State of the nation
I think God believes the way most Nigerians also believe, that we deserve much better than what we have presently. Millions of Nigerians want a better future for their children and desire more development and better jobs for the next generation. I think beyond the euphoria and sharing of partnership and worship of hundreds of thousands people, even millions around the world, there must be some part of dividends for Nigerians and it must translate into genuine national transformation. What is happening in our politics is gangsterism. A gang has hijacked the political class and in the eyes of international observers Nigeria is seen now as a rogue nation, because of the kind of people that represent the leadership of our polity. Mind you, I am not speaking about the last four years. I am talking about the entire period of 58 years with some exceptions and it is now time for people with brain, and share some values that epitomise righteousness, justice, equity and the like to raise true political leadership and represents God’s best values so that we can change the hope of generations and bring about the promise of a great nation.
2019 general election
I call on every Nigerians to be patriotic. One of the many things I enjoy about American State is the spirit of patriotism. It is like an anchor. I am really bothered by the selfishness and greed in the nation, particularly among members of the political class and I do not think that an election or who wins an election is necessarily going to fix the country’s challenge; it is how we treat one another, because whenever you maltreat, cheat or steal, you have done bad to Nigeria. We need to restore the spirit of patriotism not the perversion. We want a true sovereign state. I still believe in Nigeria, but I am quite ashamed of our behavior. We must all be ready to fix the country, as well as be patriotic as an individual.
I don’t want to be ashamed to be called a Nigerian when in a gathering of the nationals of other countries. When I stand beside foreign citizens, I don’t want to feel ashamed because of what missed to emerge -leadership and mis-governance over nearly 60 years of our existence as the beautiful lady called Nigeria. We should not miss the opportunity of the next general election to restore patriotism. When you go to the polling booths, vote for your values. It is time for a new political class to emerge. I am challenged by Fela Durotoye, Kingsley Moghalu, Obi Ezekwesili, and many more. I don’t think we will get a change overnight.
It is going to take resilience and sacrifice. I am looking for true Nigerians to join me and others to fight for our country, not with terrorism, but with our values and God will be our chief weapon. To all my friends that are candidates, for the coming elections, eternity will judge you if you win an election and you do not do what is needful. I want to belong to a great nation and I know that we can achieve it.
Church leadership
God gave us a blueprint for the House on the Rock and the volunteer workforce, as well as granted us strategies. An apostolic leader is the ability to download the divine strategy and use that as a pathway to download God’s will and plan for generations and our nation. I thank God for the grace to adhere to his calling and readiness to do His will, even when it seems like there was no clear direction. I thank God for the success we have achieved so far in propagating the gospel and affecting live positively.
How fulfilled I am
I am fully filled by Jesus Christ. I have a deep sense of fulfilment that I am in the roles and stewardship God wants me to be in and that is not dependent on material things. It is depended on doing what God created me to be. But, I want to extend that fulfilment to my country; our nation, my generation and generations coming behind me to, as well have a deep sense of fulfilment. Nigeria needs fulfilment and that is what we are concerned about. The church is not only created a platform for people to connect with God. We have various outreaches that have touched many lives across the country. We have initiatives such as Project Spread and Prison Ministry.
How I have been able to bring class and taste into gospel
I don’t think it was deliberate. I think it was how I was brought up and how God raised me. My parents and family set me in the divine exposure He gave me, because I always thought that whatever you received, you give and whatever is given to you, you share; that is what I have done. So, if I see something that doesn’t appear right, I will want it to sound right. If I see something that is not befitting for a king, how much more when it concerns something that has to do with God? That is why we have always insisting on giving God the best that is available. Nothing is worth doing unless it is done excellently.
