By 'Gbenga Bankole
Members of the National Executive Committee of the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), on Thursday December 16, 2022 paid a courtesy visit to the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele.
Pastor Oladele who is also the Vice President of CPFN warmly received them in his office. On hand to receive the guests with the CAC President were the General Secretary of CAC Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Emmanuel E. Mapur, who doubles as the National Secretary of CPFN, and The President's Special Assistant, Pastor T.D. Asokeji.
CPFN Youth Wing delegation was led by its National President, Pastor S.O. Gbuyiro (who is also CAC Youth Director), the National Secretary, Barrister Esther Ralph, Pastor I. O. Ogunrinola, Barrister Taiwo Ebenezer, Pastor S. O. Oke, Pastor Ehinju Steve, Pastor Olorunda Yomi Michael, Pastor Israel Ade Isaac, Pastor Agbo Adediran Daniel and Bro Israel Afolayan.
In his speech at the gathering, CAC President, Pastor Oladele appreciated God for the heritage left behind by the forebears of pentecostalism in Nigeria, saying that all pentecostal Churches in Nigeria should be proud of the heritage.
He noted that some people who talk ill of the heritage of pentecostal Churches in Nigeria display high level of ignorance.
Throwing more light on the history of pentecostalism in Nigeria, the Clergyman explained that history brings you the memory of the past.
"All the pentecostal Churches have a common heritage. We used to have a kind of Christianity that one can't be proud of and as a result our fathers saw the need for revival. There is no way you want to talk about pentecostalism in Nigeria without talking about organisations that form CPFN today.
"We should be proud of such heritage," he said.
Pastor Oladele said it's a great delight to see that youth wing is part of the structure of CPFN, adding "we can say with all confidence that the future holds good things for us at CPFN. I want to encourage you to keep the fire burning. "We live in the days of noisome ministry. The Kingdom of God is not about noise-making.In these days of noisemaking, let us stay where we are. If you think your church is better than mine, I will ask if it is about money: I will tell you church is not a bank. If it is about structure or buildings, I will tell you the church is not Julius Berger."
Pastor Oladele assured the CPFN Youth Wing of adequate support, saying that: "we are here for you by His grace."
The CPFN Youth Wing presented a well loaded hamper to Pastor Oladele and Pastor Mapur. In the same vein, an undisclosed amount was given CPFN Youth Wing by the authority of the church which was presented by the General Secretary, Pastor Mapur.
Earlier in his speech, CPFN Youth Wing National President, Pastor Gbuyiro told the CAC leaders that the official inauguration of the Principal Officers of the fellowship took place on Sunday June, 6, 2021 at The Apostolic Church National Headquarters, Olorunda, Ketu in Lagos.
He noted that for effective running of the fellowship, they saw the need to first work on the bye-laws for their guide, revealing that the youth body is putting finishing touches to perfect it.
According to him, they proposed to hold two major programmes in a year namely prayer summit and music concert to be hosted by The Apostolic Church and Christ Apostolic Church respectively, but due to financial and logistics reasons they couldn't hold any of the two programs this year.
However, "we also consider it most appropriate to carry our fathers, the leadership of the Mother body along and secure their approval and support before we go ahead".
It would be recalled that on Thursday the national executives of the CPFN Youth Wing also paid a courtesy visit to the National President of the CPFN mother body in person of Pastor Dr. Emmanuel Segun Awojide who also doubles as the Vice - President of The Apostolic Church Nigeria at the National/International Headquarters of the Church at Olorunda Ketu, off Oworonsoki Express, Lagos State, Nigeria.
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