Okonkwo Reveals How TREM ‘ll Celebrate 40th Anniversary

BY CAMI EZENWA with pictures by JOSEPHAT UNEKE

The International Headquarters of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) in Anthony Lagos, was draped in elegant colours last Sunday.

The reason is clear: The ministry has turned 40 and there is no keeping quiet about it.

Presiding bishop of the church, Dr Mike Okonkwo said these much while ministering to the excited congregation at the TREM auditorium.

“Initially, I didn’t want us to celebrate, but we have just to thank God for His goodness these 40 years” he declared before going back memory lane, recalling TREM’s days of small beginning, and the temptations and challenges that had littered its glide up.

“Before now, we have been through hell. Mockery and all. ..no body believed we had something to offer.  In fact, we had every opportunity to quit as a ministry but God began to move us up.

“He has proven us and seen that we can stand. And now, we will begin to see the dimension of His glory the way we have never seen it before”, he declared.

“We have just to scale down our celebration because of the situation in the country.

“Initially, I did not want us to celebrate at all, but we have just to thank God somehow.

“We are only permitted to be in church two hours. That  is why we are spreading out this celebration throughout the year. Kingdom Life World Conference will climax the celebrations” he declared, in reference to the ministry’s annual convention which usually holds in November.

Using Ps 68:11 and Prov 14:20 amongst others, Bishop Okonkwo said he could not thank God enough, not only that He gave the word, the underpinning of the ministry, but that He also supplied men to help make the word real.

He then took time out to mention some people he said had been there from the beginning, most of who had stayed with the ministry, describing them as a huge part of the success story of TREM.

“You are a huge part of the success story and we can never take it for granted.

Urging his congregation to remain steadfast, Bishop Okonkwo declared: “Arise and Shine, for thy light has come”.

“You will see accelerating speed, great strides, a breaking forth;, dynamic manifestation in your different areas of endeavor.

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“That you are still alive is a manifestation God is not through with you”, he declared adding that with the ministry turning 40, that many things would begin to manifest for the church and the congregation like never before.