Restoration Voice April 2014

2013 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

CONTENT

RESTORATION LIFESTYLE

THE MERCIES OF GOD The life changing mercy of God

TESTIMONIES

God of miracles, signs, and wonders

GROWING UP AS A REDEEM MEMBER The central focus of RCCG is to prepare all her members for Heaven through in-depth teaching of the word of God, laying precepts upon precepts until members attain spiritual maturity.

RESTORED BODY & SPIRIT BABY ESTHER’S DEDICATION Images of baby Esther’s dedication at Restoration Chapel

PASTOR’S 60TH BIRTHDAY

Pastor Sanusi’s 60th Birthday and wedding anniversary

8 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT

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B.A.S.I.C

CHRISTMAS AT RESTORATION

Christmas 2013 images

BRING DOWN THE GLORY

2013 Annual Bring Down the Glory Worship Experience

37 32 21 12 14 28 30

What to do in my single season.

LADIES CORNER

The journey is long but the tide is about to turn

LEVEL 3:16

Tips for gaining admmions, and getting scholarships

KIDS CORNER

God made everything

FEATURES

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SCHOLARSHIP & MINISTRY

Dr. Ojo shares his passion for medicine and ministry .

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

An indedpt look at the life and ministry of Pastor Mrs. Modupe Sanusi.

MISSING IN ACTION

Finding the men in the house of God

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12 ON THE COVER DR. & DR. MRS OJO

Bro. Ibeneme of of Smile Photo

EVENT PHOTOS

Bro. Ibeneme of of Smile Photos

PASTOR MRS. MODUPE SANUSI Photography by Glamour Shots

MESSAGE FROM

PASTOR

R

estoration Voice magazine is a journey that started years ago but dwindled for lack of volunteers but was reawakened this year as a magazine to reach out to Redeemed Christian Church of God, Restoration Chapel church members. We are excited about the possible reach of our second volume and would like to encourage all church members to participate in the distribution of this great vision. My prayer is that you are blessed by the content of this magazine and that you share it with others outside of the church. As we prepare for the next issue, please encourage the committee members by advertising your business, sharing your testimony, and writing an article. This is our publication and an avenue to reach out to others with the message of Jesus Christ.

Live Victoriously Pastor K.B. Sanusi

RESTORATION VOICE A Publication of the Redeemed Christian of God Restoration Chapel 13406 Beechnut Street Houston Texas 77083 1-281-495-4424

EDITORIAL EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR PUBLIC RELATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURED WRITER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mission To empower, to educate, to inspire, and to give Mrs. Vivian Elebiyo-Okojie every member a voice.

Dr. Udo M. Williams Mr. Turber Holler Mr. Ibeneme Mr. Vincent Aziza Dr. Anthony Okoh Mrs. Busayo Fasidi, ESQ

Layout & Art Direction by Eleviv Publishing Group

Advertising Sales (281) 495-4424 or email restorationvoice@gmail.com Editorial Disclaimer

Although persons and companies mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Redeemed Christian Church of God or RCCG Restoration Chapel nor any of its pastors, employees, ministers, publication board or contributors endorse or assume or accept any responsibility whatsoever for the claims, conduct, or activities of any persons, companies, or entities mentioned or featured in Restoration Voice Magazine. Restoration Voice Magazine is not responsible for the outcome of any action taken or decision made based on the information contained in its publication or website and makes no warranty with respect to the completeness or accuracy for the content, explanations, or opinions set forth therein.

Image and External Content:

Restoration Voice Magazine does not claim ownership of or copyright with respect to images featured in the magazine unless otherwise noted. Restoration Voice Magazine makes every effort to link back to the original content or source whenever possible. If you own rights to any of the images presented and do not wish them to appear here, please contact us and we will note it for future publications.

If you would like to be on the church fashion page, or spotlight page, etc. Flag us down on Sunday, after church and we would try to take your picture!