How I ventured into the vineyard
More than 25 years ago, as a returnee from the United States of America and the United Kingdom, seeking for a permit renewal from the U.K. High Commission to go back to pasturing the little church I presided over in the city of London, I had my application deferred for further investigation. In spite of earnestly praying for God to open the gates of the UK, the decision remained unchanged. Then, I shifted from praying towards re-entry into the UK for the knowledge of God’s will and for Him to perform all His counsel in my life. God then spoke and said: “I have given you a mighty church here in the city of Lagos,” Questions like: where is the church and who will hire me to pastor a church, came to my mind, but God’s response was “the church is in your heart”. Hence, I knew that I would travail in prayer inwardly to birth outwardly the church that God had put in my heart.
The beginning of what we now see as the House on the Rock and The Experience, started on the Friday night of July 15, the same year God spoke to me. Seven of us gathered together, including my wife, who was then my fiancée and we prayed and worshipped all night long. Then, 25 years ago, who would have thought that the anointed ministries with hundreds of thousands of people, would gather for a concert like The Experience?
It has been an amazing journey since we began and it is a unique privilege to host what is, perhaps the biggest worship experience of our time. Only the mercy and grace of God strengthened us to deliver an event of this magnitude hitch-free, 12 consecutive times! We have keyed into real time technology, which means that you can be at the venue physically or enjoy a virtual experience wherever you are in the world. Much of the allure of The Experience is its power for unifying people, irrespective of nationality, faith, gender, status or political persuasion. We are told that The Experience has become one of the major highlights on the calendar and a keenly anticipated date with destiny in December for many.
It is a significant contributor to both our national and state economies through tourism and its associated businesses. Entrepreneurs have developed and birthed various enterprises which substantially contribute to the economy in areas of human capital development, hospitality, commerce and industry. The entertainment sector of the economy has also blossomed over the last 12 years of The Experience. This is evident in the fact that as many of indigenous gospel artistes that featured on its platform, have become highly sought-after internationally, with significant changes in their personal economies. Several international collaborations between home-based music ministers and their foreign counterparts have been birthed on this very platform.
Take on this year’s event
Going by the theme of The Experience 2018, Jesus our Peace, this year’s edition is significant because it precedes a crucial election year. Despite many challenges Nigerians may face, we cannot afford to lose faith in God’s ability to turn things around for our good, choosing to see a bright future, the Nigeria of our dreams, one that we can proudly bequeath to the ‘next-generation.’ Paraphrasing Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s Independence Day Speech on October 1, 1960, our elected representatives can no longer afford the selfish luxury of focusing on their own interests; rather they must be fully capable of managing our affairs. The populace can no longer sit back and complain of a lack of clear direction. It is time to become change agents, nation transformers and the solution that Nigeria has long awaited. Providentially, the Nigerian electorate is fast evolving from nonchalant, passive onlookers into politically keen, invested and active participants seeking to develop and enthrone good governance, as evidenced by the number of technocrats vying for elective office in the 2019 general election.
Every Nigerian registered to vote must do so with a clear conscience devoid of prejudice or self-interest. Our vote must be for peace, transparency, credibility, equity, justice, inclusion, development and unity. Above all, peace must be the ultimate goal of the candidate, regardless of the outcome of the elections – we all need to work together for a peaceful poll.
It is going to take resilience and sacrifice. I am looking for true Nigerians to join me and others to fight for our country, not with terrorism, but with our values and God will be our chief weapon. To all my friends that are candidates, for the coming elections, eternity will judge you if you win an election and you do not do what is needful. I want to belong to a great nation and I know that we can achieve it.
Church leadership
God gave us a blueprint for the House on the Rock and the volunteer workforce, as well as granted us strategies. An apostolic leader is the ability to download the divine strategy and use that as a pathway to download God’s will and plan for generations and our nation. I thank God for the grace to adhere to his calling and readiness to do His will, even when it seems like there was no clear direction. I thank God for the success we have achieved so far in propagating the gospel and affecting lives positively.
How fulfilled I am
I am fully filled by Jesus Christ. I have a deep sense of fulfilment that I am in the roles and stewardship God wants me to be in and that is not dependent on material things. It is depended on doing what God created me to be. But, I want to extend that fulfilment to my country; our nation, my generation and generations coming behind me to, as well have a deep sense of fulfilment. Nigeria needs fulfilment and that is what we are concerned about. The church is not only created a platform for people to connect with God. We have various outreaches that have touched many lives across the country. We have initiatives such as Project Spread and Prison Ministry.
