By Samuel Ogude (Warri)
Church of God Mission International Incorporated, Ejiyere branch in Okumagba Layout, Warri, Delta State, has ended its three days’ men’s convention with a charge on the men in Nigeria and the world at large to take their place as fathers and husbands in their various homes just as they are charged to take the worship of God seriously
Speaking on sermon: “Time”, which is a subtitle of the theme of the convention: “Power for Divine Increase”, a Pastor in the church, Dr. Emmanuel Ameh charged Christians generally and men especially not to play with their time as time lost cannot be got back. He said, whatever they find their hands to do, they should do it well and not to procrastinate. He charged the youths and teenagers especially to embark on ventures that are profitable and can improve on their lives istead of gallivanting.
He said:” If you must increase speedily in all areas of life, make good use of your time because, time lost, can not be got back”. He said many Christian students, instead of reading their books while at school, engage in activities that cannot add value to their lives. He said: “Take out time to study your Bible, engage in meaningful ventures and you will experience divine increase”.
Speaking on the topic, “Stewardship”, a Guest Speaker for the programme, Dafe Ikoko said, Christians will experience divine increase if they are able to manage their finances effectively just as he said, whatever they do, they should bring God into it. He added, to create wealth one must engage in a meaningful venture as prayers can not do it alone.
He said:”It is the business activities you are able engage in that will give you money, prayers alone can not put money in your pocket”. ”. Ikoko who quoted Luke 16:10, Psalm 34:20 to buttress his message that God himself does not encourage laziness and therefore charged all men especially Christians to have something doing to be able to take good care of their families. He said:”As a man, take your place in your family: you should be able to take good care of your wife, children, that is when you can earn respect for yourself”. He quoted Luke 16:10, Psalm 34:20 to buttress his message.
Yet, another Guest Speaker, the Lead Pastor, Wisdom Place Church, Port Harcourt, Pastor Wisdom Isiri who spoke on the topic: the pentagon of the kingdom man said, as a man, he must accept responsibility because he is the king of the family as his people copy from him. He said, the man is also a priest, an apostle, a developer and a leader. He added that as a priest, the man is the pastor at home, as an apostle, the man’s life affects the family, as a developer, he helps people to do better and a leader, he must lead by good example for others to emulate. He therefore charged husbands at home to take their right place in their family so that the family can rely them for decision making, and the general well being of the home. He said:”What happens in your family is a reflection of you because you are a developer and a leader helping your family to grow irrespective of the economic challenges being faced by all in this country”. The Cleric who quoted many portions of the Holy Scriptures: Genesis 5:1-3,1st Chronicles 14:34 among others to buttress his message said, if a man fails to realize these basic facts of life, he is bound to fail.
Speaking further the Cleric said, man would experience divine increase if there is love in his home: the husband loves his wife and children and vice versa. He added that, to display this love, the man must have quality time with his wife and children, use words of adoration to his wife and children and honour his wife with sweet words, equip his wife among others at home.
He said:”If you want your family to experience divine increase, equip your wife, develop close ties with her and the children, buy your wife and children gifts, and occasionally take your wife and your children out once in a while”. The three days programme was marked with prayers, dances, and songs to the glory of God.