6 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014 Disclaimer: Not every picture taken will end up in the magazine

Restoration Voice Magazine is a publication for Redeemed Christian Church of God, Restoration Chapel and the body of Christ as a whole. Restoration Voice is an outlet to reach out to Christians beyond the normal church services, by providing inspiration, education, and highlights of various church events. It will include articles, and testimonies, new workers highlights, new members, ministry updates, church quarterly calendar, ministry corner, Pastor’s Desk, etc. We would also feature a story, a person, or a testimony on every issue.

So if you have any testimony, a great story, or something interesting would like to share with our readers please contact us by sending an email to restorationvoice@gmail.com We are currently seeking contributing writers for several columns including: Money Talk, Parenting, Living Single, Youth-Level 3:16, Children’s corner, Church Culture, and Empowerment Please indicate what column or category you would like to write for quarterly or if it is just a one-time write-up. Please attach a high resolution jpeg of your headshot for the magazine as well.

MESSAGE FROM THE

EDITOR

100 Days of Seeking Him

hen the 100 days fast was announced by the General Overseer in December, it seemed like an impossible spiritual quest; until we all started and today we are almost half way there. Humans are usually afraid of the unknown however the unknown paths in life are the most beautiful, the most fulfilling. Our greatness isn’t tied to the roads well traveled but to the path rarely taken. As a child of the most high you have a greater purpose something bigger than your present situation, something more beautiful than the mess around you. If you focus more on the possibilities and the end through faith in Christ Jesus, then the beginning wouldn’t be as fretful.

I pray that as you seek His face for your home, your marriage, your children, your family, your health, your finances, your business, and your career; may you find the boldness to stand and trust Him completely. I join my faith with yours that at the end of the 100 days fast, your life and destiny would be transformed. My prayer is this: that YOUR LIFE WOULD BE BEAUTIFIED IN JESUS NAME

W

O

vivianelebiyo

Vivian Elebiyo-Okojie EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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FEATURED STORY

Scholarship and Ministry A Seamless Blend!

BY: DR. ANTHONY MARSHAL OKOH

Dr. Olugbenga Ojo is a success story! He is the Chief Medical Officer/Chief Physician Executive at the TDCJ hospital of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. There is, hardly, any success story that does not have some perceptible marks or traces of challenges. Our prayer is that true children of God will convert those challenges into stepping stones to get to their God-designed destinations. In our continuing search for role models for our members, and particularly for our youth, Restoration Voice found one of our illustrious sons in Galveston and decided to explore the God-designed path which brought him to this position of huge responsibility. Our Features Writer contacted Dr. Olugbenga Ojo and set before him a few personal questions in order to give Restoration Voice a summary of his “journey” from childhood to being the Chief Medical Officer of such a notable medical institution. We hope that his story will inspire all redeemed Christians, and particularly, the Restoration family at Beechnut Street, Houston.

Olugbenga Ojo was born into a Christian family in Southern Nigeria. His childhood or early life was not particularly different from a typical Southern Nigerian child’s early life. One of the choices a child cannot make is a choice concerning spirituality, particularly “what” and “where” to worship.

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That is a prerogative choice of a child’s parents; so, on Sundays, ‘Gbenga would go with (or rather be taken by) his parents to church for regular Sunday worship. His father, a retired air-force general (deceased in 2004) and his mother, a nurse (now retired) would take “Gbenga and his siblings to an Anglican Church, but later the family “switched” to Celestial Church of Christ where Dr. Olugbenga Ojo worshiped until he left the shores of Nigeria.

Dr. Ojo emphasized that his family has always believed that “God is supreme, omnipotent and omnipresent”. This Christian foundation seemed to have prepared his “spiritual soil” for the planting of the Word. As he grew older, Dr. Ojo noted, “I always felt or knew that I had a relationship with God; the relationship became personal in 1999 when I gave my life to Jesus Christ”.

Dr. Olugbenga Ojo graduated from the University of Lagos, College of Medicine (LUTH) but still felt a burning desire to be “exceptionally erudite” in his chosen profession.

He knew that the Nigerian environment could not offer him the opportunity to attain this desired level of erudition; so, as soon as he completed medical school, he left Nigeria for his internship at Port of Spain General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago.

