The status and influence of the bi-annual Festival of Life organized in London by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) continues to grow in leaps and bounds with each edition. Among the 45,000 people that thronged the Royal Victoria Dock venue of the latest edition held overnight, 17-18 April was UK’s Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron. Prior to his appearance at the gathering, the Prime Minister had had a private audience with Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the RCCG and main minister at the meeting.
Started 19 years ago,
the Festival of Life is the equivalent of the Holy Ghost Service that holds
monthly at the Redemption Camp and periodically at other venues in and outside
Nigeria. In England, it holds every April and October.
At the recent meeting in
London, David Cameron re-emphasised (see CA! Vol 17 Qtr 2) that the UK is a
Christian nation and it has no apology for so being. “Let us be proud that this
is a Christian country where we stand for the freedom to practice your faith
and where we stand up for Christians and all those who are persecuted anywhere
in our world” Cameron publicly declared.
This is a sharp contrast
to the situation in the United States where President Obama continues to pander
to the Moslem world. In his latest
declarations, Obama insists that the US is not a Christian country and so Americans
must bend over backward to accommodate, nay appease, her increasingly
boisterous and demanding moslem population. The foundation of the US had always
included strong Islamic elements, Obama insists!
At the annual National
Prayer meeting, Obama set a new record when he flatly refused to mention
Islam by name as the cause of tremendous sufferings especially in places
like Syria, Afghan, Somalia, Sudan, Northern Nigeria, etc. Rather, Obama likened
ISIS activities to those of the Crusaders of the Middle Ages, thus trying to
detract and deflect ongoing atrocities by groups like ISIS and Boko Haram; and
suggesting that all religions are really equally culpable. Of course, as usual he did not fail to hit
hard at his Christian hosts for being insensitive to the feelings of their
Moslems compatriots. It sure must hurt
being reminded that unspeakable atrocities are being carried out under the
banner of one’s cherished religion, but how can that be compared with the hurt
of people who are on the receiving end, such as those being decapitated,
crucified, or burnt alive in the name of Allah?
It’s pathetic that while
nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran flaunt their being fundamentalist Moslem nations past and
present, the West shamefully struggles to re-write her own history to becloud
clear Christian heritage. Thank God for
the David Camerons who still show some modicum of respect for plain history.
Speaking at the April
Festival of Life, the Coordinating Pastor of the RCCG in the UK, Pastor Agu
Irukwu said Cameron’s presence at the meeting, ahead of the coming general
elections on May 7, reflects the “growing influence of not just the RCCG and
the black majority churches, but of the Church in general.” He averred that the “partnership between the
government and the Church is critical to the spiritual and social
transformation” of the UK. (see The Guardian (Nigerian), April 27, pg 15)
Meanwhile, the annual
ministration of Pastor E.A.Adeboye at the campus of the Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife is billed to become a full all-night Holy Ghost Service as
from next year. Pastor Adeboye dropped
the hint at this year’s meeting in January.
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