David’s Camp Magazine
Showing the way, the truth, and the life...John 14:6
issued in the UK
Free | June/ July 2017
W.A.I.T. PAGE 2
In-depth with US based
SOJI ISRAEL A LIVING LEGEND PAGE 6
HOW TO GROW YOUR HOME BASED BUSINESS PAGE 3
HEALTH TALK PAGE 4
15 Things you must know before you marry a PASTOR! PAGE 8
HOW TO FACE THE CHANGE YOU DONT WANT PAGE 5 THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE CHURCH PAGE 12
PASTOR SAM ODAUDU 15 YEARS IN THE MINISTRY PAGE 9
Letter From
THE EDITOR Oluwole David
W.A.I.T.
a prolific writer, an ardent Bible student, an author and has compassion for the liberation of souls that are yet to know about the faithfulness and goodness of God.
The Holy Spirit gave me the acronym for W.A.I.T not too long ago. Now, I must say from my few years of walking with the Lord, one of the most frustrating and almost annoying aspect of serving God is waiting. In fact, patience, another word for waiting, is almost the most agonising fruit of the spirit. The problem is not in waiting actually, the problem is you keep waiting till when you don’t know. Can you imagine king Saul waited and waited and waited but prophet Samuel never showed up? He waited and waited and kept waiting till his patience ran out...he paid severely for impatience...1 Samueal 13. In all sincerity, you may want to justify Saul’s action. Having waited for seven long days just for a sacrifice that needed to be done by the priest, and the people were already getting wearied and dispersing. Let’s imagine you are a member of the congregation and you are all waiting for Pastor’s blessing. First day, second day, third day... till the seventh day and Pastor has still not showed up. I am sure one of the ministers would voluntarily stepped up and do the blessing or the congregation would have all deserted. That’s exactly how the scene was when king Saul waited for prophet Samuel for seven days. We are in the age where waiting is no longer a norm. We all want God to do what we want, and do it NOW! BREAKING NEWS!!! God does not work according to your own time-table but His. He shows up anytime He likes and there’s nothing, absolutely nothing you and I can do about it. That’s what makes Him God- unquestionable God. However, there are rewards for waiting. When the disciples waited in Jerusalem as instructed by the Saviour, they received the Holy Ghost and power as read in Acts 2:1-4. Another rewarding text is in Isaiah 40:31...”Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” As mentioned earlier, the Holy Spirit gave me the acronym as below: W- While waiting, watch. Watch out for God’s leading, guidance, instructions, impulses, ways to follow. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus emphasised the need not only to pray but watch. Are you a single brother? As you pray and trust God for a spouse, while praying, open your eyes wide to watch out for the beautiful, God-fearing, very committed sister in church. It may be God’s leading. Stop 2
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hiding under the cover of praying always, learn to watch also. A- Aspire...Don’t stop aspiring. If you don’t aspire, you expire. Your aspiration is an integral ingredient of your faith in God. While waiting for your desired testimonies, begin to dream big how you’ll live your fulfilling life. Joshua and Caleb were not stupid. They saw the giants in the land like the other ten spies but they had aspirations to take possession of what their God promised them...Numbers 13 & 14. I- Intensify your prayers. “Those who don’t pray become preys to the enemies.” Prayer is one of the most potent weapon against the enemies. I encourage you, don’t relent in prayer during your waiting time. Pray all manners of prayers, in worship, praises, suplications, intercession and meditation. T- Testify of His goodness in the past. As you appreciate God and meditate on all He has done in the past, it gives you hope that he will do it again. He is the same yesterday, today and forever... Hebrews 13:8. The manifestation of some miracles are equally tied to your testimony. It will stir up hope in some people and build their faith in God. Your testimonies bring glory to the name of God. So in your waiting tunnel, remember His goodness. King David said in Psalm 103:2...”Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” He went ahead to list out all of God’s goodness towards him. It is my prayer that your waiting will not be in vain in Jesus name. As you continue to wait on the Lord and love Him with all your heart, the Lord will • Renew your strength • You will mount up with wings as Eagle • You will not be weary as you run • You will not faint as you walk in Jesus name. In this middle-of-the-year edition of the magazine, we have got as usual, different sections and articles that will lift up souls, transform lives and bless destinies. This edition features an in-depth interview with the legendary gospel musician/ singer, Soji Israel. He poured out his heart and I’m sure you’ll be immensely blessed by the exceptional grace of God upon his life. We also had an interview with Pastor Sam Odaudu, the Senior Pastor of RCCG His Glory Tabernacle, Bellingham, London. He took us through the journey of 15 past years in the ministry. Special thanks to all our regular columnists who keep being a blessing and an agent of change in this season. Every blessing Oluwole David Editor-in-Chief
CAREER
THE PRODUCTIVE ENTREPRENEUR - HOW TO GROW YOUR HOME BASED BUSINESS - BY OLAMIDE AJAYI A Certified leadership development and entrepreneurship Expert Bei n g a productive entrepreneur takes a great deal of planning, but don’t let this discourage you if planning and organization hasn’t been your strong point. Most of the planning gets done occasionally to whenever-you-deem it-necessary and once you learn some effective methods of planning then it will become a natural task for the operation of your business. The following tips will help in creating goals and implementing strategies to see them realized along with maintaining the motivation to keep yourself on track. 1. Set short-term and long-term goals: Goal setting is effective in every area of your life. Giving yourself a clear picture of what you really want in life - in the immediate future and years down the road - is an excellent way to keep yourself motivated and energized to take action. Start the process by asking yourself: “What do I really want to do with my life?” Don’t allow limitations of time and money distort your answer. Just assume that there is nothing that can stop you from eventually achieving and having what you truly want. These goals do have to be written down and kept somewhere you can look at them regularly. Put your goals into concise sentences using the “SMART” system. 2. Brainstorm strategies to achieve your goals: Once you’ve defined some shortterm and long-term goals, you’ll want a list of possible strategies to achieve the results you’re looking for. Create a list of strategic options that encompass various alternatives you could use deliver the results you’re
