Miracles flowed. Souls got born again. And attendees resolved to live righteous lives at the “Lagos City-Wide Crusade” hosted by Deeper Life Bible Church.
The experience remains in memory for eternity, writes TEMITOPE OJO.
William Kumuyi, the pastor of the church, admonished Nigerians to seek and serve God wholeheartedly, without recourse to cultic means, at the much publicised three-week crusade held in 18 locations in the Lagos metropolis.
He said the freedom of worship in Nigeria should not be a licence for citizens to indulge in vain worship and corruption which hinder the flow of God’s blessings and take the country backward.
Great God of grace, and of mighty power
It was the first time Deeper Life would embark on a crusade for 18 weeks nonstop, and Kumuyi attributed the strength to pull through to the grace and power of God.
He expressed gratitude for the numerous miracles wrought by the hand of God in all the locations.
The crusade kicked off at the sprawling open field of Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, on September 8 and moved on to Ketu, Gbagada, and so on.
Messages preached by Kumuyi touched both spiritual and physical needs; and attendees testified enthusiastically of salvation, deliverance, and healing.
Kumuyi told reporters that the crusade has left positive indelible marks in the lives and families of all worshippers.
Said he: “The grace of God is behind the strength of my being able to do the Lagos City-Wide crusade for 18 days nonstop.
“This is the first time we will go through like this nonstop for 18 days, holding the crusade and travelling from place to place in the whole state.
“We give glory to God and also appreciate the cooperation of the people as we have worked together. Unity is strength and I felt the unity of the people; not only that of Deeper Life members but also that of CAN, PFN and everybody.”
Jam packed, despite heavy rain
The mood of the participants was captured at Ikeja Grammar School, Bolade, Oshodi where people defied heavy downpour to seek the Lord.
The venue was jam packed with people who refused to be discouraged as they considered the programme a lifetime opportunity to receive from God.
They stood in the rain, holding on to their conviction to receive miracles.
In Yaba, participants – among them Uduak Inyang-Udoh (director of Academic Planning Unit, Yaba College of Technology; and Sola Akeredolu (chairman, Joint Christian Management Committee – could not hide their excitement and joy.
Udoh, who represented Yabatech Rector, Margaret Ladipo, said “personally, I am excited because I see this as a lifetime opportunity.”
Get out of valley of indecision
Kumuyi’s message at Yabatech, titled, “Decision that activates supernatural power”, was anchored on the predicament of those who dwell in the valley of indecision.
In Agege, he preached on “The supernatural beginning of a better life” and charged Nigerians to eschew cultism and other social vices that truncate lives and dreams of greatness.
Kumuyi gave an unflinching support to the fight to stamp out corruption, charged the government to be transparent in its dealings, and advised Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice towards neighbours and the nation.
Several testimonies were recorded as the train moved from one end of the city to another.
Jumoke Adediran testifies of healing
Jumoke Adediran, a resident of Ikeja, could not contain her joy as she narrated her escape from the claws of rectal cancer.
It was a horrible experience she would never wish anyone to go through, she added.
Two years ago, Adediran became afflicted with cancer of the rectum. So, like others, she went to the crusade with great expectation.
Initially, she did not know what the disease was, except that she was having strange feelings within her.
In May last year, she was diagnosed with rectal cancer, the growth of abnormal cancerous cells in the lower part of the colon that connects the anus to the large bowel.
“Immediately I heard of diagnosis, I rejected it, saying, ‘it is not my portion,’” Adediran recalled.
She took it spiritually and started praying, although she visited hospital for all the necessary things.
At first, the doctors informed her they would perform surgery on her, and again, she rejected it.
When she eventually succumbed to the doctors’ advice, they told her the situation had gone beyond their imagination, as the cancerous lump had entered into her private part.
“The doctors therefore scheduled me for colostomy, which is a surgical procedure of bringing one end of the large intestine out through the stomach to enable me pass faeces as against the normal use of the anus.
“This, the doctors said, would help me rest my anus. Before the advice for colostomy, they directed me to undergo both hormone therapy and radiotherapy.
“I finished hormone therapy. I was also to do radiotherapy for four weeks. But two days into the treatment, faeces started coming out from my private part and I was told to discontinue radiotherapy.
“They scheduled me for colostomy, which was to puncture my stomach to rest my anus so that I would not do normal passing of faeces from the anus.
“I asked God, ‘I am Your child. Where did I go wrong?’
“I have been praying. I could not even sit well.
“When my husband told me that [Kumuyi] was coming to Police College, Ikeja, I said I must be there. I told God I would not like to come back home with this sickness.”
Rectal cancer vanishes
“As [Kumuyi] asked us to lay our hands where we had problems, I did and after the prayer, I did not feel the disease again.
“Before, I could not sit down comfortably, but now I can sit down well.
“Before, when I heard about cancer, I believed it was the end of the person’s life. Many people have died with this ailment. But God did not allow it to claim my life.
“Even when I am not faithful, when I have anger, impatience, and all the works of the fresh, God has been merciful unto me.
“That is why, when [Kumuyi] made the altar call, I said whatever the devil wants to use against me would not stand.”
Live a righteous life
“So, I have to come out again to rededicate my life to God. I said, ‘God, I give you everything. Have your way in my life.’
“I thank God that tonight I have received the power to live a righteous life, to live a holy life.
“That is what [Kumuyi] said; that God is going to give us the grace to live a righteous life and that we are not going to be struggling again.
“So, there is no more going to hospital for operation for anything. The Lord has done it and the devil has been put to shame.”
The crusade ended at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at a colourful ceremony where residents of the area hosted Kumuyi and other Lagos officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).