Octogenarian Founder and General Overseer of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church (CGAC), Apostle Paul Okedoyin, has a 50-year experience as minister of the gospel. With the church's weeklong convention ending today, he shares with CHRIS IREKAMBA memorable milestones, significance of the convention and how he was called into the ministry.The Church yesterday and todayNot all people are able to give their lives to Christ wholeheartedly. Many, today, are thinking of Christ and, at the same time, thinking of the world. If one embraces the two, there is no way you can be 'for signs and wonders.' In those days they didn't care for material or worldly things. They were particular about winning souls for Christ. They had burden to really work for Christ; they were sincere. It is what you are after that you will get. If you desire the righteousness of God, you will get it, and if you are after the world, the world will be after you.At your age, how often do you visit these branches'I still travel outside the country; I still oversee what is happening in many of these branches. I only send ministers, or pastors whose minds are open to the gospel. These are ministers who are mature in the things of God. Such pastors have assisted in establishing churches here and there.How did you receive the call of God'You know, God speaks to everybody. There is no one that God does not speak to, provided you allow Him to speak to you. In Ibadan, while I was a pastor in our CGAC headquarters, it was there that God spoke to me that I should come to Lagos. God specifically told me to come to Lagos. He gave me a specific date to be here. So, it was through the help of God that this church was established here in Lagos. Before the call of God, I was working with Post and Telegraph (P&T). I started work there on October 30, 1949, at Abeokuta General Post Office. From there, I was transferred to Ibadan. It was in Ibadan, in April 1952, that I received the call of God. I was, at the time, a member of this church in Ibadan.' So, you are not the founder of the church'No. The founder of CGAC is Apostle Peter Olatunji. But when you talk about the Lagos Area of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church, God made me the founder of Lagos Area Church of CGAC.Relationship with CGAC founder in IbadanI am like a son to the founder. His influence does not go beyond being the mother church. We have been given autonomy; we have a constitution guiding us, and that constitution was followed before Lagos Area was established.Some religious organisations do not believe in signs and wondersGod is the owner of all churches. Maybe it is their belief. Maybe they only choose to preach to people and see that they are converted to God. But in the apostolic ministry, we embrace all these.Are you saying miracles, signs and wonders are still possible today'It is still happening and must continue to happen. Any true church of God must see the hand of God in the area of miracles, signs and wonders.FamilyI have five children ' three sons and two daughters, and they are all born again, by God's grace. The sons are pastors in this church. The first son was the first fruit to the Lord; the second one had an encounter with God that he should personally devote his life to God's work. He is a medical doctor as well. He is in the US. The other one also had inspiration from the Lord to do the work of God.For the two daughters, one is married and the other is not. My wife is also a prophetess in this church, and she is 70.ChallengesOur challenges are from non-Christian bodies. We also have financial challenges. Money is very important to run any ministry. These are some of the challenges we face, and God, who has called us, is able to surmount these problems on our behalf.ConventionPresently, the church is 49 years, and by next year, it will be 50. That is a golden jubilee. When you consider this, you will agree with me that, in every ramification, this year's convention is very important. For us here, we are looking at the power that is behind it.We started all our events here at CGAC Central Auditorium 14, Holy Saviour's College Road, Isolo, Lagos, on Monday, November 7. The grand finale is on Sunday, November 13. For all our members and non-members, we are saying: 'Jesus Christ is waiting for you'. The theme is: 'I Am A Wonder', and it's taken from Isaiah 8.18.We use the occasion to preach the gospel of Christ to the people. The power behind the convention is the power of Jesus Christ, which is able to heal the people, open people's mind to His word and bring changes to lives. It makes people know that God is merciful; that Christ died for the salvation of the people. And Christ is enough to satisfy anybody who believes in him.Before the convention, we embarked on mass evangelism, and even after the convention, my members will still continue with preaching of the gospel. In the morning, we had special prayers for the people. That is for those who were sick, the hopeless and the jobless. Also in the evening, we had revivals.By God's grace, we expect a radical change and total turn around in people's lives after this convention. God has assured us of this.ThemeIt was taken from Isaiah 8.18, 'Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and wonders.' Also in Palms 39, the Bible says that God created me in the belly of my mother and made me in a wonderful way; that is how man became a wonder. And in this book of Isaiah: 'I am for wonders and signs in Israel.'God wants to use every Christian, every born again Christian for signs and wonders. What that connotes is for His children to perform wonders and signs, which herbalists or the flesh cannot perform, to heal people. Signs are to make spectacular things happen in the lives of the people.ExpectationsThey are going to hear the undiluted word of God. For those who desire the experience of sanctification; that is the experience, without which, no man shall see God, we are going to make people to understand that Christ is the Master and Lord of their lives. In this convention, by the grace of God, people shall receive healing for their spirit, soul and body, and other blessings will follow as well.50 branchesWe have about 50 branches, by the grace of God, in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country. We have two in USA and in London.Advise to religious leaders, political officeholdersGod has given us a good country. He has also placed Nigeria on a fertile ground; He has given us good resources. Think of oil, we have it, think of other minerals, we have them.I advise our leaders to give glory to God and appreciate Him for these resources we have as a nation. They should not misuse them but utilise them for the benefit of the common man who is suffering in the midst of plenty.For Church leaders, they should strictly obey God, and His commandment and stop comparing themselves with the world.
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