looking for. Move beyond your comfort zone and think of any wild idea that comes to mind - you want a large list of ideas to work with. Keep this whole list to refer to in the future, but pick a few ideas from the list to schedule in and add to your ‘To Do list now.’ 3. Strive for greatness and don’t compromise: I’m sure you’ve heard of many stories about people achieving great success in business whether online or offline. Perhaps you’ve even thought that they had something you didn’t or were in a better position to start with than you. Or maybe you even discredited the story as some marketing ploy and their ‘rags to riches’ story wasn’t true at all. While there are a lot of schemers out there, there are also a lot of people that have genuinely focused on a goal and worked hard and smart to achieve it. You can do it too. You can achieve whatever great things you put your mind to. When you’re adding value to other people’s lives, it’s just a matter of making a plan, getting organized and never giving up until you can make your mark in whatever area is meant for you. Don’t just settle for affiliate sales (although these sales are a nice bonus) and earning money from the success of others. That’s what being an employee is all about and if you’re interested in working online, then you have already made the decision to be your own boss. Find your niche, explore the opportunities and don’t settle for a mediocre business that doesn’t have a soul. Don’t compromise on your opportunity for greatness! 4. Counteract procrastination: Procrastination is one very bad habit. It affects most self-employed people from time-to-time due to the fact that there’s not always someContinued on page 3
one expecting you to produce something. It’s fueled by fear, lack of confidence, and disorganization. Putting things off is a sure way to produce an ineffective business. Beat procrastination by building up new habits that make you get tasks done, like scheduling in time to do the things you’ve put off. Habit breaking and making takes about 21 days to take effect, so keep this in mind as you’re struggling to stop your learned habit of procrastination and creating a new habit of getting things done. 5. Grow from the accountability effect: Create accountability in your work life by joining or creating a group of likeminded entrepreneurs where you share plans, ideas and goals in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings. You can also gain this same effect with a one-on-one accountability relationship. This type of set-up creates an inner desire to report back the results of your objectives and gives you that little extra incentive to get your plan in action. Additional benefits of being accountable to others are: gaining inspiration from the insights of others, being in the position to assist others in their business focus, and developing deep and trusting relationships. 6. Use the power of your mind to your benefit: The human mind is an extremely powerful tool in your business and we’re not talking about intellect. The sub-conscience mind is your motivator, your dreamer and your source of productivity. It can also be your discouragement, your criticizer, and your source of inactivity. Used properly, the power available in your mind will have an extraordinary effect on your life and your business. Keep your thoughts positive, keep
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- Rachael Eniola Israel
- A qualified public health practitioner
Blood Pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels) which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, or Hypertension occurs when your blood pressure increases to unhealthy levels. This is when the blood pressure is higher than 140 over 90 mmHg. This means the Systolic reading ( the pressure as the heart pumps blood around the body) is over 140 mmHg, or the Diastolic reading (the pressure as the heart relaxes and refills with blood) is over 90mmHg. According to (WHO) globally high blood pressure is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, ischemic as well as haemorrhagic stroke. Ranges of Blood Pressure in mmHg. • Normal blood pressure is below 120 Systolic and below 80 Diastolic. • Prehypertension is120-139 Systolic or 80-89 Diastolic • Stage 1 high blood pressure (Hypertension) is 140-159 Systolic 90-99 Diastolic • Stage 2 high blood pressure (Hypertension) is 160 or higher Systolic or 100 or higher Diastolic. • Hypertension crises (a medical emergency) is when blood pressure is above 180 Systolic or above 110 Diastolic. Types of Hypertension • Primary Hypertension (develops over time with no identifiable cause) • Secondary Hypertension (develops when there is a direct cause for high blood pressure and can become more severe) Symptoms of Hypertension includes:
HEALTH TALK
Topic: High blood pressure (Hypertension) • Headaches • Shortness of breath • Nosebleed • Dizziness • Chest pain • Visual changes • Blood in the urine Causes of Hypertension (several factors and condition that could play in one developing it, includes) • Smoking • Being overweight or obese • Sedentary lifestyle • Too much sodium chloride in diet • Stress • Genetics • Family history • Chronic kidney disease • Adrenal and thyroid disorders Treatment for Hypertension The goals of hypertension treatment is to lower high blood pressure and protect important organs like the brain, heart and kidney from damage. There are different types of treatment for Hypertension which are: • lifestyle modification (e.g exercise, healthy eating, quit smoking and cut back on alcohol) • Prescribed drugs by GPs.
