FCMI focus is the church, kings and priests —Arigbabuwo

MATTHEW ASABOR engaged with Reverend Dr V.O Arigbabuwo, Director, Ogun State District, of the Fellowship Covenant Ministries International (FCMI) on the district’s maiden conference on 2nd and 3rd June at Food Union Hotel and Suites Gbadamosi B/Stop, Sabo Ojodu, Ogun State.The host says the world should listen to the message of the fellowship for a new understanding.

WHAT is FCMI all about?

Fellowship Covenant Ministries International (FCMI) is an international fellowship that is based on the word of God. It is found in Revelations 5:10 which says “He has called us as kings and priests”. It is  a fellowship that caters for the priests, pastors, and then the congregation.

It is an interwoven relationship that makes us realized that one cannot be isolated as a Pastor and as a congregation. They work hand in hand to move the kingdom of God forward. It refers to two anointing in one, that is, the king and the priest.

This vision is interdenominational, how is the message spread?

It is an international body, from that body, there are continents represented. The continent for instance, Africa, you have the regions formed by different countries. Nigeria is a region and under each region, you have districts. The district is formed by the state.

For instance in Nigeria, you have Ogun district and under the district, you have the areas. The areas are formed by the local government. That is how the awareness has been created.

Let’s break the two focus down, the priest and the king. What do these mean?

The priest is the pastor, what the ministry is talking about here is knowing the work of the priest and the king. The work of the priest is to pray and guide the king according to the word of God. So the priest is to teach the king to work and cater for the priest.

In order words, teaching the king, that he must be a kingdom builder. He bring resources to the priest, so that he will be able to do his work with ease. So, they work hand in hand, so that it will be easier for them to build the kingdom together.  When the priest is there praying and guiding the king, the king also goes to work and bring resources back.

The ministry is interwoven, they work hand in hand to make it a church. The ministry in a nutshell, is teaching us the meaning of the church, the king cannot do without the priest, vice versa.

Without the anointing of the priest, the king cannot make it, without the anointing of the king, the priest cannot make it. It is giving us the love between the priest and the king and teaching us that, the priest and the king must be one. That is what we are teaching the world.

Does this suggest all gifts can be categorised into two and can this principle fit in, in all the churches?

This principle can fit into any church. There is a difference between one having a calling and a gift. If you have the calling of a Shepherd, you are in the position of the priest to pray for the king. What this is telling us is that, the church is grouped into two. You may be gifted as a teacher, pastor or any office in the church, you are grouped as a king but anyone having the calling of a priest, is to man the church and also guide the kings.

The fellowship has been in Nigeria for eight years and Ogun district was inaugurated last year. This is the first district conference in Nigeria and there is regional conference once every year.

What should christians expect?

Christians must expect that, as they come to this ministry, their understanding will be opened to what God needs from them because most Christian don’t understand this, they just bear the name Christian.

Christian is Christ like, christian is Christ and they must believe that, they have work to do and also carry a vision which must be perfected. And as priests and kings, we have work to do in the vineyard.

And to the non-christians?

And non Christian to know that, there is joy in Christ and also have the understanding why Christ came and died for us all.

Despite all our different teachings and ideologies in christiandom, the ministry is teaching us that, we are all one. No matter the denominations we belong to, we have one Saviour and one body. There is no name of church in heaven.

The reason Christ came was to save the lost one, and the purpose of the platform is bring unity and not to fight each other because this is a spiritual matter. He came in order to bring us together and reconcile us back to God. So we must know the purpose of church because it has been turned into a market place where we now know competition.

There is an urgent need to preach unity and stop the preaching that it is a particular church that will make heaven, even the worst sinners, Christ is ready to reconcile him back to Himself.

That is why we are coming under one umbrella, to tell the world the significance of the death of Christ. And I must tell you all denominations are well represented in our ministry.

What is your message to the world?

My message to the world is found in Romans 12:1-5. We must come back to God because if this country knows her God, she will do exploit but it is pathetic that the reverse is the case. If Nigeria will put God first, then she will have peace.

We must train our children in the ways of the Lord, if those people carrying bombs and guns are tutored in the way of the Lord, we will not be experiencing what we are passing through today. Instead they will be carrying Bibles in place of arms and ammunitions.

All the problems we facing today in the country, start from homes because parents no longer lead their children to God. The home is in deep crisis and this has led to what are experiencing today.

Let me use the illustrations I normally see when I pass through some schools “ the heart of a child is a plain sheet, what you write on it, is what will stay” that is just it. There is need for parents to align with God, in order to bring their children in the way and fear of Him.

Today, we have broken homes, divorcees here and there, what then do you expect from the children. Evangelism has been relegated to the background. People are ashamed to preach the gospel and also you now have places where you are prohibited to preach or to pray.

And it now affecting some schools, they don’t pray or share the word of God any more. I learn a lot of moral teachings in my early school days but those things are not there anymore.

What is the theme of this year conference?

The theme for this year’s conference is “ Now Will I Rise, Saith The Lord, Now Will I Be Exalted, Now Will I Lift Up Myself” Isaiah 33:10.

And the guest speakers being expected?

The guest speakers expected are: the Senior Regional Director, Africa/Nigeria, Minister Nnanyere Nwachukwu, the District Director FCMI, Ogun State, Rev. Dr. Olushola Arigbabuwo JP, Rev. Moses Elebete and the Women Coordinator in Nigeria, Mrs Olubanjo.

Who is the visioner?

The visioner is Reverend Dr. Philip & Brenda Goudeaux. God gave him the vision before now but the vision came to Nigeria, eight years ago. He resides in Sacramento California, United States of America. And we have our  ministries in all the geo-political zones in the country.