General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Ojo performed exceptionally well during his internship that, in the end, the hospital offered him (and he accepted) a position of Senior House Officer in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN). Later, he “relocated” to England to complete his training in OBGYN.

While in the UK, Dr. Ojo became exposed to new realities as a new and wider professional horizon opened up to him.

That exposure and new knowledge made Dr. Ojo aware that the UK might not be the best environment to achieve his ultimate professional goal. As he succinctly stated, “It became apparent that my aspirations and goals were only going to be completely fulfilled in the United States of America because of the limitless opportunities this great country has”. So began his rigorous, and sometimes, arduous journey to the United States. This was a major turning point as he had to make a tough decision.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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FEATURED STORY CONT...

The choice was between “leaving the comfort and security of a good medical position” in the (now familiar) UK, and “relocating” to start all over (again) in the U.S. for an expected greater position. This is the cross-roads where one prays for God’s wisdom and leadership, and Dr. Ojo did pray. Believing that he was following a professional path designed by the Lord (for him), he chose to forego all the years he had put into his profession and relocate to the United States. As he put it, “It meant starting all over (again) with another internship and residency at the Cook Hospital in Chicago, Illinois”. The Bible cannot be faulted: “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalms 37:23, KJV). On completion of his residency program in Chicago, Dr. Ojo accepted an offer of a faculty position at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 2001.

Today, Dr. Olugbenga Ojo serves as the Chief Medical Officer/Chief Physician Executive of the TCDJ Hospital, UTMB, in Galveston!

Dr. Ojo’s professional journey has been one successful step after another and one God-led decision after another. It is so easy to attribute these successful steps and decisions to sheer human intelligence and hard work; there is no doubt that one needs intelligence and consistent hard work to be a medical professional.

However, when the question about how he made it this far – what factored into his success – was put before Dr. Ojo, he left the realm of the “flesh” and went into spirituality: “My success is entirely God’s blessing. God rewards hard work, faith, steadfastness, and diligence”. No true Christian would refute the fact that God rewards hard work, faithfulness and diligence. At the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, the Oslerian Award is the highest award a faculty member can receive. According to Dr. Ojo, it is designed to be awarded to the best of the best (crème de la crème) in clinical knowledge, education, teaching, and stewardship.

Dr. Olugbenga Ojo received the inaugural edition of the Oslerian Award in 2005! Still, he says it is not him, but God! Restoration Voice echoes that belief with him and says, “Glory be to God!” Dr. Ojo became a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Chicago, Illinois (Jesus House) in 2001. Following that fated path, Dr. Ojo, once again, relocated to Houston, Texas (with his family); they found Restoration Chapel and became members. His membership of the Restoration Chapel was not an accident – not by any chance. It is obvious (to us) that God specifically brought Dr. Ojo’s family to Beechnut for a great and Godly purpose. As one of his life philosophies, Dr. Ojo believes that God promotes or elevates someone because “He wants us to be a blessing to others, especially those who are less fortunate and those coming behind us.

I believe, also, that it is more of a blessing to give than to receive”.

Dr. Ojo and his wife, Folasade Ojo (who is also a doctor) created the Annual Health Fair for Restoration Chapel seven years ago!

We had the seventh edition of the event on July 27th, 2013.

During this edition, two hundred, fifty patients were seen and fortythree mammograms were performed. The Health Fair is used as a forum to promote wellness and health, not only for Restoration church members, but also for the entire southwest community of Houston. What is more - The Health Fair is free for all! Dr. Ojo noted that the event has been a very rewarding experience for him, his wife, and his colleagues, who have supported the venture over the years, serving everyone, especially, the underprivileged and uninsured. He derives satisfaction from his ability to give back to the community for all that the Lord has done for him.

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Restoration Voice sought Dr. Ojo’s views concerning certain issues of life – issues around the family and issues of spirituality, such as marriage, Discipline, Education, commitment, Love, Divorce, Role Model, Faith in God, Fellowship and Eternal Life. He sees his marriage to Dr. (Mrs.) Folasade Ojo as the best thing that ever happened to him. Describing their marriage, Dr. Ojo said, “Ours has been a union blessed from Heaven! My wife is my jewel of inestimable value; she is my soul mate and better half!” On discipline, Dr. Ojo noted that in every facet of life, discipline is very important – as individuals, at work, in our walk with God, in our marriages, and our relationships, as well as in our dealings with our children.