THE PRODUCTIVE ENTREPRENEUR Continued from page 2
- HOW TO GROW YOUR HOME BASED BUSINESS
them creative and, most importantly, keep away the damaging and defeating thoughts that are passed on by your environment! 7. Create flexible schedules and adaptable ‘to do lists’: Unless you’re the type of person that loves to stick to a specific routine and can adhere to a strict schedule, then you’ll really want to cut yourself a bit of slack and create schedules and to do lists that allow for shifting of times, and deferring tasks. Working from home can involve work time getting delayed from the original plan and projects taking longer than anticipated. Just be aware of not letting work always get put on the back burner, which is very easy to do in home office. Working from home does allow for a different approach to planning and scheduling. When creating a schedule for a day, week, or month in advance (whatever is the best process for you) don’t schedule the whole day hour for hour. For example, plan for marketing tasks Monday morning, website maintenance Tuesday afternoon, social media tasks Thursday evening, etc. Whenever you have time for business block it out for the morning, afternoon or evening instead of 9-11am. May God bless the works of your hands!
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MENTAL HEALTH
HOW TO FACE CHANGE YOU DON’T WANT “THE ONLY THING IN LIFE YOU CAN COUNT ON IS CHANGE.”
Some people say Francois de la Rochefoucauld is the author of this idea. Others give the honors to Heraclitus. Then, along comes Melissa Conway, who wants credit for it. I heard my dad saying it a lot, so in my mind, he’s the creator. People do unusual things to prevent change, but the saying is correct. Change is inevitable. Empty nest, getting laid off or retirement, moving from one part of the country to another, you or someone you love becoming ill or being involved in an accident– all of these things change the status quo. What perhaps up till then you’d taken for granted, can be transformed in an instant. How do you handle change? Even more important perhaps, how do you work through unwanted change — change that you didn’t choose? There are plenty of things people do to try to avoid the fact that change is occurring. Here are a few. 1) Basic denial You can flatly believe that it won’t occur. A poignant example of this is when your spouse has told you more than once how unhappy they are in your marriage, and you deny to yourself that she or he would leave. “She’ll never really do anything.” When she files for divorce, you’re actually floored. 2) Avoidance You can avoid any facts that might suggest that your reality is not rational. This
BY DR. MARGARET RUTHERFORD
typically entails putting off the change that is coming, and pretending that, for example, it won’t really be necessary to move, or forgetting to make the cardiology appointment when you’re having tightness in your chest. You don’t get around to making those decisions, and things can get much worse. 3) Irrational Beliefs You can have beliefs that simply aren’t rational. “If I exercise enough, I’ll never have arthritis problems like my mom did.” “If I don’t talk about having thoughts of driving off the road, they’ll go away.” 4) Living In The Past We all know people who dress far too immaturely for their age, or who continue behavior that might have been acceptable as an adolescent, but doesn’t fit adulthood. Not moving on and not accepting change is a definite strategy to fend off reality. 5) Worry Many people believe that if they worry about things enough, they can prevent bad things from happening. It goes way beyond thinking ahead, realizing potential problems and creating solutions to those problems. They believe their worry is an actual barrier. So they must maintain it. Perhaps the hardest part about change? It can involve your identity being altered. Your role may shift. And it wasn’t your choice. You were a hands-on mom, now you’re
alone in your home. One minute you’re the guy everyone can count on at work — the next you find out you have cancer. Your marriage that you thought would last forever, falls in shambles around you. Yet unwanted change doesn’t have to alter your values. The people who I watch handle sorrow and even tragedy what I’d term “successfully” are people who fight to not let the loss define them. Chad and Lisa were looking forward to the birth of their first child when tragedy occurred. The ultrasound at eights months showed no heartbeat. Other tests confirmed their worst nightmare. The baby had died. Lisa had to actually go into labor, but there was no cry of life at the end. It was six weeks later when I met them. Rage, confusion, grief, numbness — all present. What had been the most joyous of anticipations had turned into despair. I watched both of them, in very different ways, try to hang on to who they knew themselves to be, how they wanted to try to live, and what their values had always been. It was difficult, and took a very long time. Countless people do this every day. Whether its learning a diagnosis, bearing the betrayal of a loved one, experiencing a tremendous sorrow or loss, healthy people fight to not be victimized by loss. And that’s the difference.
