other links

Venue:Labak Estate, Oja Oba Bus stop, Abule Egba, Lagos.

Sunday Service:
Time: 10 am

Midweek Service:
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm

Cell: 2341-8028368520
2341-8055922224
2341-8974445

THE JOYS OF FATHERHOOD

The gentle breeze and sunbeams were favourably disposed to the mammoth crowd who thronged the ever-busy Oko-Oba Bus Stop, Abule-Egba, en-route to the Abule-Egba Facility of Ogba/Agege Region of the International Church of Christ for the Fathers’ Day Celebration, June 17. The Fathers were smashingly dressed, elated and could be seen chatting merrily with one another. Succinctly put, excitement and joyous affection pervaded the air all through the Church service creating lasting memories in the minds of Christians.
 
Disciples were enthralled when Mr. Samuel Kayode Owolabi (Deacon and the Financial Manager of Hope Worldwide Nigeria) kicked off the ceremony with a sort of expository into the origin of the Fathers’ Day Celebration in the United States of America (USA) over 4000 years ago. He attributed the agelong ceremony to Mr. Smart who single-handedly raised up his six children after the death of his wife. Mr. Smart’s sacrifice precipitated a Proclamation establishing Fathers Day in the USA to honour fathers for their unique contributions to the family. But it was not until 1976 that sheer determination to adequately give due honour to whom it is due accelerated the signing of the Document by the President declaring June 17th of every year as Fathers Day.

The most exhilarating point of the ceremony was the inspirational exhortations titled: “Turning the hearts of Fathers to their children,” delivered by two Fathers and Deacons (Mr. Solomon Obilomo and Mr. Owolabi).

Taking his Text from Luke 1:17, Mr. Obilomo challenged the fathers to love their children deeply, to enable them prepare them for God’s noble use. The deacon whose message was down to earth and laced with his life experiences called on the fathers to be spiritual as that is the only way they can raise godly children. “The family and not the Church is responsible for the spiritual upbringing of children. So, more efforts are needed to raise up children to be disciples. Remember, they are future leaders of the Church,” he stated. Mr. Obilomo told the fathers that it is more rewarding for them to get connected with their children rather than merely bug them with material things, adding: “Of what use would our children’s career, intelligence, eloquence, worldly possessions be, if they don’t know God?” He therefore itemized 15 Basic ways fathers could help their children to become awesome disciples. Some of them included teaching them: To love righteousness and hate evil; be aware that God is always observing what they do or say; Fear God; to understand they are strangers on earth and that their citizenship is in heaven as well as pray and study the Word of God daily.

  Mr. Owolabi who took his text from Ephesians 4: 1 – 4, beamed with smiles as he nostalgically narrated the awesome relationship he had with his late father, saying it had a tremendous impact in his personality.  He therefore tasked some fathers who are in the habit of being too busy to know what goes on in the lives of their children but leave their upbringing to their wives. “How much have you committed to the relationship with your children? Mothers were never challenged in the Bible about the disciplining of children. So, put more effort towards brining out the best in your children,” he said.
The Finance Manager while x-raying the importance of protecting children from ungodly influences, challenged fathers to exemplarily inculcate biblical and social values in their children to enable them actualize their God-given potentials.

For many fathers, the ceremony was exquisitely impacting as it afforded them the opportunity of learning how to take their fatherly responsibilities higher. Mr. Kingsley Ilomegbunam (a deacon and father of two) expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Church for giving them the opportunity to celebrate the Fathers Day.  He believes the messages have empowered fathers with basic tips for great parenting. Mr. Godwin was expressed gratitude to have participated in the ceremony. “I have learnt a lot from today’s classes. I now understand what it takes to be the head of the family and I’m going to raise up my daughter in the way of the Lord,” he pledged.

The leadership of the Church was not left out in the euphoria of the Day’s celebration. Mr. Shadrach Obasa (Regional Leader) was particularly excited about the life transforming ideas conveyed in the deacons’ messages. “Today is awesome and God is doing amazing things in our midst. We are privileged to have older and experienced fathers to preach to us. I feel delighted as a father and challenged by the sermon,” Obasa enthused. For Tony Ogbokiri (evangelist), the Day’s Celebration was unique in that Christian fathers were once again reminded about their God-given roles. “God told the Israelites (men) to teach their children the way of God. We can only do this when we are spiritual and have an awesome relationship with our children,” he explained.

