Expectations high as RCCG ‘All sufficient God’ convention begins

All hotels and hostels in adjoining communities around the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Church of God on Lagos-Ibadan Express-way have been fully booked for the next one week as thousands of Christian worshippers have started arriving the ever expand-ing City for the church’s 63rd annual convention which opens tomorrow with the ordination of deacons and deaconesses.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye
The programme is preceded by a 4-day Ministers’ Conference which began on Thursday and ends today.
The one week spiritual fiesta scheduled to hold at two locat-ions within the Redemption City has as its theme; “The All Sufficient God.” A statement by the church’s head of Media and Publicity, Pastor Segun Adegbiji said the convention will hold at two Arenas—the new three-kilometre by three-kilometre Arena on Simawa Road and the outgoing one and half kilometre by one kilometre Arena.
The statement which noted that the new arena, still under con-struction, is billed to host plenary sessions of a few evenings, advis-ed those who have not already secured accommodation within the camp to make alternative arrangements in the neighboring communities of Simawa, Lotto, Loburo and Ofada.
Established in 1952 in a suburb of Lagos by late Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, the RCCG is expecting delegates from, at least, 188 nations of the world in addition to local and foreign gospel ministers who will join the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye to minister during the programme.
As at the last count, the church once described as a ‘homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith’ has 24 regions in Nigeria and another 24 in foreign nations comprising Mainland Europe with three regions with head-quarters in Holland, Spain and Sweden. UK has four regions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland while the USA has five regions. Asia/Middle East has two among others.
Stressing the significance of the convention at a recent Holy Ghost service, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said the annual spiritual fiesta is designed for those who are serious and desire a great encounter with the all sufficient God and want to see Him in action.
Addressing participants at the July Holy Ghost Service on Friday, July 3, 2015, Pastor Adeboye said the theme of this year’s convention alone “is enough to tell you that if you come to the convention, there’s nothing you want from God that you won’t get.
“But then, like I’ve always told you, the church’s convention is not for just anyone. It is for those who mean serious business with God. So if you know you are just com-ing to chat or while away time, please stay away. Only those who want to do serious business with God are welcome,” he stressed.
According to the General Over-seer, despite efforts by the church to provide adequate accommod-ation for participants during major programmes at the camp, “we still have accommodation problem. So if you are not coming for serious business, stay home so that those who are serious will be able to have a wonderful time in the presence of God.”
He then urged his listeners to pass the message to their friends  that “they are welcome provided they are coming for serious business with God, otherwise have a nice time at home, they will hear the testimonies.
“This year’s convention is going to be absolutely awesome. You can’t talk about the All Sufficient God and go away empty. It’s not possible. This year’s convention is absolutely going to be heaven on earth,” he stated.
Briefing newsmen a few days after, the church’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Adegbiji said Pastor Adeboye will be joined by other anointed guest speakers from home and abroad.
According to him, RCCG Mass Choir, RCCG Praise Team and guest music ministers will render refreshing and edifying gospel music during the convention, assuring that there will be adequate security to be provided by detachments from the Nigeria  Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and Redeemer’s volunteers.
“There will also be aerial monitoring,” he said, pointing out that the church had perfected plans to ease traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway during the programme.
He faulted claims in certain quarters that the church is res-ponsible for the incessant traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, maintaining that such traffic is often caused by bad patches on the road.
Adegbiji further stressed that the church’s activities have rather prevented traffic on the road instead of the claim that they are responsible.
According to him: “Our activities do not take place by the road. In fact, the new arena where the forthcoming convention will be held is on Simawa Road and the outgoing arena is far into the village. It has a capacity of 12 million people and as much as possible, we want to avoid using the expressway for our transp-ortation.”
He maintained that the church, over the years, had created sufficient parking lots within the camp for the use of the ever-growing number of participants.
Pastor Adegbiji also noted that because of the church’s in-dependent power and water system which supplies uninter-rupted water and power in the camp, residents of Mowe/Ibafo had written to the church to provide electricity for the community.
“They think we are government. If we can afford it, we will do it. We build and repair roads all around,” he said, noting that RCCG Turbine has recently been upgraded for the purpose of participants at the church act-ivities,” he said

ROBBERS ATTACK COUPLE ON THE WAY TO WEDDING RECEPTION

During the weekend, a gang of armed robbers unleashed terror on a bridal train at Mgbuishii, Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State, killing the video camera man and badly wounded others, including the photographer in the process.



The newly wed couple were in Chimezie Catholic Parish, Mgbuishii, for the solemnization of their wedding and were on their way back to Owerri for the reception, when masked men suddenly jumped out of the nearby bush and attacked the bridal train.

A villager, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, identified the dead video camera man as Mr. Isaac Ezirim, while the wounded photographer was Mr. Julius Ashigbu.

“The hoodlums first attacked the vehicle conveying the bride and groom. Although the bullets hit the video camera man and the photographer, the driver of the vehicle sped off”, the villager recounted.

It was also gathered that having missed their target, the masked hoodlums descended on all the vehicles coming behind the couple.

