September Issue: Love of God and Paitence of Jesus Christ by studio86media

Saints GOSPEL

A refreshing dew from heaven!

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65 ways TO LOVE AGAIN

The Love Of God, And The Patience Of Christ Love unsel shly OLUWASEYI AKINDUNBI

SAMMIE

OKPOSO September www.gospelsaints.com

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Content September Issue

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06 Cover story

Sammie Okposo No need of introduction, there’s no point writing any. Sammie is a household that cross across both the secular and the Gospel Sphere. Having managed to stay aﬂoat of the music game more than two decades his responsiveness to time always sparks a new interest in his fans, from days of “Welu Welu” to S.W.A.G and lot more. I believe this Issue will inspire you.

Interviews Faith Thompson

Featured Oluwaseun Ogundolapo Family Values Oluwaseyi Akindunbi Love Unselﬁshly Tomi Laoye At the foot of His cross Oluwaseyi Akindunbi Bible Train Comfortable enclaves A look at RCCG 66 years of faring in the world.

Wikispot PG

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80 Reinhard Bonnke

Faith Thompson relay her own encounter with patience of Christ and the Love of God

Henry Gospel Henry Benson a young musician with a lot of aspirations found God’s love again through the patience of Christ, having ditch the secular world for Gospel Music

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st September The Love of God and Patience of Christ; trust me, this is a good way to start learning and applying the knowledge of Love in our daily lives as Christians What we really do know in John 3:16 is, for God so love the word that He gave his only begotten son. This part of the scripture shows the depth of love, agape love. Without holding on to reasons except love. God himself is love and the only way to show his true nature, characters or being is to outpour himself on us. Which is making sacriďŹ cial giving without looking for a balance weight to measure or justify the reason He did that. Love is about giving , we are on the receiving end. Which means we are expected to reproduce that nature of God. We wouldn't know how dare the son is to the father except we believe in Him and the fact that he loved us ďŹ rst without condition attached to it is enough reason to believe in Him. This issue is teaching us mysteries we are yet to uncover about the Love of God, and also point to the patience of Christ until we are all changed. Sammie Okposo shed more light to this hidden message of love, which apparently have been taught in many Churches as a circle of interest. Our columnists were all braced, pouring out their observations, research and ideologies on how simple love is, we humans rather made it complicated. I remember feeling condemned many years ago about a terrible sin, but one morning, the Lord spoke to me in a still small voice and forgave all my Sins. That's the patience of Christ waiting for you to come back home like that prodigal son, return to the promise of the Father, having a right standing nature which is all wrapped in love. Love is also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 13. We see God demonstrates His love towards us in numerous ways we cannot even fathom. But Jesus in Him, also is waiting patiently until we take the Gospel of Love, which is the full truth to the end of the Earth. I hope this issues sparks new interest in you about the message of love and the patience of Christ. Thanks for reading through, Happy reading, enjoy!

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STUDIO 86 MEDIA PUBLICATION www.gospelsaints.com Publisher Oluwatobi Ogidiolu Managing Editor Oluwaseyi Akindunbi Associate Editor Seun Ogundolapo Tomi Laoye Art Director Poet Tobias Cinematography clevmac Studios Visuals Picspeaks Studios Correspondents Tope Adeogun Abigail Ocheibi Columnists Lekan Adeola Deborah Ogundolapo Oluwaseyi Akindunbi Tomi Laoye Solomon O.M

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FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING SUBSCRIPTIONS: CALL: 07060878315 or you may subscribe or change your adress online at www.gospelsaints.com/subscribe Gospel Saints is published Trimonthly by Studio 86 Media Publication. 1 Rosenje Street, Soluyi, Gbagada, Lagos DISCLAIMER: While information in this magazine is derived from source believed reliable and is subject to reasonable care in preparation and editing This, done regarding the backspace in the gospel sphere, this is not any manual for a church or gospel progra. It is a publication which focuses on Ministries and Gospel Saints. Subscribe to this hundred pages magazine trimonthly from the websitewww.gospelsaints.com/subscribe visits www.gospelsaints.com/reprints for more information about distribution. Gospel Saints Magazine is published by Studio86media Inc, a media company with speciality in Graphic Design, Printing of all sorts, Digital content marketing, Animation, Scriptwriting and Media consultation.Having worked closely with 25 SME's and few well-known brands in Nigeria and United Kingdom. Each issues features a mix of essays, interviews, opinions, columns, news and reviews. Editorial Advisory Board: Peter Olatidoye, Deborah Ogundolapo, Wisdom Isaac, Boluwaduro Oshodi, Uche & Chinedu Okafor, Seun Ogundolapo, Ronke Olatidoye, Matthew & Agnes Ogidiolu.

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Cover Story:

Abigail Ocheibi

Sammie

Okposo ou've been in this music scene for sometime now, more than a decade. Obviously, there have been alot of changes, things evolving. How do you stay atop your game? First thing I would always say, everybody is gifted equally, but what you do with the gift is in your hands. There are things that are for God too and there are things that you as human being need to do. For me over the years, from day one when my first single 'Welu Welu' came out, If you study my sound and my music, the current one S.W.A.G ( Save With An Amazing Grace) you will see that my music is evolving. That's because I pay attention to what is going on. Firstly, my immediate environment is the Gospel Music Industry, The Gospel Industry is under the umbrella of the Entertainment industry. So the Gospel is one aspect, you have juju, reggae, comedy, you have Nollywood. So everybody is under that umbrella. I look at what is happening around, because music is very dynamic, it changes. If you do not move with the time it will leave you where you are standing. In as much as my message is constant but the sound, the approach, everything about it changes. Even in your song writing, the way you produce your sound. I mix it, I watch, luckily for me I have the opportunity to travel, when I do, I look at what is happening in Gospel Music in Europe, America, South Africa. Even some other part of Africa; East, West. I look at what I’m doing, I try to measure to know what I’m doing right, what I am improving on and what do I need to change or remove. One thing that is always known is that if you lose your ‘young-following’ you will become obsolete very quick. Because the guy loves your music at age ten, in ten years time, he will be twenty and he is still young. You need to have that kind of mindset, what do I do to be relevant in next five, ten years. This comes out from being ready to learn. My first album, I am one of the few artists that became known with my first album. For some people, they have to work at it, first album, second and all and it doesn't hit anything, so, I am just blessed. Welu Welu was like boom! and it went all around. If you listen to Welu Welu, it is easy for that song to put me in a traditional box if you know what I mean. The song and the video, everything about it is traditional. As an

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artist, I believe you should be versatile but not everybody can be. You must evolve with any style of music you are doing. For me Welu Welu is a fantastic evergreen song. When I have a concert I want Welu Welu people to come and also people that their preference is not that kind of genre should also attend. The young people who want to jump and scream. You can't aﬀord to have a concert whereby you play Welu, Welu for two and half hours. That's boring. I am blessed to be versatile because I produce myself, I write my songs, I am just super blessed. Some artists need someone to write and produce for them. In doing this, it makes it more easy for me to produce an album. After Welu Welu, the single I released was titled Unconditional love. "O'Lord how could you love a man like me" That was R&B, We were all wearing white. It's a diﬀerent song compared to Welu Welu and people were amazed, saying, “so Gospel can actually sound like this, this is nice.” I want to change how Gospel music was looked at, it was perceived as a Church music, only for church. When I came in, I said No! Gospel music is a genre on its own. You should give same respect to Gospel Genre of music like every other genre of music. Gospel Music is not only for the church, its part of the church. It is used for ministration, Choir, praises and all. The meaning of Gospel is Good News. So truly, it is not people who are coming to church on sunday regularly that needs the music but people who have not heard it before. So the Gospel needs to be taken

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places and bring into the sanctuary. I said excellence is our watchword, There's nothing like Gospel excellence or secular excellence, excellence is excellence. If its good, its good. regardless what you used to be part of are doing. I watch TV,the I group appreciate good production in music. It's like an architect, the same person that builds a beautiful Church can also build a mosque, it's a talent. All he needs to do is just express his talent. An architect won't tell you No!!! I only build churches, his job is to design the building and let your client be happy with the ﬁnal outlook. I see myself as a messenger who takes the gospel to the youth, I go around campuses, things the students can listen to too, they all-jammed. We've done alot of Gospel Jam in Universities, getting requests from diﬀerent campuses. My heartbeat is for the youths, especially those in universities, because they are the one who grows and become the leaders. The old people, I love them, for me I am fortunate, I have the old folks and young. I also have generation next, I am deliberate about that. If you listen to my album, everyone has something to interest them. On my birthday, someone said to me, “I was at a concert ten years ago, you were the headline artist, ten years now you are still the headline, how have you been doing it?” So, it is not enough to be gifted, you must work it. You must know what to do with the gift, you must have a yearning to improve from what you did the last time, take it to the next level. In doing that, you keep yourself fresh and relevant. The gift is there, it's like a car that you do not service but you just keep driving, one day the engine will knock. There are things you need to do to keep the

car going. I have seen people own a car for six to seven years, anytime I see the car, its always new. I sometime asked them, do you buy a new car, they say No. What they've done is maintenance, that is same thing with whatever you are doing. It's a good thing to know your environment, competition is very healthy, depends on how much you are able to distinguish and put yourself out there. People are surprise I only have five albums, to them it looks like I have a million album, The fifth album is titled 'S.W.A.G" which I released October 1st last year. I am doing so much with my career. It's a general outlook, something needs to be happening at every point in time, the last time I released an album was 2012 until 2017. Did it look like I have been quiet for five years? Not at all. The last time, I brought Detran Hardy to Nigeria to release a statement album, at Muson Centre, five years ago. but have been releasing singles, videos, doing tours. I have been involved in so many things to keep me fresh and relevant. As a Gospel Minister, the place to balance your spiritual lifestyle is there. There's a time to pray, work and you can't underplay any. It is not just physically and all, you have to consecrate yourself because what we are doing is spiritual. We are not secular artists or people who do any kind of music, we are God's representatives. When you see people crying during your worship and praise session, what do you think is happening? There's a message and power behind it and that doesn't just come from a talent that you can sing. There's a Spirit that gets people to that altar that they just loose themselves before God. When you are worshiping or you see people jumping, praising and losing their mind for God, there's a spirit behind it. And that comes with

spending time with God, the balance has to be there, as long as you don't downplay it. Let me say this, don't be rehearsing when you should be praying, don't be praying when you should be rehearsing, don't be resting when you are supposed to be on tour, getting your music out there, radio, TV and interviews. Everything has its place and time, but it all contributes to the outlook of the brand. I specifically wanted to talk about Welu Welu but you mentioned it. I know how people around me talk about Welu Welu, it's just timeless and people will be blessed by it from years to come. I want to know, what inspired the song, at what point do you know this is the song to be released? Actually, a lot of people don't know I have to say this properly. There was a version that was done many years ago by a group called DCENVOYS, Gordons, the comedian, Festus and Obus used to be part of the group. They were an Acapella group based in Warri, Delta State. They were doing well in the South-South region, then I was still a music producer. at that point, I was at a deciding level to become a recording artist. I had produced for a whole lot of people, they release one song, and next you can't find them. My mind was working, I wanted a big artist that would come to stay. I kept hearing in my spirit, that time, it was difficult to do anything Afrocentric, everything was foreign, even on radio and TV. They weren't playing our songs, every young man out there wanted to be Michael Jackson, we had the Sonny Okosuns, Eddy Ogoli, Charlie Boy, Junior and Pretty, Mike Okri, Alex O, Alex Zito, Onyeka Onwenu and Blakky. It wasn't really fashionable for the younger people for

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It is not enough to be gifted, you must work it. You must know what to do with the gift, you must have a yearning to improve from what you did the last time, take it to the next level. In doing that, you keep yourself fresh and relevant.

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As an artist, I believe you should be versatile but not everybody can be. You must evolve with any style of music you are doing. For me Welu Welu is a fantastic and evergreen song.

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You can't aï¬&#x20AC;ord to have a concert whereby you play Welu Welu for two and half hours. That's boring. PG

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Actually, a lot of people don't know I have to say this properly. There was a version that was done many years ago by a group called DCENVOYS, Gordons, the comedian, Festus and Obus used to be part of the group. They were an Acapella group based in Warri, Delta State.

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When I came in, I said No! Gospel music is a genre on its own. You should give same respect to the Gospel genre like every other genre of music. Gospel Music is not just for the Church, its part of the Church. It is used for ministration, choir, praises and all. The meaning of Gospel is Good News. So truly, it is not peopl e who are coming to church on sunday regularly that needs the music but people who have not heard it before. So the Gospel needs to be taken places and bring into the sanctuary.

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As a Gospel Minister, the place to balance your spiritual lifestyle is there. There's a time to pray, work and you can't underplay any. It is not just physically and all, you have to consecrate yourself because what we are doing is spiritual. We are not secular artists or people who do any kind of music, we are God's representatives.

