by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 2 Thess. 1:11

God created us for Himself and then called us individually to Himself. This call requires a walk of faith, which is obedience to everything God has told us to do. One critical evidence of genuine and growing faith in God is our perseverance through suffering. When we suffer while living and doing God’s will and do not give up, His power kicks in and helps us fulfill His plans for our lives. Our faith prompts us to act on everything we know as God reveals it to us. In the end, God will be glorified in us, and we, His children, will marvel at Him. Paul sums it up in verse 5: “All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result, you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” Take courage, friend, and live out your calling no matter what.

 
Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions. 

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. Isa. 62:6-7

A Watchman over a city is constantly alert and looks out for any approaching enemy to warn the people. He chooses not to sleep so that others can sleep. He knows his role and will not be distracted at all. You may be the watchman/woman for your family, city, or country. God’s charge to you is to pray for your family, city, or country without ceasing. Do not take a break, and do not let God rest. Keep at it until God establishes your family, city, or nation as a place of praise. Our verses for today imply that your prayer could take a long time before the answer comes to you. The one thing you can be sure of is that the answer will come, so do not quit interceding as God has called you to do. Who is depending on your prayers today?

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thes. 5:16-18.

Our text for today is one sentence divided between three verses with three distinct commands to do things only possible through the help of the Holy Spirit. In our broken world filled with evil, wickedness, error, natural disasters, economic woes, etc., it is humanly impossible to rejoice always. Yet we are commanded to rejoice always. That is only possible when Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, and you trust in Him and His promises. We can also pray without ceasing. One of the definitions of prayer is: “hungering and thirsting for God.” That implies having fellowship with God all the time, even while engaging with other tasks.

Finally, is the command to give thanks (to God) in all circumstances. The focus is not on our situation but on God, who is with us and controls those circumstances. There is nothing that is impossible with Him. He will see you through.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isa. 59:1-2.

G
od created us in His image to have fellowship with Him, demonstrating that with the time He hung out with Adam and Eve in the garden. Being the Holy God that He is, our sin turned Him off from us. Sin is a barrier that separates us from God our Creator, Father, and Friend. God’s love for us led Him to give up His only Son to die in our place, the remedy for sin. The barrier between God and man no longer exists, but we are now facing a new challenge. God longs to hear and answer our prayers, but we do not call on Him as we ought to. We depend on ourselves and the resources we can access to resolve our problems. When our resources prove inadequate, that is when we turn to God and call on Him as a last resort.

Real faith walk with the Lord is when He is our first and only option. Call upon Him now.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by†Rev. Joseph Ezeigbo

“Having then gifts according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Rom.12:6-8.

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor.12:4-6.

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pet.4:10-11.

Instead of the sign gifts as stated in the last letter, the focus of this letter would be the service gifts. The change is necessitated due to the controversial nature and varying opinions held even among the Pentecostal/Charismatics about the sign gifts. This would require a lengthy discussion, so it was thought more appropriate to save it for later.

The service gifts and the sign gifts are variously listed and in no stated order and some repeated in various forms in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Likewise, in the same manner, the discussion will randomly select each gift from the mentioned passages.  It is also of note to state that the list of gifts mentioned in the above passages, including 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 and Ephesians 4:11 should by no means be considered exhaustive. They are only representative of the large pool from which the Holy Spirit chooses. 1 Cor.12:4-6,11.

Some of the serving gifts fall within the category of what some describe as verbal and non-verbal gifts. Each gift will be identified in its category when it comes up for discussion.

THE GIFTS

Serving-Both KJV and NKJV used the archaic translation, ministry, for the Greek word diakonos, which is better translated serving or service. It is the word from which the English word deacon is derived. It has the sense of serving. It is the same word used in Acts 6:1-2 for the daily distribution of food and by the apostles for “serve” or “wait on” tables. It is used also by Jesus of Himself. Mk.10:45. Some think that this is identical with helps 1 Cor.12:28. It is true that every believer can offer help to some degree to anyone in need, but this gift is a special ability or disposition given by the Holy Spirit to some believers to help in extra ordinary ways or circumstances. Possessors of this gift would go “extra miles” to help others without noticing it. To them it seems normal and natural. They will never be satisfied until it done to their satisfaction. This gift is one of those to be classified as non-verbal, and quite often exercised by those who are not in the limelight. Those who possess this gift take off heavy burden from those who occupy visible leadership roles in the church and organizations.

