Arise o compatriots!

Yesterday a few minutes to nine in the morning, somewhere around Airport road, Ajao Estate, a girl on a commercial motorcycle, popularly called okada in Nigeria, was hit by a car.
Very soon a crowd gathered and cries of "she don die" (she is dead) rang out as the girl lay there on the cold asphalt. Across the road was this group of individuals on their way to the second service of their church. They sent a prayer to this girl, asking God to preserve her life and were about to be on their way when one of them noticed the girl was still moving. This was God's answer to the prayer they made.

The Platform 10.1 & 10.2

We all cry and hope for change in our country but the truth is positive change doesn't just happen. It is premeditated and that's why I love the initiative of pastor Poju Oyemade of Covenant Christian Centre. As is their annual custom, Covenant Christian Centre is bringing another edition of The Platform to Nigeria's youth again. This time the focus is on National transformation with specific emphasis on positioning Nigeria to affect the global market, while at the same time, teaching how to build structures that will ensure lasting change.

Nigeria, as we are well aware, is a country with great potential. In fact there is a prophetic word over this nation and you may have heard one about Africa being a gun and Nigeria being the trigger. At the rate we are going, we'll probably just end up with nothing to show, even with all the prophetic words. Beyond these words is a need for some work. Prophecies don't just happen, they are birthed. Someone must take ownership and deliver them. Part of this delivery process is the need to be equipped with the right knowledge and understanding (in other words - wisdom) to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

The Platform is poised at empowering the Christian youth to own the national transformation process and create a new Nigeria from the chaos of the present. It goes beyond lamenting the whole issue to creating solutions that are long-lasting and far-reaching because prayer alone will not change a man's outcomes. There is need for spiritual intelligence. For more info check the website  for this year's Platform at www.theplatformnigeria.com

Evangelizing Today's Youth

In continuance with the thoughts I started out with yesterday, I would like to focus on how to effectively evangelize this generation (and probably the next).

It is obvious that the views of each generation on God and what it means to be employed in His service differ, most times with very conflicting views. Each generation has its own revelation of God, different from that of the preceding generation. God is a trans-generational God-the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I believe there is a unique manifestation of God that is tied to every generation for the benefit of the world (Romans 8:19-22).

My point is that God would not reach each generation in the same way, so why should we think we can get results using the same methods that were used for us?

Have you observed that sharing tracts does not have the effect it had in the early 80s? Young people are not keen to listen to 2 hour messages. If a movie is not interesting, they'll dump it in seconds, even if you're teaching them important values. I would like to submit that anyone who doesn't change his style of "ministry" in this 21st Century would find that his impact is greatly diminished. Pastor Poju Oyemade recently said  that any pastor using Bishop Oyedepo's style of leadership in ministry today will not make much progress. Incidentally, Bishop Oyedepo's is pastor Poju's mentor. I would like to submit to you that for any person to effectively evangelize this generation, your style MUST change!

The devil understands this truth so well and he tailors his evangelical efforts to ensure that he catches the youth. For him (the devil), it doesn't matter if you fully understand what you are getting into. Just get in first. He uses what someone (my pastor and friend, Pastor Niyi) calls the mass market approach. Effectiveness in any dispensation is directly proportional to your understanding of the dynamics of that dispensation with emphasis on the technology and the people in that era. 

Evangelism is a lot like marketing and for it to be successful we must understand the terrain and understand the market. We must understand that

• Definitions have changed (gay no longer means happy)
• Indices of wealth have changed (Physical wealth vs Intellectual property Apple quoted as 2nd most expensive company globally).
• Technology has changed
• Perspectives have changed (How business is done, Social interactions powered by Social media networks, fashion trends i.e. lower waist-lines, lower neck-lines, etc)

AS PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE MIDST OF THESECHANGING LANDSCAPES, 

WE MUST UNDERSTAND AND BE ESTABLISHED IN THE TIMELESS 

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF GOD AND LOCATE INNOVATIVE 

& CREATIVE WAYS TO PRESENT THEM TO THE WORLD.

Some of today's post is an excerpt from a presentation at a monthly programme focused on empowering Christians to actively participate in media. Download the file here.

Are Chrisitans Relevant to Society?

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sure a lot of my readers would have been wondering what happened to this blog. I just came back from a month-long sabbatical in the country side of Ibadan (you should try it sometime-you could add some flesh to those bony cheeks of yours). Not only did the Christmas abd New Year holidays take me away from the blog, the visitation of "Subsideen" to every home (on the invitation of our president Goodluck Jona) also affected my blogging calender. It's great to be back though. Once again welcome to 2012! Let me get on to today's post.

