Blunt and influential Nigerian-born Pastor Alex Omokudu, founder of Victorious Pentecostal Assembly (VPA), London, met with journalists in Lagos where he hinted on his plan to return to his home country after 15 years of being away; the reason why he remarried despite his stand on divorce; the unrest in the country, why churches should not pay tax among others. Chinyere Abiaziem brings the excerpts:
Tell us a little about yourself?
What is remarkable about me is that I was born a deaf mute, abandoned and was unable to go to school. I survived by foraging on the streets of Lagos. Then one day I was miraculously healed of my disabilities at a church service and later ordained a pastor. I got married and relocated to the UK where I set up the VPA which is now among the fastest growing churches in the UK. I tell people my story almost every day to inspire faith in God.
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To me if the story of my transformation is real then anyone’s story can be changed by God. My success is down to my compassion. Faith, love and hope are the three things ruling destiny. The greatest of them is love. Love gives victory and does not know defeat. I can go to any length to attend to the needs of those who seek my help.
How did you get the name for the ministry?
When God called me into ministry, he showed me a plane with the inscription VPA on it and handled the key to me. Imagine someone who did not have a bicycle and never thought of having a car. When I wanted to register the church under charity in England and the accountant with me said there was no way it can go through because it sounds familiar and that I should write their names. So I told him that if the name is altered that means God has not called me. So he went further and the name was cleared and he was amazed and that is why he respects me up till now.
You have been away for more than a decade in UK; tell us about your exploits over there?
Pastor Alex as the congregation calls me is something of a phenomenon in the UK, where feats of uncommon miracles are routinely taken with a pinch of salt. Infact I am surprised myself when some miracles happen, so I know it can only be God’s fingers at work.
Members of the ministry believe anything I touch can bring about a miracle but I never fail to remind them that God is the miracle worker and not man. A woman testified of how her daughter was cured of kidney disease after she attended one of our services. While two women with fertility problems both became pregnant after visiting the church, many couples struggling with childlessness have babies now to the glory of God. There was a woman about to undergo In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) who God ministered to me to tell her she would soon get pregnant and she ignored but after six months, she started feeling nauseous. It turned out she was pregnant. Another kind of miracle happened to Rosemond Osei, a 63-year-old Ghanaian business woman who went to seek spiritual help for her business. Instead Omokudu told her to prepare for her wedding. She laughed it off, given her age, but she is now happily married. People in search of work have miraculously received job offers while those with immigration problems have been settled.
After three months in a coma following complications from kidney disease, Daniel Olery’s doctors told his family to prepare for the worst. As the family maintained their bedside vigil, his niece, Nina, visited a Pentecostal church in east London where I am known and he was given a green cloth prayed over by me, which she placed on Olery’s head. Almost immediately, he began to make a remarkable recovery. Some months later, Olery was fit enough to visit the VPA and give testimony, showing photo of himself in intensive care with tubes attached to his body following kidney failure. I have seen several cases of cancer taken care of by God. Benny Hinn, the renowned American pastor, has made VPA his partner church where he preaches up to four times in a year and last year went on a special pilgrimage with me to Israel.
In addition to the several testimonies of miracles, what are the peculiarities of your ministry?
I frown at Pastors who indulge in the vices the Bible abhors. How can you be a pastor and you are dating members of your congregation? To me holiness is prerequisite for receiving God’s blessings. Part of what I am known for is the paraphrase of the Bible, ‘On Mount Zion there shall be salvation and holiness.’ As a corollary, I believe in transparency. Many who know me know that my attitude to money stands me out. I do not make money the focus in my ministry although God has made me a very wealthy man. I make people know that God demands simple offerings of our hearts. As a blunt person I point out to them that those who request money for miracles are thieves and I do not spare sin or preach prosperity for sinners.
What is the rationale behind your decision to return to Nigeria?
When God called me if he had asked me where I would want to preach, I would say in my village. Told me that God will take me to England to do his work but I did not believe him. I did not know how I got to England. After I left this country in 2002 for the UK, I know Nigerians want what God has embedded in me. I just know that this is the time for Nigerians to know God in a different way. When God calls you he backs you up. I just got about 40 plots of land in Lekki, I tell you that I do not know how I got the land it is just God working. I believe God wants to use me to affect my country because God knows how to use foolish things to calm down the wise and to prove himself. And I know this is the time for God to prove himself in Nigeria. If the miracles experienced in British are experienced here, then God is proving himself. It is also for the preachers here to humble themselves and see what God is doing.
Are you ready for the challenges?
Which challenges? God who called me has been backing me up so I do not fear challenges. Without challenges I won’t be here. I love my country and I want to impact my country. Based on what has been happening in London I am not afraid. A criminal case was forced on me and God proved himself that he is with me, so I am not afraid of whatever the challenges maybe because God is on my side.
Do you think churches should pay taxes?
I do not believe churches pay taxes but every Pastor should make self assessment. A Pastor should pay tax on the money he is collecting, it is called self assessment and it is very important.
How do you see the incessant unrest around the globe and particularly in Nigeria?
It is already written in the Bible, this is part of the signs of the end time which necessitates the need for us as Christians to stand strong in our walk with God. I believe God can take over this country and those who do not know him will come to the light.
There have been calls for the separation for the country, what is your take?
I do not believe we should separate because the country is better as one; our diversity makes the country interesting. Having the Igbos, Yorubas, Edos and other tribes add beauty to us as a nation; there is law to put those who want to divide the country where they belong. We all grew up to see Nigeria as a country so why do we want it to divide? The north is known for producing a good number of food we consume, while the Igbos are known for business and other regions too have their areas of specialisation. I am very proud of my country and I love my nation. We should pray that God touches the hearts of the president and the national leaders to look towards the poor. Let them listen to the cries of the poor who are dying. This is why I want to come back to Nigeria to impact lives.
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What is your message to Nigerians?
The country needs God when there is fear of God. Nigeria truly needs God people are battered and when I think of where God brought me for my heart is broken for Nigeria, I see people and I cry in my heart because of suffering. People will suffer and go to school and end up not getting a job. I have come to my country to affect my country.
There has been an increased rate of domestic violence. On what basis should any man divorce his wife aside adultery?
You know one thing about me, I am very open because if I deceive you I am deceiving God. I just divorced and I am very happy but believe me I am against divorce and I make sure there is no divorce, but when it comes to a case where a woman brings out knife to stab her husband, I will tell the man to run. Same applies to a woman, when a man is violent and carrying knife to kill her, at that point she should run for her life. I have already remarried left for me I did not want to remarry but God said I should get out of it and consoled me. One day a woman came to me during counselling and God said ‘look at her’ and I was like ‘look at her for what?’ I told one of my pastors and he wanted to call her and I said ‘no he should not that if God is the one talking he will talk to her.’ That was how she came later to tell me what God said to her, that she should take care of me and I am still wondering if I am dreaming or if it is real.
How long can a person stay before remarrying?
I do not believe a person should stay for long before remarrying. Any man that stays two to three years before remarrying is committing adultery.
The post Those Who Request Money For Miracles Are Thieves – Omokudu appeared first on Independent News Nigeria.
Source: Daily Independent
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