Exhortation– This is a verbal gift. The Greek word parakalon, translated exhort, has the same root with Parakleton/Paraklesis, (the Counselor/Comforter) which Jesus promised His disciples in the Upper room Discourse. Jn.14:16,25; 15:26;16:7. The word means one who is called alongside to help. The root of the word, parakalon, given the context in which Jesus used it, suggests that this gift has something to do with encouragement, comfort, or admonition. It may also include the idea of counseling and moral support. This is to be distinguished from the gift of teaching. Dr. Theodore Epp states that “It is the God-given ability to urge people on toward a goal and to help them consider a new course of conduct.” Dr. John MacArthur adds,” The gift enables a believer to effectively call others to obey and follow God’s truth. It may be used negatively to admonish and correct regarding sin(2Tim.4:2) or positively to encourage, comfort and strengthen struggling believers (2 Cor.1:3-5; Heb.10:24-25).” In His parting words, Jesus used it when He promised His fearful disciples the Counselor who will replace His physical presence, both teach and remind them what they had been taught.Jn.14:15,25-26.

It is undoubted that an early Christian named Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, nicknamed Barnabas by the apostles (Son of Encouragement) possessed this gift. (Acts 4:36). Besides the generous donation, which is recorded for him, Acts 4:37, he was the same person who not only welcomed Saul as a Christian convert, but allayed the fears of the apostles and other believers about him. (Acts 9:26-28). He was the one whom the church at Jerusalem sent to go and encourage the new believers in Antioch. (Acts 11:22-24). Later he went to Tarsus to look for Saul and brought the new and fervent apostle to join him in the growing work in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26). He and Saul travelled together to Jerusalem to deliver humanitarian relief to the church. (Acts 11:27-30). He accompanied Saul (now Paul) along with Mark during the first Missionary journey. (Acts 13:2-5; 12:25). He went with Paul to the first Church Council in Jerusalem to argue the case for Gentile Christianity. (Acts 15). During the second missionary journey when Paul rejected John Mark because of past failure, Barnabas took him and trained him. (Acts 15:36-40). Years later, Paul acknowledged that Barnabas was right. 2 Tim.4:11. A mindset that governs those who possess this gift is expressed by the Servant of Jehovah. “The LORD God has given me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.” Isa.50:4.

Giving– This is a non-verbal gift. Giving to humanitarian causes and support of God’s work is a trait that is common to humans throughout history. Both in the Old and New Testaments, commandments are given to help and support the poor and needy. In the New Testament in particular, every believer is urged to give generously in proportion to their ability. 1 Cor.16:2. But the Scripture indicates that there are those who are endowed with this ability as a special gift. This ability may have nothing to do with whether the individual is rich or poor. But it has everything to do with the grace that has been divinely bestowed on them. David gave generously from his large wealth for the building of the Temple.1 Chron.29:2-5. But there is also a record of a widow who gave only a mite, which was all that she had.Lu.21:1-4. This giving is not limited to directly supporting God’s work, but other worthy charitable and humanitarian causes.

A typical example of an individual who demonstrated this gift was an American businessman, Robert G. Le Tourneau. Contrary to what some people think, Mr. Le Tourneau started his business with a modest income. But at outset, he made a commitment to donate a large portion of his proceeds to God’s work because, “God owns my business. “He said. Mr. Le Tourneau proportionately increased his giving as his business prospered until it reached a point where he was asking, “God, how much of Your money do You want me to keep?” Mr. Le Tourneau further did something very unusual. While so many believers have much reluctance giving their tithes, Mr. Le Tourneau did the opposite. He decided to keep the tithes and give 9/10^th to God. God in turn blessed Mr. Le Tourneau, so much that a man who began his career as a sixth-grade dropout grew a business, manufacturing earth-moving equipment that sprawled four continents. Mr. Letourneau’s accomplishments included establishing the first private evangelical non-denominational Polytechnic University.

