PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
DEVASTATING THE HOUSE OF GOD IN THE NAME
OF ASSOCIATION
A Note Of Caution To The Pentecostal Fellowship Of
Nigeria (PFN) And The Imo State Council Of Pentecostal Bishops And City Elders
In
recent passed, a development which every right-thinking Pentecostal preacher
would call ugly erupted and went down into the fabric of the Pentecostal
movement in Nigeria. Before this time, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
(PFN), being the most outstanding Pentecostal Association in the country under
the able leadership of Archbishop Benson Idahosa of the Blessed Memory
experienced or rather enjoyed considerably a measure of cohesion and peace
which everyone cherished. This cohesion and peace dropped drastically as the
present leadership of the body under Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the Redeemed
Evangelical Mission made unscrupulous moves that thwarted the original
principles of the constitution. For instance, the shift from the electioneering
principle of the constitution to the present selectioneering principle serves
as a major breach of the constitution that threw most of the members off the
bar. Furthermore, the deliberate and inconsiderate establishment of the
dichotomy of the founding and associate churches remains the pendulum of
destruction which Satan has successfully put in place against this apex
Pentecostal body.
However,
it will be wrong to allow the above indictment to eclipse the noble efforts of
merit of this movement. It is noteworthy to cite that it was the PFN which
became strong for Bishop Alex Ezeugo of the Overcomers Christian Mission during
the Otokoto Saga that nearly devastated his life and Ministry. This same group
also became strong for Bishop Steve Gbazie when he was apprehended by the then
Military government for alleged certificate merchandization. These, to mention
but a few, were welfare packages of the highest order.
The
present demerits that rock the PFN are not enough and should not be the bases
for desertion. If therefore, the forming of the Imo State Council of the
Pentecostal Bishops and City Elders was based on the demerits of the PFN, then
it has a wrong foundation and also as devastating as church breaking. In my own
view, with the establishment of the Imo State Council of the Pentecostal
Bishops and city Elders, nothing has really changed in the Pentecostal circle.
This is because the whole drama depicts “old wine in new bottle”.
To
have first-hand knowledge of who the facilitators of the body were, I made an
appearance in its meeting of the 17th day of July, 2002, at the Overcomers
Christian Mission, Owerri. In that meeting, the prevalent pep-talk was the “so
called” welfare programme for the ministers who would register with N5,000,
N2,500 and N1,000 respectively. In fact, I doubted how this welfare programme
could work, since the facilitators were all such bishops and superintendents
who have no well packages for the ministers or work-force who serve in their
individual ministries. How can such bishops and superintendents who do not pay
their work-force well in their individual ministries truly run a welfare
programme for external ministers? I am compelled to state here that with the
propensities apparent in the lives of the prospective facilitators, the “so
called” welfare program remains a mirage.
Reflecting
on the hierarchical order of this organization which stipulates a tripartite
Ministerial Blocs or categories, namely;
(1)
Ministers
of 20 years and above in the ministry, registering with N5,000.00 (Holy of
Holies)
(2)
Ministers
of 10 years and above in the ministry, registering with N2,500.00 (Inner Court)
(3)
Ministers
of less than ten years in the ministry, registering with N1000.00 (Outer court)
I noticed that the
facilitators of this body have carefully put in place an order that would put
them in their “Holy of Holies”. This,
to me is an official establishment of the unnecessary self-importance already
exhibited by most of the leaders of this body. How can that bishop or
superintendent who lives in the Holy of Holies;
·
Whose
office is un-approachable
·
Whose
home is un-visit able
·
Whose
office is besieged by personal police,
truly, run welfare programmes for ministers
who do not have access to him? This element of unnecessary self-importance is
another factor that marks the porosity of the programme. If these bishops and
superintendents or rather the facilitators of the Imo State Council of the
Pentecostal Bishops and City Elders want anyone to believe them in the “so
called” welfare programme, they should among other things begin to pay the
ministers and general work-force who serve in their individual ministries well.
They should also make their offices and homes approachable, thereby eliminating
the element of un-necessary self-importance and the diabolic wall of partition
which hinder people from freely getting to them.
Another
talk that was prominent in that meeting of 17th July, 2002 was the issue of
church breaking. Everyone would bear me witness that those who break churches
in most cases capitalize on the weaknesses of their leaders or associates.
Therefore, if the forming of the Imo State Council of the Pentecostal Bishops and
City Elders was capitalized on the weaknesses of the PFN leaders, then its
formation is as devastating as church breaking.
A
reader of this portion of the write-up may be tempted to think that the writer
had already taken side on the issue at stake. But the issue here, sincerely
speaking, is calling a spade a spade no matter whose ox is gored. It is wrong
for those who once have taken shelter under the canopy of the PFN to turn
around to destroy it just because of resolvable human errors.
To
the leadership of the PFN, it is high time we discarded those things that
disunite in favour of those things that unite us. To have side-lined some key
speaking, is calling a spade a spade no matter whose ox is gored. It is wrong
for those who once have taken shelter under the canopy of the PFN to turn
around to destroy it just because of resolvable human errors.
To
the leadership of the PFN, it is high time we discarded those things that
disunite in favour of those things that unite us. To have side-lined some key
Pentecostal figures by whatever guise or prejudice stands as a costly mistake
that needs urgent attention. To this end, a concerted effort should be made
with a view to correcting every anomaly.
Finally,
both the membership and leadership of the PFN and the Imo State Council of the
Pentecostal Bishops and City Elders should honestly identify and acknowledge
the factors of the present split and in turn work towards reconciliation and
re-integration. It is important to note that the castigators of the Pentecostal
movement by this present split have been given another opportunity to ridicule
the household of God. This is not a glory but a reproach.
Published (2002) by:
The Committee for Better Condition of Service for the
Gospel Ministers
BEN ONYEUKWU WORLD OUTREACH
AND MINISTERIES (NIGERIA)
P.O. BOX 1184, OWERRI, IMO STATE.
No comments:
Post a Comment