Current affairs in Nigeria may threaten her unity but if her total disintegration will further the course of the gospel of Christ and hasten His return, let it be! If her unity will honor Jesus and give Him His due in this Country and other Nations, NO ONE and NOTHING can split us.

I read with delight, the beautiful piece- Another Perspective, written by Joseph Thompson, where he responded aptly to an earlier Call to Prayer for Nigeria a against the "spirit of Sudan", which has been making rounds on the internet.

I'm saddened by the call from some church leaders here to take up arms and defend ourselves and physically "push back" our enemies. I'm utterly appalled at our loss of focus, having failed to see what the real issue is.

I woke up this morning with three different dreams all about bombings in large Christian gatherings and very many people died. Multiple nightmares in one night... I may need to treat myself for malaria, if this is not a message from heaven.

Interestingly, the bomber in these dreams was not a stranger. The face was someone I know. He's not even a Muslim. He successfully executed his plots each time and disappeared into the crowd of wounded and weeping worshipers. I leave this to dream interpreters and prophets to decode.

The insecurity occasioned by Boko Haram and other national issues like the economy are mere distractions, tools of war fashioned specifically against the Nigerian Church aimed at forcing it to engage in fisticuffs that will surely derail its ultimate assignment; which cannot be done with a heart filled with hatred, anger or bitterness.

If we as followers of Jesus Christ ever take up arms against our neighbors today in the quest of our safety, we forfeit the right to bear the gospel to this generation and the next.

It's unfortunate many Christians have lost their lives and limbs and precious possessions to the rampaging horde of our enemy disguised as Boko Haram and their likes; and many more horrors are coming.

However, their death will be a waste if we fail in our duty to take the gospel to those that slew them, with the sole aim of bringing some to saving knowledge of Jesus. There's no greater and sweeter victory than this.

The how tos, when, where and who, are what our leaders MUST spend their time, resources and energies discovering, discussing and engaging. Leadership is about influence and vision. One without the other will birth frustration.

It's time for the Nigerian Church to refuel and oil its missionary vision and reignite a dying passion for the lost in the North, the homeland of Boko Haram. This strategy is not and should not be to ambush them with the gospel, thereby forcing them to retreat and stop the bombings. No! But their souls are worth the cost of the cross of Christ.

This is the time to cry out to God to forgive our sins and selfishness and indifference to His will; time to plead for the souls of lost Muslims (young and old) in the North. Can't the Lord give us souls in the Caliphate... is it too great a thing to ask? Can we have Emirs love and follow Jesus publicly?

It's time to equip Christian youths and young ministers with a clear understanding of the mandate to the ends of the earth by taking them there and overseeing their transformation.

This is time to focus 80% of our efforts on the mandate to go and make disciples beyond our comfort zones. Oh that our thrust and drive will be northward, to the difficult places that have remained so because no one is praying or going.

This is time to re-launch Vision 5015 with renewed zest and push it to the next level.

If the Nigerian Church continues to maintain this passive attitude to missions, thinking and teaching that God is committed to our comfort and safety, more than His eternal cause in Christ's global reign (which will cost more lives), we'll spend more time mourning our worthless treasures.

Jeremiah lamented of Jerusalem and its people, "The enemy has spread out his hand upon all her desirable things; for she has seen the nations enter her holy place, whom You commanded that they should not enter into Your congregation. All her people sigh; they seek bread. They have given their desirable things for food to relieve the soul. See, O Jehovah, and look on me, for I have become vile." Lam 1:10-11 MKJV

The gates of Hell, even if they suddenly appeared and are mobile, CANNOT prevail against us as we labor for Christ's name and fame in this world He loves.

May we not miss our chance and regret these days.

It's a new year again and we are as usual, extending good wishes to friends and loved ones.

But do you think there's a connection between man's capacity for happiness and his understanding of the essence of life?

We've wished many people a happy New Year within the first four days of this 2012; yet, some of them are now overwhelmed with grief occasioned by a fresh event within this New Year.

Nigerians awoke on 1st January 2012 to a bad news. Government announced the immediate deregulation of petroleum products. Many are yet to recover from the shock and some are gearing for "war".

