Dr. James Akanbi, a certified accounting management consultant and general overseer, God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM), says to revamp Nigeria’s dwindling economy the government should assist the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to boost the nation’s economy. He shares his thoughts on Nigeria’s economy and political situations in the below interview with Christian Benefits on the 2025 Zion Power ConferenceofGod’s Mercy Revival Ministries, one of Nigeria’s biggest churches with many branches across continents. Excerpts.
There’s a saying that no knowledge is a waste. Tell us the impact on your accounting background on God’s Mercy Revivals Ministries (GOMERM).
That’s perfectly correct! The Bible says known unto God are all His works from beginning to the end. That I will be on this table today God already knew about it from the beginning. I attended a college of education and studied some business-related courses like short hands and typing. Today, my typing speed in the ministry work is awesome which acquired from my training in business related courses. I write and type all my books by myself. I typed with my fingers all the books I have written and published. God already knew that I will be an author. I was in Jos in 199I when I went for an accounting job, stock trading, auditing and other vocations. On one particular night in a hotel I saw someone showing me some packs of about 25 books with my names, James Akanbi, written on them. I told the person I had never written any book. And he said these are some of the books I would later write. I have written about 56 books. God already knew that I would write books. My accounting background also prepared me for a time like this. This is a ministry where budget can run into hundreds of millions in a year. If you do not have such a background, how do you relate with figures? I set up a system in our account department. I’m not a signatory to the church account. I use the system set up in my previous workplace. When you set up a system you have the control. I set up a very good number of systems in GOMERM. The systems are running on their own. My disciplines in accounting management, business administration and business leadership helped in setting up these systems. There is a business aspect to ministry management and administration. I have been able to bring the knowledge that I acquired in accounting management, business management and leadership both and overseas up to two PhD to bear positively on this ministry.
How did you feel at the time you quit your accounting career for ministry?
It was tough quitting as a general manager designate at the time God instructed me to quit. The package was alluring yet God said I should leave. A senior manager wrote an official letter to me almost calling me an insane to resign my lofty job at a young age. The company proposed I work three times a week instead of quitting. I presented this to God and He warned that I’m on my own if I accept it. I usually advise my protégés in ministry working in the secular that don’t resign your job for full time ministry. Here is God telling me to quit my job for full time ministry.
Did you attempt running from God’s instruction to quit your job like Jonah?
Somehow; instead of quitting I attempted setting up a haulage business for the company. I wanted to buy one truck for Jos and one truck for Ibadan for the business. But I got a shocker. God told me the two trucks would have accidental in one day. I had already priced the trucks but here is God telling me to back out. At that point I obeyed God’s instruction. I resigned and came into ministry full time.
Looking back; have you any regret resigning your job for full time ministry?
No regret at all other than it has entered into my record with God that I didn’t have enough faith then to jump at His word immediately. I do blame myself for arguing with God initially. I should have obeyed Him instantly without reservations.
While serving as President of a Christian fellowship on the campus, did you envisage leading a massive church like GOMERM in the future?
This work (GOMERM) isn’t massive yet. I can’t see anything massive where we are now. I’m still telling God ‘please, forgive me. I haven’t gone as far as I ought to have gone. God showed me lot of things at the beginning of this commission many of which I haven’t accomplished yet. Maybe I haven’t paid enough prices. Maybe I haven’t fasted or prayed enough. Maybe I have to give up, to go up. Probably, I haven’t given up enough see the massive work. I know what he shown me. This work is yet to near it. When I was leader of a Christian fellowship on the campus I didn’t come close to thinking of leading a church someday. I gave my life to Christ in February1979. By September1979 I was on campus. I had not fraternized or interacted with any ministry to know the work of God or how to lead a church. All I was doing then was serving in whatever capacity that were given to me The only thing that was close to whether I will lead a church, either small, medium or big was in 1982 when I was rounding up. On a particular night the Lord said to me, ‘Well done, son! You have done a good job over this small work.’ The time is coming that I will set you over a bigger work. That’s what probably could look like something that would happen to me later in the future as leader of church.
Tell us what inspired the yearly Zion Power Conference of the ministry
We follow vision in all we do here. All that you see in this commission were by vision. Our coming to this location was by vision. Zion Power Conference was by vision. Our campground was by vision. There is nothing we do here by ambition or by copying. Sometime in March 2000, I saw in a vision a flyer face down. I picked it up and saw on it; God’s Mercy Revival Ministry Power Conference Year 2000. An old man came closer and asked me, what is that in your hand? I showed him the flyer. And he said to me that will be the yearly name of the coming together of all of the sons and daughters in the ministry. That was how the conference started.