The crisis Nigeria experienced in the second week of this year got me thinking about the role and relevance of the Church (the body of Christ and salt of the earth) in a nation. While leaders like Pastor Tunde Bakare took to the streets to protest the insensitivity of the FG to the plight of Nigerians and others like Pastor Sam Adeyemi  voiced their displeasure at the FG's attitude to corruption, some simply pretended as if nothing was happening or publicly condemned the actions and speech of those who spoke publicly for the people. It seemed to me that Christians in general were as confused as every other Nigerian in understanding what to do at such a time. I started wondering how truly relevant Christians are in society considering the fact that the scriptures say that when things are happening in a city (town, life, nation, etc), God ALWAYS informs His prophets-Amos 3:7 (you and I). Can a nation be plunged into a crisis of such proportions and God would keep His own in the dark about it?

I strongly believe that there is a shift taking place in Africa and Nigeria is experiencing its own bit of this transition. At such a time as this, Nigeria is in need of individuals who, like Daniel can enter the courts of our God and bring solutions to the issues the leadership cannot resolve. Nigeria needs musicians, artists, actors, writers and such like who can make Isaiah 61 a reality. The anointing is not just for personal comfort. It starts there but eventually translates to societal impact and influence.

Exploring Creativity

One of the greatest challenges of the church over the years has been the ability to translate spiritual intangible to physical realities that the world can understand. It seems that for us to be able to communicate effectively with anyone that does not yet believe in Jesus, we must first confuse them. The more confused they are, the easier it is to get them into the kingdom. We seem to forget that at one time there were some things relating to God's kingdom that we did not understand.

As a result of our inability to accurately interprete these spiritual intangibilities, we give excuses. Here is one that is simply a classic.

Be blessed as you listen to the lyrics of our song and not the music. 

What?! Why call it a song when you all you want is for me to listen to the lyrics and not the music?
Our greatest job as believers utilizing media to advance the kingdom family of God is to interprete these "heavy" spiritual truths in language/expressions that everyone can understand. Let me cite a few examples

Alfa Sule -there's power in the name of Jesus

Suing the devil- answers the question of the validity of God's word in the 21st century

Olori Oko-The King, Jesus, is coming soon.

Once it becomes too difficult for an unbeliever to understand, then you can be sure he's lost to your message. For a few more tips on how to craft media that can cross over into the "secular", take a look at these slides I used for a programme I host monthly.

The Homosexual Invasion...the saga ends!

Praaaaise the Lord! Praise, praise, praaaaise the living Jesus! Did I hear your hallelujah? We really need to rejoice. Why, you ask? Because God answers prayers. DO you remember how I had solicited your prayers on the issue of the legalisation of same sex marriages in Nigeria? Well finally the senate has given their position on the issue and it is in answer to our prayers.

Right now in Nigeria, anyone who goes on to marry another of the same sex will be prosecuted and sent to jail for 14 years. Anyone who, on the other hand,  is  a witness to the "wedding" will not escape the hands of the law either. Such an individual will be slammed a 10year prison term. Phew! Now we can breathe a sigh of relief.Viva Senate! But I'm sure this is no longer news to some of us. So what's the point of this post?

 To think that  some people wanted to complicate the already messed social and economic landscape of this country is just unthinkable but then that proves one thing: It is obvious that those with whom we are contending are not physical beings. No person, in his right mind would want to make love to another of the same sex. I mean its just nauseating. But then when there are spiritual forces involved, a man is empowered to do just anything, positive or negative. It all depends on the kind of spiritual force behind it all.

This is my encouragement to us all. The Nigerian space belongs to God but He has given it to mankind to enjoy. However when man loses his position in God, he loses the right to manage what God has given him. Hence the need for children of God, who are rightly positioned by virtue of their kinship, to enforce His desires. The ways we do this is by making proclamations from our spiritual position. Nothing will ever hold water except it comes from that position. I can only proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord BECAUSE the Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Isaiah 61:2). Let us take our place!

Transformers on Youtube

Last Sunday was a great time as God exposed to those present at the last R.A.M.P.A.G.E. seminar how we can effectively reach this generation with the good news of the kingdom. For those who for one reason or the other couldn't make it to the programe, here are the files for your viewing pleasure.

Psst...if you enjoyed what you watched, refer the link to friend or someone you know would be helped (youth leaders, pastors, gospel musicians, Christians in Nollywood, etc)

So here's is the video

On living in a frustrating Nigeria.

After listening to a friend of mine preached in church a few Wednesdays ago, I was inspired to write this post. A serious concern has risen over the past two years or so, in the hearts of many nationals of Third world countries as regards nation building. Nigeria is not left out. In Nigeria for example, the educated are waking up to the reality that the destiny of the nation lies in the hand of the polity.