There's an overbearing superstition here that suggests that bad news, or misfortune, or pain, or creditors, or solicitors seeking financial assistance in particular, at the beginning of a week or month or the New Year, is an evil omen. This is a lie. We're as Christians are under a far superior government and covenant.

The pursuit of happiness is the cornerstone of most cultures and world ideologies. It is simply human to seek a life without pain.

"Please this is a New Year, let's not..." "I don't want to start 2012 with..." are some comments people make as they plot their way out of conflicts or challenges that may actually be the stepping stones to unimaginable joy in the course of the year.

Should happiness be our primary objective since its very nature is ephemeral and often dependent on circumstances or events over which we have little control?  I think not.

As disciples of Christ, should our definition of happiness be anchored on having all our prayers answered and things going as planned? Is craving a happy New Year simply another wish for "my will to be done, instead of God's"?

If any disciple of Christ desperately desires happiness this year, his or her obedience to Jesus cannot be subjective. Recall the Hymn, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus..."? Think again on the lyrics of this great Hymn.

Each year will serve us its own dose of challenges that will attempt to ridicule our faith in God's ability to perform. Let's remember that every offer of happiness at the expense of truth and righteousness is a sweet poison.

The signs and songs of last Christmas are beginning to fade, but Emmanuel is still here. He'll still be present when our birthday gifts and presents from last Christmas are old, broken or lost. He'll still be here when the loved ones we started this year with pass away.

The question is, "How close will you be to Him as the year grows old?" Better and brighter should be the end of this year than however it has started for you.

I wish you and yours a Year filled with God's overwhelming and calming presence, one who's sour and sweet events, all working together, will showcase the great wisdom and glory of this God that calls you "Mine". 

After a long sojourn in the USA back in 2004, I returned home to a great and unforgettable welcome from my family and friends.

I was oblivious of the complicated challenges of a new life n the mission enterprise that awaited me. I soon began to feel everything and almost everyone was different but not me. I knew absolutely nothing of culture shock.

For instance, I couldn't drive on Lagos roads within the first week of my arrival. I wondered why the roads weren't marked and road users were so aggressive.

The blaring of horns were driving me insane; the unstable electric power supply,  the noise of generators and the soot from them, the dust, the heat, worsened by the high humidity of Lagos, the bad odors here and there and many other issues seemed to make home a most unwelcoming place.

"This can't be what I've been missing!"

"How can anyone survive this madness?"

"Is something wrong with me?"

"Why am I so moody?"

"Can't these people see this and that is wrong?"

As Neal Pirolo put it in his wonderful Book - Serving As Senders, "He [the missionary] returns. He is not prepared for the changes at home. He tries to cope. He internalizes all his frustrations. Alienation whispers, "Nobody cares or understands. Forget them!" He argues with himself, "No, I have to get out and share a vision for the world among the church people." "But they are so ungodly," Condemnation thunders. "This isn't getting me anywhere," he yells back at himself. Reversion reasons, "Okay, let's just forget it. I was there. You were here. We're back together. No big deal!""

I suffered serious traumatic stress disorders and didn't know it. But those were a kind of initiation into the often very confusing life of cross-cultural work; which has led some to abandon their call, end relationships, depart from the faith and even commit suicide.

Despite the lavish reception my wife plans and executes each time I return from these mission trips, I'm still harassed by a barrage of re-entry issues that leave my emotions in tatters.

For instance, I can't understand why my weight loss should be a better subject for discussion. Maybe my frail looking physical appearance makes louder statements. 

I wonder why friends who rarely checked on my family while I was away, suddenly arrive to hear my testimonies and stories? Why should I spend 2hours in traffic, driving myself home from the airport?

Debriefing with my mentors has been of immense help. We are looking forward to a team that will co-own this thrust and shoulder our plans, pains and progress with us.

May Abba gift us a Home Support Team who would invest their experience, wisdom, time and treasures to help with our re-entry challenges. It's a serious affair. I'm certain we'll do better with such friend.

If you are interested, kindly post your comments and we'll connect with you.