But the excitement of the Day was not only the Men’s affair. The women who dressed elegantly were radiant as their husbands rejoiced in the presence of God. Mrs. Augusta Obasa (Women Regional Leader) praised the Christian Fathers for the powerful messages they had put up to make the Day quite remarkable. She promised to get the women to put in powerful rendition to honour Fathers during the next Fathers Day.

Ogba/Agege Children's Day Thanksgiving Service
posted May 29

Special message

The thanksgiving message was indeed a very special one as the guest speaker, Israel Ereola, the Church's Administrator, had to seize the opportunity of the second invitation to round off a message he started the previous week. God demonstrated his willingness to enrich everyone with this message by causing a heavy downpour, which actually forced almost everybody into the hall. The message was on faith in God but the highlight was on the experience of the guest speaker which God actually capitalized on in proving to the audience that the God we serve is a living one.

Glory Continua
"Glorious Things Are Said of You, O City of God,"


The Scripture quoted above aptly describes the Church services of Ogba/Agege Region at the Abule-Egba Facility since inception. The excitement, joy, laughter and commitment exhibited by disciples during the inaugural Church service have continued to characterize their subsequent meetings. This was further highlighted during the Region’s thanksgiving service as the elated disciples, friends and family members filed out in their best with joyful noise, singing and dancing to express their gratitude to God whom they unanimously agreed has done them well, April 29, 2007. The carnival-like ceremony, which had 518 people in attendance, x-rayed disciples’ overwhelming joy and spiritual bonding emanating from meaningful fellowship in the past one month. It is not an overstatement to say that this has produced unity of purpose among disciples thereby instigating them to do more for the LORD.Many people attributed the spiritual fervour shown by disciples to the new Facility which has given them the opportunity to live like disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ. Yinka Oyegunle (deacon) was all smiles as he described the Region’s Church activities thus: "It has been great! We are getting bigger. More disciples in the Region now make it to Church at Midweek and Sunday services." Oyegunle is particularly happy that disciples have grown tremendously in their joy level as well as in giving for the work of God. For Kayode Owolabi (deacon and Financial Manager of Hope Worldwide Nigeria), disciples in the Region have "done well! You can see from the records that they have shown great commitment towards the work of God. They have equally improved in their attitude to special contribution."The Leadership of the Church also commended the disciples for the strong dedication they had put up while expressing optimism that God would take the young Church to greater heights.

Shadrach Obasa (Regional Leader) ascribed the achievements recorded in the Church to God Almighty whom he said has been marvelously kind to the Region. Smiling broadly, Obasa explained: "It’s from good to better and I believe God it would get to best. God has been faithful." The women ministry was not left out! Augusta Obasa (women Regional leader) was overjoyed for God’s amazing blessings in the women ministry. She thanked God "for the ministry’s growth and increase in joy level. You know, many women turned up during the campaign last month resulting in many women studying the Bible." Augusta is optimistic that many of them would be baptized into the kingdom of God.The disciples in Ogba/Agege Region have every cause to grow in their commitment and spirituality. The leadership had packaged life transforming programs and messages aimed at drawing the disciples close to God. Some of them included: The Campaign for Christ embarked upon by the entire Church which enabled disciples to evangelize their neighbourhoods. The Region further mapped out the fasting and prayer chains to instill spirit of intercession and spiritual bonding among disciples as they took turn each day to fast and pray for God’s work to flourish in the Region. That was not all! The leadership also stretched out hands of fellowship to leaders from other Regions to deliver life imparting messages at Church Services thereby strengthening the bond of unity with other Regions. The roll call of some invitees included: Chris Ogbonnaya (Lead-Evangelist); Emmanuel Emeh (Island Regional Leader); John Obaje (Somolu/Mushin Regional Leader); Charlie Davies (Ojo/Apapa Regional Leader); Yemi Osilaja (deacon and Country Director of Hope Worldwide Nigeria); Israel Ereola (Elder and ICOC Nigeria Administrator) and Tony Adamu.