Mr. Le Tourneau’s attitude reflects the meaning of the Greek word haplotes (generosity, liberality, sincerity, single-hearted devotion). Mac Arthur adds, “The believer who gives with a proper attitude does not do so for thanks and personal recognition, but to glorify God.” (Mt.6:2; Act.2:44-45; 4:37-5:11;2 Co 8:2-5) (sic).

Dr. Charles C. Ryrie summarizes, “The gift of giving concerns distributing one’s own money to others. It is to be done with generosity and with no thought of return or gain for self in anyway.”

Leadership– This is a non-verbal gift.  Whenever a talk is about leadership, the ancient question comes up.   “Are leaders born or made?” Let the experts and philosophers continue to wrestle for the answer. But listing leadership as a gift indicates that there are individuals who are specially endowed with this ability. This gift is not necessarily acquired by education. It is similar to the one that Paul called administration (Kubernesis) in 1 Corinthians 12:28. The Greek word is used of a person who guides or directs a ship, captain or the navigator. The Greek Philosopher, Plato, advocated for a philosopher king, however, while his viewpoint has its merits, no academy can impart the skills that can match the one deposited by the Holy Spirit. The gift extends beyond church leadership or Christian organizations, it includes other areas of governance of human social and political domains. It is not to be assumed that every pastor or Bible teacher is equipped with this gift. The Greek word, spoudazo(diligence) describes the mindset and manner in which this gift is to be exercised. The Greek word carries the broad sense of doing one’s best, being purposeful and intentional, sparing no effort, work hard, eager, earnestness and with a sense of urgency. This elaborate definition would be helpful to identify any individual who possesses this gift.

Mercy– This is a non-verbal gift. The fifth Beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount says, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” The reflexive mercy which the Beatitude refers to is not what is meant here. This is rather a service rendered to those who might be incapacitated by illness and other physical inhibitions that may limit their movement or ability to take care of their personal needs. This may include volunteer work in Rehab homes, Nursing facilities and refugee camps. Dr. Walvoord offers this insight. “While the gift of giving had in view the poor and needy in respect to temporal needs, this gift is related to the sick and the afflicted and any other who might fall within the sphere of needing succor.”

Those who possess this gift, like those who serve, would go to any length or level of condescension to meet the needs of those who need their help. They will render their help with cheerfulness. Rather than feeling burdened, they would feel like they have not done enough. Even when they are exhausted, they would feel like they are just getting started. Mac Arthur describes the possessor of this gift as “one who actively shows sympathy and sensitivity to those in suffering and sorrow and who has the willingness and resources to help lessen their afflictions.”

Word of Wisdom– Wisdom, to a greater or lesser degree is inherent to all humans, and the Bible admonishes us to seek for wisdom.  Jas1:5. James distinguishes between earthly wisdom and that which is heavenly.Jas.3:13-17. This wisdom refers to the natural or intrinsic wisdom of which all humans are endowed. How this wisdom turns out depends on the spiritual walk or the lack thereof of the individual concerned. But there is wisdom that is bestowed as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Dr. J. Oswald Sanders views it as “the outcome of direct insight into spiritual truth, the knowledge of God and His ways which comes not so much from study as from communion.” The word of wisdom which is described as a spiritual gift is akin to exhortation. It suggests the ability to speak words that can restore calm to a tense situation. It is the ability to counsel even in a provocative circumstance. A person who possesses this gift would inevitably demonstrate the temperament described in the Proverbs 15:1-2.” A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” The word of wisdom should be characteristic of the Pauline admonition,” Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Col.4:6. This is one of the speaking or verbal gifts

Word of Knowledge– This gift has nothing to do with the so-called mystical knowledge of a person’s disease, discomfort or identity as peddled by the Neo-Charismatic Movement. This novelty is a concept either unknown or rarely practiced by the early Pentecostal Movement and by many who still operate in the Old-line Pentecostal tradition. This gift also belongs to the category of speaking or verbal gifts. It is not one of the sign gifts as erroneously identified in a previous Letter 3/22. This error is regretted and is hereby corrected. It is speculated by some that this might have been revelatory in the first century, but today it is to be understood as the ability to understand and articulate the scriptures with an uncommon skill to the understanding of the unlearned. The speculation about its first century use should be disregarded. Although this gift seems to have a kinship with Word of Wisdom, they are to be distinguished.  Dr. Warren Wiersbe states, “the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom (the ability to understand and apply God’s truth to a definite situation), and exhortation, (encouragement, rebuke if necessary).

