Last Sunday, was the grand finale of the 30 years’ anniversary programme of the Apapa branch of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM)
Expectedly, the coming and ministration of Bishop Peace Okonkwo, Resident Pastor of the headquarters Church, turned out a much awaited icing on a beautiful cake.
Not only was the five-day programme, themed “Greater Glory“ in celebrating God Faithfulness, effectively organised, it was impressively attended.
It appeared all roads, from literally every flank of the sprawling city of Apapa, one of Lagos’ busiest districts, led to the expansive auditorium of the City of Joy, as the church is also known.
The entire premises was bedecked in glowing colours and the brethren, not just of the host church, but of other branches and ministries, came out in their number the partake of the blessings.
The army of security details, ushers and administrators mobilised for the programme had to be on their toes to ensure things went well.
Rev Nkere. To the right is a guard of honour awaiting the entry of Bishop Peace Okonkwo
While series of activities were ongoing within the vicinity, inside the auditorium itself, the choir had begun to warm up the atmosphere, with assertive songs.
“Jehovah Bu Eze, “You are faithful”, “Overwhelming mercies of God”, “Na you dey give me rest” were in the numbers, rendered as solos or refrains by the resident choir.
By the time Sister Ngozi Oputa performed an official welcoming of guests, the atmosphere had become sufficiently saturated.
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Host pastor, Rev Chinedu Nkere and his wife, couldn’t have been better bedecked in their generously flowing and prestigious attires.
The man of God, in his welcome address earlier in the week, had used Haggai 2:9 to speak to the theme stating that: “This year’s gathering is quite prophetic.
..Getting set to cut the anniversary cake
“In our nation and in fact globally, we have experienced and are currently experiencing tough times.
“However they do not define us. Greater Glory is our reality. We would rather believe God’s word than to bow to the pressures of life”, he had admonished.
On that grand finale, the man of God was also to prove himself, an encyclopedia of names, reeling out full complement of dignitaries in attendance and their associated titles and roles with neither a diary note nor piece of paper to reference from.
The Executive Chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Governmnt Area, Hon. Olalekan Olu Akindipe and his vice, Hon Ajibola Ololade Ashabi Ugob Anite, led other officials of the LG to the event and got due mention.
Rev Nkere was equally full of gratitude for the guest minister, Bishop Peace Okonkwo, members of her entourage, which included pioneer provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Rev Dr Elizabeth Ikem and Dcn Regina Okonkwo up to other men of God present.
For each he had pleasant things to recall, moreso for a guest, Dr Sam Ugbaja whom he said brought his younger brother to TREM, the younger brother who influenced his own coming into the ministry.
By the time, Bishop Peace Okonkwo mounted the podium, her declarations were reassuring enough.
“Today, I come to you to tell you that you are destined for glory; Arise, shine” she began, using Is 60:1 and Col 1:27.
She went ahead to state how the word today had become risk and scary because of satanic acts.
“Satan is loose and he is destroying everything on the pathway.
“But I came today to encourage you, that in the midst of these, your victory is already guaranteed; you must put up a winning mentality
“Arise from every evil that the devil has brought around you”
Other scriptures that Bishop Okonkwo deployed in her ministration were Col 27 and John 17, but the clincher in her ministration was the healing session targeted at different health issues and finance hiccups.
At the conclusion of the programme, it was evident in the testimonies and physical dispositions of the attendees that God truly has visited His people
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