in Nigeria. Let anyone stand out and confidently say this is what the Lord said. I have spoken the mind of God on the coming elections and waiting for the outcome of the elections to prove us.
What should people expect from Lampstand Mission this new year 2023?
This year 2023 we are going to be more evangelical at Lampstand Mission. We are going to hold more outreach programmes for more souls. We are going to work more outside the four walls of the church. There are lots of souls perishing out there because the gate of the church has been closed against them. The gate of the church may seem opened but some philosophies that we operate in churches today never allow unbelievers to come in. Some are even chasing away believers. So, we will embark on more evangelical outreaches in different forms to bring both the sinners and the backslide Christians back into the fold of Jesus Christ. We are going to encourage our members to evangelize more souls for God’s kingdom this year.
What are your plans towards achieving the harvest of souls this new year?
One thing is people may not be able to come when they do not know about it. So, we are going to advertise our programmes. If you keep good things from people you cannot blame them for not partaking in them. We will make the good news available online and on other media for people to be partakers of the good news the Lord has prepared. We have the mandate to unlock the storehouse of unclaimed blessing. We will open the storehouse for those awaiting their testimonies. Testimonies of miracles, connection to the right spouses, children to the barren, healing to the sick and promotion among others will be released from the storehouse locked against people. If Jesus tarries, our target this year is to multiply our church attendance and organize outreaches to bring souls out from the cage of Satan into the kingdom of God. Our focus is to multiply the kingdom citizens from outreaches to cities, villages and other places that the Lord opens the doors for us.
Lastly sir, as a prophet to the nations what is your view on the present harsh socio-political situation in Nigeria, and your advice on the way forward for the country in 2023, especially on the 2023 general elections in the country?
I have stated the truth on the Nigeria’s 2023 general elections on my social media platforms, and said I am not going to speak again on it until after the elections. Whoever wants to know the truth or my stance on the 2023 general elections, particularly the presidential poll should go to my Facebook page, Olufemi Olugbode. On the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in next month February, 2023 Nigeria’s presidential election, I said emphatically without any iota of doubts that God has His hand in the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. I challenge whoever that would say he heard the opposite from God. I challenge people to go to God and ask questions on the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Is of God’s mind? Is it of God’s programme? Unfortunately, nobody has been able to take up the challenge. I repeat emphatically, God has His hand in the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. I don’t believe in the prophecy of doom. This is the beginning of the year we have been waiting for, especially for those who have been waiting upon the Lord; for those who are long waiting for the Lord’s glory. I say this emphatically and with authority. Isaiah 64:4, “For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”