The word of knowledge is the ability to apply wisdom to knowledge in expounding and applying the word of God.

Faith– This is a non-verbal gift. There is a general consensus among scholars that the faith described as a spiritual gift is not the common salvific faith. Neither is it the faith that every believer is urged to exercise during prayer. Mk.11:22; Jas.1:5-7; 5:15. Rather this is a special endowment which enables someone to trust God to do some supernatural act especially with regards to provision. Those bestowed with this gift are often called to a special ministry. They may not be in the limelight, but they nevertheless carry out a gigantic ministry. A classic example is George Mueller who lived in Bristol, England, in the 19^th century. He built many orphanages and did extensive evangelistic work. He depended upon God to supply all the money and resources needed for his expanding ministry. He never appealed to anyone or organization for financial help. Every day, he knelt down and asked God to provide for the needs and food for the orphanages. Once when Mr. Mueller was asked why he refrained from soliciting for financial help. His answer was simple. “I just want to prove that there is a God in heaven who answers prayers.”

Another giant of faith is Hudson Taylor. When he was getting ready to sail to China at the age of 21. Some people who were concerned about such a risky venture in the dreaded hostile pagan culture advised him to reconsider his decision. The determined young man, full of faith confidently responded, “the future is as bright as the promises of God.” Months later the China Inland Mission was born.

This is the kind of faith that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 17:20.

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS– This is a gift that is needed as much in the first century as in contemporary time. It was crucial in the first century because of the absence of the complete Canon of Scripture, and in contemporary time, due to the upsurge of heretical doctrines and various occult practices that have invaded Christendom. A person bestowed with this gift easily discerns while listening to a preaching or participating in a worship service whether the preaching contains errors, or the service lacks the Divine presence. Although all believers are exhorted to “test every spirit,” 1 Jn.4:1, but the person who possesses the gift more immediately senses the absence of Divine inspiration or even mediate diabolical presence or activity in an utterance or environment. This is accomplished primarily judging by the Scripture and a special revelation of the Holy Spirit. This is a non-verbal gift.

CONCLUSION– Peter exhorts that whatever gift, sign gifts or service gifts. Verbal gifts or non-verbal gifts, it should be exercised “with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong all glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pet.4:11. Have you discovered your gift/s?

Author: Rev. Joseph Ezeigbo
Rev Joseph Ezeigbo studied at Grace Collage and Grace Theological Seminary, both in Winona Lake, IN, where he obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees respectively. He also did some Postgraduate studies at Liberty University and Liberty Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA. He is the coordinator, African Missionary Outreach. Rev Ezeigbo is the currently Vice Chairman and Prayer and Renewal Facilitator ECWA USA. He has also served as Secretary and Chairman of ECWA USA DCC. Rev Ezeigbo is an advocate for prayer for the Muslim World and International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a Bible teacher for ECWA MD and Researcher – Church History and Theology.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. Amen! Maranatha! Passages like this one in the Bible are the panacea for all the challenges every human being faces in our fallen world. Christians are not exempt as rightly summed up: Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1. Christians get sick, depressed, have marital problems, experience loss of loved ones, loss of job, could be homeless, accused falsely, could sin, doubt, experience unanswered prayers, be angry with God, etc. Looking inside our lives and the circumstances surrounding us will lead to discouragement. When we look up to God and His promises, we have every reason to rejoice.

Author:†Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastorís ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isa. 43:19

Isaiah 43 is a powerful chapter that brings us a note of hope. Although Israel is its focus, the message applies to every believer and the Church. God introduces Himself as the Holy One who created us and called us individually by name. He is our Savior who declares that He has already redeemed us. Because of what He has done in our lives, we have become His witnesses to a lost world. We feel so unworthy. Our past failures are still fresh in our minds. We are struggling to live right today, but we are not quite making it. But God comes with words of comfort that we should forget the past. Our verse for today assures us that God will do a new thing. He will revive and restore us to Himself. The way through the wilderness will be His Word, and the river in the desert will be His Spirit. These are the provisions of God to bring us back to Himself.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.&nbsp

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 1 Thess. 2:8

Christians embrace the command to love fellow believers and even unbelievers as Jesus loved us. We must undergird each act of kindness to people with genuine love; otherwise, God would not accept such services. When we love, we back it up with kind deeds. Often, we preach the gospel first, and when the people respond positively, we shower them with love. The most effective way of sharing the gospel is to share our lives with the people – love in action. God demonstrated His love to us while we were yet sinners. People may resist the gospel but will welcome genuine love shown to them.

