“When I received the call of God; I asked Him where he wanted me to carry out his assignment in my life. I wanted to be in some choice areas of Lagos State, but God said, No, that I should go to Ajegunle and be of help to the people there,” Umunna told BDSUNDY.
Not an easy decision
“When we came to Fasasi Street at Wilmer area close to New Road, it was a den of robbers and all manner of crimes were committed there. This is because there were heaps of refuse as high as a storey building that dotted the street. The heaps had been there for many years. So, no security agent could go there once the criminals escaped into that place and nobody could pursue them because all manner of things were being done there. But that was the place God said I should carry out his business of soul winning,” he recollected.
“Indeed, it was a tough decision having to live in an environment where hardened criminals ply their nefarious trade. It was a battle between light and darkness. Since I was convinced that God had sent me there, I knew it was a matter of time for the criminals to disappear. The scripture says darkness cannot comprehend the light; it was very tough at the initial stage because people dreaded coming to the Church and they were wondering why on earth I decided to site the church there in the first place,” he added.
Attack from hoodlums
“You know when we came here (the area), they saw us as a threat to their criminal activities. They would snatch people’s bags and run into their den; they would abduct women and carried them to the place. So, at every time you would see people’s bags and personal effects litter the entire space. So, they know that our coming would affect their illicit trade so to say. They began to be hostile to us. I was attacked on several occasions. But we were not seeing them with the eye of hatred because we knew they were the reason God sent us to the area,” the Bishop volunteered.
The darkness disappears
The Bishop said that Fasasi Street is today a popular street in the entire Ajegunle and that it is now better known by many people as Bible Life Street or avenue.
“I took a lot of courage to insist on staying in the area. In the long run we have been able to change the story of the area and of Ajegunle in general. When the government in Ajeromi Local Government saw what we had been doing through self-effort, they began to show heavy presence. Before now, there was nothing like electricity in the area, no road, nothing, absolutely nothing; you wouldn’t be able to see anybody standing two poles away because of the high heaps of refuse and dirt all over the place; but today you could stand at the beginning of the street and see a person at the other end,” he said.
Bible Life Church
The cleric said that despite the threat by the criminals and their fight against the worshippers, membership of the Church was growing every meeting day.
“When God says ‘Go’, if you obey, you will never regret it. Despite the threat of attack by the hoodlums, new members were coming every meeting day. You know we are not just any other Church, we are a unique Church. God told me that he was sending me to preach to a neglected people and give them the assurance that God is with them. When God called me, I told him, I was ready to preach that message no other minister would be ready to preach and go where no other preacher would be willing to go.
“I gave my all to answer the call. I had every reason to surrender my all to God because of the miracle that surrounded my childhood. Today, I can say that Bible Life Church worldwide is moving from strength to strength. God has used the Church to give hope to millions of hopeless people even beyond Ajegunle, beyond Nigeria, as we now reach to the outside world with the undiluted word of God.
A rare membership
“I must tell you that members of the Bible Life Church are unique and a people who have the consciousness of heaven in their lives. Every year is better in Bible Life Church. Members show incremental commitment every day of their life.
I must point out here however, that in this race, not everyone will see things from the same perspective, by this I mean, there are some who have been with us, but today they have left for one reason or the other. But one thing with God is that he never lacks people to worship him in truth and in spirit.
The messages God gives us in Bible Life Church through our preaching are very wonderful to prepare the people for that ultimate inheritance. Our hope is not here, but in that life where we shall be with our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ. This is the hope of every Bible Life member and we are running with it.
Beyond the pulpit
The Bishop told BDSUNDAY that every activity of the Church revolves around the pulpit. According to him, whatever the Church is doing in terms of community services, etc is aimed at harvesting souls for God and his kingdom.
“When you say our activities beyond the pulpit, I want to say in all modesty, that whatever we are doing on the pulpit and outside the pulpit are geared towards winning souls for Jesus. Today, we have a hospital that takes care of the sick; we have schools and other establishments that help us to render services to, not just our members only, but to non-members. We offer scholarships to children in the school and the hospital is there to take care of people also. Bible Life Church also reaches out to the needy in society. I can tell you that souls are being won for Christ through all these avenues.
No one gave me chance to succeed
Sixty-two years ago yesterday, Bishop Leonard Umunna was born in Umuoma Okpofe in Itu, Ezinihitte Local Government Area of Imo State with a life-threatening ailment that nearly ruined his life but through divine intervention, he was delivered.
“I was born vomiting multi-coloured substance and doctors battle for my survival. Again, early in life, I was paralysed from waist down which hindered me from going to school like my mates. Whenever, my parents were going to the farm they would put me inside a hole dug for me. My waist and legs would be inside while upper part of my body would be outside. One day, I was listening to a melodious song being played by someone around there and I began to dance.
“Suddenly, I crawled out of the hole and stood upright. I started to walk to the amazement of everybody. It was a miracle. Lest, I forget, while I was being put inside that hole and without going to school, I was still helping my mates to do their homework. They would bring their books to me and I helped them to solve the problems. So, you can see that my life has some divine force behind it,” he said.
Destiny
“There are those who have destroyed their destines by their actions and inactions, but once you stay through and be guided by the word and spirit of God you are sure to arrive safe at the labour. I have every reason to thank God for the gift of life despite several challenges to truncate my calling on earth. Every living being on earth must endeavor to work out their destinies and believe in God for divine manifestation. Today, I can say by the special grace of God I am working out my destiny in the Lord,” Umunna explained.
He is into philanthropic activities through his Prof. Leonard Umunna Foundation, GOSEC and others. He is the chairman of a number of companies including Leonard Umunna College, Extra Real Nursery and Primary School, Umunna Hospital, and Leonard Umunna Theological University.
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