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them to say I want to be black, they enjoy the sound. Don't get me wrong, they were doing very well, few of them travelled, Mike Okri got an endorsement by Benson and Hedges the other time. Our art is not that acceptable by our people. 'Welu Welu' is an exaggerated form of saying very well. It wasn't really driving the point home, instead of, Jesus I thank you Well Well, But Welu Welu drives the point home. That's our own Afrocentric vibe out there. Welu Welu is like a folk thing, so I maintain that and wrote my own songs, all those things i wrote afresh and maintained the folk vibe on the Welu Welu, I changed the voicing and made it sound diﬀerent, the originality came from Dcenvoys. Some looked down on it, “look at this young boy tying wrapper

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instead of you to do hiphop.” Welu Welu had come out in 1998 before the album was released in year 2000. For two years nobody answered me. The song was there for two years, nobody cared. There was a switch after two years, our home video was booming, we had 'Living in Bondage" Alibaba was coming out with strong comedies. Our people started paying attention to local content. All of a sudden, there was Welu Welu, TV Stations picked it up, NTA, AIT MBI started playing it. People were like wow! and it went viral. There was a shift from foreign contents to local contents, even NBC then made a law on the percentage of local content that needs to be played on radio

and TV stations. So they had no choice but to look for local contents. They were looking for the ones that were available at the time, Welu Welu was just there waiting. So, they played that song tirelessly, all over the country, it cut through tribes. It was not just a Delta thing, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa were singing Welu Welu and hat's how it happened. I was just looking, what if I went to do R&B, as at that time they wouldn't look at me, they will look at people doing Afrocentric ﬁrst. Alibaba also started showing his jokes on NTA network, and also cohosted a show. and everywhere was booming, that's how our home video transcended to Nollywood and it went everywhere. I was the only Gospel artist at the time

after Panam Paci Paul. I was very young, if you listen to his song, it's basically English and foreign, a few Hausa stuﬀ but you’d think it's foreign. Welu Welu came out at a time when the focus was on local content. You go to parties, DJs are mixing Nigeria songs. I couldn't release an album for four years. because invitations in and outside the country came. The vibe was so strong, that's how Welu Welu came and it has refused to go. That's how I became branded with the handkerchief from that Welu Welu video. I saw it, this handkerchief can be part of what I do, even when I put on my jeans or native the handkerchief has become my symbol. People identify it with me. I am so glad on what our content has done

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globally, the entertainment industry has grown and the Gospel music was very slow then, Welu Welu was so big that you would find me in the midst of secular artist. I was like the only one there, I’m like God, God, I need more people. I became a Glo Ambassador, the first and only Gospel artist that have been endorsed. Now I am so glad when I look around, I see Frank Edward, Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Godfrey, Eben, Joe Praize, Onos, Gloria, Mike Abdul, Tope Alabi, everywhere you turn, I am so happy. It is no more a lonely thing. Everybody is Afrocentric, regardless of what they do. Mercy Chinwo from Portharcourt is doing great with Gospel music, Preye Odede, Monique, and the list is endless I can go on and on. It's very big now, Prosper Ekueme, Chioma Jesus, Samsong. right now I can look around seeing my people doing great things, and they are not just doing local. travels, doing tours in Europe, Elijah Oyelade etc. Gospel Music has now moved, BJ Sax, Mike Aremu, Gospel music is now big. I am so glad, before you hear Expo hall in Eko hotel or Muson center, its only secular artists that host shows there. On first of July, Enkay brought Kierra Sheard and her mom to a concert at expo hall. Enkay of Tehila records, I’m part of that event. things are happening that gives me joy, that I’m alive to say, this thing that you started, the buzz is huge, I look at social media on my birthday and I am overwhelmed, couldn't reply. Don't want people’s post to look less important to others, I just send a general thank you message. It's not just random people, but alot of these Gospel artists that have names. On their pages, my picture is all over there, that shows you the appreciation. Sometimes, I dont get to see these guys everyday, we meet at events. It's a

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time like this you appreciate what people really think about you. Your birthday, once a year. People put your picture and wish you well. Welu Welu has caused a revolution that has gotten us to where we are now and I am so glad to be part of this revolution, What is so interesting here is the fact you started as a music producer. Now, knowing the act of making the art. How has it contributed to your achievement. I make it a duty to listen to Tim Godfrey, Frank Edward, and I would say, I like that, One thing that is so important is being able to catch the attention of young folks. I listen to Tosin Bee and I’m so intrigued by his energy, he's got some strong vibes. It's not an issue of how old you are, it's about what are you bringing to the table that you think this people want to take from. Once you have something they want, they don't care how old you are. they will jump at you even if you are not doing the jumping they will do the jumping for you. You must know your environment, it is good to pray and be anointed, there's alot of skills involve to make good music that really does not require you to pray, just skills. Somebody who takes out time to search and understudy a music producer has knowledge and that is not a prayer point. It is knowledge, your voice is not good enough, don't go to program and say Holy Spirit will interpret it to you, that's wrong. your voice has a part to play, work on your vocal dexterity. Don't do too much, don't overdo when you cannot handle it just yet. Don't try to do voice runs when you don't know how to start or how to end and you end up being ﬂat. Don Moen knows his lane. Uncle Don stays there jeje

and he is playing 'God will make a way' he sings, his voice is clean and clear, he is on pitch and not flat. He is not doing any runnings, he is not competing with Donnie McClurklin. You need to know your lane, stay there and grow and improve on it. In fact, I was shocked, Don Moen did a fast tempo songs. The first thing that cross my mind is worship, and then that “Arise album” caught my mind, a danceable song. Also look at what Tim Godfrey is doing with “Fearless”, we are looking at integrity music. Wow! these guys. Hey! look at what is happening, they are now collaborating with Nigeria artists, on this album I have track with Jonathan Nelson, My version of Oghene Do, which was originally done by Marvel Jocks, I took permission and used the chorus, wrote my verses and featured Jonathan Nelson. It never used to happen, I have a track I’m working on Kierra Sheard, the list is endless. Frank and Don Moen that collaboration is a big hit, look at Tim and Kirk franklin, these things were not something to think about many years ago. People had a mind back then that it's impossible. Normally, it's the Churches that bring in an artist not an artist bringing in artist. That has changed, so many things are changing. People are concentrating on so many things. We have gospel blogs now, we never used to have. There are only few secular blogs that we the Gospel artists will take our stuffs to promote and they won't promote it well. I was talking to a brother this morning and he told me there are probably 40 Christian blogs across the country doing well. I’m happy because the kingdom people do not go to secular blogs to look for an artist, they go to Gospel blogs. Gospel Bloggers now have association and all, that's the way to go. The

more stronger you guys become, you will force secular blogs to pick contents from you guys. Imagine all the secular blogs promoting, it has to be quality. because the blog reputation is at stake. So when you are producing gospel songs you are proud of it, not just because you want to do it. We need to sweep mediocrity out of Gospel. Guys! I said it, if your song is not ready.... I am going to get into trouble with this one. There are alot of young women and men that are trying to be a frontline artist that should be doing back-up singing for an established artist. I say it again, There are alot of young women and men who are trying to be frontline artist instead of being background singers for an established artist. This is because they can watch and learn and become properly established before you launch. It is big, it is the truth. because you end up getting frustrated. It is what it is, the ﬁrst people they will think of if they want to invite artist for an event are the names they know. You can be more gifted and talented than the name they know but they don't know you. Let's be real, it's a process. God is a God of process. Some people don't want to be processed. You jump in, you become frustrated and then you begin to blame people. No no, you have jumped the gun. you should be properly processed, some people don't really wait to be properly processed. Serving for one or two years is not okay to become a proper artist. its not like that. Those are the things that will make our industry ﬂy. You jump out to become an artist, you are not getting invited, not getting events, you will be frustrated. because what you do ought to put food on your table so when you don't have room for expression, you end up being frustrated. Look in,

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I make it a duty to listen to Tim Godfrey, Frank Edward, and I would say, I like that, One thing that is so important is being able to catch the attention of young folks. I listen to Tosin Bee and I am so intrigued by his energy, he's got some strong vibes. It's not an issue of how old you are, it's about what are you bringing to the table that you think these people want to take from. Once you have something they want, they don't care how old you are. they will jump at you even if you are not doing the jumping they will do the jumping for you. You must know your environment, it is good to pray and be anointed, there's alot of skills involved to make good music, that really does not require prayer, just skills.

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you will hear some new artists would say, established artists do not want to help. That is not what it is, there's a time to serve and be processed. Nobody will throw their access door open for you. They don't even know you, okay you sent me a DM on Instagram, So? There are other people who have been working and serving that are already in line and I would give you a Bible passage for it. David had already been anointed by Samuel but not appointed. David was still sent to serve his brothers food at the battlefield, and he was already anointed, that's what happened to gifted people, they know you can sing, that's being anointed not appointed, it is not your time yet. Wait! use this your wonderful voice and sing backups but David did not grumble when they told him to serve his brothers food. That passage of the bible said David woke up early and was ready to serve, he could have said otherwise and not humble himself. He went to the battlefield and met with his divine appointment. That was where the opportunity of Goliath came, what if he didn't go to the battlefield he will not see what Goliath sees, and not even an opportunity to talk to the king. David had been processed for that day, it was his time to shine and it came during service. I am not one of the Gospel Ministers who says “this Church is small” I can't minister, once my spirit settles for it and I can take it, I go there and minister. I have gone to minister in some places where they don't even have a dime but my spirit pushes me alot, I have gone to do music ministry in a living room, one corner with a keyboard and you can't imagine what God has done when I’m singing 'Jehovah don do me something' Because you never know who is in that room of ten people. you think it's about the crowd, oh

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i love singing at the experience, 700,000 people, it's good. But you don't weigh it that way, you don't know who is sitting there, that is also part of what has kept me till now. You need to understand how to navigate in the music industry, you don't become too pricey and at the same time you don't unnecessarily cheapen yourself. You will not get honourarium for every events you go to. Once you agree with yourself that there are some places you go to, they won't be able to give you honourarium, you will just be a blessing and go. God will bless you. This is ministry and also industry but you must balance it. you cannot be too ministry conscious and you forget about the industry aspect of it likewise the other way round. You cannot be too industry conscious and you forget that this is Ministry ﬁrst. That is the chief responsibility for all aspect, talent is not enough, you need character. Talent can take you to the top real quick but you need character to stay up there because they can kick you out in a minute. People are more comfortable working with people who are not as talented as you but has better character. There are some events I keep going to for the past ten to twelve years, I keep asking, Una never taya? they invite me, they say we love your music and we are just comfortable with you. There are some people you ask them to go for the ﬁrst time, they will never call them back. That is what keeps you, if the people who are suppose to patronize you, let's suspend the fact that it is ministry for one moment and say it is for business. A business that does not have client, the business will die. Naturally you have nothing to run the company it will close down. Apply that mindset to ministry and know the church is your immediate

environment. The churches are the one doing concerts and conventions, if they don't call you, it is how much the church uses you that allows the rest of the world know who you are. You can't jump the church as a Gospel artist, where are you going to? Secular! they won't accept you there. the ground is full there already. No chance there! There are certain things those guys are doing that you can't do except if you don't have the fear of God. You can't try it, we hear funny stories everyday and we turn deaf ears. If there's something that will bring me back to life one million times, I want to be a Gospel Artist. I have no regrets. I spent time in the home video making movies as upcoming producer, produces alot of musicians. all of that is to have knowledge. So when you apply it to what you are doing, it makes people recognize something that has to do with excellence. its all around you. Bible says “my people perish because lack of knowledge.” We need knowledge, don't be too spiritual to an extent you don't understand what is happening in the world. I watch Hip tv, Sound City, I want to know what is happening. The kind of technology, Video production in vogue, the angles and pictures. I wont just watch Dove Tv all the nights, I need to know what is happening around me. Switch to CNN watch some news, understand. If you are a traveler, know what the weather is like before you travel with singlets and it is winter over there.

too spiritual, I say God should have created another planet for you. With your spirituality, at the end of the day you will pay house rent, try and speak in tongues when your landlord is looking for you. or go to filling station tell them to fill your tank. tell them kneel down let me pray for you. that won't happen, not in this world. God will look at you and say look at this fool! You need to be practical and balance it. It is what I have been called to do, to be a music minister. We are the salt of the Earth not the Church. We are the light of the world. so, everything i do is with a global mindset. For church, it is salt upon salt. and when you put salt upon salt it has no effect, inside church we are light upon light. Take the light to where there is darkness, take the salt to where there is no salt so there can be flavour there. That is why we have the Sammie Okposo Initiative, it is not anything Gospel. It is an NGO that get involve in things that brings hope to people. In fact, by the time you are done doing that, you don't have to preach any message. The message has been preached already, by the time you tell them Can I invite you to our church, they will respond, where is this church? They will come. It has gone beyond just saying, it is getting involved in development, getting people to know who they are and empower them. Not everybody will come to your church, there are some people you need to go out there to show them what Christianity is all about. Get involved.

Knowledge! that's not a prayer point. Google it! That's why some artists are still backward, that’s the only word i can use. because they have gotten

You are a very busy person, family is there when you are not working, what do you do in your downtime?