He stressed the immense importance of education and advised that education be taken as “a life-long process which only ends at death. One should always strive to be the very best one can be”.

On the question of commitment, he noted that it is an important attribute, which when possessed, could yield innumerable rewards on the long run.

Dr. Ojo saw divorce is a harsh reality in the world we live today, and wondered what the world would be without love.

Although Dr. Ojo is a great role model, particularly to our Youth, and to Christians in general, he emphasized that every Christian should look up to Jesus Christ as the quintessential role model. Noting the importance of faith in our relationship with God, Dr. Ojo advised that we anchor everything on faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Quoting from the Bible, he reminded us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1, KJV). He sees fellowship as the main reason true Christians go to church. In order to pull more people out of darkness and into God’s light Dr. Ojo emphasized the importance of evangelism and said he will do even more in 2014. He is so thankful for his salvation which gives him assurance of eternal life with Jesus!

FEATURED STORY CONT...

As stated earlier, there are always punctuations or traces of challenges in every success story. As a stark reality of Christian life, any great venture that does not have any obstacle or stiff challenge for company, should be suspect; it is unlikely that it is of God if Satan does not try any “trick”! So, true to form, Dr. Ojo’s success story has some patches of challenges. As expected, these challenges are, mostly, professional. I am almost certain that most of us who are corporate managers would be scared stiff to lose their jobs, return to the labor market to begin searching for entry-level jobs - consciously!

Without magnifying it beyond the fact, such a scenario is similar to what Dr. Ojo found himself in, accepted it in faith, and was able to use it as a stepping stone into his current position. He stated this challenge more certainly when he confessed that “leaving England to come to the United States to begin my training all over (again) was a very big challenge because I had to forego my status in the UK to become a lowly internal medicine intern in the U. S”.

It may be politically incorrect, but it is also a fact that “being a successful black professional can be a tough terrain to navigate because you have to continually prove yourself”. Dr. Ojo did not mince words when he admitted that in his current position as the Chief Medical Officer/ Chief Physician Executive Officer, he is faced with the challenges of the job itself, and also “challenges akin to what our nation’s chief executive faces daily”.

Challenges seem to be a necessity for believers since they tend to give one assurance that one is following a God-designed path if God’s enemy (Satan) is “throwing” things at you. The Lord says “they shall surely gather together, but not by me” (Isaiah 54: 15, KJV)! However, when challenges come Dr. Ojo has a great formula that works at all times: “The way I have always dealt, and continue to deal, with challenges is to ask God to continually lead me in the right direction and provide the aptitude, wisdom, intellect, and erudite knowledge needed to be a shining example such that, in action and deed, I would be evangelizing for Him”. Restoration Voice would say “AMEN!” to that.

Dr. Olugbenga Ojo has seamlessly blended scholarship and ministry, enabling him to serve both academia and the Kingdom on a remarkable scale, touching many lives. Let our light so shine!

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CHURCH EVENT

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B

BABY ESTHER’S DEDICATION

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34 YEARS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

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PASTOR SANUSI’S 60TH BIRTHDAY

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN RESTORATION VOICE GET A FREE AD. SPACE YOUR FIRST MONTH!

BUZZ WORTHY INFO!

(Conditions applies. Ask us for details)

Join RCCG, Restoration Chapel, Beechnut Str., Houston, Texas to get the latest announcements, and much more!

RESTORATION CHAPEL, A PLACE TO BELONG 17 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things”, (Philippians 4:8),

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN By: Dr. Udo Moses Williams 18 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN roverbs 31 portrays a “virtuous” woman as firm, reliable and of honorable character.

She speaks with wisdom and kindness and extends her kindness outside of her household. “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life … She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good. And her lamp does not go out by night … Strength and honor is her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come … Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:10-31 Prophesy Study Edition).

