It’s my desire that God delivers Nigeria from the siege of terrorists - Akinwande
The Founder of El-rabboni Evangelical Ministry and Spiritual Mother of Ebenezer Praying Band Church, Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church, El-miram Irene Akinwande, spoke about the importance of understanding ‘call to ministry’ just as she challenged women on divine partnership in rebuilding Nigeria and fulfilling purpose.
With the current wave of challenges facing the country; how do you think Nigeria can rise again?
Wprayersith the way things are in the country, we need and more of them, especially in bringing the enemies into subjection. In the bible, King Jehoshaphat conquered the enemies- Amorites and Hittites. He was helped by God through praises. It is my desire that God delivers the country from the siege of terrorists and other enemies. The situation at hand where people loot the treasury is quite condemnable. There are things that these monies should be used to address, the problem of ASUU is there, ill-equipped hospitals, bad roads, unstable power supply, and other things that do not make life comfortable for the citizenry. However, by the grace of God Nigeria will not die, the selfishness of some people will not kill it because God will not allow it. We have had leaders that did their best and have their names written in gold. Also, we should know we brought nothing to this world and will leave without taking anything away from it; our leaders and the led should know that we will all give accounts of our lives here on earth. The scripture makes us know that we are only on a sojourn on earth as there is eternity and the quality of the life we live, in terms of doing what God requires of us will determine where we will spend eternity.
The issue of succession has brought setbacks to some churches; what is your take on having a succession plan as a ministry/church?
Ideally, succession should not bring acrimony. As children of God, things should be done in line with the leading of the Holy Spirit. For example, my mother who was a midwife and founder of Ebenezer Praying Band Church, Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church, did not make room for hereditary succession in the church’s constitution. Presently, we have a new Baba Aladura while the immediate past is still living. Our constitution says Baba Aladura’s tenure should end when he is 75 years old but the Baba Aladura Emeritus which happens to be my husband held the position up to when he became 80 years because he was trying to stabilise the church. But with the baton passed to another head, Baba Aladura Afolabi, some persons have questioned the action. The truth is that a church head does not necessarily have to exit the earth before he or she gets a successor.
Many still do not consider a woman appropriate to head a church; what is your position on such issue of having women as head of ministry?
Women should not be discriminated against, if they are called into the ministry they can head a church, and there should be no barrier. Women being in ministry is not against the doctrine of C&S. I head a branch of the Ebenezer Praying Band Church, C&S Unification Church. God called my mother in 1951 and she gradually started the church when she was around 40 years. While for me God called me into the evangelical ministry to preach the second coming of Christ and was assigned to operate in line with the mandate of El-rabboni, Christ the teacher and healer while in my 30s. It depends on who God calls; it is God that calls people. Like Mama Captain Abiodun Emmanuel whom God called when she was 17 years plus in 1925. She co-founded Cherubim and Seraphim with Prophet Moses Orimolade. Some men do not want the women to express themselves but these women cannot afford to fold their hands, they cannot allow themselves to be isolated nor be unable to maximise the grace of God upon their lives: gone are those days. There are examples of women that are doing well in the ministry. God loves women as well and is ready to give us more assignments. Let me also add that for two tenures I led the Mosan Okunola area of CAN as the first female leader. With the support of the people, we were able to record achievements to God’s glory and recently I was made the grand matron.
What would you now say to people male/female hiding under the ministry perpetuating their deceitful in the name of being preachers?
They need to repent. It is sad that there are people who fall prey to their deceits. It is also sad that these days some are only interested in their bellies and having large number of members. Indeed Jesus is coming back and people need to repent before it is too late.
Let’s come back to you and your ministry: can you shed light on the spiritual encounter that birthed the ministry?
My calling happened during the 40th birthday of a church member; it remains a day I will not forget. I came in when the hymn ‘Rock of ages’ was going on, while others stopped I could not stop. The wind blew on me and my eyes were opened to see writings on the wall, my mouth opened and I started speaking in tongues although I could not understand what I was saying. But I was led to pray for some people of which a woman who has been expecting to get pregnant was able to conceive, gave birth to a son. From there began the El-rabboni Evangelical Ministry; my team and I held many outreaches within and outside Lagos including London, Canada, America and other places.
Also to commemorate my spiritual encounter, October 25 of every year is set aside. This date is used to remind individuals and nations not to take lightly second coming of Christ. It is my desire that the date is recognised by the United Nations as a solemn reminder of Jesus’ return. The Ebenezer Praying Band Church, C&S Unification Church in Aguda, Surulere holds an interdenominational service annually on October 25 to this effect. Truly, I want the world to know that Jesus is coming again. This is an important message. I know nothing is impossible with God, so I desire that October 25 be globally recognised for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, what is your charge to other women including those that might want to go into ministry?
They should be tolerant, calm, and peaceful. They should be exemplary in conduct and refuse to be extravagant; we know we like to be flamboyant as women but there is a need for moderation. I am not saying women should look horrible and archaic while trying to be moderately dressed. We must be clean inwards and outwardly. Looking at nation-building, we should join hands with our political leaders and help them lift the nation to a great height. We must also surrender ourselves to God’s leading and my prayer is that we will be helped by God in building our lives, homes, careers, ministries, and nations and we will not lose our reward on earth and in heaven.