By Pastor Ade Alawode
A Crusade Mobilization Team led by the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Oyo State Branch and other blocs of Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Branch, visited the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
The Crusade team were at the CAC General Secretariat, Basorun, Ibadan with the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC),
Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, the Convener of the programme to seek the support of the President of Christ Apostolic Church and the entire Christ Apostolic Church members to fully participate in the programme.
Introducing the team, the CPFN Chairman, Oyo State, Pastor Gabriel Segun Dada, who is also the Regional Superintendent of CAC, Babalola Region, said just like when Phillip visited Samaria at the dawn of Christianity and it was reported that there was great joy in the land, the coming crusade, which will be held for five days at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan would bring great joy to the city of Ibadan.
Welcoming the team, the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor S. O. Oladele said he was delighted to welcome the team of crusade organizers and supporters.
He was particularly happy that one of our own, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is the Convener of the programme.
The CAC President said;"it’s our delight that those who have had their roots in CAC are doing exploits for the Lord. I mean one of our own who is on loan to KICC is here to bless us."
He promised that Christ Apostolic Church will give whatever it takes to support the crusade.
Speaking later, The Crusade Convener, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo who hailed from a Muslim background, traced his roots back to the time he was looking for job and somebody asked him if he could work as a Church Gardener at Ile Ife.
He said he got the job to keep body and soul together, but during the course of doing the job, he met with the Lord and within six months, following a prophecy of the call of God on him, he proceeded to the Life Theological Seminary. From there he was sent abroad and after some years, the Lord instructed him to found the Kings International Christian Church.
On the upcoming crusade, Pastor Ashimolowo said they are targeting to reach more than several hundred of thousands of people with the Gospel. But the crusade would try to meet both spiritual and physical needs of the people.
He revealed that the crusade would be at three levels, explaining that;"level one will be miracle crusade where people will see in demonstration the power of God to heal and to deliver as well as to safe. Level two will see to it that essential commodities are distributed to people. At this level, 150,000 bags of rice would be distributed, same number of beans as well as 130,000 bags of Indomie would be distributed.
"At Level 3 of the Crusade, the last two days would be devoted to Medical outreach. People with any kind of physical ailment would be attended to as there would be over 200 physicians on ground to attend to people with various ailments. Those whose cases require surgery would be referred to UCH at the expense of the crusade organizers."
The Clergyman said the crusade will offer all these in order to demonstrate the love of God as people need to be touched at different levels.
He therefore sought the cooperation of CAC and other churches as the participating churches would need to admit all those who give their lives to Christ during the crusade.
Christian leaders at the meeting which held at Christ Apostolic Church, All Saints Chapel included the General Secretary Pastor E. E. Mapur, the Finance Director, Pastor Johnson F. Omitinde, Missions Director, Pastor Caxton S. Fasuyi, the Regional Superintendent of Babalola Region, Pastor G, S. Dada; The Director of Publicity, Pastor A. A. Alawode, the CAN Chairman, Pastor Olofin, the CPFN/PFN Chairman in Oyo State, Rev. Ajetomobi, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo and his team.
Photo speaks ! Pictures by: Israel Afolayan