P

“Virtuous” in Proverbs 31:10 has various meaning: capability, skill, substance, valor, force and strength. The word is used to describe the strength of mind and body of an individual.

We see this in Ruth 3:11, when Boaz speaks to Ruth: “I know you are of noble character” (NIV), meaning that she is of strength in mind and body. This passage lists the things that help to build mind and body. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things”, (Philippians 4:8), meaning: if there is anything to strengthen mind and body, think on these things. These help to think of women, not as sexual property, but as persons of great mental and physical ability. What a beautiful way to describe women!!

But Proverbs 31 should be read in context of the rest of the book of Proverbs written by Solomon. Solomon summarized his personification of “wisdom” in Chapter 31.

Proverbs 31 wife is regarded as a metaphor for “wisdom” and most Bible scholars have argued that a modern woman can never be a Proverbs 31 woman (Murphy, 2013). But Restoration Voice has found the Proverbs 31 woman, a “good thing”, in our very own Pastor (Mrs.) Modupe Sanusi.

She typifies, in all ramifications, these verses from Proverbs, which underline all the forms of excellence.

Fondly known as “Mummy Pastor” by the congregation, she is unassuming and complacently modest. She radiates with the glory of God, love and strength of character.

She is a woman of substance. Every reply she gave during the dialogue with the Restoration Voice Feature Writer was punctuated with cheerful innuendoes and holy laughter. Holy Spirit filled, well versed in the word of God and functions of all the departments of the Ministry; it was quite obvious that she relishes her role as the able assistant and wife of the Pastor.

Pastor (Mrs.) Sanusi was born about 59 years ago in Epe, Lagos State of Nigeria, to Muslim parents. She attended a Catholic primary school, a Muslim secondary school, studied administration and worked in the banking system in Nigeria, rising to the management level before relocating to the USA. She gave her life to Christ while in College in 1978 as a result of the influence and persistence of her roommate, Kikelomo Ajani, a fervent believer, who demonstrated the raw manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. It was a challenging moment for her, being from a Muslim family. Her father was the Secretary of the Lagos State Pilgrims Board. As a result she was rejected by her father and denied of her pocket money. She remained steadfast in her belief and God sustained her financially through the brethren in Christ. She remained with her conviction despite the mounted pressure from her parents because she had experienced and knows the “living” difference between the Muslim and Christian faiths.

Her conversion was a demonstration of God’s destiny for her life. She confessed that she would remain eternally grateful to Kike for witnessing to her. Kike did not relent in her efforts to preach Jesus and to convince her to accept Christ as her Savior. Kike was living the light: she prayed always, spoke in tongues and disturbed Modupe perpetually, to the extent that she reported Kike to the school authorities and demanded that they should be assigned different rooms. Her complaints were to no avail, for one reason or another, they did not separate them. Even after Modupe “damned” and insulted her, Kike still loved her and persisted. Though she couldn’t fathom it, yet the fact that Kike lived the “light” perturbed and affected her life: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Modupe remained adamant to Kike until she fell ill and death was staring her in the face. All her other friends were not really there, except for Kike, who took care of her, did her laundry, fed and prayed for her to be healed either by herself or in company of other brethren, whom she usually assembled.

They would pray and insist that she gave her life to Christ so that she would be completely healed.

Modupe would pretend to have accepted Jesus, hoping to be healed. After they prayed, her pains would be gone for a while and relapsed shortly after. They continued, and one day, her conscience convicted her and she surrendered totally to Christ. Not more than three days later, she was completely healed.

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A VIRTUOUS WOMAN “Mummy Pastor” met her husband, Kamal, when they both attended Ahmadiya Grammar School, Ibadan.

Though they were classmates, there was no link or relationship of any kind between them. But she recalled that she regarded him as a trouble maker, a rascal and a radical; and revered him because he was at the same time, very smart and outstanding in his studies. Pastor K. B. Sanusi had transferred to Lagos and left her to finish in Ibadan. She was amazed when they met again in Lagos, and they dated briefly before he proposed to her. They got married in 1979. She declared on hindsight, that she remains grateful to God that they met and attested that they “were definitely made for each other from heaven”. She echoed that it is God that chooses the right mate and when one is blessed by God with the right choice, it makes a huge difference.