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» Star Influence of our Time A LIVING LEGEND,
SOJI ISRAEL POURS OUT HIS HEART!
While we were young boys, we were told legends are great people that have done great things and have passed on to glory but these days, we now have living legends like yourself. Who are you please? My name is Soji Israel and that’s what the world knows me to be. I’m a worshipper, a song writer, a producer. Well, sometimes, we can preach. We have the pastoral ministry too but above all, Soji Israel is a worshipper, a psalmist above everything else. I love to serve God. My heartbeat is just to see people lift up their hands in worship to God, I love to see the creations worship their Creator in the magnitude of His mercy and goodness. The Bible says, ‘from the rising of the sun to the setting of the saints, let the name of the Lord be praise.’ That’s what I live for. Some people love to make a lot of money, some people love to build a lot of houses, I love to build legacies in worship. The joy of my heart is to put a song of praise in the mouth of worshippers, to provide worship resource materials, songs that aid people in their worship. You see, the song is not the worship. Many times we get it wrongly. The song is not the worship but the song aids your worship. The worship is your heart. Jesus told the woman by the well, ‘the time comes and now it is when those who will worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth. The worship centre shifted from the temple, the synagogues to the heart, the spiritual realm. In those days, all our parents wanted us to become are either a lawyer, a doctor or an Engineer. What were your parents’ and family’s reaction to you deciding to do music? I was privileged to have been born into a family of singers. My dad and mum were singers and they were ministers of God. As a matter of fact, I’m a child of covenant. That’s why there is nothing I can do but worship God. I knew I was going to do ministry anyway because my father was a pastor. He had forever wanted to ordain me into ministry. I thank my dad, he didn’t fight me about it. 6
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How did you find yourself doing gospel music? What’s the catalyst to Soji Israel, the gospel music icon? I have always wanted to be a minister but I thought I was going to be a preacher. I was ordained a pastor about 20 years ago so I was meant to go and start a church. But the turning point for me was a song I wrote in 1995. I was ministering with Bishop Francis Wale Oke in the city of Ibadan, South- West of Nigeria. It was from that song that everybody started asking ‘who is that guy?’ The song in my local dialect is “Baba ye, Jeki ijoba re de, baba ye, je ki ijoba re bo, kase re bere lori mi, kase re bere lori mi.” You know the song went viral, I didn’t even have the recording. When that song came, it defined my life. I believe where the song was coming from, there must be more. Another thing that also defined my ministry as a worshipper is the fact that I realised that the vocal gifting that I have, not too many people have it. I say this with all sense of humility, not too many people have it. Do you play musical instruments. If Yes, which instruments? I play the keys in my old fashion way but I make good music with it. I fiddle with the guitar too. I played a couple of instruments. I started as a drummer in 1981 for my church. I had my hands on virtually all the instruments here and there. Yeah, I played loads of instruments in my own little way. Would you advice anyone desiring to be a better gospel artiste to learn at least an instrument? Is it beneficial to play an instrument? Even if you go academic in music, you are advised to learn the piano. I will advice that every musician should learn the piano. If you don’t lay your hands on anything, lay your hands on the piano. It will also help you to document your songs. It helps the wellspring in you. Either the keyboard or the acoustic guitar, it will help you. What should anybody who has the desire to be a gospel music artiste be passionate about: Skills or the Anointing? Well, anyone who is going to be a minister, by the way, ministry means you are a connective point between the people and God. What we do as ministers is to serve as the service Point for the people. You have to do it first before the people can follow. All skills no spirit is mediocrity. All skills no spirit is mundanity. Whichever way you look at it, you need the foundation of the spirit and then the skills. Look at it, what’s the secret of David being fetched from the bush to the palace? It was the combination of the spirit of God in him and the skills. The bible says he was skilled in playing the harp. That was what brought him before the king, Saul. So you can’t celebrate mediocrity and say we are being spiritual, No! How does psalms work? This is the way psalm works. Psalm has to move your body before it can lift your soul and bless your spirit. Any psalm that doesn’t affect your body cannot touch your soul and if it doesn’t touch your soul, the spirit is the innermost. That is why David said, ‘Bless the Lord O my soul.’ You are a gospel artiste of African origin based in the U.S. What’s the attitude of Caucasians and white Americans to the gospel music done by African-Americans in the U.S? The truth of the matter is this, because I have been in Europe, Latin America and hosts of other places, I realised people’s culture, languages, as a matter of fact, music is a natural container of any race. Anything that is put in music will live on. That’s why archaeologists and anthropologists go back to music to understand what was going on in the past. The Asians have their culture, the caucasians have their culture. But what I realised is that the strongest musicality is from Africa. I’m saying that without any sense of prejudice. That is what I have discovered in my walk. However, the west has a way of juxtaposing, and making what is theirs grand which is what we didn’t have. You know, the platform. The platform in the west favours enlargement. Loads of white Americans don’t know the black singers and loads of the American songs that are known in Nigeria are not known in the US. These days, there is serious growth of typical African communities and when people stick to their communities, they don’t even know what’s going on in other communities. You have done some great songs that can never be forgotten in Africa, Nigeria in particular. Can you list some of those great songs that many of our audience may not even know were composed and written by you? The number of songs out there are innumerable. ‘Baba ye’ and ‘wonder wonder’ are prominent....(singing) ‘I never see this kind God before, wonder-wonder, wonder-wonder’. That was actually in my 1999/2000 album. A lot of people have done Continued on page 10
