Apostle Wole Oladiyun, Senior Pastor, Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), Omole, Lagos, has expressed concerns over what he called the disunity, bickering, unfounded suspicions and allegations among Nigerian Christian leaders.
He expressed his mind on what he noted as unwholesome clashes, unhealthy criticism, rivalry, competition and condemnation among top Christian leaders in the country during his fellowship and interaction with some Christian leaders and a Christian media executive in his Omole office.
Apostle Oladiyun called for unity, brotherly love and fellowship, respect for individuals’ areas of callings and giftings and closing of ranks among Christian leaders and Christian faithful generally in the country.
Baba Aladura, as fondly called, enjoined the top leaders to bridge gaps among them for the sake of the cross. Christian Benefits shares some snippers from Apostle Oladiyun’s charges to the leaders and his experiences in ministry during his fellowship with the visiting gospel ministers that include Archbishop Mike Akinyoade, Bishop Akinloye Ojo, Bishop Phillip Ashiedu and Dr. Wole Olarinde, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Christian Benefits.
(L-R): Bishop Ashiedu, Arcbishop Mike Akinyoade, Apostle Wole Oladiyun, Bishop Akinloye Ojo and Dr. Wole Olarinde
I STARTED MINISTRY LATE – APOSTLE WOLE OLARINDE
I started ministry when I was almost 40 years old. This accounts for my discipline in ministry. Perhaps, if I had started earlier I may probably have messed up by now.
HEART OF SERVICE AND GRACE OF CONSISTENCY BROUGHT ME THIS FAR
My heart of service and the grace of consistency brought me this far in ministry. I grew and nurtured that grace of consistency. I am in ministry to serve the people and the leaders. For instance, during the recent Ikorodu crusade organized by Baba Mathew Ashimolowo I gave myself completely to service under him as my leader. That is what I am called to do. I didn’t say because I am a crusader I must minister at the crusade. I didn’t even hold the microphone for once throughout the crusade. Instead, as a servant I was taking instructions and orders from Baba Ashimolowo. I served at the background ministering to souls either in English, Yoruba or Hausa. The first time I ministered at Baba Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), after my ministration I was given a huge honorarium, but I declined it. They asked me why? I said I came to serve. There are other times I declined honorarium from Baba, and said, sir, I came to serve and learn.
SO MUCH BICKERING IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
The bickering in the body of Christ is too much. There flies about wrong perceptions and misconceptions of one another in the body especially among our leaders. Many preachers in the body have the spirit of self-gratification and entitlement to benefits not knowing that benefits are symbiotic in such that you rub my back, I rub yours.
MINISTERS MUST FORM A NEXUS OF WORKING TOGETHER
Instead of envying, bickering, criticism, allegation, suspicion and condemnation, Christian and church leaders must form a nexus of working together for the sake of the cross and the preaching of the gospel of Christ. I share with ministers that come around me the wisdom that I put into ministry. I do not take our church members, pastorate and workers for granted in the running of the ministry. There is no development in envying and bickering. In the areas of individuals’ strength, graces and gifting, let us celebrate one another. I fought my friend, Apostle Dele Johnson, to stay in the area of his strength, Dream Conference, until he started focusing on the area of his strength. Today, he has global impact, influence and testimonies through his popular Dream Conference and Mega Dream platforms across the globe. I told him he was downgrading the area of his strength. My own area of strength is crusade. So. we created a platform for him in our ministry every September to minister to us about dreams. As fellow ministers, this is what we should be doing; complementing one another. We need to show love to one another. We need to watch the back of one another. We need to intercede in prayers for one another whenever the hell raises a battle against any of us. Our leaders must close ranks and bridge their gaps for the sake of the cross and the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Continues Next: MY PRAYER BELL AND UNFOUNDED SUSPICIONS FROM SOME MINISTERS).