How I have been able to bring class and taste into gospel
I don’t think it was deliberate. I think it was how I was brought up and how God raised me. My parents and family set me in the divine exposure He gave me, because I always thought that whatever you received, you give and whatever is given to you, you share; that is what I have done. So, if I see something that doesn’t appear right, I will want it to sound right. If I see something that is not befitting for a king, how much more when it concerns something that has to do with God? That is why we have always insisting on giving God the best that is available. Nothing is worth doing unless it is done excellently.
How I ventured into the vineyard
More than 25 years ago, as a returnee from the United States of America and the United Kingdom, seeking for a permit renewal from the U.K. High Commission to go back to pasturing the little church I presided over in the city of London, I had my application deferred for further investigation. In spite of earnestly praying for God to open the gates of the UK, the decision remained unchanged. Then, I shifted from praying towards re-entry into the UK for the knowledge of God’s will and for Him to perform all His counsel in my life. God then spoke and said: “I have given you a mighty church here in the city of Lagos,” Questions like: where is the church and who will hire me to pastor a church, came to my mind, but God’s response was “the church is in your heart”. Hence, I knew that I would travail in prayer inwardly to birth outwardly the church that God had put in my heart.
The birth of “The Experience”
The beginning of what we now see as the House on the Rock and The Experience, started on the Friday night of July 15, the same year God spoke to me. Seven of us gathered together, including my wife, who was then my fiancée and we prayed and worshipped all night long. Then, 25 years ago, who would have thought that the anointed ministries with hundreds of thousands of people, would gather for a concert like The Experience?
It has been an amazing journey since we began and it is a unique privilege to host what is, perhaps the biggest worship experience of our time. Only the mercy and grace of God strengthened us to deliver an event of this magnitude hitch-free, 12 consecutive times! We have keyed into real time technology, which means that you can be at the venue physically or enjoy a virtual experience wherever you are in the world. Much of the allure of The Experience is its power for unifying people, irrespective of nationality, faith, gender, status or political persuasion. We are told that The Experience has become one of the major highlights in the calendar and a keenly anticipated date with destiny in December for many.
It is a significant contributor to both our national and state economies through tourism and its associated businesses. Entrepreneurs have developed and birthed various enterprises which substantially contribute to the economy in areas of human capital development, hospitality, commerce and industry. The entertainment sector of the economy has also blossomed over the last 12 years of The Experience. This is evident in the fact that as many of indigenous gospel artistes that featured on its platform, have become highly sought-after internationally, with significant changes in their personal economies. Several international collaborations between home-based music ministers and their foreign counterparts have been birthed on this very platform.
Take on this year’s event
Going by the theme of The Experience 2018, Jesus our Peace, this year’s edition is significant because it precedes a crucial election year. Despite many challenges Nigerians may face, we cannot afford to lose faith in God’s ability to turn things around for our good, choosing to see a bright future, the Nigeria of our dreams, one that we can proudly bequeath to the ‘next generation.’ Paraphrasing Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s Independence Day Speech on October 1, 1960, our elected representatives can no longer afford the selfish luxury of focusing on their own interests; rather they must be fully capable of managing our affairs. The populace can no longer sit back and complain of a lack of clear direction. It is time to become change agents, nation transformers and the solution that Nigeria has long awaited. Providentially, the Nigerian electorate is fast evolving from nonchalant, passive onlookers into politically keen, invested and active participants seeking to develop and enthrone good governance, as evidenced by the number of technocrats vying for elective office in the 2019 general election.
Every Nigerian registered to vote must do so with a clear conscience devoid of prejudice or self-interest. Our vote must be for peace, transparency, credibility, equity, justice, inclusion, development and unity. Above all, peace must be the ultimate goal of the candidate, regardless of the outcome of the elections – we all need to work together for a peaceful poll.
and then