“The hoodlums robbed the friends and relations of the couple of cash and other personal valuables, including telephone handsets”, the villager said.

A close friend of the couple said that the wedding, which was taken to the home of the groom, was eventful until the bridal train started moving to Owerri for the reception.

“This ugly incident took place at the outskirts of Mgbuishii, a sleepy rural community that is now getting notorious for all manner of serious crimes”, a female villager lamented.

MFM offers N91 mil to 180 First class graduates

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries on Saturday offered financial rewards of N91 million to its members who earned first class grades from different universities across the country.
The General Overseer of MFM, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, made the announcement in Lagos at the monthly live broadcast programme of the church, tagged, “Power Must Change Hands,”.
He said 180 first class graduates in the 2014 academic year and two others who received NYSC Presidential honours after completing the National Youth Service Corps would get N500,000 each.
Olukoya said the first class honours award, which started with 12 students, had risen to 180 and explained that it was meant to encourage hard work among students.

He said the award was put in place to reward members of MFM who were dedicated to their academic work, while also creating time to serve the Almighty God.

Mrs. Shade Olukoya, a pastor, with Prof. Bamitale Omole Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, presented the award to the recipients.

Omole lauded the recipients for their dedication to their academic works and also serving God.
He commended the students for making themselves, families, and the church of God proud through their hard work.

Omole urged the recipients to appreciate the grace of God upon their lives and noted that many of their peers who started with them could not complete their courses for different reasons.
He called on other churches to emulate MFM by encouraging hardworking students through similar awards.
“The award is worthy of emulation, I urge other households of faith to follow MFM steps to encourage hard work,” he said.


NAN

Bill Gate's wife carries 20 liters of water on her head in Malawi

Melinda Gates, who is the wife of the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, was recently in Malawi for a visit. She said during her stay there, she joined women to fetch water and she carried 20 liters of water and it was tough for her. She said the woman in the middle, Chrissy, carried 40 liters of water and was very impressed at how the women in the picture were able to do so effortlessly

P​olice ​rescue pregnant girls from Asaba “baby factory”

The Delta ​State ​Police Command said on Saturday that it​ has ​rescued eight pregnant girls​ from a baby production factory in Asaba.
The spokesperson of the command, Celestina Kalu, in a statement in Asaba, said that the baby-making factory was discovered after detectives, acting on a tip-off, swooped on the premises.
​He said the operator was arrested.​
“On July 30, 2015,p​olice detectives from GRA Division Asaba, while acting on a tip-off, raided a suspected baby factory opposite the Federal Radio Corporation, Asaba, and arrested its operator, Mr. John Ihezun.
“Detectives also arrested two boys, one Prince Chukwu and Obum Nwankwo, in the premises of the baby factory,” Mr. Kalu said.
Th​e​ command said it had commenced investigations into the matter, saying that any person found to be involved, would be prosecuted.

POLICE OFFICER SWALLOWS BRIBE MONEY AFTER GETTING CAUGHT COLLEAGUE

A police officer in Zimbabwe who was caught collecting a bribe destroyed the evidence by quickly chewing and swallowing the money.

The officer was arrested by his colleague after he allegedly received a bribe of about $3 to allow 3 football fans to enter the Barbourfields Stadium, during a game between the Highlanders and the Dynamos.

The 29-year-old officer identifie as Bishop Mwembe of the Mzilikazi police station, was manning one of the gates at the arena when the 3 people asked to be allowed to go inside and handed him a bribe which he collected.

Mwembe swiftly swallowed the money when a colleague caught him red-handed receiving the bribe.

A fight erupted at the Barbourfields Police Post when the colleague tried to grab the uneaten money while the officer drank from a bottle of water to get the money down his throat faster.

A second officer was able to grab a piece of the last dollar bill, which will was used as evidence in court against Mwembe.

Mwembe who appeared before Judge Charity Maphosa, where he faced criminal charges of abuse of officer still pleaded not guilty.

Woman gives birth to a baby without limbs in Bauchi

A 20 year old indigene of Lussa in Bogoro Local Government Area in Bauchi, Blessing Samson, gave birth to a baby boy without limbs on July 4, 2015.

The baby Christened Chongfilawos, was born with only three fingers sticking out from shortened arms on each side of his shoulder.

Blessing who lives with her parents, Mr and Mrs Samson Baraya at their family house in Gudun Sayawa, said she delivered at home.

She said she couldn't make it to the Primary Health Care centre at Dumi, which was about 3 kilometres from Gudun Sayawa, because she experienced labour late at night

She said:
“My son Chongfilawos is a blessing from God. His birth was easy. When I saw him like this, at first I was not happy but later I prayed and told myself it is the will of God.
“I love him and I will protect him with everything I have,” she said.
She said that the father of the child, Jehu Luka, a peasant farmer who lives in Lussa, was away when the baby was born but had come to check his child and left without saying anything.

Bukata Bukar who is Blessing's older brother said:
“This baby is a gift from God and we are not sad in the family,”


Daily Mail