We should care and share our resources with people irrespective of their response to the gospel. Doing that should be an end in itself while we pray and trust God to extend that effort and open the hearts of the people to the gospel.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:30-31

From energy bars to power drinks, etcetera, we all desire to be strong and complete the race of our lives. This passage is not about physical strength but spiritual strength. All of us who are in this race get tired quickly. A lot of adverse conditions ware out even the spiritual giants among us. The relentless attacks of Satan on believers, infightings in the Church and fellowship groups, growing anxiety, and impatience as we await the fulfillment of the Lord’s promised return to be fulfilled, etc. Hope, as used here, is not a wishful desire but a sure thing God will make happen.

For spiritual strength needed for the journey, keep your eyes on Jesus, feast on His Word, drink from the Spirit, pray, and tag along in fellowship with other saints.

Author:†Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastorís ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Col. 3:23)

A Christian is not just a confessor of his faith but a possessor who incarnates every aspect of the tenets of Christianity. His heart, soul, mind, spirit, and body are not compartmentalized; instead, they all converge to present a wholesome life pleasing to the Lord. We are Christians who honor and submit to God in word, thought, and action. We are Christians each day of the week and at all times, day, or night. We are believers at home, at work, at play, and in the marketplace.

There is no time, place, or situation when we can put off our Christianity for a minute and be or do something else. For everything we do, we must remember that we are Christians first and foremost, and God is our Master. We need to have a mindset that everything we do is for the Lord, and He requires us to be faithful. How I handle any work entrusted to me as a Christian will bring a good or ill report for the Lord.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. (Isa. 33:2)

This is a great prayer each of us should offer every morning. It starts with asking God to be gracious or compassionate to us. As people who have sinned against God, we do not have a right to demand anything except to plead that He will be kind to us despite our shortcomings. Any right or entitlement does not arise here. To long for God is to desire nothing else except our consuming need to be close and be satisfied with God. We start the day with a declaration that we will trust, rejoice, hope, and walk with Him throughout the day. We will not rely on our abilities, resources, or anything else. As we go through the day, it will not all be rosy, so we would rely on Him to deliver us from and through the vicissitudes of life. Personalize this prayer. Lord, have compassion on me; I desire you. I will trust in your strength and deliverance for me on this day. Amen!

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)

Then we hear, read, study, memorize and even meditate on the Word of God, there is no doubt that we get to know the Word. Knowing the Word intellectually is not the same as experiencing it. When we encounter the Word, it will lead to the transformation of our lives, character, and actions, and that is when we can affirm that the Word of Christ is dwelling richly in our lives. This transformation will equip us with the wisdom of God with which we can teach and admonish one another. There is corporate singing of praise and adoration to God because we are all experiencing His love and goodness. With such a level of contentment, we also offer gratitude to God. Therefore, we must be proactive in reading the Word of God daily and living out all it teaches us.

Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Stephen Baba Panya

Press Release on The False Accusation That ECWA Forces Persons, Including Almajiri, To Convert to Christianity

The attention of the leadership of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), has been drawn to some distorted media report that the Department of State Security, (DSS) agents raided one of our facilities in Jos where 21 Muslims/almajiris are held hostage and being forcefully converted to Christianity. These reports are not only false and misleading but a deliberate effort to discredit the church and cause religious crisis.

Accordingly, we wish to present the following facts on the allegation:

Among numerous ECWA Units is the ECWA Discipleship Unit established under the ECWA Church-Related Ministries Department of the ECWA Headquarters.