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Your voice is not good enough, don't go to program and say Holy Spirit will interpret it to you, that's wrong. your voice has a part to play, work on your vocal dexterity. Don't do too much, don't overdo

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I love good movies, actions movies, thrillers and comedy. I used to be very sporty and I try every now and then, table tennis and football. How do you joggle family and work? We try our best to create time, you have to create time for family. No matter how busy you are. It is not something you do once, you look for one pocket in

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the year you slot it. You come back and refresh. it is good for artist, anytime the need arises, you create it, escape and come back. Our September edition Theme is the “Love of God and the Patience of Christ.” I am looking at this album S.W.A.G, I am trying to relate with it. It sounds like a personal experience. Relating it to how God has been so loving and patient with you, can you tell us about it.

Absolutely! When I say my life is a testimony in one of my track, it is really a testimony. When you see me lead worship, I am leading worship from a place of deep gratitude. Because, if not for the love and mercy of the Lord, I shouldn't be holding the microphone. Because I was born in Church, my father was a founding member and my mom a deaconess, they are both late now, blessed memory. When I

became a teenager, I just went my own way. Because when you were younger, dem no born you well you must go to Sunday School. with konk and you are crying, yet you are going to sunday school because of the home I was born into. I couldn't wait for the time I would be making my own decisions, I thought what they were trying to build me into was their own way. I had my own brand, like I can't wait. When you go to boarding school, there are lot of inﬂuences

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available. unlike when you go to school and come home. They gladly send me to boarding house to have an experience of daddy and mommy not being there. You need to begin to make decisions for yourselves. That's why whenever anybody ask me, do you regret anything in life, I Say No. They say why? If you change anything that you have been through to get here, you won't be getting this guy you are talking to. So when they ask me, “Is there anything you would like to change?” My answer is No! If you try to, you will alter something and then what you are seeing today you won't get it. You have altered the whole process. So if you change anything you have change the result, the good, the bad and the ugly. That's why the bible says "All things work together for good" Even those times you are thinking bad things happen to you, God is teaching you a lesson. Most times, He allows you to go through something so you can receive some sense and speak to yourself by yourself. The prodigal son came to himself, nobody told him. He has seen pepper! When he came back he has received better sense. Everything that I have been through, I became ill at some point I dont even know if I am going to survive. So, when i sing 'O'Lord how could you love a man like me?" I know what I am talking about. When I say "Jesus, I thank you Welu Welu" I know what I am talking about. When I say "Jehovah don do me something" I know what I am talking about. The story of my life, I should have been dead, I shouldn't be here doing this interview, I should have been dead but by God's mercy and grace, He had a plan for my life. I am able to talk to young people, Been there, Done That! So, what

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you are thinking is going to be fun and enjoyment. If somebody you know go through this door and see there's someone out there with a cutlass, he has cut people's head and the guy is sending you a text you will dodge the door, you won't go through that door because somebody has gone through it and has escaped. You will be very foolish to ignore that message. That is what I do to young people, I went through all these, it did not proﬁt my soul. I almost died. Because, it is only what you do for Christ that will last. So, my life is a product of God's grace. Saved With An Amazing Grace. People had misconception when I said my album is going to be tagged SWAG. It was not until the album release I explained the type of SWAG am talking about. The foundation of my swag is this SWAG, from this foundation i still keep on, saying thank you Lord for keeping me. That's why I say process... If my parents were alive, there are some things I would have say to them, Thank You. Those training I got from them drew me back, apart of God's grace and mercy, alot of home training also kept me alive. While I came to Lagos from Warri, I landed in Ajegunle, Crazy Ajegunle, I was in environment where I see boys who are selling drugs, that’s the area I was living, they sell and smoke it. The rough boys who steal from people on the road come with some money and share loots, was I under pressure? Yes! I was hungry and broke, I had left home, my father doesn’t want to see my face, my father said he doesn't want to see my face because I want to do music, I should join this boys but home training kept me from making that decision.. Guess what, ninety percent of those guys are dead now, some went to prison, cause I do prison ministry sometimes. I went to kirikiri and I met one, he was on life sentence. when I asked about others, he said some are dead. So SWAG is the story of my life. I wish i could name my second album SWAG Part 2. At some point you felt the need to start entertainment

band, Tell us about Zamar and Dx12? Okay... Zamar is a Hebrew word, you know we have Shabach, Tehila. Zamar is a Hebrew words that means Worship, (Worship without words) It's a kind of worship which is either instrumental or no words. You are just worshiping from your heart. The word is from the bible, that's how Zamar came out. Yes it is going to be entertainment but yet rooted in the word of God. Because the kind of entertainment we do here is registered as DXgeneration.. Because I have been saved with an amazing grace, I really don't deserve it. It’s His grace that's working for me. If you read about Ephraim and Manneseh, when it was the right time for their father to pray for them. normally, the right hand's blessing is for the first born, the left goes to the second or any other person, but for some strange reasons the father crosses his hands and put the right hand blessing on the one who doesn't deserve it. That's the generation I belong to. I have done a lot of wrong and foolish things but God still has plan for their lives. The son was shouting, No! No! Father not so, but the man said I know,. God changed the rule this time, the right hands goes on those who are totally dependent on Him. God does not flow with people who are independent, He want you to depend on Him. Because that guy would think because I am the first born everything is mine, and God might not get the glory but the people who know that this thing I am now, if not for God it wouldn't be possible. When God said, I am looking for people who will worship me in spirit and truth. So, God has that habit of favouring his people. Making the rejected stones the corner stone. That's

where X came from, so I said this is the X generation, God has changed the rules for people like us. Before we round oﬀ, is there any Gospel artist you've not worked with but you would like to work with and why? The list plenty? locally or foreign? Both... You know I have done quite alot of collaborations, I have done one with Frank Edward that should be out when he is ready to release it. Myself and Tim Godfrey we are already talking about doing something. On this album I have a collaboration with Nathaniel Bassey and Gabriel Ezeashi I featured both of them on Prayer. of course I have Jonanthan Nelson from America, then I have Ntokoso from South Africa, Ntokoso Mbambo, She is one of A-list artists in Gospel Genre music there. Mike Abdul, we've done something in his current album but I want to do something with him. I would like to work with my sister Onos, Gloria, Eno Michael, Frederick Rumo, Mario Ese. I would like to do something with this guys, it's a strong list ba? Then Eben too, when we we have the time we can do some thing together, myself and Sinach. For international, Kierra Sheard, Phil Thompson. He's my friend, he actually reposted one of my songs I did in church. Jason! Nelson. Maybe in future, Travis Green and Tasha Cobbs.

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Photography: kristien Simon Studios

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Interviews

Faith

Glen

thompson he gospel music is taking serious shape other than what it used to be, we have seen many hit singles from famous gospel artists, and upcoming artists are bringing refreshing songs and inspirational lyrics to the Gospel sphere. Can you tell us why you decided to join the bandwagon of great minstrels all over the world.

Tell us about your anthem song, "Who you are"

reasons. First, because it's my first single as a solo artist. Second, because of the message in it. When I first heard the music (composed by Marcus Anthony), I immediately began to hear the message and the story I needed to tell with this song – an inspirational song that challenges people to stop being afraid to be their unique selves and fulfill the purpose God has for them. The last reason this song is near and dear to me is because, most people (even those closest to me) weren't aware of the types of songs that I write outside of praise and worship. I struggled with releasing it because it was so different from what people were used to hearing from me. But I had to be true to the message in the song and God challenged me to practice what I was preaching in the song. Show them who you are! Who you are is an introduction into me, my struggles with fear and drawback and how, with God's help, I came through it and am still coming through it.

Who you are is near and dear to me for a few

Do you have formal education in music?

Being a minstrel was more of a calling for me than anything else. I love to sing and write, but more importantly, I love to see and hear of people being blessed by the ministry of song that God has given me. The impact of the music is very important to me and not just to make people feel good.

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No. I was raised around music and come from a very talented and musical family. Many of my family members were and are world-renowned gospel recording artists and/or wrote for other worldrenowned artists in both the secular and Gospel/Christian industries. Do you play any instruments? I am currently learning to play the piano. I can play it at a minimum, to help me write basic chords to my songs. The theme for this magazine is the Love of God and the Patience of Christ. Found in the book of 1 Thessalonians3 Vs 5. Give us a brief on this. The bible tells us that if we suffer for Christ's sake, we will receive a great reward. I think sometimes Christians tend to lose patience when we are afflicted because we take our focus off of the goal. We are human, and suffering hurts. Pain hurts and has the ability to make

us lose focus. But we have to remember and meditate on the word of God and use that as our weapon to ﬁght through. God's love comes through for us every single time. That's the beneﬁt of serving him and going through a painful and sometimes uncertain world. God's love will always come through for us. Are you single or married? I am married, going on 7 years now, and have two children – a boy and a girl. Do you listen to African Gospel songs, if yes, which of the African Gospel Artists you like? I do listen to African Gospel songs. I am familiar with a few African gospel artists, including Uche Agu, Papa San, Sinach, and I love the Soweto Gospel Choir. I wish African Gospel were more mainstream here in the U.S. I notice a lot of mainstream artists in the U.S. now are incorporating

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We are human, and suďŹ&#x20AC;ering hurts. Pain hurts and has the ability to make us lose focus

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more of the African or Caribbean style into some of their songs and I thoroughly enjoy that a lot! What are the challenges you encounter when recording a song ? My biggest challenge is depending on others to capture the sound and vision of my songs because I don't play well enough yet to fully develop my songs with full instrumentation and such. I am working more on that now, but it does slow the process down a bit for me. Another challenge in the past (as an independent artist) is funding studio time. It can become quite costly. But I now have a home studio that helps cut a lot of those costs. What should we expect from you in the nearest future?

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My most immediate music goal is to continue working on my full EP. However, I will be working on more music (such as cover songs) and a new single prior to my EP release. Can you tell us your favourite gospel artist My favorite gospel artist is Jekalyn Carr. She has such a great voice and she's anointed! Next on my list would be Jonathan McReynold's for his writing ability. I love how he uses themes throughout his music and uses catchy tunes. You can tell he puts a lot of thought into his work. I can appreciate that as both a song-writer and singer as well. If you were the only one in the world , would you still go to church ? I believe that each of us make up the church, the

body of Christ, as living epistles. Is it a must to celebrate with the secular artist even if they are not born again because God commanded us to show love?

I am a praise and worship leader at my home church in Detroit, Michigan. I have been leading worship there for more than 15 years and serving in some capacity in the music ministry for more than 20 years. I've also been a member of the church since birth.

I am in no position to tell a secular artist not to sing a gospel or Christian song. In fact, the bible says â&#x20AC;&#x153;letâ&#x20AC;? everything that hath breathe praise the Lord. I think it's a wonderful thing when secular artists acknowledge the true and living God. It doesn't mean they are saved or that gospel artists condone or agree with their lifestyle, but we cannot stop them from praising or honoring God.

There are a few things I love to do outside of music. I own a business (Savvy Career Seeker) helping professionals and entrepreneurs reach their career and business goals. I also love refurbishing and repurposing vintage furniture, and creating home dĂŠcor pieces.

Are you part of any worship team in your local environment? If yes, tell us about it.

We are very sure you are working on your album, can you give us a hint when it's dropping?

Aside from doing music, what else would you have considered if not music?

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I think it's a wonderful thing when secular artists acknowledge the true and living God. It doesn't mean they are saved or that gospel artists condone or agree with their lifestyle, but we cannot stop them from praising or honoring God.

My original goal was delayed. Being an independent artist can be a bit unpredictable at times, but you just roll with the punches. I am hoping for a full EP release by early 2019 with another single release later this year.

my music is purposed to revive and persuade. I endeavor to incite and revive people's faith and hope in Christ through my music. And I most especially endeavor to share with the world that the love of Jesus is the greatest love you'll ever encounter in this life.

What purpose does your music serve to Christendom?

One word to describe your Christian Faith

I appreciate this question, because for a long time I was always singing other people's music, too afraid to share this part of me to everyone else. I believe

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Unyielding. Any message for fresh artist who are considering doing music, esp. Gospel music.

I think one of the most relevant songs of today is Jonathan McReynold's new song, Comparison Kills. It's just too easy in today's social media community to fall victim of comparison. What social media doesn't do a great job at is showing the struggle, heartache and sacriďŹ ce that other people have already put in. And usually what we see is the product of their hard work. We can become discouraged by comparing where we are in our process with

others'. My advice is to accept and enjoy your journey. If doors are not opening, be patient! Learn more about your craft while you're waiting. Be productive. God will not forget your labor of love. Your favourite Bible verse. Jeremiah 29:11

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Henry

Benson diverse ways. I do not need to become a pastor or a bishop before I preach Jesus to people. When you are born again, you do that by the help of the Holy Spirit. I have come to win souls with pure worship and praise.I was born into the Cherubim and Seraphim family which we all know as C&S where I started out as a konga player. The second child in the family of 5. I have a elder and younger brother. Do you have formal education in music? I have no formal education in music, It’s just a God given gift which I built on Do you play any instruments? Yes, I love konga. But still trying to perfect my hands on the keyboard he gospel music is taking serious shape other than what it used to be, we have seen many hit singles form talented gospel artist, and upcoming artists are bringing refreshing songs. Can you tell us your own

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place in this and who exactly you are.

Have you produced any song?

