The General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, Power of God Saves, Pastor Moses Olagunju speaks on the ministerial challenges and lesson learnt in pastoral work as the church celebrates 30 years of changing lives and presenting Christ to the world. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU:
Can you share your experience for these 30 years?
We thank God for those who were hopeless but got hope. We thank God for those who could not do something good with their lives had God’s intervention and their lives change. I thank God for what he has done for 30 years and the rest of our lives; he will do greater things in the coming years ahead. We must not remember the things that got spoilt and the things that make our heart sad. When there is life, there is hope. The ministers that has left the ministry should be over 200 plus and those left behind are over 500 ministers.
Could you share with us lessons learnt during these years?
I have learnt that ministry and the church of God is not business, if you think you want to make money, then you can go astray. There are people who come to church, but are not born again. Though, they may bring in their money but will slide back into the world because they have not given their lives to Jesus. Some will be in church and will do nothing while some will be seeking the downfall of the church but by the grace of God, wherever there is the word of God, there is power. If we allow the word of God, it will go a long way in building the church. Men of God should see to the building the church and not focus on monetary gain. We started small and we have grown big. There is joy in Christ more than anything. If you have children of God, you will have rest of mind but if you have nominal members who even contribute to the work of God, when they know the truth, the work of God will become easier. All the churches we have give us peace of mind.
So, how does it feel celebrating 30th anniversary as the general overseer of the ministry?
I give God the glory and we thank God. Some people started for one year or two and died but if God can spare one’s life for these 30 years, then it calls for thanksgiving. That the church did not scatter, we found mercy, and it is not by power nor by might. To God be the glory.
How did the ministry start?
We started from a Room and Palour, and we were just 18. Nine people can be sent an errand and the rest were children and since the night we started, God has proved himself mighty in our midst. The people then sat on 17 blocks, am not sure we have three left as the Holy Spirit took control. With the fact that we started in a room and parlour, people were sitting outside. It really surprised me. My thought initially was that when we started, I will go and work in Port because our landlord then was working in Port. My thinking was to follow him to Port in the morning while in the night, we embark on revival programme. I saw God’s hands. There was no money but God’s power was there. Some people who came in and complain that the prayer was too much; they met themselves on the altar. The power of God in me gave me so much joy.
When did you hear the call of God?
I had the call of God upon my life in 1984-1985. I gave my life to Jesus, December 21st, 1984 and was a church member until 1986 January, when I started the work of God. I was wondering that even when I accepted Christ, the whole family rejected me, what if I now become a pastor then hell will be let loose. But with God and because Christianity in those days was backed by Holy Ghost fire baptism so much so that when one gets to the church you will know you have received something from God. You will ask for the Holy Spirit baptism, followed by the word of God through the Sunday school service, then the sermon that will teach one how to be independent in God, knowing God fully, and not prosperity messages that have flooded the church today and these really established us in those days.
Do you ever think of going back to your first love?
I never heard anything to regret. There was no money but there was power. Some people who feel prayer is too much and they came to our church and went down on their knee to pray. God at a point asked me whether I was pastoral or deliverance ministers. God told me that if I want deliverance, he will give me but I will not live long but I told God that I want to start a church and he told me that he will reduce the power of God upon my life. I went to OPM bible school. There are two type of Bible School. I went to a bible school under a prophet. Some people went to a conventional Theology Bible School but full time is what is good.
If you had not answered the call of God for ministry; what else would you have been doing?
I would have gone into agriculture full scale. That was what I wanted to go and study in the higher institution. The little secondary school knowledge I gathered in agriculture, if I touch a soil, I know what the soil can give in returns. I learnt about different kinds of soil and their potentials in Farming. I also love livestock farming. There is no book I will read in life, I will not jettison farming.
What should the congregation and participants expect in the next one week of the celebration?
We will be having revered men of God like the president of the Christ Apostolic Church, pastor Akiosun, the general superintendent of CAC, the General Evangelist of CAC, the former general evangelist of CAC, Pastor Samuel Abiara, ace gospel musician, evangelist Bola Are, among others. The celebration will start on the 21st to 27th of October, and there will be free health care programme, pep talk. God told me that after 30 years in our ministry, he will fight for us and take over the work. Things will be hard in Nigeria but there will be respite soon.
Finally, our readers would want to know about your background?
I started out as a vulcanizer early in life. I learnt it from my brother. Although, the profession I learnt early in life was driving. I learn driving after I left Primary school. While driving, God told me that I should not do personal work, though, I was a Muslim then. I wanted to go to school but finance was my challenge. I was still learning driving as an apprentice. One day, I was with my boss and we were going to Coca-cola in Ilorin in Kwara State and I told him that I want to go and ease myself. As soon as I finish easing myself, the vehicle conveying us to Coca-cola had gone and I had to trace the vehicle. On my way, I met a prophet who told me that if I continue my work as a driver this year, I don’t know you but go back to the first love. I went to secondary school and there, I gave my life to Jesus and afterward I heard the call of God upon my life.
