BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
High-powered stakeholders in the Christ Apostolic Church, Supreme Council has held a unification meeting of the church at the CAC Church Auditorium in Irefin, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital today.
The President of the Supreme Council, CAC, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Henry Ojo, stressed the need for the church to strive towards resolving conflicts based on truth in an interview held at the end of the programme.
Pastor Ojo, who expressed excitement on the peace meeting that was convened after the protracted crises that rocked the church, said, “This is a great and wonderful day. It is beyond the expectation of everyone of us. It is the doing of the Lord and it is marvelous in our eyes. I am happy to see this day.
“This is a church with large congratulation. You should expect that there could be crises from time to time. But, the good thing is that God helped us to prevail. You can see today that God helped us to unite.
“We are looking forward for both GEC and Supreme Council to become one. That is our vision and heart-beat. We see what happened today as a stepping stone to what we are looking for in the near future.
“Looking at the history of church from the beginning, the devil is striving, but the church of the Lord will always prevail. Crisis and the church are twin brothers. Even Jesus Christ in chapter 17 of the book of John (in the Holy Bible), prayed for unity of the church. Jesus must have seen into the future of the church. He pray that the church should be united as the Trinity are united.
“The gate of hell may stand against the church but it will not prevail. You can see this in the experience of the church today; not in CAC alone. Mega churches, world over, are not divorced from crises.”
Earlier, while addressing the congregation during the unification meeting, he said, “This is the time when God will move in our midst. Whether the devil likes it or not, the Lord will prevail. We shall sing the song of victory.
“I want to remind us of the stormy wind that blew across the Supreme Council. About 32 years ago, there was crisis in the year 1990. The storm came with a strong earthquake. Barely six or seven years ago, God gave me and the General Superintendent grace. It might be because of what we are witnessing today. When the storm was being prepared, the steps that were supposed to be taken were not taken. The storm swelled up. There was the wind championed by the Initiative Forum.
“Malice prevailed and things went wrong. We waged war against one another. The storm forced some of our elders into compulsory retirement. Our father, Babajide was one of the victims, Orangun was also one. After that time, our father, Adegoroye, baba Obadare and Udofia did not compromise their stand. They resisted the coup that was initiated by the Initiative Forum, and the coup failed. Thereby, the Lord lifted the head of Supreme Council once again. Since then, storm raged.
“I am sure that the devil would not be happy about what happened today. Some are in the dark firing arrows in order to make this meeting impossible. But, glory be to God in the highest; Satan and his cohorts are put to shame. Supreme Council became one. We are following the footsteps of our fathers in the Lord. They suffered agony because of this. Some of them died suddenly.
“You know how fierce the battle was especially in Ibadan. They worked hard to see the end of Supreme Council, but, the foundation of the Lord stands sure. The resolution of the crisis must be based on the truth. We must go back to the basics which is the foundation. If there was no storm, Christ Apostolic Church could have witnessed tremendous development. But we thank God.
“Recently, it was reported that I prophesied that Osinbajo and Wike were the best presidential candidates for Nigeria. But, you all know me as a pastor and teacher, not as a prophet. I never prophesied to you not to talk of giving prophecy on politics. Some of those who were hypocritical to us read about it in the news on the paper, they should have called me to crosscheck, but they never did. Instead, they were spreading unprintable words. That is uncharitable. Whatever is of the kingdom of God should not be taken with levity.
“I was not the one who prophesied about Osinbajo and Wike’s presidential ambition. I am a pastor and not a prophet and I am satisfied with being a pastor. I am a teacher; and I am satisfied to be a teacher. As for those who give prophecy, if it is of the Lord, it shall be seen clearly at the end of the day. Remain blessed.”
In his address on the occasion, Pastor S.O Ogundare, the outgoing President, CAC, Supreme Council, expressed gratitude to God on the actualization of the unification ceremony of the Council.
He said that “Though satan attempted to destroy the good work of our forefathers of this Church, Almighty God disallowed the main objectives of the enemies to overrun the co-existence of the Supreme Council of Christ Apostolic Church.
“I pray that soonest, we shall all, once again rejoice to witness the end of the major crisis that befell this first Pentecostal Church in Africa (CAC) since about 32 years (1990-2022) if the Lord tarries.
“Secondly, my appreciation goes to the peace brokers of the good people of the Supreme Council of CAC when the leadership of all the warring parties shun all odds to achieve and restore peace within the members of the Supreme Council of Christ Apostolic Church to become one indivisible entity. I pray that their names shall be written in gold in the book of salvation.
“I want to advise the leaders of this great mission to forgive one another and work as a team. Also, as workers in the vine yard who will give account of his or her stewardship to chief master on the judgment day. It is on record that during the tenure of the founding fathers of this Church, Pastors I. B. Akinyele, D. O. Odubanjo, Apostle J. A. Babalola all of blessed memory, there were no rancour, no bitterness, no rivalry, no animosity etc. within the hierarchy and members.
Among the principal officers of the church that were present on the occasion were Pastors James Onagwa, Ogunrinde, Ejide Aladesaiye, Pastor Emmanuel Olubunmi Owolabi, Director of Finance, CAC, Supreme Council; and Prophet Samuel Kolawole of CAC Arogungboginmi.
The General Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church, Irefin, Ibadan; the General Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church, Agbowo, Ibadan; the General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church, Irefin, Ibadan, Nigeria; the General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church, Agbowo, Ibadan; the General Secretary, Christ Apostolic Church, Irefin, Ibadan; the General Secretary, Christ Apostolic Church, Agbowo, Ibadan, and all officers and members of the Supreme Council (CAC), including Elders, Deaconesses and members of the Christ Apostolic Church were acknowledged by Pastor Ogundare.