My names are AbiodunBenson Henry. I am a worship and praise minister. I believe that I am indebted to worship Jesus, so I love to do what I do from deep within my heart We are all evangelists in

I have only produced songs when I still do hip hop. I started out as a rapper which I still love doing anyways. I have not produced any Gospel songs but still working on one which will come out in rap

The theme for this magazine is the Love of God and the Patience of Christ. Found in the book of 1 Thessalonians3 Vs 5. Give us a brief on this.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 The more we find pleasure in the ways of God, the more we shall desire to persevere therein. The apostle's design was to establish and comfort the Thessalonians as to the object of their faith, that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of the world; and as to the recompense of faith, which was more than enough to make up all their losses, and to reward all their labours. But he feared his labours would be in vain. If the devil cannot hinder ministers from labouring in the word and doctrine, he will, if possible, hinder the success of their labours. No one would willingly labour in vain. It is the will and purpose of God, that we enter into his kingdom through many afflictions. And the apostles, far from flattering people with the expectation of worldly prosperity in religion, told them plainly they must count upon trouble in the flesh. Herein they followed the example of their great Master, the Author of our faith. Christians were in danger, and they should be forewarned; they will thus be kept from being improved by any devices of the tempter.

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If you were the only one in the world , would you still go to church ? I would serve God all the days of my life. I would go to church. Though as humans, we say it not easy but the Bible says in Matthew 11:28-30. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall ﬁnd rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Yes, I will celebrate with them, but in a godly way. Jesus said according to the scripture in Mark 12 verse 31.The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."This will even bring them closer to Christ Aside from doing music, what else would you have considered if not music?

Are you single or married? I am very much Single Do you listen to African Gospel songs, if yes, which of the African Gospel Artists you like? I listen to African Gospel songs. I listen to Sonnie Badu. Our very own Nathaniel Bassey, Frank Edward, Joe Praize. I have role models in worship and praise from Tosin Bee, Michael Akingbala and Abidemi Olaoba. People call me a rugged worshiper and I tapped into it. Rugged as Elijah and a worshiper like King David What are the challenges you encounter when recording a song ? I have not had challenges

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anyways because I have not recorded any Gospel songs but when I did hip hop, I didn't really encounter challenge because I had friends with me What should we expect from you in the nearest future? The future is now so expect soul winning with pure worship unto my Heavenly Father's Kingdom Can you tell us your favourite gospel artist My favorite Gospel artists are Bidemi Olaoba and Michael Akingbala. I love Nathaniel Bassey too. Is it a must to celebrate with the secular artist even if they are not born again because God commanded us to show love?

I am not doing music full time. What I am doing is according to the scripture.Mark 16 verse 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. I don't have plans on dropping a song just yet. But I still go to churches to minister Can you give us a hint when you are dropping another song? What purpose will your music serve to Christendom? I don't have plans on dropping a song just yet. But I still go to churches to minister I just want my music to wins souls for Jesus. One thing I say when ministering which I learnt from my role model Abidemi Olaoba is "The worship is not the song, the worship is your heart. Let your focus be on God”

One word to describe your Christian Faith Hope-Worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:1 Henry Gospel: Peace-Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 Grace-God saved me by His grace when I believed. And I can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8–9 Truth-Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32 And each of those words describes my faith but there truly is only one word that explains the source of my HOPE, PEACE, GRACE, and TRUTH. Any message for fresh artist like yourself who are considering doing music, Gospel precisely To all the artists out there .Put God ﬁrst all other things shall be added unto you. Cheers

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Debbie

Soul

Yes I love impacting the knowledge I have to people! I teach music theory, and also have a few voice students, I feel fulﬁlled when I'm able to take someone out of their former level of ignorance and make them understand Music better.

hy, when and How did you come up with the overall idea of Debbie Soul? The name Debbie Soul came up a few years ago when I was still ﬁnding my feet in Music, we were rehearsing one of those days and my Music Director and Teacher (Femi Adeleye) just stopped and said oh Debbie what stage name would you like to bear, and seeing that I gravitated towards more of soul Music, The name came forth and since then it stuck. Can you tell Us your genre of music and why do you chose to play in such category? I'm a Jazz and Soul singer, I chose that genre of Music, because they are for the intellectual minds, and because of that you need to keep updating yourself so as to be relevant with that kind of music, and as such, it challenges me to keep working on myself and becoming a Better Musician, breaking new grounds and making impact. Are there times you feel to quit is the best? Hmm I've thought of quitting, a few times especially when you feel you have so much inside of you and it's not ﬁnding expression and you're not being celebrated as you ought to be! But Hey what if I'm an inspiration to some other person's and if they see me working they push their careers too. I don't want the future to come and I'm full of regrets that if only I had pursued my

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dreams, I would have touched the world from my little space and lastly I think about my creator who has given me the talent would I return the same talent to him unused and not explored? So quitting is never the best! You're sure this is your calling, you better give it All you've got, refining the talent and making it appealing for the people you hope to reach. And in your moment of being at the back you work the hardest, because that's what those moments are for! What is the most challenging part of being a Musician? You are seen as unserious sometimes especially we that now went to study Music again, people are like Music? When u can put two and two together and make a tune? But I feel what is worth doing at all is worth doing well so it's better to know the nitty gritty of what you claim you practice, not being a spectator in your craft. Another challenge is low Remuneration, because they feel you're not a known brand yet, they underpay you, and make you feel they're doing you a favor by giving you platforms. They, forgetting that they wouldn't even have called you in the first place. if you didn't know your onions, looking beyond that and paying you less, I find it challenging as Artists have to pay for studio sessions, band members and all. What do you think will happen to the music industry if piracy is not curbed? There would be a real structure, where the artiste is paid what he truly deserves, Nobody is sharing from your sweat! After spending so much to record an album, you get royalties when your song is used or even played at radio stations, though the reality here is that it works the other way round. If piracy is curbed, it would protect the intellectual property of people in the creative industry and their works would be treated with high regard. You will be able to sleep peacefully, knowing your work won't get leaked by pirates and anyone who tries it will be severely punished! I hope this would become a reality one day in

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Nigeria. Do you have formal education in Music? Yes I hold a Diploma In Music, Majoring on the Voice from the Prestigious MUSON School of Music, and I'm currently a final year student of the Department of Music, University Of Lagos Akoka, I also have certifications of professional Exam bodies of MUSON and ABRSM( Associated Board Of Royal School Of Music London) in both practical and theory categories. What famous musician do you admire? , I admire Asa and Angelique Kidjo for their standard in creating good and timeless music, and their uniqueness of sound and also making us proud you know. Do you get nervous before a performance? Yes a few times especially in front of an audience I'm not so familiar with! But as I sing and capture their hearts they tend to respond and we can flow together in the journey of Music. Thank God for the gift, I don't read struggle to pass my message across to people through my singing. How do you balance your music with other obligations? Music is part of me, as I do most things singing which makes them easier, but not everything lol. I can balance everything well as music is what I'm passionate about, it doesn't really disturb or affect my obligations and vice versa. Do you teach music? Yes I love impacting the knowledge I have two people I I teach music theory, and also have a few voice students, I feel fulfilled when I'm able to take someone out of their former level of ignorance and make them understand Music better. In your own way, how would you describe a session? A studio session is a period where rehearsals are done and songs or numbers are arranged And fine tuned to be presentable to a set audience.

A musician is expected to do his/her Homework in his private practice and not waste other people's time. You're expected to do your home work. If you're fall short of that, you loose your credibility. Rehearsals are different from practice as rehearsals are people coming together to play after they have done their home work and practice is a place where you get it right on your own, thrashing out every challenging parts and coming for the rehearsals to have a good time! What is your view/opinion to these perilous time the world is facing? Hmm Jesus already told us in the scriptures, it's not a new thing. We should all just hold firm to our faith and belief in God and his word and not get swept away by the wind of different doctrines that is obtainable today Do you think song can actually unite nations? Yes it can, Songs are powerful and it's able to guide people's emotions in the right and wrong direction, depending on what the song is talking about. A song can be used to stop wars and make people bury their differences and unite! Music passes across, what words alone can not fulfil.

our environment, I'm kind of passionate about that. What do you like most in life? In life God is the surest o! Your life is in his hands he owns you And you're answerable to him. So I love to stay connected to him in everything so as to be on good track and still be In the plan! there's nothing as confusing in life than traveling it all by yourself with your own plans, it's very confusing. What do you hate most in life? I hate injustice And cheating, I can't stand it when these two happen! Makes me feel bad especially when I can't help do something about it. Don't think, what would you do with 10 million dollars? Get a state of the art music studio/empire and record day and night lol Do you have any childhood fonds or memories that you wish to share with your fans?

Growing up, I used to be timid and not being able to stand before crowd to talk, not to talk of sing. I couldn't even look into people's eyes when talking to them but it all changed when I discovered what I was called to do and of course the Holy Spirit Had a lot to do in that process! He helped me to become very bold How can you handle a stalker, Few words for your fans? I love because celebrities find it you all, thanks for supporting my difficult to go anywhere they wish to without bodyguards or music, I get messages from outside Nigeria of people security personnel? appreciating my music and I'm touched with the little I've been It is a normal part of being celebrated, people want to talk doing and getting such huge support and feedback! You guys to you, hold you etc... because the love you and your music you are Amazing! have inspired them one way or Few words for your fans? the other! I think it's OK if one gets such attention. But if I want to tell you to keep believing there's a lot of crowd And the in yourself once you're sure you're celebrity won't be able to on the right path! People will want control it then a guard won't be to talk you out of it and offer a way a bad idea so as to avoid they think better to you! Stick to stampeding lol what your passion is and most Do you have any passion aside importantly, stick to God, because he will make everything beautiful from music? in his time. And if you're yet to download my Yes I love fashion designing single Ileke you can just type Ileke though I've not been so by Debbie Soul on Google. It consistent with it, but I'm would show you different always delighted to learn new platforms you can download from! things about it. I also love teaching, speaking and inspiring Thanks you all God bless you people around me to be the best they can be irrespective of

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Growing up, I used to be timid and not being able to stand before crowd to talk

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Scripture Cloud

eloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Most of us think that we really understand the love of God, but our experience proves otherwise. We feel lonely, depressed, discouraged, and defeated. Every one of these negative emotions would be turned to positive by a proper revelation of God’s love for us. As for loving others, most of us would admit there are some people who are very diﬃcult to love. Since we do

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God’s kind of love?

not fully understand God’s love for us, we fail in loving others. We can’t give away what we don’t have. If we receive a full revelation of God’s love for us, it becomes easy to love others with the love that we have received. When we struggle to believe that God’s promises to us will come to pass, that’s unbelief; but the root of that unbelief is a lack of love. Galatians 5:6 says faith works by love. That means love is the driving force behind our faith. Remove or diminish love, and faith ceases to be what it should be. Many of us try hard to believe when we should be seeking a greater revelation of God’s love

for us. Then, faith would just naturally work.

empty bellies were screaming unbelief at us.

Just a few months after Jamie and I were married, we were in a desperate situation. I had quit my job, believing that the Lord wanted me to go into full-time ministry. The result was that we were hurting ﬁnancially. It had been days since we had eaten. We had nothing but a few Cokes that a friend had given us and a bag of Fritos that we had been rationing out. Our faith was beginning to waver. We were ﬁghting with all we had, to believe that the Lord was going to supply our needs, but our circumstances and

One morning, Jamie took our last ﬁfty cents and our car and drove to the laundry mat to do some laundry. While she was gone, I did some serious business with the Lord. I was crying and saying, “Lord, I don’t understand. I would give my right arm to feed Jamie. I believe You love us more than I love Jamie, and yet You aren’t taking care of us.” I had let circumstances blind me to God’s love. That’s the main reason my faith wasn’t working. The Lord spoke Luke 12:32 to me very clearly. That verse says, “Fear not, little ﬂock; for it is

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your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Suddenly, I realized my unbelief was because I had forgotten how much God loves us. God delights in our prosperity (Ps. 35:27). He gets no pleasure from watching us starve. As the revelation of God’s love for us came ﬂooding over me, all doubt that our needs would be supplied was instantly gone. When Jamie returned from doing the laundry, I told her that we were going to eat meat that day.

and fresh revelation of God’s love for us, our supply came through. It took us a few hours to see it, but God moved instantly. He wanted to supply our need more than we wanted Him to. My lack of faith in His love hindered Him. As soon as I opened up to His love, my faith revived and He supplied.