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Marriage RELATIONSHIP
15 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU MARRY - BY KEMI SAMUEL A PASTOR! Every lady has a dream of getting married someday to her prince charming who will fit into her expectations and who she will live happily ever after with but before you go ahead into that marriage if your prince charming is a pastor you really need to get yourself to the under listed points: (1 ) GET TO KNOW HIS AREA OF CALLING You need to ask questions from him like which aspect of the ministry is he called into?Is it deliverance, faith, healing? etc Where is he suppose to function in the body of Christ? You need to understand his calling very well and get prepared for the task ahead. (2 ) GOD IS HIS EMPLOYER NOT THE CHURCH Do not expect that because he is in charge of a large congregation then you will not have financial challenges. Many have the notion that Pastors have free access to church money and always get disappointed after marrying him. Note that the Pastor is not the sole signatory to the church account. The church is not an ATM. You had better be prepared to spend your personal money on God’s work. If your reason for wanting to marry that Pastor is money induced, please, cancel your wedding. (3 ) PREPARE FOR A CHANGE When you get married to a pastor, it will obstruct your plans, change your directions and divert your focus. Dear, there are values that you will have to uphold, actions you will not be able to take, sacrifices you will have to make, your life directions will be significantly affected. How flexible are you? (4 ) PARTNER IN SERVICE 1 Peter 4:10, John 13: 13-17....Please, know that you are his partner in service to bless and meet people’s needs in the name of Jesus, you are to serve alongside him. Do not go with the mindset that people are to serve you. You must embrace his ministry, learn under him and give him the total support he needs. (5 ) LADIES PASTOR He will not only be the pastor of men but of ladies too and some of them will be extremely attractive. So, if you are a jealous type, you had better marry someone else and quit your relationship with the Pastor. (6 ) BIG HEART It is not only a big hat that makes a pastor’s wife but a big heart growing in the Lord and towards the Lord Jesus. You must have a large heart to accommodate and manage different classes of people with varying characters. (7 ) NO DEPENDENCY ON PEOPLE FOR AFFIRMATION Before you marry a pastor, you must erase your dependency on people for affirmation and increase your dependency on God for approval. 8
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(8 ) RIGHT SPIRIT A positive and caring spirit to serve others will be helpful. You must do away with self-centeredness and solo lifestyle because a pastor is a man of the people. (9 ) SLEEPING ALONE The demand of the ministry might require him to travel for ministerial assignments, meetings, and retreats which may take him away from you at night. Are you still ready to marry a Pastor, sister? (10 ) OPPOSE EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE If you must marry a Pastor, you must do away with extravagant lifestyle and be humane. You must not be materialistic lest the church members detest you. (11 ) ACT OF HOSPITALITY Before you marry a pastor, check how hospitable you are. A lot of People will come for counseling in your house and most of them may not be financially strong but you must be hospitable towards them even if they don’t appreciate what you are doing.
(12 ) PREPARE TO BE A GLOBETROTTER The work of a pastor involves a lot of transfer from city to city and nation to nation. At times, he may not spend up to three months in a location before he gets another letter of transfer, either from man or the Holy Spirit. If you don’t like moving from one place to another, quit your relationship with the pastor now. (13 ) HE HAS A BOSS He has a Boss and that boss is GOD. Do not expect him to put you ahead of his Boss. Help him to serve and obey God in all things.Please, don’t push him against God. (14 ) MAN OF GOD Before you marry a pastor, please always remember that he is a man. So, do not assume that being a man of God, he does not have sexual urge and get temptations like other men, he does. Maintaining your good looks and shape is very important for you to be able to keep him from falling into temptations. (15 ) GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE Before you marry that pastor, know that he is not just a man but God’s mouthpiece and His representative and you must respect and treat him as such, will you be able to? Do you still want to marry a Pastor?
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
MINISTRY
15 YEARS OF RCCG HIS GLORY TABERNACLE, BELLINGHAM LONDON. ..WITH PASTOR SAM ODAUDU 1. Shall we start by unfolding how the church started. What’s that particular Word of God that gives you the conviction that God is involved? By the grace and mercies of God, I worked at RCCG Holy Ghost Zone, London as an Assistant Pastor for about 3 years. When it became very obvious that it was time to move on, the Lord instructed to “Come Away” with Him for 40 days and that was where it all started. It was there, God gave me The Vision, The Mission, The Purpose and The Name “His Glory Tabernacle”. The instructions were very Clear and Succinct: Everything must be about “His Glory, for His Glory and to His Glory” NOT Man’s or Anybody’s. Purely and Purposefully God’s Glory. Hence the Name “His Glory Tabernacle”. The Emphasis is on “His”.
things are possible.” • A place where lives are transformed to become solutions to problems of other individuals, communities, nations & the society as a whole. • A place of divine excellence.
