…charges church leaders on financial burden on members
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Founder and General Overseer of The Anointed Saviour’s Church International, Molete, Ibadan, Rev’d Samson Fapohunda has called on all Nigerians, particularly those of the Christian faith to eschew the habit of confessing negative things about the country, especially when things are rough and tough.
Describing such as the habit of “falling with the fall”, the Cleric says when people say and stay positive despite negative situations, their firm belief and positive confessions can turn around the situation of the country for good.
Rev’d Fapohunda spoke during a thanksgiving service which held at his Church to celebrate his 75th birthday of “God’s abundance, grace, mercy and favour in his life.”
The cleric who was full of thanks and praises to God for the feat said he has learnt a whole lot in his lifetime but has concluded that only God’s mercy can turn around any negative situation for better.
He said, “I give glory to God Almighty who gave me opportunity from the humble background and turned around my life.
“I lost my father at the age of 10years and things were really rough and tough but i thank God for his grace. Since that time I lost my father till now, I have passed through all manner of things, but I always use my life as an example for many people, because I didn’t fall with my fall.
“What I mean is that, for example, in this country and maybe in our individual lives, if things or situation falls, do not fall with it. If you don’t fall with fall, then you may control the fall and that was what happened in my life.
“If the country fall, lets say something goes wrong, that is a fall and the people are saying, the country is bad, or condemning the country that something has gone wrong, with that, we are falling with the fall. But if you stand up, stay positive and be optimistic even thought things are rough and tough, then you are not falling with the fall. Things will turn around and we all will be better for it.
“So I use example of King David. Before he become a king, God used him to kill Goliath. Everybody said he cannot do it, nobody gave him a chance, even the king Saul then did not support him. But the boy said, I will go, for God will support me. So David did not fall with fall, even though they said he cannot make it.
“We are going to make it in this country. Even thought there are positive signs towards that already, let us trust that God will make things work out well very soon. We should not give room for negativities.”
He enjoined the government and political office holders to shun nepotism and psycophancy at the expense of competence, so that things will turn around for good.
“Growing up, I went through a lot but thank God today. I lost my father at a very young age and all hope seems lost at the time, and that’s why I thank God for late Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the free education scheme at his time.
“That is why I urge those in government, if they can make education like it was of old. If I had to pay for school as it is today, maybe I won’t be able to enjoy any form of education, back then”, he stressed.
Noting that today’s Christianity is not like it used to be in time past, he urged church leaders to be cautious in putting financial burden or stress on their members saying many people who attend churches these days are those in need of one help or the other.
He added, “Christianity is no more as it was back then. Christianity in the past is different from what we have now. In those days when we started, we want to stand with the people and not what obtains now. We wanted to work and serve our Master and we even engage in petty jobs to sustain ourselves
“We were not looking for money, but now, it’s not like that. Everybody want to become millionaire in this work. In my church, we don’t call people out for donations or financial support during programmes like we see Churches do these days.
“That is why we don’t celebrate church anniversary among others. The categories of people that come to church these days are either those who have one challenges or the other. For instance, those who need healings, those seeking employment or trusting God in one way or the other and when you ask people to start donating, most times people get frustrated and discouraged because they don’t have the means.
“Churches back then ask people to give based on what they have but these days things have changed. That’s why the church in those days are very different to what we have now.”