The Unit, among other activities,

1. Trains the less privileged in the society for capacity building, skill acquisition, Christian Ethics and leadership skills with the sole purpose of making them relevant to the society.
2. Equips the trainees, upon completion of their one-year training, with tools that will help them in establishing themselves.
3. For lack of space at the ECWA Headquarters, the office acquired a private property within Tudun Wada residential area in Jos as a temporary site for the training and housing of all trainees.
4. The trainees at the property, before being enrolled, are expected to provide the name of their sponsors and pay a mandatory sum of N75,000.00 to cover feeding and training fees.
5. As a practice, the Unit maintains a file for each student containing his or her personal data.
6. Trainees at the facility, as a matter of policy, are all adults with none falling below the age of Eighteen (18).
7. Trainees are free to withdraw from the training once they are dissatisfied with either the policies or the condition of the facility. Management also has the right to withdraw a trainee on grounds of infringement of the rules and regulations of the facility.
8. The Unit from its inception, has graduated over Eighty-six (86) trainees spread across different parts of Nigeria with various skills.
9. Prior to June 14, 2022, the property accommodated twenty-four (24) trainees with a list of pending applicants waiting for space for enrolment.
10. The ECWA Church-Related Ministries Department was shocked over the false allegations said to have emanated from the “escapee” Abdulrahman Hussaini that the trainees at the property are citizens that were forcefully brought to it for the purpose of forcefully converting them to Christianity.
11. These allegations are complete falsehood because the trainees being persons of age, are available at any time for Government Officials to interact with, to hear their respective stories, just as was done by the Department of State Services (DSS) recently.
12. Following a report by the JNI in Jos as we later understood, the DSS visited our facility and accordingly interviewed the occupants who freely disclosed to the security agents that they enrolled on the program at their own volition and were not forced, except Abdulrahman Hussaini’s brother who opted to leave with his brother Abdulrahaman and were released to the DSS without any excitation. What is clear in this drama, is that the Hussaini brothers were planted as moles for the purpose of discrediting the good works of the church unit where thousands of trainees have benefited and are now living as responsible members of the society. What is more, Trainees are given two weeks break six months after their stay in the facility to get back and prepare for the final lap of their training. It is of the moment to note that the Hussani brothers have gone on this break and returned on their own volition.

ECWA, as an organization, has a widespread nationally and internationally and believes in the Rule of Law and will not involve itself in the infringement of the Fundamental Rights of any Nigerian to his freedom of religion, movement, or association.

The above are the facts the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has offered. Any other insinuations and/or accusations such as has been made viral on the media space are FABRICATED LIES to dent the good works of ECWA since the past 129 years of its existence.

Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Baba Panya is a Chartered Accountant and former Banker turned Missionary. He is the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) President. Before his election, he was the Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS) Cross Border Mission President, as well as ECWA Television Coordinator. He is a called missionary who breathes Missions, speaks Missions, lives Missions, and can sacrifice anything for Missions.

by†Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it. Isa. 30:21

Many believers will admit that if God would speak to them in the manner this verse portrays, they will always walk in the will of the Lord. For many years up to date, workshops on “Knowing the Will of God” in any Christian gathering have always registered higher attendance than other workshop topics. The will of God that we are eager to know and His guiding voice that we desire to hear is ever near us. The Bible is God’s Road map that will take us anywhere within His will. The Holy Spirit is the voice that interprets the map for us as we journey through this life.

We are to enjoy the journey just as much as we hope to enjoy the destination because God walks with us along the way, and when we arrive at our final destination, He will be there with us. His presence, therefore, is what matters. The more I dwell on the Word, the easier I can discern the voice of the Spirit.

Author:†Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastorís ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.

by Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as God forgave you. (Col. 3:13)

The mere fact that we must bear with each other underscores how easily self-centered we can be. We all want others to bear up with us in our weaknesses, but we are reluctant to do the same for others. We forget the golden rule that we do to others what we want them to do to us.

To bear with someone is to accept their weakness and readily stand with them to give help rather than stand as a judge ready to condemn them. When a person acting in weakness offends you, this becomes personal, and this is where God wants us to forgive. There are many reasons believers must extend forgiveness to those who wrong us. One reason our passage for today gives is that God has forgiven us, and therefore, we are obligated to forgive those who wrong us. When we refuse to forgive, we invariably indicate that we do not cherish and appreciate God’s forgiveness of our sins against Him.
 
 
Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.