God’s power missing in the church —Sign Fireman

Pastor Ofuche Ukoha, popularly known as Sign Fireman, is the visionary of the Sign Fireman Ministries. In this interview with ROTIMI IGE, the cleric speaks on how he received the calling at a tender age and how the late T. L Hosborn influenced her spiritual life.

What is your assessment of Nigerian churches and pastors?

To be sincere, I love all the clerics in the country. I respect them greatly, but I also see that there is a need rekindle fire in the Christendom. It seems this is missing in vineyard today. Churches are now more like social gatherings; not a place to experience the living God like the Bible says. People only stay long in the church, when they want their problem solved. It is time we reintroduce the true power of God in the church, because the church was born in power and without the power of God, you can’t have the Christianity of the Bible. I want every cleric to take a cue from Jesus.

Is swallowing sperm good?

How did you come about the name Sign Fireman?

It does not mean signs and wonders. It means it is signifying something. I became born again at the age of five and started preaching the gospel as a seven-year-old. Also, I became an associate pastor at the age of 12, where some people claimed that it was too early. My Great grandmother worked with Mary Slessor.

Who are those that influenced your life?

1. L. Hosborn was one of the great servants that influenced my life. I was involved in his ministry till the time he died and I was eight at that time. I was under his tutelage for years before his death and he saw me as the future of his ministry. I also regard Papa Adeboye, Bishop Oyedepo as my spiritual leader, because I respect him so much and a list of other Christian leaders.

How did you receive the calling?

Three things changed me completely. I was privileged to begin to hear from God at the age of three and my mum thought me the way of the Lord; I always accompanied her to church meetings. On a faithful day, I had an encounter with an angel, when my mother highlighted from the car to exchange pleasantries with somebody. The angel walked through the door of the car and then sat down on the driver’s seat. And that was how my call came.

The second sign that changed my life happened on July 11, 1994 around 8:37pm. While I was trying to lie on my bed after having a chat with my cousin there was a sudden fire that fell on me. It burnt the left side of my face. The mark remained for more than two years and the Lord said to me, ‘I have anointed you and from this moment upward’ and the experience working in the vineyard has been awesome.

Meanwhile, I never planned to start a church. Instead, I go for crusades. God has performed signs and wonders through the ministry over the years and we have toured states with crusades, including, Abia, Lagos states.