2. In the beginning of the past 15 years, what’s the experience like starting a church? Challenging, especially when it now involves starting a new ministerial assignment. It’s easier working under someone because the primary responsibilities of the work is on the “Set Man or Woman”. However, knowing that the steps are in obedience to a Divine Call and Mandate makes the experience very, very fulfilling.
• Raising people who do not only preach and teach holiness but People in whom holiness (Holy Living) has become a lifestyle.
3. Every man on a mission is often faced with challenges. What are the challenges that have confronted you as the Shepherd in charge and what are the challenges that the church has had to deal with in the past 15 years? The Challenges of : • Raising Trusted Leaders and Trustworthy Leadership • Finances and Financial Management: Only God was, is and will forever be our Source. Nobody to look up to and no one to run to. It’s was not funny but “Thank God” it was Worth it after all. • Raising reliable, dependable, obedient, dedicated and hardworking workforce who serves God for their Love for Him and not for gratification, favours and recognitions!!! • Spaces for expansion as the work began to grow from one level to another. • Relationships vertical and horizontal within our RCCG structures and also within our own Parish.
• Training, tutoring and mentoring everyone at HGT to aim at becoming the best God has created us to be. Achieving The best He has set before us by doing our best & giving God the best of the treasures He has placed in us......
4. What’s the local vision of the church and where do you see the church in the next 15 years if Jesus tarries? OUR VISION: • A family church & a home for all nations • A place where holiness is our lifestyle • A place where we know no impossibilities, where it’s impossible to hear ‘ it cannot be done or achieved’. ..”For with our God, all
If Christ tarries, we believe and trust God to: • Have sufficiently raised and empowered our next generation not only to take over but also to preserve our tomorrow.
OUR MISSION: • To Make HGT a home where individuals & families, regardless of their colour, creed, background, social status and orientation can come to and not only long to keep coming but also become part of this family of God • Training, equipping, mentoring & discipling warriors not only to take territories for God, but also establish the kingdom of God on earth wherever they find themselves like king David’s mighty men in 1 Sam 22:1-2 & 2 Sam 23:8 “People who will become God’s divine solutions to the problems and decay of our society”...Romans 8:19
“Be ye Holy for I Am Holy” 1 Peter 1:16 • Build people who know no impossibility or defy “it cannot be done nor achieved” syndrome”...For with “Our God all things are possible” Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26.
“A place of divine Excellence.” “May we all at the end of our race be counted worthy of eternity with our God!” OUR PURPOSE: • Bringing & establishing the kingdom of God in people, communities, cities and nations of the world through church planting, community projects, missions and missionary outreaches, partnering with other Christian charities and agencies. “.......Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”...(Matthew 6:10)
I believe strongly that the gospel is not just about preaching the Word of God but also in the demonstration of the Power of the Continued on page 11 Holy Ghost as witnessed in the early Church, as is being witnessed David’s Camp Magazine
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different versions of it. There is a lot going on. I’m a man of the present. I work for posterity. I work for the future. I don’t respond to the sound of now, I write songs in response to the spirit. I write a lot of worship songs. Most of my songs are not even recorded because back to back every weekend, we sing new songs in church. We don’t sing old songs so I wrote many new songs that were never recorded but sang in most churches in mostly the South-West part of Nigeria. The new song I just wrote is ‘Eternal One we worship You, Alpha and Omega we bow before Your throne.’ I write these songs not based on my current situations but in response to what God wants His people to hear at that moment. If you were to be a secular artiste, you definitely will be in the league of Jay Z, Kanye West and the likes where you would be very famous, wealthy and adored. Why gospel music and not secular music? First of all, I thank God that I’m not in the league of Jay Z and Kanye West because what I have, they don’t have it. The life of a man doesn’t consist in the abundance of what he possesses. To me, it’s not about millions in the account but that one person that blesses God for the songs written by Soji Israel that blesses them. For me, impact is the real deal. You see, God has designs and if we understand the designs of God, and when we fit into the designs of God, we won’t be bothered over many things. Why didn’t Jesus preach to the Gentiles Himself? Why did He have to leave that task to Saul of Tarsus? What’s your passion in life? What motivates you to keep going even when the road ahead looks rough? What gives you fulfilment? Now, any thing in life is about vision. I never see a rough road. When I see challenges, I see an opportunity to win a medal. People see challenges, I see opportunities. It’s the way you look at it. My anchor scripture in life is: “And for we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and those that are called according to His purpose.” Three things are involved: Things are working together; to them who love the Lord; and are the called according to His purpose. So there is the loving, there is a call and there is a purpose. These days, we hear you don’t have to be born again to be accepted as a child of God, as long as you’re morally sound. Do you have to be a born again Christian before you can do gospel music? First of all, the word ‘gospel’ has been misused. Gospel simply means ‘there is a better news. It means good news.’ To someone who is weeping, gospel is to get tears dried up; to somebody who is hungry, gospel is to have food. The ultimate gospel is the redemption of the soul, and of course can not be done by anyone else other than Jesus, the accepted. There is no way, if you don’t have Jesus, you can not preach the gospel. You host live videos/ Programmes on Facebook. What’s the aim and can you let our audience know how to connect and 10