May Abba's love, which we celebrate this season, renew your zeal for the lost in this World He loves.

Merry Christmas and a most fruitful 2012!

My journey back home from Yei has began. As usual, I'm reflecting on lessons learned and they are several. But it seems one looms above the rest.

My time at The Furnace (our discipleship and mentoring group) and other informal meetings with several young disciples highlighted the one issue most of them were wrestling with-- Trust.

There's an emerging generation of young disciples whose questions about God and life seem to reveal the appalling state of family structures and parenting in general.

They are disillusioned by a system they've been told to trust by the elders, their leaders, teachers and their parents. The wounds from this failed or failing system are deep because people they trusted were the main culprits.

So what we have is a growing vicious cycle. They'll give what they got from those on top; failed promises, shallow love, poor commitment; resulting in dashed hopes and expectations. The answer to this heart question, "Can I trust him/her?" is often NO!

I asked them in one session we had, "If I post a notice on my door saying, "Please Come In, Don't Knock" how will you respond when you visit me and see it?"

I was surprised when a sizable number said they'll still knock when they visit. "Why?"

One said, "I'll think it's a trap" Another said, "I'll think it's not proper." One asked, "So what if you are changing clothes when I enter?" Another asked, "What if you don't want to be disturbed at the time?

These questions and views seem legitimate but they failed to see how their trust in me was challenged with it.

Don't we treat God the same way?

God lavishes love on us and we wonder, "Is this a trap?"

He makes great promises to us and we ask, "Can I trust Him to do it?"

He says, "I paid for your sickness on the cross; you are healed." But you think this sickness is from God. "He's punishing me for my sins."

He says your sins are forgiven, but we are looking for a sign or a feeling to confirm that.

He says "My strength is perfected in your weakness." But we think being weak in public is too risky, so we prefer a show of strength or wealth or wisdom.

Despite several notable spiritual encounters with God, like Jacob, who trusted no one, not even God but himself; we still struggle to hold God at His word because we feel His response time is always too slow or He's difficult to please or we feel so unworthy of His blessings or we think we must lie and cheat to get this or that.

But building our character is God's main goal, not our comfort.

"Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory." (1Peter 1:7)

People we love and admire may disappoint us, but not God.

How stable is your trust in God this season? Can you see His hand working to make you a worthy Bride for His Son?

Our students' marathon in Yei was not without drama. A runner who had come in 7th, was eventually disqualified. The lesson of which I pray stays with me till the end of time.

This boy lost his registration slip at the starting line!! He fell down as the race began but desperate to catch up with the rest, he didn't wait to find his registration slip and continued with the race.

The rule was that all runners must return to the finish line with their registration slip that had their details, our ministry logo and the paint marks of all four stages along the marathon path-- Black, Red, White and Green; as proof that they ran past those stages.

As we received the winners and registered them, each provided their slip. But this boy comes and shows me the paint marks on his fingers and began to explain:

"I ran past all the stages, see the paint marks on my fingers, I used my fingers to touch the paint at all the stages..."

I asked, "Where's your slip?"

He went on and on, explaining his predicament and pleading. Sadly, he'd broken one of the cardinal rules of this marathon.

I was devastated. Right before me was a scenario that must not play out in heaven for any disciple of Christ. He was in tears but the rule had to apply.

I've continued to ask myself since then, "Should I have let him have his place? "After all this is a sport we organized to win students to Jesus and he proved he ran the distance, going through the four stages, though without his slip."

Was it fair to have disqualified him? What do you think?

We didn't plan for disqualifications or even think there will be any. This was too simple a race for anyone to go wrong; so we thought. But isn't that why laws are made? They aren't made just to catch offenders but more importantly, to show and maintain a standard.

This marathon awakened me again to a harsh reality-- making it to the finish line doesn't guarantee the prize yet. Apostle Paul said he wanted to finish his race with joy. (Acts 20:24)

Jesus taught this lesson when He said, "When the Judgment Day comes, MANY will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed MANY miracles!" (obviously new testament believers)

Then I will say to them, 'I NEVER knew you. Get away from me, you WICKED PEOPLE!' (Matt 7:22-23 GNB my emphasis) Wicked...? How? Why?