There is more than just a superficial knowledge that God loves us. In Ephesians, chapter 3, Paul prayed that the Ephesians would get a greater revelation of God’s love for them. He said, “For We had Fritos and Coke for this cause I bow my knees lunch. We skipped supper unto the Father of our Lord because we were tired of Jesus Christ, Of whom the Fritos and Coke. At church, whole family in heaven and a friend asked us to stop by earth is named, That he his apartment after the would grant you, according service. We thought, to the riches of his glory, to “Maybe they are going to be strengthened with feed us.” We stayed and might by his Spirit in the talked for over an hour, but inner man; That Christ may there was no food. As we dwell in your hearts by were leaving, however, the faith; that ye, being rooted man gave us loads of fish and grounded in love, May that he had caught. He also be able to comprehend gave us all the vegetables with all saints what is the to go with them. We rushed breadth, and length, and home, and Jamie fixed us a depth, and height; And to feast. Just a few minutes know the love of Christ, prior to midnight, we ate which passeth knowledge, meat to our fill. The next that ye might be filled with day was my birthday, and a all the fulness of God” (Eph. woman in the church gave 3:14-19). us a large box full of porterhouse steaks. We Notice in verse 18 that went from a starvation diet God’s love isn’t just oneof Fritos and Coke, to dimensional. There is having enough steaks for a height, depth, length, and month in just a matter of breadth to it. Many hours because love made Christians only see God’s my faith work. love as they would see a painting, in one-dimension. They’ve never seen the When our friend gave us multi-dimensional reality of the fish that evening, he told us that he had sent his God’s love. wife by our apartment In verse 19, Paul said as we earlier that morning to experience God’s love, deliver the food. Our car which is superior to mere was gone, though; so she knowledge of God’s love, supposed we were not then we would be filled there and didn’t stop. The only time that car was gone with all the fullness of God. What a statement! Are you all day long was when Jamie went to wash clothes lacking in any area of your life? If so, you lack a and I was praying in that revelation of God’s love. apartment. At the exact Experiencing God’s love moment that I got a new

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equals fullness.

That’s not true.

I’ve said all of this to say that a deep revelation of God’s love for us is the most important thing we can receive. First Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (God’s kind of love).

There is a disease in the church that I call “spiritual dyslexia.” Dyslexia is where a person sees things backwards. A dyslexic person sees the word “god” as “dog”. There’s a huge diﬀerence between God and a dog; yet dyslexics don’t see it.

There are many ways that Satan uses to try to block the revelation of God’s love for us. One of the most subtle, and therefore the most deadly, ways is that he has deceived us into thinking that God’s love for us is tied to our performance. We think we have to do something to earn God’s love. We have to merit God’s love. That is not what the Bible teaches.

“Spiritual dyslexia” has a similar eﬀect on people. Those infected with this “spiritual dyslexia” see scriptures backwards. For instance, 1 John 2:3-5 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

In the natural world, you get what you deserve. Employers don’t hire you based on their love for you. You have to perform. If you perform badly, you are punished or ﬁred. The same thing is true in most relationships. I’ve had hundreds of married couples essentially tell me, “They don’t deserve my love.” However, the nearlytoo-good-to-be-true news of the Gospel is that we don’t get what we deserve. Praise the Lord!

A dyslexic Christian sees these verses and says, “I want to know God, so I must keep His commandments.” These verses are saying just the opposite. Keeping God’s commandments is a result of knowing God. You can live a holy life without knowing God; the Pharisees proved that. However, you can’t know God without living a holy life as a result. When God’s love is perfected in us, keeping God’s Word will be the result (verse 5).

God’s love for us is unconditional. That is, God doesn’t love us because of some virtue we possess. God loves us because “God is love” (1 John 4:8), not Any attempt to reverse this because we are lovely. order is “getting the cart before the horse.” It won’t Religion is one of the work; and yet this is what biggest propagators of the the majority of Christians conditional-love-of-God lie. are trying to do. They are Most “Christian churches” seeking to know the Lord teach that God’s love for us better by living a holier life. is conditional, based on our It’s just the opposite. performance. If we pray, go Experiencing God’s love to church, pay our tithes, more will produce a holy etc., then the Lord loves us life. and answers our prayers; but if we fail, then the Lord This dyslexic condition has won’t answer our prayers. caused many to tie God’s

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Oluwaseyi Akindunbi

Love...Unsel shly

nd now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [conﬁdent expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselﬁsh love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 AMP "Love is the greatest gift of all" - I've heard this phrase about a thousand and one times, I've been made to recite it, sing it and share it. However I think I've just begun to understand what it really means to truly love. Infact I dare say that it's impossible to completely understand what love truly is except one is in Christ. The whole sense of the term "Love" is so broad yet so simple. It's one of the most commonly used words of all time yet it's ironic that many do not even understand the basics of it. There's the matter of romantic love which is quite popular, however with the alarming rate of breakups and divorce in the society, you'd begin to wonder if anyone even knows the slightest inkling about love. When I said I've just begun to understand Love, it's because I know there's so much more to learn about it and I'm assured of this because I'm learning from the best teacher; My Papa. Just because I'm sure a thousand words cannot describe

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love well enough I would just discuss brieﬂy one of the attributes of love that God has been teaching me. It's the "all-giving act" that love is. Love is literally the gift that keeps on giving and this giving is not even limited to material things. Personally I even think it's easier to give material things than to give emotional things like; time, eﬀort, attention, silence, patience etc. With the help of the holy spirit I've begun to see that I can give all of these willingly to my friends and family without even wanting anything in return. The holy spirit can help me be silent just because he wants to teach someone something, especially when the last thing I want to do is keep quite at the time. The love of God that's been shed abroad in my heart can compel me to be less self-seeking but more patient with my neighbor just so God can heal or help this person be better. 1st Corinthians 13 talks about how I can have all of the spiritual gifts there is (the gift of God is without repentance) and still be empty without love. Love is the lid to the jar (physical body) that contains all these gifts, and as long as this jar is exposed to all of the bacteria in the air, it won't be as productive. We need this lid to guard and guide us while we are still on this side of eternity. It's literally all we need to be the best that God has called us to be. I sincerely pray that God will teach us how to truly love; it's an endless act of worship.

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Wired Tomi Laoye

At the foot of His Cross place to lay down our burdens, heart aches and all that seems to easily beset us. A place to humble ourselves and cry out for mercy and ask for the grace to carry on in the journey of eternity. A place to be made complete and whole.

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At the foot of His cross his beauty is revealed and darkness cannot withstand. The sun, moon and stars cannot even compete with such great light his glory exudes. You can imagine the marvelous height of his love evident in His great wonders and show of His glory. No wonder, heaven bows to him and earth obeys at the sound of his voice.

Why then with all of these glory, we still keep running helterskelter looking for that which is very mundane when Christ is reaching out to us to come and dwell in His abode of wonders. You think He was unwise to say in His word in the book of Romans 8:36-39 that; Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: â&#x20AC;&#x153;For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for www.gospelsaints.com

the slaughter.â&#x20AC;? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Are you still in doubt of Christ's genuine love for you or has life treated you so badly that you feel Christ is void in your life and everything seems empty. PG

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May I tell you that all you need do is have the Patience of Christ and trust in His love that never fades oďŹ&#x20AC;. I Thessalonians 3: 5 says; Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. Your trying moments might just be a test on your faith and if you fail to overcome such times through patience and believing in God's utmost love, then you won't be said to be an overcomer. Remember our Storms will

test us and our goals will stretch us. Why not determine today, that your ultimate goal will be to embrace the Love, Christ is pouring out to you and then patiently wait on Him as He unleashes great works in and through your life. God is not a magician neither will He invest in a life that is not willing to patiently go through the hurdles and pains which is just for a moment. One very imperative thing a believer can do is to give a positive attitude to life which starts from the most powerful tool we have, www.gospelsaints.com

which is the MIND, and then learn to embrace even diﬃcult and challenging times by using positive declarations and actions to combat whatever the enemy tries to throw at us. Whether or not we like it, if our minds are not regenerated with not only the word of GOD but also positive thinking and then actions, we would remain just where the enemy wants us.

instead of calling on Him who never fails, they found themselves in the same shackles they delivered unbelievers from and getting back on their feet and taking back their possession from the enemy was a tough ﬁght. Dear believers, I plead and beg you in Christ's precious name, do not abandon the Love of Jesus even for a second. Even when you think you are not going on the right path, nevertheless, His love prevails and when you call on Him, he answers.

For you to embrace the Love, Christ is immensely giving to you, you must have a mind that is prepared to receive it ﬁrst, just learn to trust His word, He is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent of His words. If Christ has told you He loves you, then belive it wholeheartedly. An awesome Author, Keith Harrell wrote in his book 'Attitude is Everything' that; 'When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs, and by changing your beliefs, you can change your actions, and then your life'. This words got to me so much that I practically had to evaluate myself over and over again and I discovered that all through the years that I had given life a negative attitude, I refused to believe anyone could genuinely love me, not even God. I just thought how could He love me and bad things will then PG

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happen, but over time that I matured in Christ, I realized my years of so much ignorance and then how much it also deterred me from receiving all the love and blessings He was pouring out to me. The whole thing wraps up in the fact that until you renew your mind, you can not really understand and then receive the Love, Christ is magnanimously bestowing to you. For so long, some believers testament has been that, they were once burning for God with the Love of God all over their lips to preach to others but along the line, the trial came and then they could not withstand the Storm and

Patiently work out your salvation, our Christian journey I must say is full of crucible times but with Patience which is a requisite for our race here on earth, we will ﬁnish victoriously. Patience is indeed a virtue, we must strive to have and then keep it with all of our being. Love and Patience work together and has you determine to embrace Christ's love and also patiently wait on Him, may you receive grace.

Shalom! www.gospelsaints.com

Healthbase

Why Herbs? (One Herbalist's grateful opinion...)

Philip L. Fritchey, M.H., N.D., CNHP - www.HISgoodherbs.com

ell, do you want the good news... or the GOOD news? For starters, the GOOD news is, YOU ARE FORGIVEN! Sinner or saint, working stiﬀ or corporate mogul, it doesn’t matter one tiny bit what you have been or what you have done to this very moment. Forgiveness for every transgression is yours. Your check has been paid, and your slate can be wiped clean. No matter what rutted roads and dark alleys have marked your journey to this point, the path ahead of you can be as pristine as the ﬁrst steps into freshly fallen snow. All you have to do to receive your share of this unlimited gift is, ACCEPT it. Open your heart and mind, and come - with humility and resolve – to the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father, and ACCEPT it. Acknowledge your errors, and be humbled. Turn to the Light of goodness already glowing in your heart, and resolve to follow it. Accept your gift, and begin your life anew. Of course, for many of us, that isn’t really news. It is more joyous reassurance. It is an Article of Faith for Christians - no, make that THE Article of Faith - that God so loves the world that He gave us PG

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His mortally manifest Son to teach us compassion and forgiveness , and then allowed that untarnished Livin g Gift to express the ultimate act of compassion for US – to

ago nize and die for OUR sins - that WE might be forgiven. From Christ’s descent into the dark caverns of death, and in the brilliant light of His resurrection, the promise was written by the Hand of God Himself that we, too, can live again. If we only ACCEPT His forgiveness, then we, too, will move through the fearsome darkness into the Light. We ARE forgiven. But wait, before we pass the basket (as if that weren’t enough), there’s more – the good news. God’s forgiveness is not limited to matters of the spirit. Yes, I know we live in this rather peculiar era when the concept

of the separation of Church and State has somehow been manipulated and interpreted to mean the separation of Faith and State. I also recognize that the enormously powerful ﬁnanci al interests of a medical industry that proﬁts by dispen sing lifeles

s chemical drug poisons are best served by perpetuating the myth that our bodies are somehow distinct from the God-given Spirit that is life itself. Even the messages eschewed from the pulpits of our churches more often than not tactfully avoid the socially delicate idea that the Bible is a guide for the health of the body as well as the soul. The Truth is, though, that our souls have been placed here – in this world, in physical bodies - by the Hand of a loving Father, Who anticipated and provided for our every need – and we have NOT been abandoned here! www.gospelsaints.com

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that life will be easy. It is in the journey through this physical world that our souls are tried and tested. By both our choices and our circumstances (for Love is not the only force at work in the universe), we are given the challenges that define us, and measure our Faith. For some, the challenges appear to be trivial; for others, incomprehensibly tortuous. For all, the challenges are real – and, for all, they are a GIFT. Whether we use the trials of our life to forge our Faith into unyielding steel, or allow them to turn our Faith into smoldering ashes, is our own ultimate and very personal challenge – the reward or consequence of Free Will. Throughout it all, surrounding it all, embracing it all, is the ever watchful, endlessly patient, infinitely loving hand of the Father – waiting for our choices. We cannot always control our circumstances, but we can always choose our response to them. We are never abandoned, but in our mortal arrogance, we can choose to be isolated. With all of the wide range of disciplines available to me as a Naturopath, I am, first and foremost, an herbalist. Of course, in the perpetual quest for health and balance, I also use other healing modalities. I use Homeopathic remedies, but I am not a Homeopath. I will sometimes call on specific enzymes, physical manipulation, and even Reiki, but I am not an enzyme therapist, or chiropractor, or energy healer. I have profound regard for all those natural healing tools, and many others, PG

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to be sure, but the platform, the foundation, the Rock upon which I build any health restoration program is and always will be the simple, un-standardized, unmanipulated, un-fooled-aroundwith herbs of the field. I am an herbalist, and the gifts of the Creator are pretty hard to improve on. Herbs are, to me, direct evidence of God’s physical presence in our daily lives. Just as He offers forgiveness for our spiritual transgressions, herbs are His gift of physical forgiveness for our physical sins. They can restore health corrupted by our wrong choices, and ease the burden of our circumstances. I have witnessed time and again that, when herbs are needed, they are always where they are needed. (Contrary to popular belief, herbs are NOT manufactured in Utah.) In sight of woods choked with Poison Ivy, I have inevitably seen stands of Plantain or Jewelweed – Nature’s Poison Ivy “erasers”. I have marveled at sentinels of Mullein and Pleurisy Root growing along fence rows surrounding rolling tobacco fields - the unmistakable hand of God, offering forgiveness, even where man plants the poison. I am enthralled by the awesome range of healing powers offered by the humble Dandelion, and bemused by its persistent presence in the face of every effort by man to eradicate it. Just as spiritual forgiveness is available to all, so it is with our physical needs. All we have to do, it turns out, is ACCEPT it. You don’t even have to believe in God for herbs to work. (That does demonstrate how much He believes in YOU, though, and just how generous He is with your

unfinished journey.) Open your heart and mind, and come, with humility and resolve, and accept that these same God-given lowly plants that have eased suffering, and healed broken and hurting bodies for centuries can do the same for you. Learn to recognize the living botanical medicines around you, and be humbled by their omnipresence. They are, after all, a gift to you – directly from the hand of our Heavenly Father. Resolve to learn their uses and methods of preparation, and while you’re at it, to make the changes in your diet and lifestyle choices that brought you to need them in the first place. Accept this gift, too, and begin your life anew. It is a peculiar quirk of human nature that forgiveness can be more easily given than accepted. We are often able to dismiss the transgressions of others, and yet still tote around a satchel full of our own guilt. Either way, the anger and guilt of forgiveness ungiven or unaccepted can eat away at the vital force of life until the health of neither the spirit or the body can stand up to the load of life’s journey. Forgiving others for the hurts done to you, and accepting forgiveness for the wrong choices you’ve made in your life are both entirely up to you. (There’s that Free Will thing, again.) The GOOD news for your spirit (John 3:16), and the good news for your body (Psalm 104:14, Revelation 22:2) are done deals.