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the benefits please? It’s called ‘Psalms Cafe’. It’s now on Facebook live but we are believing God it will grow bigger. The idea is to sing a new song. Right now, I should have about 5 albums of songs that have been written and sung spontaneously on Psalms Cafe. It’s spontaneous worship from the heart. That’s the idea about it. We also talk about salient issues that bother people about worship. Just making Jesus the centre of the discussions. For those young gospel artistes who see you as a mentor, what should be their primary desire when ministering to the people of God? People of God are involved. It’s never about us, it’s about the people of God. You are like a babysitter. It’s never about us. You are taking the responsibility to champion the cause of worship. Another thing is don’t lead songs that people cannot understand. It doesn’t help the ministering. Don’t sing songs because you like them; its congregational worship. Understanding matters. If you don’t hear me clearly, you cannot respond. The receptive of our worship is Jesus. When you are leading, you have an assignment to focus on Jesus and an assignment to aid other worshippers, to help them come into the atmosphere where their spirits can be free to worship the Father. It’s never about you leading. You are the last in the cadre. It’s about the Maker, then the people you are leading and then you. For the young boys and girls out there who dream one day to be like legendary Soji Israel, what piece(s) of advice have you got for them? Everything is on precepts upon precepts, lines upon lines. We just need to understand the system. God is very systematic but not dogmatic. The Bible says, “Nevertheless, the foundation of the Lord stands sure.” If you want to be something, you have to grow into it. You can’t attain a top level in a day. You have to start somewhere and keep your eyes on the goal. I still have things on my sight that I’m pursuing. I never want to be a local champion. Learn to take a baby step at a time. Also, be courteous and cautious of your environment. Everything you pick up on your way, relationships are very important. Talents without wings cannot go anywhere. The wings of success is relationships. Your final words to your fans, followers of your music, mentees and the children of God all over the world. First of all to my mentees, the ones I know, I value your humility picking me as a mentor and I pray for you that the faith you have in me will not fail you and that the grace that has worked for me will be extended to you. Everything you desire in ministry will be attained in Jesus name. But for those that I don’t know, where ever you are, may the extension of the same grace be to you and to your cause. What may be difficult for others, I pray will be easy for you. Lastly, I want to encourage everybody, patience is a virtue that has its rewards. Let’s not run the course of others. Let’s not run on others time frame. Respect what others do. Put God at the centre of it all.
Continued from page 9 in Nigeria today and other parts of the World. I believe that even in our nation, U.K., we should begin to experience on higher levels such demonstrations of the power of God in miracles, signs and wonders. Our society is not looking for professional preachers and theologians but in need of the True Power of God. 5. What makes His Glory Tabernacle a church that people come and easily receive their desired miracles and go home with testimonies? It’s only God and God alone. He is the Centre and Primary Focus of everything we are and we do. 6. What’s that peculiarity about His Glory Tabernacle that makes it attractive for people in their hundreds trooping in weekly? The Church is not built around any particular individual or group, but on God, for God, in God and through God. We also do the best we can to make everybody feel important, relevant and needed. We are a family Church and we are proud to be in this family of God. We are not claiming we have arrived or attained anything. We recognise we are God’s work in progress!!!! 7. What programmes does the church hold either weekly, monthly or yearly that people can attend and be blessed? Weekly, Every Wednesday, we hold our Bible study ( Digging Deep) and Prayer meeting 7:00pm to 9:00pm;
up the call and start a church, what’s your fatherly pieces of advice to them? Be absolutely sure of who is calling or has called you. You’re either called by God, by people or by yourself. Whoever calls you is whom you’ll serve. Be Totally dependent and focussed on God. Avoid distractions. Be truthfully accountable to God and to the People God has entrusted to you. Be diligent and hardworking. Remain Humble throughout the journey of life. Make it your purpose in life to always add value to other people’s lives and never to diminish or pull anybody down. 10. Your final words & blessings to your spiritual children all over in this period of the church’s 15th anniversary? May the grace of God that has brought you salvation keep and empower you throughout your journey of life and walk you through the gates of Heaven into your eternal home at the bosom of our everlasting Daddy, May the mercies of God place in your hands and at your disposal blessings, honour, miracles, signs, wonders, testimonies you do not even deserve. And May you now enter into God’s REST on every side in every dimensions in the powerful and most excellent name of Jesus Christ. God bless you all and looking forward to welcoming you to Our 15th Anniversary Celebration Programmes.