Before they became members of RCCG, they were Church workers at the People’s Gospel Church, where the husband worked in Sunday school and she worked in the Evangelism department. They joined the RCCG in 1981 through a specific instruction from God. She acknowledges that at Restoration Chapel, God was using her as the assistant and wife to her husband.

Though she is part of and knows almost everything that is happening in all departments, she confessed that she loves working in the women’s and children’s Ministries.

Her views on certain issues are compelling. On love, she believes that love must be in the heart of every believer, as love empowers one to be born again. We must mirror God who sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us because he loves us, by giving love whether it is accepted or rejected. Men are important parts of the body of Christ; they combine with women who are equally important to build marriages and homes. Men and women are both vital to the home and to the church. Discipline is compulsory for any believer in order not to drag the name of the Lord in the mud. Commitment is inevitable for any serious believer. Without commitment one can neither sustain one’s marriage nor be a dedicated church worker.

She believes that marriage is good and of God. In her book titled 10 Prescriptions for A Happy Marriage (2012), she offers a straightforward look into the problems in marriage and how they can be avoided, laced with exciting extras, including prayer points and recipes for romance. On the issue of introvert/extrovert, she admits that she is an extrovert and a perfect match with her husband who is an introvert. But counsels that regardless of any characterization of a couple, all relationships must be based on the word and fear of God, because the word of God breaks and the word of God transforms.

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Divorce is neither of God nor the answer to marital problems.

If one thinks that going one’s own way is the best solution, one might end up going many ways. She counseled that a believer should not think twice about forgiveness. Without forgiveness there can be no love. We must forgive as God forgave us. If there is no forgiveness, then we are in the wrong environment, an environment of bitterness.

The congregation is that of God. “… On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it “(Matthew 16:18). She reiterates that God is the owner of the church and that God has chosen the Pastors as the under-shepherds who serve the Chief Shepherd, who is our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1-4). She admonishes the congregation to “… Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). It is God that empowers her to overcome the challenges posed by the congregation. She emphasized that Jesus died for the world of different cultures.

Therefore in dealing with the congregation, one should not care what people think, but do one’s best and leave the rest to God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The very essence of being born again, salvation, abiding with the word of God, is to live eternally with Christ. Therefore we must remain steadfast in obedience to God and hold ourselves ready for the rapture, which can come at anytime.

Pastor (Mrs.) Sanusi remains a pillar of Restoration Chapel and provides the venerable support in steering the church workers who fit together in the steady and viable operation of the church. She is loved by many because of her simplicity, her love for others, her strength of character, the vitality she exudes in her role as assistant, wife of the Pastor and Godly counsel that has brought a lot of peace to thousands of people not just in Houston, but outside the USA. We give glory to God for blessing us with this “virtuous” woman.

CHURCH CULTURE

GROWING AS A REDEEM MEMBER In the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), we believe that the entire Scripture, both Old and New Testament are written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And, as part of its mission and vision; the central focus of RCCG is to prepare all her members for Heaven through in-depth teaching of the word of God, laying precepts upon precepts until members attain spiritual maturity. Summarily, here are some of the classes / trainings recommended for every RCCG members, to help them broaden their understanding; to become better Christians and heaven bound.

The Believer’s Foundation Class is the first step to educating and preparing new Converts and potential Workers to solid Biblical fundamental teachings and tasks ahead of them in life.

The objectives of these fundamentals include; providing an understanding of the new birth and it’s manifestations in their lives. It helps members to understand the history and fundamental biblical beliefs of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. It encourages prayers and study of the Bible as part of their daily lives and assists in accelerating the spiritual maturity process The next phase is the Baptismal Class.

Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior must undertake Water Baptism in accordance with Biblical guidance: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit” –Matthew 28:19. Before Water Baptism is done in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Believers must participate in the Baptismal Class. The Baptismal Class is taught using the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Baptismal Manual.