God has rewarded the Region with Four baptisms while many others are studying the Bible of which we strongly believe would become Christians.But the Leaders are not relenting in efforts to ensure that disciples do not shrink back in their faith. This is portrayed in the thanksgiving messaged delivered in the Region by Ogbonnaya. The message titled: ‘You are the Salt of the Earth,’ passionately appealed to disciples to make the difference in their society. He used vivid images to remind Christians: "If physical light is so important to you, how much more your spiritual light. What extent are you willing to go so that you have spiritual light? We are living in a corrupt and crooked world and God is looking for people to lighten it" With more words full of emotion laced with persuasion, Ogbonnaya further encouraged disciples to remain steadfast in their work with God.
Posted by Favour Ojiabor (Mrs.) favokereke@yahoo.com

GLORIOUS BEGINNING
Inaugural Worship service at Ogba/Agege Region

It was a glorious beginning for disciples of Ogba/Agege Region of the International Church of Christ, Lagos, as they thronged their Abule- Egba facility as early as 8:40am for their inaugural service, March 4. Excitement, laughter and contagious joy permeated the air giving room for warm and intimate fellowship among Christians. The commitment and bonding they exhibited in setting up the Church Auditorium before the main service at 10am further epitomizes the unity of the Body of Christ. Dressed in highly celebrative attires, they brought lots of their friends making the atmosphere festive. They were unanimous in their expressions of gratitude to God for giving them a place of worship within their locality. This is because some of them had been finding it difficult to be regular in church services and programs in Surulere due to the distance and economic hardship in the country. Rita Edoh who lives in Ajuwon (very far from Surulere facility) was particularly grateful to God for the new facility as it would enable her to be more effective and fulfilled as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

She said: “I will conserve my energy to making disciples. This is by studying the bible with people as well as following up on young Christians.” For Ezenwa Nwaubani who resides at Abule-Egba, the Region’s church facility is mind blowing and a proof of God’s faithfulness. Beaming with smiles he explained that it would give him the opportunity to “put in my best in the choir and in sharing my faith.” Victoria Ahigbe who had not been consistent in church services because of the situation was overjoyed as she chatted merrily with disciples she had not seen for a long time. Church evangelists and leaders showed concern and enthusiasm towards sustaining disciples overwhelming excitement and commitment to God. They rolled out strategies to perfect this. The communion talk and message enjoined Christians to glorify God in the new facility. Chris Ogbonnaya (Lead Evangelist) who preached the sermon was full of gratitude to God “who can do immeasurable more than we can think and imagine. He used the story of Moses, especially from Heb 11: 24 – 28, to call disciples to righteousness and commitment to God so that His purpose and plan for the Church could be actualized. Chris laid out his dream for the church thus: “I would want disciples to go back to the bases and be disciples of Jesus Christ. They should be fishers of men as well as light of the world. Disciples should be able to stand out and be irons that sharpen irons.” The lead evangelist reiterated his commitment towards planting the Church of disciples in virtually every local government area of Lagos State. Chris is not alone in the dream! Shadrach Obasa (the Regional Evangelist) was emphatic in his speech were he encouraged disciples to grow in their devotion and soul winning. This involves three months soul winning campaign in which every disciple would be involved. Shadrach intends to achieve this by opening a notebook in which every disciple would sign when he or she would offer time to evangelize.

He dreams to expand the Church to the point of having four services every Sunday before the end of year 2007. The sisters are not left out in the clarion call. Rolayo Ogbonnaya urged sisters to be fruitful in their individual Christian lives. She wants a breakdown of situations in which disciples make fruitfulness their lifestyle. Rolayo is working towards a situation where young women would be raised up to be consistent and devoted in their walk with God. For Augusta Obasa, “sisters can no longer hide, their impart must be felt in the Church.” She has put up training programs: ‘Priscilla and Aquilla’ in which Marrieds would be trained in righteousness and fear of God in marriage and every aspect of their lives. Single sisters would be empowered on purity.
Favour Ojiabor

Psalm 40:1-3 “…He lifted me out of the slimy pit…and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God...”

I t was an intense combination of dance, earth shaking singing and all-night prayers as over a 100 disciples gathered at Ogba - Agege Region to formally open its new worship facility located at Labak Estate, Abule Egba, a suburb of Lagos. The all night sessions, with the theme, 'That I may know him', was organized by disciples in both the Ikeja-Ketu and the Ogba-Agege Regions at the venue to enable worshippers glorify God and be appreciative for the sacrificial hearts of disciples who contributed over a million Naira to ensure that the goal of a- church-in-every-local-government is reached in this generation.
The Lead Evangelist of the West Africa Movement, Chris Ogbonnaya, just back from an official trip to Nairobi, urged disciple to be faithful to the living God who answers prayers. The sermon for the night was delivered by the Leader of the region, Shedrack Obasa who spoke on 'Jesus;Mighty God and Wonderful Counselor'. The messages focused on the spiritual efficacy and the incredible Power that Name signifies. The vigil, which lasted for close to seven hours, also had lots of uplifting testimonies from disciples who just can't hold back but to share how much they had been blessed lately by God.