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Scripture Cloud

Oluwaseun Ogundolapo

….. Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that read it. (Habakkuk 2:2).

o you think it is nece ssary to share your vision with your family? Why not, after all they are your ﬂesh and blood. Now if there is a vision and everyone around you understands the vision, then you will not struggle to carry PG

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those close to you along on the vision. I would like to refer to Cornelius again as I have learnt a lot from this man and his story actually inspired this article. Short as his account in the bible may be, it speaks volumes. He was a man that shared his vision with is family. By family here we are still referring to; immediate family, relatives, subordinates, identiﬁed or speciﬁc groups,

team members, etc. He shared the vision with his family and they fully understood where he is leading them to. Cornelius received the vision from the angel of the Lord “He saw a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius…..” Acts 10:3. You can only share

your vision eﬀectively with people who are on the same wave length with you otherwise you will be wasting your time. Cornelius has built his household on a foundation that speaks to the very core of the family and everyone understands the core and values of that family; so it wasn't diﬃcult for him to share the vision with www.gospelsaints.com

his household. When he received the vision there are some things he did that we can learn from: He Shared The Vision The bible says “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that read it. (Habakkuk 2:2). Cornelius didn't waste time, he immediately shared the vision and set up necessary plans in motion to actualise the vision. As a leader of the family, it must have been his habit to always share whatever he receives as a vision with his family. He carries every member of the unit along and no one is left out – even his servants. Some focus on their immediate families and leave out their workers at home; you go to church on Sundays with your wife and children and then leave the cook, gardener, house-help etc. at home. They will fast become a thorn in and to your vision in the near future. Some are as bad as not involving their relatives who stays with them under the same roof; but are PG

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only concerned about the immediate family. There is a reason why God allows people to come across your path, be it blood relations or not. Put all that are within your reach and responsibility, under your guidance and leadership. The house-help you never considered will teach your children when you are not at home and guess what, it will not be your values but their own values. We have seen and heard a lot of stories in which the househelps introduces the children of the house to pornography and sexual immoralities; lying, cheating and stealing. So please reconsider your stand and be interested in your entire household. Share the family plans with every member of the family - those who are meant to know; carry everyone along. He Gave Instruction – Run With The Vision “And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.” Acts 10:8. Therefore there must be the sharing of the vision and then understanding the vision before running with it. Cornelius shared the vision and

ensure his household; immediate family, relatives, servants and the Soldiers understood the vision and then gave instructions that will enable them to run with the vision. It is not enough to share visions, but as a leader give directions because I can guarantee you that many who are willing to follow your leadership will definitely run with the vision that they have bought into. Running with a vision is quite tasking, as you will leave other things to focus on that one thing: “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Matthew 6:22. This applies to all types of families – we had mentioned that the family can be immediate family, relatives, subordinates, identified or specific groups, team members, etc. So in your office, you immediate team is your family and you work together to chive your goal. When the leader of the team shares the vision and give instruction and/or direction, it becomes easy for the team members to run with the vision because they

understand it. He Believed In The Vision Cornelius believed in the vision and that's why he put resources in place to see the vision being actualised. He was conﬁdent about what he got and he never doubt it because if he had any doubt about the vision then he would not have gathered all his family, friends and colleagues together waiting for Peter to arrive at his house. “As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled” Acts 10:27 (Amp version) He believed in the vision and his passion made his family, friends and colleagues to believe with him and that is why they heed to his call to assemble at his house waiting for Peter. You have won the heart of those you are leading when you get them to believe in your vision. Life becomes easy and your work becomes less stressful. They are better able to run with the vision when they believe in the vision - the result will come cheaply!

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WEDDING | BIRTHDAYS | ANNUAL EVENTS

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Scripture Cloud

ways to love again

nowing different ways to say I love you can change your relationship. Me, I prefer when my husband actually says the words “I love you.” But according to Gary Chapman (author of the 5 Love Languages), there are nonverbal ways to show your love. I describe them Examples of the Five Love Languages – From Affirmation to Touch…but I still prefer the words! These specific, practical ways to say “I love you” to PG

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your partner, kids, and friends can increase the communication, connection, and caring in your family. This isn’t about how to build the courage to say the words I love you. It’s about showing your love in ways that can be more meaningful and longlasting than words.aying “I love you” in thoughtful ways can be diﬃcult for many people. It’s hard to be honest, and it’s hard to accept the consequences of your honesty and authenticity. It

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takes time, energy, and commitment to stay connected through all the problems that life and people bring. “Have you ever been in love? Horrible, isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.” – Neil Gaiman. But, opening your heart and being vulnerable is worth the risk. Don’t compare your partner to anyone, especially to her face. Be courteous and polite at all times – even when you’re irritated or grossed out! Embrace the present moment without fear or guilt. Live by the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you). Say “I love you” by giving your full attention when talking. Become his biggest fan and cheerleader! Try not to criticize, even if you know better. Toast each other over breakfast or dinner to say I love you. Tell them how she brings love to your life. What is special about her? Laugh together about kids quotes on

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love and dating. Talk about your day during mealtimes (don’t just watch TV while you eat!). Read books aloud together. Say you’re sorry, even when you aren’t. Recall good and bad memories. Talk about your relationship. Let go of the past to say “I love you.” This is huge! Do nothing together. Just be, and enjoy. Encourage each other to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy. Trust your partner enough to cry with him. Act silly together. Have fun – play! Be lavish in your praise and compliments. Ask questions about her opinions, feelings, thoughts. Be curious about her. To say I love you, forget about labels or assumptions. Encourage adventures and risks! Remember: there is NO one best way to say “I love you“! Show your joy when they come home. Bake cookies. Leave your stress at work. Use ﬂannel sheets in the winter. It’s cozy

Solve word problems together – such as crosswords or Suduku. Show your gratitude for him. Be a good sounding board. Listen, don’t give advice. To say I love you, take pride in them — and show it. Compliment them in front of others. Spend time with them. Learn how to deal with relationship doubts. Ask for hugs and kisses. Be vulnerable. Take vacations together. Take vacations apart. Tell the truth. Be honest. Use pet names to say “I love you.” Practice selfacceptance. Be gentle and kind to yourself.

accidental slights. Pray or meditate together. This is huge! Love grows when you pray as a couple.

Practice forgiveness. Watch classic movies together. Leave notes or send letters. To say I love you, buy a “for no reason at all” gift. Don’t gossip or judge. Give the benefit of the doubt to say I love you. Give space when they’re in a bad or sad mood. Learn something new together. Go dancing – learn how salsa dancing increases romantic love. Keep your promises to say I love you. Hunt for treasure Make her laugh. together. Go to a thrift Consider her feelings store or garage sale! before yours. Be interested in their Learn ways to interests. rekindle the romance. To say I love you, let Hide a treat in his go of jealousy. lunch. Make home a fun, relaxing place to be. Accept their Let her make her weaknesses and flaws. own decisions. Ditch work or responsibilities to play Say what you mean with them. when you say I love you. Say why. Accept his flaws and weaknesses – a sure Being in a healthy sign of love! relationship can be painful, aggravating, Share chocolates, ice and scary because you cream sundaes, have to stick it out milkshakes. through all the ups and downs. But, doing the To say “I love you”, work is worth it in the ignore unintended or long run!

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Poetry

I searched this world over, but true love I found not for there is none greater than the one for me God’s got. I sought wide and far, for love that was forgiving but love unconditional no one was giving. I looked high and low, scanned about everywhere but real love like God’s . . . wasn’t to be found anywhere. I scoured deep and broad, scraped down into the barrel but all I came up with was love cold and sterile. I searched and I searched, for my one true love . . . and I found it only comes from God up above! ~~~~~~~~ 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” King James Version Public Domain Copyright 2018 Deborah Ann Belka

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Comfortable Enclaves

We marry the wrong person.

t’s one of the things we are most afraid might happen to us. We go to great lengths to avoid it. And yet we do it all the same: We marry the wrong person. Partly, it’s because we have a bewildering array of problems that emerge when we try to get close to others. We seem normal only to those who don’t know us very well. In a wiser, more self-aware society than our own, a standard question on any early dinner date would be: “And how are you crazy?” Perhaps we have a latent tendency to get furious

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when someone disagrees with us or can relax only when we are working; perhaps we’re tricky about intimacy after sex or clam up in response to humiliation. Nobody’s perfect. The problem is that before marriage, we rarely delve into our complexities. Whenever casual relationships threaten to reveal our ﬂaws, we blame our partners and call it a day. As for our friends, they don’t care enough to do the hard work of enlightening us. One of the privileges of being on our own is therefore the sincere impression that we are really quite easy to live with.

Our partners are no more self-aware. Naturally, we make a stab at trying to understand them. We visit their families. We look at their photos, we meet their college friends. All this contributes to a sense that we’ve done our homework. We haven’t. Marriage ends up as a hopeful, generous, inﬁnitely kind gamble taken by two people who don’t know yet who they are or who the other might be, binding themselves to a future they cannot conceive of and have carefully avoided investigating. For most of recorded

history, people married for logical sorts of reasons: because her parcel of land adjoined yours, his family had a flourishing business, her father was the magistrate in town, there was a castle to keep up, or both sets of parents subscribed to the same interpretation of a holy text. And from such reasonable marriages, there flowed loneliness, infidelity, abuse, hardness of heart and screams heard through the nursery doors. The marriage of reason was not, in hindsight, reasonable at all; it was often expedient, narrowminded, snobbish and exploitative. That is why

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what has replaced it — the marriage of feeling — has largely been spared the need to account for itself. What matters in the marriage of feeling is that two people are drawn to each other by an overwhelming instinct and know in their hearts that it is right. Indeed, the more imprudent a marriage appears (perhaps it’s been only six months since they met; one of them has no job or both are barely out of their teens), the safer it can feel. Recklessness is taken as a counterweight to all the errors of reason, that catalyst of misery, that accountant’s demand. The prestige of instinct is the traumatized reaction against too many centuries of unreasonable reason. But though we believe ourselves to be seeking happiness in marriage, it isn’t that simple. What we really seek is familiarity — which may well complicate any plans we might have had for happiness. We are looking to recreate, within our adult relationships, the feelings we knew so well in childhood. The love most of us will have tasted early on was often confused with other, more destructive dynamics: feelings of wanting to help an adult who was out of control, of being deprived of a parent’s warmth or scared of his anger, of not feeling secure enough to communicate our wishes. How logical, then, that we should as grown-ups ﬁnd ourselves rejecting certain candidates for marriage not because they are wrong but because they are too

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right — too balanced, mature, understanding and reliable — given that in our hearts, such rightness feels foreign. We marry the wrong people because we don’t associate being loved with feeling happy. We make mistakes, too, because we are so lonely. No one can be in an optimal frame of mind to choose a partner when remaining single feels unbearable. We have to be wholly at peace with the prospect of many years of solitude in order to be appropriately picky; otherwise, we risk loving no longer being single rather more than we love the partner who spared us that fate. Finally, we marry to make a nice feeling permanent. We imagine that marriage will help us to bottle the joy we felt when the thought of proposing ﬁrst came to us: Perhaps we were in Venice, on the lagoon, in a motorboat, with the evening sun throwing glitter across the sea, chatting about aspects of our souls no one ever seemed to have grasped before, with the prospect of dinner in a risotto place a little later. We married to make such sensations permanent but failed to see that there was no solid connection between these feelings and the institution of marriage. Indeed, marriage tends decisively to move us onto another, very diﬀerent and more administrative plane, which perhaps unfolds in a suburban house, with a long commute and maddening children who kill the passion from which they emerged. The only ingredient in common is the partner. And that might

have been the wrong ingredient to bottle. The good news is that it doesn’t matter if we find we have married the wrong person. We mustn’t abandon him or her, only the founding Romantic idea upon which the Western understanding of marriage has been based the last 250 years: that a perfect being exists who can meet all our needs and satisfy our every yearning. We need to swap the Romantic view for a tragic (and at points comedic) awareness that every human will frustrate, anger, annoy, madden and disappoint us — and we will (without any malice) do the same to them. There can be no end to our sense of emptiness and incompleteness. But none of this is unusual or grounds for divorce. Choosing whom to commit ourselves to is merely a case of identifying which particular variety of suffering we would most like to sacrifice ourselves for. This philosophy of pessimism offers a solution to a lot of distress and agitation around marriage. It might sound odd, but pessimism relieves the excessive imaginative pressure that our romantic culture places upon marriage. The failure of one particular partner to save us from our grief and melancholy is not an argument against that person and no sign that a union deserves to fail or be

upgraded. The person who is best suited to us is not the person who shares our every taste (he or she doesn’t exist), but the person who can negotiate diﬀerences in taste intelligently — the person who is good at disagreement. Rather than some notional idea of perfect complementarity, it is the capacity to tolerate diﬀerences with generosity that is the true marker of the “not overly wrong” person. Compatibility is an achievement of love; it must not be its precondition. Romanticism has been unhelpful to us; it is a harsh philosophy. It has made a lot of what we go through in marriage seem exceptional and appalling. We end up lonely and convinced that our union, with its imperfections, is not “normal.” We should learn to accommodate ourselves to “wrongness,” striving always to adopt a more forgiving, humorous and kindly perspective on its multiple examples in ourselves and in our partners. Comments Alain de Botton (@alaindebotton) is the author of the novel “The Course of Love.”

