IF THE  DEVIL PENETRATES THE CHURCH, HE WILL TAKE OVER NIGERIA  ~ Archbishop Mary Ajisafe

Archbishop Mary Ajisafe, Overseer of Peace of God Ministry, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria has warned that if Christians allow the devil to penetrate the Church, he will take over Nigeria with utmost ease, and it will be too late for all of us.

Ajisafe said this during the 24th anniversary of the Church, which coincided with the 32nd year of her calling into the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Present at the anniversary were leaders of the Church in Lagos, like the Lagos Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Bishop S.T.V Adegbite and the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN Lagos, Apostle Eyinnaya Orkwuonu. There were many Church leaders in the Lagos Christian circuit, Christian businessmen and women, and several well-wishers.

Speaking on the anniversary, Bishop Adegbite followed the anniversary theme to talk about the relevance of thanksgiving from Psalm 57. He told Christians to learn the virtue of prayers and always pray for Nigeria in this election season. Only through this can the nation realise the goals of having God-fearing personalities in power.

The Lagos PFN chairman, Apostle Orkwuonu, spoke on the power of prayer, praise, dance, increase, and giving. According to him, only these can guarantee the prosperity we all desire.

He warned that all Nigerians could do nothing to change this country if we do not care to back them up with prayer, praise and thanksgiving. We should pray for Nigeria concerning the coming elections.

Archbishop Mary Ajisafe, in her anniversary message, said the theme of this year’s celebration was taken from Psalm 57. God, she said, is ready to do good things in Nigeria. Nigerians should be sincere in doing the will of God.

If the devil penetrates the Church, he will easily take over Nigeria. If we give God space to choose the next leader, we shall prosper in Nigeria. The Church should be ready for a fervent prayer so it can be well with Nigeria.

Speaking to E-life after the anniversary, Ajisafe said the Muslim-Muslim Ticket issue is a non-issue because there are three political parties in Nigeria. Nigerians can vote for any of them; after all, not all parties have parade same faith ticket.

Ajisafe said, ‘the most important thing about the election is to allow God in our decisions. If this is done, He will choose the one that will do well, despite religion.

The Bible says if the people do the right thing, He will select the right leaders for them. If they do evil, He will give them bad leaders. It is God who chooses leaders. A leader cannot emerge behind God.

‘If our ways please God, it will be well with us, despite the religion. Take a look at the Christians in government, what have they done for the Church or Christians? We have so many of them in the national assembly; what have they done for the Church?

We keep hearing so many negative things about them. If the Church comes together to pick Christians as leaders, will they remember the Church? Will they act as Christians?

Lamenting, Ajisafe said in the past, ‘There was a Christian I stood with when so many people rose against him. Immediately he won, he blocked my phone number. He became unreachable to date. There was another one. Having prayed for him here, he got an appointment somewhere. Immediately he resumed, he turned against me.

‘If we have good Christians that could be assisted to win, I am for it. But who can we trust? Christians should not fight anybody. Let us pray to God to choose the people He wants.

Speaking on what God has done for the Church in the past 24 years and the expectations of their 25th anniversary next year, Ajisafe said God has been so wonderful to them because all He promised them in time past are coming to pass.

‘When He called me to establish this Church, I refused and told Him I could not be a liar like others. I told him people would rise against me because I refused to tell lies. I come from a Christian family where I saw the in and out of the Church. When you don’t do what they do, they will rise against you. I told Him I would like to remain an evangelist and counsellor. But establishing a church? No.

‘I also told him there is no space again in Lagos. Lagos is full. I gave excuses like Moses. Then, God sent Baba Olowere in Ibadan to me. He said God insisted I should establish a Church after eight years as a private evangelist and counsellor. Other people who spoke about me establishing a church include Prophet  Ayeni (late), Prophet Salawu, Prophet Samuel, and Baba Adebowale. And that God said I would take the ministry round the world.

‘I’ve not established a Church, but I’ve started preaching abroad, in the US, UK, and many places. When we started, we were in six areas here in Surelere. As we expand and the population increases, God made provision for us to go to more prominent places. We even moved to Ikorodu before God returned us to Surulere. We are now established in the seventh location. We currently have parishes in Ikorodu, Ajah, and Badagry.

According to Mary Ajisafe, establishing the Church here in Surulere was difficult because people often encroach on the land or take it over, and it would become a case in Alausa and different police stations, etc.

‘There were several threats to my life and even physical attacks on Church members. The mercy of God has kept us here. God insisted we start here because the people He sent me to are here. Most of our members are Muslims who converted to Christianity. This Church is principally for evangelism and prophecies. We don’t do anything without consulting the Lord.

Ajisafe also touched on the current menace bedevilling the Church, especially on fake people calling themselves prophets. ‘A prophet, Mary Ajisafe said, ‘is someone anointed by God, not the anointing that spiritual leaders poured on people’s heads.

The Church can ordain a pastor, evangelist, or apostle, but a prophet is ordained by God. He is sent from heaven. He has thoughts and understanding, wisdom and the presence of God.

‘So many people now call themselves prophets because it is fashionable and marketable. Many people who are weak in faith and unable to develop spiritually have reduced Christianity to ‘my prophet said’, ‘my pastor said’.

They are not ready to discipline themselves and hear God directly. So many liars, therefore, melt into prophethood. Ritualists have penetrated the ranks. They built Churches to gather crowds because they knew people were now wiser and stopped patronising Babalawo.

‘I tell people who come to this Church to first go to God to reveal who Mary Ajisafe is before they associate with me. I tell them to ask God if this is the Church He wants them to attend. And I know God reveals me to them.

‘God’s gift in the ministry is diverse. Some healing, some preaching, some evangelism. But now, everyone wants to be called a prophet or prophetess. Some will approach the occult for powers so they could be famous, rich and powerful.

‘So, prophethood today is constituted by those who are called of God, those who called themselves, those without calling, those whose parents covenanted them to God, and those who desire it on their own.

PICTURES FROM THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY