“The C&S church is both a Pentecostal and gospel-based church. We have seen a lot of the so-called Pentecostal pastors engaged in occult practices, faking miracles, and backing up their works with diabolic powers while some of us in the C & S church rely solely on the power of God through fasting and prayers. God answers prayers by His own volition, irrespective of how many candles or incense burnt. I don’t know any eto adura and I don’t ever want to learn it.”
These are the assertions of Prophet Abiodun Akintola, General Overseer, God of Covenant C&S Church International as he clears some misconceptions about the C&S practices, and also speaks about his white garment church in New Jersey, USA, in this interview with Christian Benefits on the Exploits of Nigerian Preachers in the Diaspora. Excerpts.
Please, how will you like to be introduced?
My name is Prophet Abiodun Akintola (Ed. D), General Overseer/Prince of Covenant. The name of our church is God of Covenant C&S Church, International. We have branches in different parts of Nigeria at Badeku-Ibadan,Oyo State, Owode-Ede and Osogbo, Osun State, and Ifo, Ogun State.
Beiefly, share with us about your upbringing
I was born in Iree, Osun State, Nigeria, into a Christian family. I attended both primary school and high school in Iree before going to the University of Ife, which was later changed to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) before I graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts and Education in History
Also, tell us about your career or vocation in Nigeria before your relocation to the US
I worked in the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree as Admissions Officer from 1993 to 1998 when I left Nigeria for the United States. I have always been a church person all my life, and my happiest moments are when I am working in His presence. I went for Master of Arts in History at Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, before going for my Doctor of Education at Harvard University in Minnesota.
I was a high school teacher for 14 years before facing the ministry squarely.
What informed your decision to move from Nigeria to the US in 1998?
I came to the United States to settle down with my family.
Tell us about your church, God of Covenant C&S Church International
God of Covenant C&S Church, International was established in 2010. The journey in the ministry has been good because God is good all the time. However, the experience has been mixed. Times to be extremely happy and times to be extremely down but nothing has taken the praise of God from our mouth. I was specifically called into the C & S. It was revealed to me first in 1998 in a dream, even though it has been foretold of my commission to preach the gospel.
The C&S church is both a Pentecostal and gospel-based church. What an individual does with the assignment of God depends on him or her, but the expectations of God cut across all denominations. It depends on the messenger. Jesus is the same everywhere, any day, any time. We have seen a lot of the so-called Pentecostal pastors engaged in occult practices, faking miracles, and backing up their work with diabolic powers while some of us in the C & S Church rely solely on the power of God through fasting and prayers. The diverse gifts of God, promised in 1 Corinthians 12 from verse 1-8, distinguish the C & S church from others. There’s none of these gifts that is not demonstrated in the C & S church, not those that are concocted or staged.
What is the significance of the use of candle, incense and some practices like eto adura in the C&S church?
On the use of candles, incense, and eto in the C&S church I will go back to my earlier assertion that the expectation of God is constant, but it depends on the messenger. We don’t do any of those in God of Covenant Church. They add no additional value or volume to our prayers. Faith is of paramount importance in our Christian life. God answers prayers by His own volition, irrespective of how many candles or incense burnt. I don’t know any eto adura, and I don’t ever want to learn it. They make you think you’re doing something from your end while God is solely responsible for answers to our prayers. Even God goes beyond our righteousness to do His work many times,
How can charlatan practices and abuse of spiritual powers in churches be controlled?
The C&S Unification as a body is trying to curb the excesses within the fold but some people are stubborn and unrepentant. Some would claim their independence and the liberty to run their church as they wish, citing religious freedom.
Aside the ministry, what career or vocation are you doing for livelihood in the US?
I write Christian books to reach out to more people apart from our congregation. I receive support from family and from the church to remain focused on the glorious work of Jesus
Finally, tell us about your lovely family, and how often you visit Nigeria.
I am happily married with children, and all of us are instruments that God is using as He pleases in order to raise the flag of the ministry. I always come to Nigeria to oversee the branches as many as three times in a year.