Monthly: • “A Day Out With The King” is a special service for intensive prayers and deliverance for everyone with all kinds of issues. It holds every 2nd Saturday of every month from 8:00am to 10:00am • “In His Presence” is a time of pure praise, worship and thanksgiving. It holds every 1st Wednesday of every month from 7:00pm to 9:00pm Yearly: • Our Anniversary Celebration which comes up in the week leading to June 16th • Our annual prayer conference tagged “I Believe I Can Fly”. The date is as indicated in our yearly calendar. Many more Programmes are coming up and you will be duly informed by His grace. 8. As the set man of the house, what’s your passion in life? Pursuit of God; “That I may know Him and the Power of His Resurrection.” I desire to help people identify themselves in the context and content of God, their potentials, develop and maximise them, then encourage them to press on to fulfil their God-given destinies (purpose) in life. 9. For young ministers out there who have decided to take
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The
Greatest Threat to the Church
Christians are being murdered in different parts of the world as we speak. It is so heart-breaking seeing the level of rejection, humiliation and persecutions our fellow ‘brothers and sisters’ face just because they chose to follow Christ. The level of threat facing the Church of Christ is indeed ferocious. Maybe the above are taking place in some African and eastern nations, but even in western world there are well-strategized and systematic schemes by some demon-led governments to wipe the Christian faith off the surface of the earth. Using the media to implement Social engineering, they are gradually replacing highly rewarding Christian values with their subjective worldviews. Unfortunately, these threats are not as damaging as the one the Church poses to herself. May I suggest that the greatest threat against the Church is not another religion. Neither is it a political stronghold nor principalities in high places. It is, sadly, the Church herself. When Jesus said ‘I will build my Church’, definitely He wasn’t referring to your local assembly’s building or mine. He didn’t say ‘I will build my Churches’ either. So He wasn’t talking about denominations. Am sorry to say that no matter how gigantic or glorious our place of worship might appear, that’s not what Jesus was referring to. The Church of Christ is not the building. It is the people. You and I are the Church. Wherever you find two or more Christians they represent ‘the Church’. Just to have a quick clarification. Theologians told us that the word ‘Church’ originated from the Greek word pronounced ‘kuri-a-kos’ or ‘ku-ri-a-kon’. In simpler form the word “Ku- ri-os” means “LORD”. Thus, “kuriakos” means “pertaining to the lord” It implies something that ‘belongs to the LORD. So the Church belongs to the LORD. No wonder the Bible talks about Christ coming back for HIS bride. So we know the ‘Church’ is Christ’s. Now back to our discussion. Jesus already knew the ‘gates of hell’ would wage wars against HIS Church, but HE reassured us that those gates shall not prevail! He didn’t have to pray about them. HIS death and resurrection bought that guaranteed victory. Thank GOD for HIS precious blood that will never lose its power! So what then did Jesus pray about? – That all of us may be one just as Himself and His father are one. Why would Jesus pray specifically on that? Well it indicates the gravity of the concern. The greatest menace to the Church is disunity. Members fighting members. Worship leaders contesting one another. Preachers speaking against one another. Regrettably, what we do to ourselves is worse than the attacks from the enemy. It’s so sad seeing Christians pull down other Christians as though their own lifting depends on it. Christians zealously work against other Christians as though there are heavenly rewards for it. No wonder there are several causalities in the King-
h dom since backbiting has os T taken over intercession. a hu s The altar of prayer has Jo been replaced with that of slander. Rick Joyner, in his book - Final Quest, narrated his vision of hell’s army marching under diverse groups – They were carrying banners of Pride, SelfRighteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, Unrighteous Judgment, and Jealousy. According to Rick, those armies were fierce but still couldn’t overcome the saints. Their commander had to come up with another game plan. He chose to cause division on every possible level of relationship—Church leaders against each other, congregations against their pastors, husbands against wives, children against parents, and even children with each other. The enemy knew that the Kingdom that stands against itself will collapse, so he sent his outriders to discover holes in churches, families, individuals and then exploit them using Rejection, Bitterness, and Lust. You will never hear Jesus talk evil of His father. The 2 are one. You and I are in Christ. I am to pray for you and not harm you with the words of my mouth. I also need you to survive. Many opportunities are lost when we are not united. In fact it is only in harmony that the LORD commands our blessings to flow. And there’s no mountain we cannot move when we stand together in Unity. They may not attend your parish but Jesus died for them too. They may choose a different day as ‘Sabbath’ but they’re still part of Christ’s Church.
Quote of the Edition
“The road to success is always under construction.”
In the mighty name of Jesus, I proclaim the blessings of God upon everything you lay your hands on. I decree restoration on every area of your life. And we stand in agreement declaring unquenchable love and unity in our marriages, homes and Church, that we may appear blameless at the second coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. Amen You are lifted! Ref: Psalm 133: 1, Is. 59:19, Prov. 17:17, Luke 10:30-37, Mt. 7:3-5, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 12:22-28, Mark 3:24, John 17:11, 20–21
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