Apostle Paul knew something of this fact, so he said, "... I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  (1Cor 9:27 NIV)

You may not be stirred like I am, since you didn't witness the agony of this boy. But I hope your imagination is good. It may be time for a pit stop.

It is lamentable indeed, knowing that God has set mankind in such a race where heaven or hell is their certain end, but they sit down and loiter, run aimlessly or after the childish toys of the world, forgetting THE PRIZE they are created to inherit.

This weekend in Yei, we set out on a small but major outdoors adventure we've called: The Race of Life.

Students in all secondary schools here are being asked to register and partake in a 4km marathon race. Every student is free to sign up. The prizes include; one academic years' scholarship for the first ten boys and the first ten girls; a certificate each and instant cash.

Aside discovering hidden talents gifted with endurance-running who could make it to the international stage in time to come, we intend by this program to communicate the virtues of preparation, discipline, focus and endurance as core necessities for excellence in life.

Participating students and their friends who'd come to witness this event will be taught to see life on earth as a race, lasting as long as one lives. This is a gospel outreach of a unique kind but they don't know it yet.

Teachers from the various schools and a few dignitaries will witness this inaugural event. Oh that God will show up!

We expect this sport event to run yearly and plan to use it to connect with winners and future winners in discipleship meetings crafted for them and their kind. Someone's destiny beckons.

The race of life is offered to all men. The prize is not just heaven, but the fullness of God Himself. What will heaven be like without God?

When we read Hebrews 11 and continue into Hebrews 12:1-3, we notice the heavenly arena consists of the Triumphant Ones, all who've run the race before us. I once wondered if they are just "witnesses" in the sense that they are watching and cheering for the contestants or witnesses in the sense that they have left examples for us to follow.

It may be both. The word "witness" does not mean spectator. It is a word from which we get the English word "martyr." Not all were martyrs but all are witnesses to us of God's passion for God, showcased by the faith of great souls who wanted Him and nothing more.

They knew that cheers or jeers of people could become distractions if the ultimate prize- GOD Himself, is not placed in proper perspective.

Apostle Paul put it clearly, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Phil 3:8 NIV)

Some gave all, should we be specified just giving some?

What or who are you running to win... gain?

When Anne left Juba for Yei, she was given eight days "holiday" by these evil spirits. But on arriving Yei, her family insisted she must not return to Juba. Her folks knew nothing of whom and what  she'd become and their instructions greatly annoyed her spirit husband and other spirits.

These spirits began to visit her in Yei and started oppressing her family members. Last week, they gave her an ultimatum to return to Juba by 4th November 2011.

At this time, a brother in church had a vision where he saw Anne and two other ladies in great danger. He shared the vision with me and I asked him to prayerfully pay Anne a visit and witness Jesus to her. He did and came back with a horrific story too long for this piece.

He encountered these evil spirits by the seductive spell that came over him when he was with Anne that evening. The demons told Anne right there that this preacher is weak. She confronted him with their views of him and he confessed that his mind was dirty as he struggled with lusted for her while ministering to her.

The brother was greatly jolted by Anne's revelations and experiences with these evil spirits. He asked for prayer of protection for his family and himself. I encouraged him to go back and bring her. He did and our first session with Anne began.

She tried to be as brief as possible but it was clear from her responses and gesticulations that she was deeply involved, confused and afraid. However, we made her understand the following:

1. Those beings are fallen spirits, outcasts of heaven, and defeated enemies of God. To this she replied that the spirits always told her God was wicked and wanted to destroy her life. So she stopped praying to God and has not stepped into a church since meeting these creatures. We exposed their lies and she began to understand that even Satan can manifest himself as an angel of light (2Cor 11:4)

2. These spirits had prospered her business to get her attention and loyalty (Matt 4:8-9). She agreed with this too and told us that many young men are caught by these evil spirits because of their lust for wealth. She knows many other ladies in Yei that she meets on "the other side".