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Bible Train

Perfect Patience with the Worst of Sinners

atience is at a premium in our day. Fast food is too slow; now we can order ahead. Even “instant coﬀee” takes too long; now there’s Keurig. And of course, we have the monumental tribute to our desires for immediacy: smartphones PG

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and ubiquitous wifi. We’re always finding new ways to get around waiting in line, or waiting at all, from rapid passes at theme parks to (wisely) making every effort to avoid the Post Office and DMV altogether. Many of these developments are wonderful. Why wait in line needlessly? I happily embrace the improvements.

But at some point, we should pause to ask whether having it our way, right away, is leading us to overblown expectations of instant gratiﬁcation in all of life. Not only are we impatient about fast food, coﬀee, information, and thrill rides, but are we losing our capacity to be patient altogether? In the midst of the www.gospelsaints.com

increasingly speedy expectations of our day, one aspect of the diamond of Jesus Christ that sparkles all the more brilliantly is his perfect patience. No one surpasses him, or even comes close to his ability to handle us with care, even in our worst fits of sin, with the life-changing strength of gentle kindness. Patient with Friends It was Philip, according to John 14:8, who so foolishly said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus answers with compassion and patience, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). When Thomas declared, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25), Jesus again was patient with him — eight days patient — in accommodating his request. Most dramatically, though, Peter saw Jesus’s perfect patience on display after denying him three times on the eve of his crucifixion. It should be no surprise, then, that Peter pays tribute at the end of his second letter to Christ’s amazing patience. PG

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The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. . . . Count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. (2 Peter 3:9, 15) Patient Even with Enemies Perhaps, we might think, if there would have been anyone on whom the newly ascended Lord would have poured down fire, rather than his Holy Spirit, it would have been Saul of Tarsus. Saul surpassed his fellow Pharisees in zeal, and soon led the effort to snuff out the fledgling Jesus movement in Jerusalem. He even took his show on the road to round up members of this new sect and stop, at all costs, the spread of their offensive message about a crucified Messiah. “Knowing ourselves as deeply sinful goes hand in hand with knowing Jesus as supremely patient.” Tweet Share on Facebook The risen, sovereign Christ had every right to take Saul out. The early church would have been thrilled with such an exhibition of his power from heaven, through whatever means necessary. But Jesus is not just powerful according to our natural expectations. He is surpassingly powerful. All

authority in heaven and on earth is his (Matthew 28:18). And included in the arsenal of his manifold power is the shining strength of “perfect patience” — to which a converted Saul would pay tribute soon enough: Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. . . . But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:13, 16) Jesus did eventually take Saul out — with mercy, instead of wrath. And Paul, as he came to be known as the apostle to the Gentiles, stood in awe of the perfect patience he was shown by this Jesus, who could hold his peace on the very throne of heaven while watching his enemy thrash against his newborn church, carefully biding his time for the dramatic intervention on the Damascus road. What we see with Paul is that knowing ourselves as deeply sinful goes hand in hand with knowing Jesus as supremely patient. Realizing his perfect patience frees us, as it did for Paul, to own the depths of my depravity, and confess that I am indeed “the foremost” sinner I know. Finding Jesus to be even more patient than we are sinful enables us to genuinely own our wickedness. Patient Like His Father www.gospelsaints.com

He was patient with the rebellion of the ﬁrst man and woman, removing them from the garden, but covering their nakedness and promising a Son to come and crush the serpent. And “God’s patience waited in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20), and with Abraham’s tragic lapses of faith. He revealed himself to Moses as “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). He endured with astounding patience as his chosen people grew cold and limped after other gods. He even “has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for PG

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destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22–23). “Jesus is even more patient than we are sinful.” Tweet Share on Facebook When Paul pays tribute again to Jesus’s patience in his prayer of blessing in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, he puts it alongside the very love of the Father: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” Steadfastness here is the same word translated “patient endurance” elsewhere. And Paul wants his fellow Christians to know the comfort that he himself receives when he directs his heart to the patience of Christ. To discover yourself a recipient of Christ’s patience is to ﬁnd yourself loved by God. To know Jesus’s patience is to know the very love of God. Patience Is True Power Jesus’s perfect patience toward Paul wasn’t only about Paul. It’s also about us — “an example to

those who were to believe in [Jesus] for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). How many times have we rebelled? How often have we misrepresented him? How frequently have we presumed upon his forgiveness? How much have we been impatient with him — only to ﬁnd out how gently and kindly he handled us in return? Our own impatience pulls back the mask. We may think impatience makes us look and sound strong, but it grows in the soil of our soul’s insecurity and unrest. Patience, on the other hand, reveals true power. And what awesome, extraordinary power is on display when Christ handles us with his perfect patience.

David Mathis (@davidcmathis) is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at Cities Church in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He is a husband, father of four, and author of Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines.

Bible Train

When Jesus demonstrates his perfect patience, not only does he do so as fully human — showing us the kind of divine life that can be expressed in our own human ﬂesh — but also he points us to the patience of his Father. It is not as though the Father is quick-tempered, while the Son is patient. Rather, the patience we see in the Son is the very patience of his Father.

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Mothers Praying For nigeria

Music Garrage

FrankEdward Frank Ugochukwu Edwards (born July 22, 1989) is a Nigerian contemporary Christian singersongwriter and recording artist from Enugu, Enugu State.[1] He is the founder and owner of the record label Rocktown Records, which is home to recording artists such as Edwards himself, Gil, Divine, King BAS, Nkay, David, Dudu, Micah Heavens and among others. Early life Frank Edwards was born into a family of seven. His birth name is Frank Ugochukwu Edwards. He was born in Enugu state of Nigeria. He has ďŹ ve siblings. He began singing at the age of ten. He learned to play the piano from his father when he was young. In his teenage years, he became a born-again Christian. He has six albums and many hit singles to his name. His recent Album Frankincense. Musical career Mr. Edwards is a producer, plays several musical instrument and is a keyboardist and a member of the Presidential band of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in Christ Embassy Church. His debut album The DeďŹ nition was released in 2008. It was a 14track album and was distributed by Honesty Music. His second album Angels on the Runway was released in 2010, and his third album Unlimited was released in 2011. Tagjam was released in November 2011. He is currently known as Nigeria's Hottest Gospel rock artiste Now in Nigeria. In 2013 he appeared in the live performance of Sinach's

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"I know who I am" video. He is known for his high pitched voice. Besides being an artist with many songs that cover a variety of musical genres, he is also a music producer and a master mixer. As a result, Rocktown Records, which he owns, has a generation of upcoming talents including Gil Joe, King BAS, Divine, Nkay, Soltune, David and others. In 2016, he collaborated with famous American gospel artiste, Don Moen on an album "Grace" Church life Frank Edwards (nicknamed Frankrichboy) is a member of Christ Embassy Church in Nigeria and LoveWorld Music Ministry alongside other gospel musicians including Ada Ehi (gospel musician), Sinach, Eben, Joe Praize.

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Ada Ogochukwu Ehi was 10, Ada was selected to be a member of the Girls band of Nigerian child star Tosin Jegede. She is a graduate of Lagos State University where she studied Chemical & Polymer Engineering, during which she joined the Believers Loveworld Campus Fellowship.Upon joining the group, she later joined the Christ Embassy Choir where she grew till she became a member of the Christ Embassy Presidential Choir. This gave her a good platform to start her international career in music. Musical career

da Ogochukwu Ehi (nĂŠe Ndukauba), simply known by her stage name Ada, is a Nigerian born International singersongwriter, recording and performing artist. She started her musical career at the age of 10 as a backup singer for child star, PG

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Tosin Jegede. Since she professionally started her music career under Loveworld Records in 2009, she has increasingly gained local and international popularity through her songs and music videos. Early life Born to Victor and Mabel Ndukauba, she along with her three brothers grew up listening to gospel recordings. When she

Since joining the Christ Embassy Choir, she has been actively involved in the Music Ministry of Christ Embassy and has performed at Christ Embassy events in several programs around the world including Europe, America and several African countries. Her Debut Album Undenied was released in November 2009 while her sophomore album Lifted & So Fly, a twodisc album, was released in November 2013. She released her third studio album titled Future Now, on the 16th of October, 2017 and claimed no.1 spot on iTunes Nigeria same day. Personal life She is married to Ehi Moses with whom they have two children

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Source: Juli Camarin; jcblog.net

Jesus Made a Public Spectacle of Death —Romans 6:8-10 "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God" (Romans 6:8-10) t is an amazing thing to know that we will live with Jesus for all eternity. The reason we know this is because he completely defeated sin and death upon the cross and it has no claim over us. All power death had over Jesus while he was on this earth in human form has been broken once for all. Colossians chapter 2 tells us that he made a public spectacle of all powers and authorities upon the cross ( Colossians 2:1315 ). He did not just defeat them, but he paraded that defeat through the heavenly realms. Somewhere along the lines, the church has missed this parade, and we're suffering for it. In the Old Testament, when a king and kingdom were defeated, the winning side would cut off the thumbs and big toes of the captives, including the defeated king. Then strip them down until naked and parade them around from place to place announcing their defeat. Letting them soak in their shame and humiliation along the way. This parade accomplished several things. First, since they did not have thumbs they would never be able to hold a sword again. Secondly, since they did not have big toes, they would never be able to stand and fight again. Lastly, they were discredited. After being marched around naked, they were humiliated and shamed in front of everyone who might have previously been intimidated by them. Instead they jeered, laughed and hurled insults at the defeated kingdom. If the defeated king ever did muster up another attempt at an army, multitudes of people would remember their complete defeat and discount them as a threat. Extreme as it was, it was quite effective. At the time of Jesus' resurrection from the dead that parade of defeat happened and we are witnesses to it. When He arose from the grave, he made a public spectacle of the defeated enemy. He marched Satan, death and his entire dominion through the streets in shame, defeat and discredited them in every way imaginable. They were so defeated that there would never be a hope for them to recover. Death has no dominion over Jesus because it was completely defeated. Jesus rose to live eternally as our high priest before God making intercession for us. "The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." ( Romans 6:10 ) On the cross he completely ended his relationship to sin by condemning it once for all. Since then, He is living a life in unbroken fellowship with God and he offers that fellowship and union to us as well. In the same that death has no mastery over Jesus because he defeated it, it has no control over us either. When we trust in Jesus as our conquering King then we are a part of the winning team. All control and claim that sin and death had on us was removed with Jesus purifying blood. The problem comes when we fail to recognize what happened. However, Paul makes it clear that we will live with Christ, he has conquered death and has reunited us to God the Father. Today it is my prayer that you will renew your mind to these truths and celebrate this victory instead of being subjected to sin's domain. I pray that you find glorious freedom in this revelation of scripture. Amen!

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Book Review

Reinhard

Bonnke

The Gospel is not good news to people who do not hear it …and an unpreached gospel is no Gospel at all.

In the New Testament we never read about God going forth on His own, but that His followers “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them.” In short, God acted when they acted. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has led millions of people into a lifetransforming encounter with God. In Evangelism by Fire he lays out the principles necessary for eﬀective evangelism, showing how God operates through anyone who is willing to follow His plan. The Gospel is as vital today as it was when Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and nations urgently need the lifegiving message of the cross right now. Filled with biblical principles, prophetic messages, and personal examples, Evangelism by Fire will inspire you to bring the focus of your life and ministry back to the Great Commission.

