by Jane osamor
The District Superintendents of the Assemblies of God church Lagos state, Nigeria. Speak with the editor-in-Chief, Jane osamor, publisher of fabulous international magazine, and across media corps, the way forward to have unite in the body of Christ, and how to submitting to God in all totality.
` May we know your name sir?
My name is Rev. Dr. J.N.G. Okafor PhD. The Lagos state District Superintendents of the Assemblies of God church, Nigeria.
Our main purpose of this interview is to ask your advice for young pastors and the future you think Christ holds for humanity?*
Well, I will want to thank God but for your question, I will look at it from the logical background; who is a pastor? What is a shepherd? It is the one called to see to the needs of humanity; Being like Christ, bringing the knowledge of God to humanity.
A pastor is suppose to be a role model,But what we are seeing this days , the pastors themselves are now trying to copy the world, they should not be too mindful of the world or the world will become their master. Anyone who happens to love the world, the life of Christ is not in him. They should try to retrace their footsteps, somebody once said that; some people have the call of God while some recieve the flash of a touch light, so they move into what they don’t understand.
I want to believe that for someone who has the call of God will not make the way of others because he will follow the call that the shepherd has given him as an under – shepherd faithfully follows the path of Christ so that you can say to your congregation; follow me as I’ve followed Christ.
` Sir what would you say makes the work of a pastor be seen as a success?
Ans: What has made me succeed is devotion, knowing who has called me and doing exactly what he has called me for as led by him. Not minding what the fortress around me might try to do to the contrary, so that the main things, knowing who has called me, walking in his footsteps.
What’s a leader? The bible tells me that no leadership can be in a place except God knows about it . God also said that we should honor and respect those in authority, those that God allowed to control the affairs often should be very careful. The Nigerian politicians are not like those in other cities that we say practice the same democracy( e.g U.S). But you find out that it’s only on the bad side of the U.S the Nigeria politicians can emulate, but the good side they refuse to emulate, they’ve forgotten that the life of the people are also important. They only believe in amassing wealth for themselves and think less of positively influencing the lives of the people.
God almighty has so bless this nation among the nations of the world. The mineral resources in Nigeria are unmeasurable. He also bless us with human strength and capability, but it’s our political leaders that has been using these blessings for the benefit of the people rather than amassing wealth for themselves, Nigeria would have been a better place.
You know one of the states of this country is know as the :” food basket of the nation” (Benue state), but today they are starving cuz our leaders aren’t mindful they gave allowed a sequent to take out the nation, this is becus some of our leaders are even involved in it
I can’t see how a hand full of people will overrun a nation, we are already on our knees.
I want to tell you God is not happy, whenever the poor cries out in biblical times, God had always intervened, do not be surprised, a day will come when God will sure intervene in the affairs of this country and I want to tell you, it will happen and we will be surprise, cuz after all the crying day and night God has finally intervened and it will happen .
` I want to ask, why is there so much division in the body of Christ?
I think what you have mention here, you said it with one voice, if they also believe the bible we believe in but interpreting it to suit their purpose that is where we are having problems. The Bible is there to guide us on what to do . And if we hold onto the truth or the scripture, we will not err but do the right thing that is required. What is wrong with us is that people will find the verse of the scripture that suite their purpose and they begin to fly out everywhere. But if you spiritually read the scripture, you find out that they are talking out of point in the context of the scripture.
Just like the pharesis where trying to contradict themselves and Jesus corrected them. They have neglected holiness , they have neglected righteousness and how to deal with human beings. This is what you ought to have done, He (Jesus) He was striking a balance what he was saying never came through law but he was dealing with it as it came. They were once two who came to Jesus, one said I pay my tithe, I follow the law; he was exolting himself as if paying tax has open the way neglecting the right thing to do.
So one thing that will make us speak with one voice is to handle the scripture as it was meant to be, not seeking for your own pleasure but to please God. There lies the problem, so I want to advice that we return to status quo; read this Bible with understanding and with the power of the holy spirit; we will get there. Amen!