Without a doubt our nation has been rocked with so much in recent times with the absence of our “slow-motion” president for more than 60 days crowning it all up. It is interesting to note that God has provided a solution to this situation so many years before the problem even surfaced (isn’t He such a great God?!).

Jesus, the most influential person who ever lived and the model of true leadership, encountered similar circumstances in the geographical location of the nation Israel where He found Himself, while embarking on a world-changing campaign (Matthew 9:35-38). He looked over the people, men He had created and whose spiritual condition was so important to Him and He observed that they were frustrated, wearied and scattered as ones without any caring shepherd (observe any similarities with Nigerians?). He was moved to the heart at their condition. One cannot but feel the tension in the air on Nigerian streets, homes and offices. Have you ever wondered how some other Nigerians cope with the problems of fuel scarcity, power outages and so on that plague our country? Particularly those who are not privileged to enjoy the benefits most of us reading this post have?

However that is not my focus in this post and I sense that is not the focus of the above mentioned passage either. What use is there in identifying a problem but not providing a solution to it? This, I believe, is the focus of Jesus in this passage. Immediately Jesus saw the helpless, hopeless, hapless condition of the people, He turned to His disciples. This shows very plainly that the responsibility of dealing with the imbalances of society is that of His disciples, the body of Christ. So is it not a breach when the best we have been offering society are just huge conventions, all night programmes, prayer mountains and such like that do not even bring much lasting individual change, not to talk of societal change?

Are our churches just designed by God to gather large crowds and offerings? Bringing it home to the individual level, are we just meant to be bible-quoting, tongue talking individuals who are labelled pastor or “spiri” simply because we read our bibles on the way to work, distribute and read daily devotionals in our offices or pray just before the bus takes off from the bus park?

Jesus turned to His disciples and then informed them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the labourers are few.” The reality is that in the midst of the seeming hopelessness, there are great opportunities. To put what Jesus was saying in another way “The opportunities for impact and influence are numerous but only a few people are seeing them or even logging into them.” He then told His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more people into the harvest. It would interest you to know that in the original language in which this passage was written, the word “send” means to forcibly push out.

This is God’s strategy in liberating our nation (and I dare say every nation). He will use the frustrations and disappointments we experience to launch us into His divinely appointed purposes for our lives. Is it a wonder then that many people were laid off from banks in recent times? Is it a wonder that Christians were embarrassed by a Sanusi Lamido?

Most of us have forgotten those beautiful visions we had in our polytechnics and university days. Those great dreams that were dropped in our hearts while we served our fatherland during our NYSC and have embarked on a pursuit of comfort-what we will eat and drink, what cars we would drive, etc. All these at the expense of our life’s purposes. God is flushing us out so that the earth and indeed Nigeria can enter its prophetic destiny. You will observe that after Jesus revealed the true situation of things to His disciples and prompted them to take a prophetic (change-effecting) position, He then sent out His disciples as apostles so they could actually do the work (Matthew 10:1, 5).

This is our mandate. This is our call: first to take a spiritual position in response to the frustration around us, and then work to actualize our God given purpose. If Nigeria will enter into her prophetic destiny, of which this year is critical, we must begin to engage in our different life purposes.

“Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show His children’s glory completely.” Romans 8:19 (NCV).

Midwives of a new generation II

I would like to continue with the thoughts I garnered from the animated movie I spoke about the last time. Nigeria is in need of midwives or should I put it better, the destiny of this nation is in need of midwives. What’s the role of a midwife? Well its simple, to ensure a safe delivery of the baby a mother is carrying.

Permit me to refer to the animated movie Kung-fu Panda again. I would like to describe on of the characteristics of the midwives that will help push the destiny of this great nation, locked in the youth, into fruition. I need to give you some background so please indulge me ok? Thanks a lot.

Master Shifu, the kung-fu master assigned to train the chosen dragon warrior Po, had trained a number of successful warriors. This group of individuals (please permit me to use that expression), called the Furious 5, were a legendary group of excellent kung-fu masters who had gained renown with their skills. Everyone in China knew them. These guys had dealt with all kinds of foes and taken on all kinds of opposition. In spite of all their training however, they were no match for the threat that was looming over the town where they stayed. This threat was a snow leopard, called Tai Lung who had been trained by Master Shifu himself since childhood but had gone wrong at one time and was imprisoned in some far away dungeon.