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Family Splash

The Dakolosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PG

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n family life, love is the oil that eases friction. We could even relate this to the love of God towards us mankind. Unconditional love that hold no reasons but in its own content full of live and peace. Our August Issue, family splash column writer decides to write some beautiful things we observe about "The Dakolo family. Timi Dakolo is not one of those men full of faces which do no care other than provide money and other family responsibilities that is still money related. He and his beautiful wife no doubt have a concordia of what is keeping them in such unexplainable love. They are blessed with three beautiful kids, no doubt a joy to behold. Busola Dakolo on the other hand is a perfect deďŹ nition of true beauty lies within, even though we cannot deny the fact that she is indeed beautiful. Her warmth smile simply bury any pressure that mothers are going through training up a child. This alone is an evidence that she is the virtuous woman proverb 31 : 10 explains. We pray the love of God in this family will not dwindle and fulďŹ llment that prolongs marriage will continue to manifest. We love the living and showing of love your family has portrayed, we believe the Love will also help some broken homes to tap from this beautiful grace that is evident to all.

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Ministry In Focus

A LOOK AT OUR CHRISTIAN WORLD (RCCG) AFTER 66 YEARS OF FARING IN THE WORLD PG

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RCCG was founded in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi (1909â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1980) after he had been involved in a number of other churches. Rev. Akindayomi chose Enoch Adeboye as the next General overseer. Enoch Adeboye was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, as at the time he joined the church in 1973. Adeboye initially became one of the interpreters translating Akindayomi's sermons from Yoruba to English. He was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975, and his appointment as leader(General overseer) of the church was formalized by the posthumous reading of Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement. In 1990, Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible School is founded. Andrew Rice, writing in The New York Times, calls the RCCG "one of [Africa's] most vigorously expansionary religious movements, a homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith". The church's leaders preach that in the future "In every household there will be at least one member of Redeemed Christian Church of God in the whole world." In 2016, the weekly worship attendance of the church in Lagos averaged 50,000

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Christian Fashion

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The Wars Over Christian Beards

Ted Olsen

Church leaders have almost always faced oďŹ&#x20AC; over pastors' shaving habits.

ou're more likely to see a beard in the pulpit today than at any time since the 1800s. But beardsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially among clergyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;were once serious, symbolic matters. They separated East from West during the Great Schism, priests from laity during the Middle Ages, and Protestants from Catholics during the Reformation. Some church leaders required them; others banned them. To medieval theologians, they represented both holiness and sin. But historian Giles Constable says that rules on beards sound more forceful than they really were. Clergy (especially powerful ones) were likely to follow fashion in their day, too. c. 195 Clement of Alexandria calls the beard "the mark of a man" and says "it is therefore unholy to desecrate the symbol of manhood." Many other church fathers made similar remarks about beardly manliness. But most early church clergy were either beardless or

had a closely trimmed beard. 361 Roman Emperor Julian sports a beard to show his break with the shaven Christian emperors before him, and to mark his connection to pagan Roman religion. c. 411 Euthymius says only men with a beard can enter his Judean Desert monastery, not boys "with female faces." c. 475 A rule is made that "no cleric should grow long hair or shave his beard." It's very out of step with its time, and several copyists simply changed it to "No cleric should grow long hair or [a long] beard." It seems to have been ignored in its day but became widely referenced in the 1100s and 1200s. 816

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Fashion Model or Pastor Which One Are You?

? Source: sharefaith.com

looked at each one of the men on the stage. All but one of them had rips in their jeans. These were not ohwhoops-I-tore-my-jeans kind of rips. These were style rips, man. One of the guys even had ripped skinny jeans. One of the speakers sported a cutting edge u-neck t-shirt (v-necks are so old school). We’re talking trendy. Another speaker had a shirt with Ed Hardy insignias emblazoned across it. Another guy had indecipherable Chinese characters on his vest. (I’m sure it was a Bible verse.) These guys were rockin’ some serious uberstyle. Oh, and the facial hair. Now we’re talking. From the threeday scruﬀ to the soul patch perfection, these guys had it together. Hairstyles ranged from the just-woke-up look (held in place with spiking glue), the faux-hawk, the Bieberwannabe, and the bald guy. This was not a team of musicians. This was not a Guess Jeans fashion show. This was an evangelical pastor’s conference, with some of the best-known and most sought-after speakers in the country. They were dressed cool. Very cool.

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Culture can refer to the community around you, but it can also have to do with the culture of your church. For example, a church I recently visited was very formal in its worship style. They had a traditional culture. The pastor wore a simple black robe. His wearing of the robe was in keeping with the culture of his church. His robe was not distracting, even to me as a visitor who was unaccustomed to seeing robe-wearing ministers. To sum up this point, a pastor’s attire should but culturally appropriate—appropriate for both for culture of the community in which he is a missionary and appropriate for the culture of his church in which he is a shepherd. And never should he intentionally dress in a way that has the distinctive characteristics of a sinful segment of culture.

The Preacher Should Not Dress Ostentatiously With the age of the CEO/Pastor model, the seeker-sensitive approach, and the shopping-mall-style church buildings, came an expectation for the preacher’s attire. He was supposed to look like a business executive. In other words, he needed to wear expensive cuﬀ links, ﬁne silk ties, exquisite tailored suits, and high-dollar dress shirts. There’s nothing inherently wrong with nice suits and Brooks Brothers ties. But the pastor should determine if his style is showy and ostentatious. If it is, it probably needs to change. It works the other way, too. One pastor of a megachurch is well known for his fashionable jeans and changing hair color. His style is notable enough to get him interviews from local media, not to ask him about his fast-growing church or his evangelical faith, but for his fashion. I would venture to suggest that maybe his sense of fashion is keener than his sense of pastoral propriety. If I were a pastor, I would feel a bit uncomfortable about an interview regarding my clothing, because my clothing should not be the characteristic that is drawing people’s attention.

Now, for the kicker question: were they right or wrong? “Got a Couple Rips In My Jeans” Is there anything wrong with preachers with ripped jeans, Ed Hardy tees, and stylin’ fauxhawks? First off, please don’t think I have anything against rips in jeans. I think I have a pair of jeans where the knees are getting pretty thin. Chances are, I’ll be working in the yard one day and…RIP! The jeans will have a rip. So, no, I’m not hating on ripped jeans. However, I think that the issue of what a preacher wears is pretty important. Clothing says a lot about a person, right? Isn’t it important that a preacher be communicating the right thing by the way that he dresses? The issue of clothing can get complicated really fast..too fast and too complicated for what is supposed to be a medium-length blog article. Once you start talking about the OldTestament priestly garments, the differences in cultures, the fig leaves in the garden, the topic of modesty, and the fact that “denim” rearranged spells “demin” which is similar to “demon” (yes, some people do), then you have a briar patch of an issue on your hands. So, at the risk of becoming thorned in said briar patch, I’m going to venture three principles that should govern the way that the preacher dresses. (And, for the sake of simplicity and orthodoxy, we’re assuming that “preacher” is “male.”)

culture!” and run to the mall, remember that the culture is not morally neutral. There are elements of the culture and even of the culture’s wardrobe that may communicate the wrong message. If there are certain styles or characteristics of clothing that are distinctive to a societal subculture, and that group has a questionable reputation, that is not an element of the culture that the preacher should be adopting or reﬂecting. (That’s a long sentence, and I worded it very carefully, so feel free to read it again if you need to.)

The Preacher Should Dress Modestly Modesty is not just a topic that applies to women. Nor is modesty just about how much skin is showing. Modesty is about not drawing attention to one’s self. There are certain styles, cuts, colors, and patterns that simply draw attention to yourself. Your goal as a pastor is to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In other words, your goal is to deflect as much attention as possible from yourself and onto Him. How are your clothes doing at deflecting? Are people checking out the Ed Hardy tee pattern? Noticing the rips? Checking out the new Pumas? Seeing if that tie really is a Charvet? Pastors are not to be trendsetters, just as much as they are not to be blindly following the fashion trends. The pastor’s role is shepherd, not fashion leader. Take a modesty check on your wardrobe. The Preacher Should Dress Culturally Appropriate. I’m sensing some thorns coming up. Let’s start with some mild nonpartisan observations. There are

vast differences between cultures. For example, the way that an Amazonian tribesman dresses (or undresses) is a lot different from the way that the Philadelphia Ernst & Young CPA dresses. The preacher should not dress like an Amazonian tribesman when he preaches on Sunday morning, because that is not culturally appropriate. For the Amazonian tribesman to dress in his whatever-it-is jungle garb is culturally appropriate for his Amazonian lifestyle. Cultural differences exist between areas of the United States. An outfit that is perfectly appropriate in a Texas panhandle church may be culturally inappropriate in an upscale Boston church. The aim is to be culturally appropriate, not for the sake of being culturally appropriate, but for the purpose of minimizing the attention that you draw to your wardrobe. All of this sounds plausible. But before you say, “Dress like the

According to a rumor, one pastor I know would refuse to wear a tie if someone complimented him on that tie. I’m not sure how true the rumor is. Nor am I suggesting that you should do a Goodwill on your tie if someone likes it. What I am saying is that ostentatiousness in clothing choice is not becoming of someone whose calling is to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him cruciﬁed. Making hard and fast rules about someone’s wardrobe, even the preacher’s, is foolish. That’s why these are just guidelines; and there are only three. Maybe you were hoping I would come down and say something concrete like, “The preacher should always wear a tie.” Or “The preacher should be the best-dressed man in the congregation.” Or “Jeans are the only appropriate attire for a man of God.” I’m not going there, even though the comments below might be a lot more interesting if I did. But if I was pastoring a church in Wyoming, I might wear jeans. If I were an elder in a Presbyterian church in Maine, perhaps I would wear a robe. If I were the pastor of a young, hip congregation in which all the people had rips in their jeans….well….I’d have to think about that one…

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Wikispot

Evangelism

By Fire

einhard Bonnke was born on 19 April 1940 in Königsberg , East Prussia, Germany.[2] He was born again at the age of nine after his mother spoke with him about a sin that he had committed.[3] He left for missionary work Africa at the age of 10 and says that he had the experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. He is the son of a pastor and ex-serviceman in the German Army.[citation needed] Bonnke studied at The

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Bible College of Wales in Swansea, where he was inspired by the director Samuel Rees Howells. In one meeting after Howells spoke of answered prayer, Bonnke prayed, "Lord, I also want to be a man of faith. I want to see your way of providing for needs." [4] After graduation, he pastored in Germany for seven years. He began his ministry in Africa, with which he is principally identiﬁed, preaching in Lesotho in 1967. He has subsequently held evangelical meetings across the continent.

Reinhard

Bonnke African mission

Early on, Bonnke encountered poor results from his evangelistic eﬀorts and felt frustrated at the pace of his ministry. Bonnke claims to have had a reoccurring dream featuring a picture of the map of Africa being spread with red and heard the voice of God crying "Africa Shall Be

Saved". This led him to adopt large-scale evangelism, rather than the traditional small scale missionary approach. He rented a stadium in Gaborone, and preached with little cooperation from local churches. Beginning with only 100 people, the stadium meetings grew. In 1974, Bonnke founded

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the mission organisation 'Christ For All Nations' (abbreviated CfaN).[3] Originally based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the headquarters were relocated to Frankfurt, Germany in 1986. This was done primarily to distance the organisation from South Africa's apartheid policy at the time.[3] Today CfaN has 9 oﬃces across 5 continents.[6]

a tent capable of seating 34,000; this was destroyed in a wind storm just before a major meeting and therefore the team decided to hold the event in the open air instead. According to this account, the event was subsequently attended by over 100,000 people which is far greater than the 34,000 seating capacity the tents could contain.[5]

Bonnke began his ministry holding tent meetings that accommodated large crowds. According to an account published by the Christian Broadcasting Network, in 1984 he commissioned the construction of what was claimed to be the world’s largest mobile structure –

Bonnke announced his 'farewell gospel crusade' to be held in Lagos, Nigeria in November 2017. Lagos is also the location of a gospel crusade held in 2000 which, according to CfaN, is the organisation's largest todate, drawing an attendance of 6 million

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people.

which many Christians sustained various injuries Controversy and several churches were burned.[9][10][11] After nine years he In 1991, during Bonnke's returned to Nigeria to visit to Kano in Nigeria, preach. there were riots in the city as Muslims protested Personal life over remarks he had After graduating from the reportedly made about Bible College of Wales Islam in the city of and returning to Kaduna on his way to Germany, Bonnke led a Kano.[8] A rumor was series of meetings in spread that Bonnke was Rendsburg. He began planning to “lead an receiving speaking invasion” into Kano. invitations from all Muslim youths gathered around Germany and the at the Kofar Mata Eideground where they were rest of the world. Bonnke met Anni Suelze at a addressed by several clerics who claimed that gospel music festival, and admired the grace Bonnke was going to with which she recovered blaspheme Islam. About 8,000 youths gathered at from a wrongly pitched music performance at the Emir's palace and the expense of losing the after noon prayers the competition. He oﬀered riots ensued, during

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to preach at the church she attended one Sunday and fell in love with her. They married in 1964 and have three children and eight grandchildren. Autobiography Bonnke's Autobiography, Living a Life of Fire is a collection of stories of his life including accounts of his childhood growing up during the Second World War and living in prison camps to his early years in ministry and how he believed God used him to bring the gospel of salvation to Africa.

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