Share with us some testimonies from the conference over the years
Testimonies are natural and common occurrences at ZION Power Conference. I can’t describe or limit the work of the Holy Ghost. There was a testimony of someone from whom a plate of steel inserted in his knee was removed. An 80-year-old herbalist attended the conference with eyes problem. During ministration a light flashed on his eyes and he started screaming I can see! Another person was healed of 18 years brain problem; now a pastor here. There are several testimonies.
Tell us about this year’s 2025 Zion Power Conference at the expectations
The topic for this year is Divine Supernatural. That’s exactly what we are expecting God to demonstrate in the lives of the participants at this year’s conference. God will work strange miracles of salvation, healing, restoration, deliverance in the lives of the people and also meet their long expectations. The power of God will do great and mighty things in the lives of people at this conference like in the days of old. Divine supernatural is God’s authority over natural things. God will cancel the law of nature, the law of Satan and human laws; including economy law. The supernatural will swallow all kinds of problems. Divine supernatural will override satanic supernatural. It will hold in three sessions daily. Morning session from 8am with Enough is Enough powerful prayer to deal with stubborn problems; followed by Building the Builders Ministers Summit and revival service later in the evening.
Briefly, share with us the profiles of the guest ministers at the conference
The guest ministers are consultants and specialists in their various fields. They include Pastor Odesola of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) with over 4,000 churches under his watch covering Nigeria and Middle East. A veteran, Pastor Isaac Omoleyin who started with supernatural when all the birds he wanted to use for his final project in the university died. He had attended the university an old man. While kneeling down his tears dropped on the dead birds and they resurrected. He will talk on supernatural. Pastor Samson Ajetumobi from Ibadan will teach at the Building the Builders Summit on Leadership in Pastoral ministry.Rev. Dan Akingbelure a seasoned preacher of total gospel will also be of immense blessings to participants that seek to experience the supernatural in the lives.
How should participants do to receive the blessings at this year’s powe conference?
One problem is many people in the Christendom do not know the right approaches to making things happen. There are some wrong approaches to making invocation in Christianity. For example, crying to get something from God is sentimental. Life doesn’t answer to that. Principles are very blunt and rigid. They do not respect tears or emotion. James 1:25 says look at the law of liberty. The Bible is the law of liberty and principles. We need strategic approaches to the things of God. We must know the laws to use to invoke or activate those things. When you are coming to a meeting like this conference, you must come prepared with faith. You must come with a prepared heart. You must come praying and fasting. The woman made up her mind from home with faith that “if I get there and just touch the hem of his garment I will be healed.” She made up her mind before she left home. It shouldn’t be until you get to a meeting like this conference you start preparing. Those who will get things in church have already gotten them from home. They’ve already secured it. They’ve prayed it out. They’ve made up their minds. Anyone that gets to a meeting before making up his mind cannot get it. Prophecy goes to those who are prepared for it. It is preparation that meets opportunities. So, people coming for this conference must prepare for it with prayer, fasting, faith and expectations.
As an accounting consultant by training and preacher, what is you view on Nigeria’s state of economy, and how can the government boost the economy?
Nigeria is in a big problem economically with a dwindling economy. For any economy to grow it GDP must increase. And to increase the GDP the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) must thrive. The SMEs is the engine room of any economy. But how will the small and medium scale enterprises thrive in Nigeria where there is no regular light supply? All small organizations need regular power energy to thrive and survive. They need diesel to do thrive. How will you buy diesel at the current rate and be able decent progress and profits? Isn’t that breaking down businesses? All the talks about boosting the economy are talk because any policy that cannot impact the small scales cannot boost the GDP of a nation. And if electricity and energy are having problems, then forget about it. It doesn’t really look well economically for Nigeria. It’s not smiling at all. To revamp Nigeria’s dwindling economy situation the Nigerian government should assist the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to boost the nation’s economy.
Nigeria is already politically tensed two years to 2027 elections. How can the political tension be reduced or managed from exploding into political crisis?
We can’t reduce the tension. In fact the political tension will be higher with what is presently happening. The ADC is gaining momentum and you expect the APC to watch akimbo without planting moles in the ADC. This is already happening with factions here and there creating and heightening the tension. But I believe it won’t be as it used to be in the past with blood shedding. Blood will not flow like in the past. Yes, there will be lots of betrayal and treachery within the political space, but blood flow will be minimal because of the upgrade in the sensitivity of the Nigerian people.
