By Ishaya Ibrahim
In the modern world, it is rare to find half the attendees of a crusade responding to an altar call. But on December 15 and 16 at the open field of the Presbyterian Primary school in Ugep, Cross River State, nearly half of those present accepted Jesus as their Lord and personal Saviour when Dr Joseph Tarkon, a Nigerian-born, American-based doctor and pastor, preached.
The crusade, tagged ‘Mission to Yakurr and Environs, was attended by thousands of people from Ugep and its surrounding towns.
Visit to a King
Pastor Tarkon, the presiding pastor of the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in Atlanta, Georgia, launched the crusade with a visit to the king of Ugep, His Royal Majesty Obol Ofem Eteng Ubana where he delivered to the paramount ruler the message of Christ.
He said: “We came here for three primary reasons. One, to be a blessing to Yakurr, to give what God has given us freely and gladly and willingly.”
Dr Tarkon also told the king that the mission included training of young people on how to be effective leaders, a medical outreach and then the crusade.
He told the king of Ugep: “We are trying to bring the message of Jesus Christ and his free gifts to mankind to the community.”
He added: “The world lives in darkness and without the light of God, without the love of God in the heart of men, people will continue in darkness and people will end up in a place that God did not intend for them and they will end up in hell.”
He said when the white missionaries came to Africa, they brought along with them schools, hospitals and the gospel.
He then said: “Regardless of whatever we say about the white man, they brought us the message of redemption, which is the fact that through Christ, man can be saved. Through Christ, man can have peace here on earth. Through Christ, man can have meaning here on earth and beyond this earth, man can live eternally with God in a place of bliss and in a place of blessedness. That’s what we came here to do.”
He added: “Thankfully I learned that you have been a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and that you have had that privilege to have a personal relationship with Christ. But for the benefit of others who are listening to us, it is very important that a man has relationship with Christ because ultimately, regardless of what we accomplish on this earth, we all will die. And ultimately, we all will transcend to the great beyond. And when we crossover, we don’t have a choice. We are going to meet our maker. We are going to meet the one who sent us into this world.”
He then narrated the story of King Herod to the King: “This morning I was reading the story of a man called Herod. Herod was a man who imprisoned some of the Disciples of Christ and he killed one of them. When he wanted to kill the second one, the Bible says an Angel of God came and rescued Peter from the dungeon. Herod was so angry that he killed the soldiers who were supposed to be guarding Peter.
“Herod was given a speech to his people, he was celebrating his power and glory and authority. And he was speaking in such a way that the Bible says he did not give glory to God. And because he was so eloquent and so powerful, people reverenced him and people deferred to him, he elevated himself above God. And the Bible says that God got angry and killed him. He died in an instant. And immediately he died, worms devoured him. When I read that story this morning, I was a bit afraid. It shows even though Herod had power, even though Herod had influence, his power and influence were limited.
“There’s only one person who has ultimate power, who can kill and make alive, who can wound and who can heal. And that person is God. And through Jesus Christ his son, he has brought us to a place where we can have a personal relationship with him. In a moment like this, some of us can have a recommitment to Christ. If you don’t mind, I will like us to pray with you,” he told the king of Ugep.
The king responded to Pastor Tarkon’s message by giving testimony of how God’s grace protected while in the Nigerian Army as a soldier.
Day one of the crusade
On the first day of the crusade, which was December 15, Pastor Tarkon read from Acts Chapter 1 vs 38 which was how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and Power.
He told the thousands of people in attendance that while Jesus came to give Life and to give it in abundance, the devil came to steal that life.
He said a follower of Jesus must learn how to do the good that Jesus came to earth to do because the Bible says ‘Let your light so shine that they will glorify your Father.’
Pastor Tarkon then made an altar call, and the crowd that came out where overwhelming, which was almost half of those in attendance. He led them into giving their lives to Christ before praying generally for the sick.
Day two of the crusade
On day two of the crusade, Pastor Tarkon preached on the topic: “See What God Can Do.” He read from Luke Chapter 1 vs 37, which reads: “For with God, nothing is impossible.”
He told the crowd that some problems in the eye of humans can appear impossible. He said even as a physician there are ailments that have no cure. But he assured the people that with God, nothing can be impossible.
When he made the second altar call of the crusade, those who came out where more than those remaining seated.
The crusade featured music ministration from Buchi Atuonwu, Omini Praise and many others.