Nigerians must be cautious of false prophets —Pastor Alade

District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Prayer Mountain of Mercy (Ori-Oke Aanu), Igbo-Oloyin, Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Pastor Isaiah Olaoluwatoyi Alade, in an interaction with OLAIDE SOKOYA, speaks on religious and national issues.

PRAYER Mountain of Mercy was established more than three decades ago. What are some of the miracles that have taken place there so far?

I must let you know that I was not the one that started this prayer mountain, but my father. He left us at home sometime in the 1980s to live on this mountain. It wasn’t so easy. I remember when we were growing up; so many people came with mental disorders. Dad believed so much in praying for the sick. However, when we had a challenge, precisely in 2006, we were told that we needed to acquire a kind of licence for the place. I personally wasn’t interested in that. I was interested in breakthrough and giving hope to the people; I am interested in teaching them the principles of God. There are uncountable miracles that have taken place on this mountain, such that there are some I can no longer remember. Victims of leprosy, stroke, and others have been healed. It is the mercy of God that has been at work. A lot of politicians have visited this place and God has given them the offices that they desired, and it is all to the glory of God.

The issue of tithes has generated a lot of controversies. What is your take on it?

So many people have said different things about paying tithes.  I have been trying to let my own people know that they should not follow false doctrines.  Tithes belong to God.  I heard one of them saying on the social media that there are no Levites in Nigeria or Africa, but in Israel. Such people don’t know what they are saying. We are Levites and that is our portion. Tithes are very important. In our church, we so much believe in prayers. Based on the word of God that I understand, nobody must withhold from doing it.

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Why do you think the proliferation of churches does not seem to have resulted to a spiritually-inclined nation?

As the Bible states, ‘my people perish because they lack knowledge.’ These days, nobody really wants to serve anyone, but everybody wants to get somewhere. So many people that we call leaders, especially the spiritual leaders, cause confusion. I read a story in one of the dailies early this year that a particular cleric took some of his church members, mostly ladies, to the waterside in Lagos to anoint them naked, so that they can have husbands. People don’t really have the understanding of God. We can have churches, mosques, and other spiritual places, but many of them don’t know God. You can’t give what you don’ have. So, until the leaders have the knowledge of God – until the leaders teach the people the knowledge of God, not the knowledge of himself – we won’t get it right. People want quick ‘miracles.’ God is not a magician. God is a miracle worker, and before you can receive from him, you have to follow his principles. I don’t practise religion; I practise the life of Christ. I don’t discriminate on the mountain. Though, I was ordained in the CAC and I work according to the principles of the CAC, I work according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The reason we often have problems in this nation is that majority are not telling the truth when it comes to the gospel. We must all go back to God through Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In what ways do you think Nigerians can promote love?

Many Nigerians are self-centered. We need to embrace agape love, which promotes sincerity of purpose. People that will do that must have Christ in their lives.

Will you give the present administration a pass mark in the fight against corruption?

From my level of understanding, I would prefer not to say anything about it. However, I believe if the loot recovered is well invested, there would have been a positive turnaround. What I want to say is that they should work on the people by making their life better.

2019 elections are around the corner. What is your advice to Nigerians?

I want to advise Nigerians to get set. They should get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). They should avoid politicians with sugar-coated tongues. Vote for people based on their worth, divine revelation, and what you know about them. The only person I want in the position is the person God wants there.

Advice for Nigerians

My advice for Nigerians is to eschew violence. Don’t allow false clerics to take charge of your dealings. Out of the little God has blessed you with, share with others. We all need to come back to God with sincere and genuine love for others. Our leaders should start loving others.