Pastor Kingsley Innocent is the General Overseer of Bible Believing Mission Incorporated, Abia State. In this interview with Olaide Sokoya, he talks about his experience in ministry and other issues.
Life as a pastor
This is the work I have been doing all my life. I started ministry when I was three years old, the only thing I have done differently is going to school. I have been doing the work of God while I was in school and even after school. The work of God is basically what I will say I have done all my life, every other business we get involved today is just a subsidiary of the ministry. I grew up into a godly family. My grandfather was a pastor. The grace I carry migrated from there. In fact, my younger sister and I are in the ministry and doing great work for God.
However, I lead a normal life, I guess this is why my members enjoy me. I don’t have too much friends. I don’t pretend. For me, there is no character I struggle with because I believe God knows me before He calls me. I enjoy the ministry so much because I expressed myself and I am not struggling to lead a life different from what I preach.
Fulani and origin of the names “Yoruba” and “Yamiri”
On whether I have been tempted to quit the vineyard
It is strange in the sense that I have seen friends talk like that, but my case is completely different. In all fairness to God, I have never felt like quitting. I am one cleric who sits with friends, I hear them talk and I wonder why I have never been frustrated in the ministry. I see some of them come to me and go to others for one help or the other. I have relationship with many people in government. Even governors, senators who by the grace of God, was raised through our ministry, but I have never gone to for help; whatever anyone has done is by their will
Challenges
Challenges have been there, they are normal, they are part of the promises He made to us through His words. Challenges we have faced are numerous, however, they have not made us to backslide.
Ugliest moment
My ugliest moment in the vineyard was a period of criticism. When a lot of things were said about me on the social media, it all surprised me, but God saw me through. One of the negative news that went viral was that I went to India to get fetish power. Though, I have travelled to many countries, but I have never been to India. I have had several invitations to visit for crusade in India, but I was never moved to honour them. The Lord taught me that if nobody is talking about you, it means you are not relevant.
Take on clerics involvement in politics
The Bible says that when the wicked is on the throne, the people suffer. Part of the suffering of our nation today is the lack of criticising the situation of the country. I support genuine clerics both men and women to be involved in political leadership of the nation. When the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice. The positive and godly change we are looking for cannot be effected or effective if we don’t have genuine leaders. I truly support pastors going into politics with a genuine heart.
Situation of the country
With every sense of humility, the government appears to be confused not knowing from which way to tackle the problems of our nation, but I think the major problem of our nation is the leaders and leadership and this is an internal problem. What we need is genuinely love and I believe we can achieve this.