Now Tai Lung was coming back to the temple where he was raised, believing he was the one fit to be the dragon warrior, to come pick up the dragon scroll (which was more or less an endorsement). Now imagine the enormity of the situation: the legendary Furious 5 could not match this enemy. Master Shifu could not match him either since Tai Lung had developed over the past years. The only hope was the dragon warrior, who happened to be this oversized panda. The situation was hopeless or so it seemed. The answer lay in this oversized panda that wasn’t in any way prepared to or even able to take on any member of the Furious 5.

Shifu was confused but his own master, Oogway told him something very significant. “I only need you to believe. Promise me you will believe.” These were the words Oogway spoke to him. Shifu could only answer in desperation, “I will…try.” I can understand him. It didn’t make sense that this panda could ever learn anything about kung-fu much less now defeat such a formidable enemy as Tai Lung. The same way it doesn’t make any sense to many of us that this yahoo-yahoo, mentally lazy, Channel-O generation can achieve anything of relevance.

Most of the guys who grew up when Nigeria entered the oil boom wish they could go back to those days. Even I look back and can thank God for the primary school I went to. We had meaningful excursions, fresh fruits to go with our daily meals, French classes and it was not an expensive school. I can look back to those years and thank God because my English was perfected in those years. Mental sums were an order of the day so I didn’t need calculators even for complex mathematical calculations. You don’t think it mattered? Ask the average J.S. 2 student to do math of something like (2x+5) where x is 5 and you’ll see him (or her) ask you for a calculator. Ok maybe that is confusing with the integer x and all but what about a simple calculation of taking 200 out of 1000?

Maybe not all of us have a thing going with Math ok? Take a look at our music and its lyrics and you can tell that there’s nothing in the heads of most of us (now I don’t mean that as derogatory in anyway ok?). Can you now imagine this crop of individuals doing anything of great significance? But wait, before you give up on us. We only need the right leadership. We only need for you to believe in us. We only need for you to see the good in us.

These midwives, who will ensure the destiny of this nation is not aborted, must be believing people-individuals who are willing to see the good in a not-so-good generation. People who are willing to invest in this generation being who they really are- an army of saviours. As difficult as this must seem, it takes faith for this destiny to be actualized. Faith in God and faith in the people who will bring the change we all desire-the youth.

Saving Nigeria

Many prophecies have gone ahead of this great country we live in. We are all excited when we consider the great future and destiny Nigeria boasts of. You will also agree with me that despite this great destiny, Nigeria is in a state that this great destiny is threatened with abortion. At the rate this nation is going, the possibility of seeing that future emerge is so faint. It can be likened to a person whose pulse is getting weaker and weaker by the minute. Death seems inevitable and the abortion of that destiny seems imminent. Our leaders seem clueless as to what to do and to compound matters; more complex problems are developing-sectarian crises, unresolved economic issues, unavailability of basic infrastructure, and so on. So what can be done to salvage this situation?

It’s obvious we are in need of saviours; men and women who are solution providers; individuals who know how to chart the course for the future; people who can handle the challenges presented to them and tackle all the social, economic, educational, etc problems we face as a nation. Just like Joseph rose up in those days of famine, we need men and women in Nigeria who will rise up to the challenge of the problems we face as a nation and bring lasting solutions.

Joseph, the son of Jacob was aptly called Zaphnath Paneah (pronounced zaf-nat pa-nay-yah), an Egyptian name meaning saviour. Why would a pagan king attribute such a name to a mere Hebrew slave? How could a pagan king identify the presence of the Spirit of God in the life of this man Joseph? It’s so simple. Excellence will break any kind of barrier: racial discrimination, male chauvinism, social class, etc. When a man provides a solution to a long lasting problem or a knotty situation, it doesn’t matter where he was born, the colour of his skin, where he lives, his educational background. Men respect achievements, particularly when it relates to solving problems.

A good case in point is the sudden transformation of Oshodi, Lagos. It did not matter to you the governor’s religious or educational background. As far as most Lagosians were concerned, a problem was solved. In the same vein, saviours need to begin to arise in this nation.

In considering Joseph, a great example of a saviour of the earth, we cannot overlook the fact that he was a man who had a great capacity to bring change in whatever circumstances he found himself. It takes a lot of courage and capacity to be able to help others when you find yourself in a helpless plight. Joseph was always solving problems right from being in Potiphar’s house to even his time in the royal prison. We need to rise to the occasion and bring solutions to the problems around us but we need to be men of strong character; men of great capacity; men that do not give up in spite of the challenges they face.

It’s obvious that our circumstances are daunting and the reality of our challenges is obvious but just as one great man said, tough times never last but tough people do. The saving of this country cannot be committed to lily-livered, easily-rattled individuals. We need men of strong character; men of great vision; women of great perseverance, individuals with great endurance and follow-through ability.

‘Nuff said.