But her questions were, "Why me?" "How did they make me disappear and reappear on this side?" "Why do these spirits hate God so much?" "Why are they afraid of Jesus and praying people?" "Can God still forgive me and prosper me?" The answers to these questions and others she asked made a way for Jesus into her life.

3. These spirits are doomed to hell fire and they know it (Matt 25:41) but their aim is to take her and as many as they can to hell too. She believed this and confessed they'd tormented her many times and threatened her life severally.

4. We made her understand that if she says her son died and was buried, he'll never come back to her in this world. The child she meets as her son on the other side is NOT her's but a demon that took on the image and personality of her son to deceive her (Gen 3:1-6). She was confused here. She claims the boy is growing up right like other kids, how can he not be her son?

Some of these things have no logical explaination, seeing that her experiences are as real to her as her name. But reality in the spirit world is a mystery to the ordinary man.

5. We presented a clear picture of God's love for her. The Gospel rests on this one truth-- God's love for us is unconditional! (Rom 5:8) She saw that Jesus' love was different from that of her spirit husband who forced himself on her and took her Son. Jesus was knocking at the door of her heart, asking politely to be let in.

Her struggles to remain part of that world was finally broken when she understood the gentle love of Jesus. She then agreed to invite the Lord into her life and we went to work.

After hours of ministering to this lady, God proved Himself again as JEHOVAH, the Man of War (Exodus 15:3). She was saved and totally delivered!! We've started a special discipleship class for her to run daily.

We covet your prayers for Anne and for us too; that Abba will perfect what He's started within her, use her to save others trapped on "the other side" and strengthen us with might by His Spirit for His glory.

I was quite surprised to witness and hear of increased demonic activities here since my last visit. From demonic abductions of adults, rape of ladies by unknown giant males, blatant seductions by teen girls, there's no telling what each day holds.

Barely 48hrs after I arrived here, my phone rang and one of my disciples needed me to come for a deliverance session. It was 9:30pm. A young girl in his neighborhood was manifesting and they can't help or handle her. We've seen much of these before in various shades but there's an alarming upsurge.

The story of Anne (not her real name) is one of those you hear and wonder. Her encounter with visitors from the underworld has raised our concerns to new heights. She shared her ordeal with me and two brothers before she was delivered yesterday.

Anne arrived Yei few weeks ago from Juba where she has lived for the past three years. She hails from Yambio, a growing town south west of South Sudan. She's in her mid to late 20s and a single mum then.

Desperate for the good life, she roamed around Juba seeking a breakthrough and one day, she picked Five Sudanese pounds ($2.50 then) along the road and instinctively invested it in the business of roasted fresh corn and that day, she made a profit of Fifty-five Sudanese Pounds ($22.00). She used that to buy a carton of beer (alcohol) the following day and sold a total of Nine (9) cartons same day. She soon bought a bar and the business exploded within weeks. It was a welcomed but unusual phenomenon.

One day, as business boomed, she returned home and noticed that the single room she shared with her son was illuminated by a light source from nowhere. There's no single shadow in the room. She ran back and called people to come see it, they came but saw nothing. She was the only one seeing the wonder. As soon as she braved the presence of this indescribable light and lay down to sleep, a huge and tall white man, glowing all over, appeared and grabbed her son from her side and immediately the boy died.

After his burial, she began to see this mysterious man more regularly. He told her if she wanted to see her son again, she should follow him to "the other side". She did and saw her son there. No soul was to know what she'd seen and heard.

Her visits there became more frequent and in time, one of the men there took her as a wife and she had three children for him; two boys and a girl. She remarked that this man and others like him are very jealous beings. He'll not allow her to have sexual relations with any other man. It's been over two years now.

She said there are very many children "on the other side" and many adults too. Her attempt to describe the beauty of the place each time made her shudder and her amazement was troubling. She knew from the first day that the place was not of this world, though it operated in similar fashion.

I asked, "How do you go there?" She motioned with her hands and said, "They open the gates for you. When one of them is walking ahead and another behind, the gate opens and we enter. The chairs there are made of gold, too many beautiful things and beautiful people with spotless skin are there."

How was she delivered?

Read the concluding part tomorrow.

"The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." Isaiah 42:13