This course provides the opportunity to learn the true meaning of baptism and understand the Biblical injunction given by Jesus, that all Christians must be baptized. It also teaches the Believer about the foundation of their walk with Christ – transformation from darkness into light; the true meaning of the new life received in Christ Jesus and the expectations of the new life.

New and old parishes need to raise workers among members hence the need for Workers in training class. These workers-to-be require certain training that will make them equipped for the tasks they are going to undertake (2 Tim. 2:15). This program normally lapse three Months.

The Training is well coordinated, centrally built upon knowledge garnered from the Believers Foundation Class. The goals of the training include; producing mature group of believers who will be able to teach others the good news, at least sufficiently to lead them to Christ. Raising believers who are efficiently able to teach the scriptures and produce such disciples who will be strong in faith. And, to prepare workers of the church with the knowledge of the administration of the church that will make them effectively useful in the area chosen for their services such as choristers, ushers, evangelist e.t.c.

The Redeemer Leadership Institute (RLI) is another organized training institute set up by RCCG to enhance members understanding about the mission and to prepare members for leadership roles. The overall emphasis of this institute is to train members the rudiments of leadership and Church administration. The Institute has valuable curriculum and rich courses grouped into four categories. Interested participants may choose any category or individual courses to focus on their personal leadership development from Leadership in the Ministry Courses, Women and Leadership Courses, Leadership and Personal Development Courses and Leadership and Contemporary Management Courses.

Lastly, the School of Disciples is another vital class recommended for every member. The program started in 1985, coordinated by the Training Bureau of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at parishes. It is a school where RCCG Members learn how to be true and genuine Disciples of Jesus Christ and how to study to show themselves approved unto God. All these trainings and classes are aimed at enriching every members of RCCG against false doctrines and prepare them for heaven.

By: Deacon Shodeko 21 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014

B.A.S.I.C

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Use this time to fix whatever you are not happy about in your life, because it won’t magically get better in marriage.

In fact, it will get worse because you have now brought a “Single” problem into your “married” relationship. If you are a selfish, immature, insecure, sexually frustrated Single, you will still have these characteristics when you get married until you allow God to heal these areas. Sweeping them under the rug or thinking that they will disappear once you get married is delusional and could be detrimental to building a healthy partnership. You now have to focus on situations that could and should have been fixed in the Single stage of your life as a now married individual. You will end up draining the one you’re with attempting to seek a healing that can only be provided by God.

Doesn’t bother me, but I’ve seen some people get pretty annoyed by it. This is a task that I will be turning over to my husband freely. (Let’s just call it an added perk of being the head of the household.) I’ve also learned that although I love to visit other places, I don’t have a burning desire to live outside of Texas. I almost always overdress for an event. I can’t do cold weather well. I think matching is overrated and cats and lizards scare me. These are only a few of my quirks; you would be wise to figure out yours while you only have yours to worry about.

Marriage is not a be-all-end-all-cure-all to the issues that you face as a Single. Whatever issues you have now you will have them married, unless you take care of them beforehand. It’s one thing to be incomplete and miserable Build that personal resume; the list of what you will bring to single, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to be that and be the table. From a woman’s perspective, many times we are so going to bed with someone else every night. quick to tell a person what we expect and what we are not Fix whatever is lacking or needs improvement in your going to do in a dating relationship that we fail to mention Single life so as to not bring it into your marriage. what we will do. What do we have to offer that will make this person want to make a concentrated effort in sharing in our life? If you can’t quickly and surely answer that question, I’ve spoken to married people that disclosed how they that may be another task to accomplish in your Single life. felt lonely in their marriage and I can only imagine the heartache this brings. I was never alone in my engagement per se, but I was desperately lonely. I now realize the Naturally speaking, would you buy a car if the dealer’s only value of respecting my time alone and the seriousness of sales pitch was, “This car doesn’t go over 100 MPH, it doesn’t co-habitation in marriage because we can’t say, “Go home turn sharp corners very well, it requires you to change the please,” or “I would like to be alone now,” to our spouse oil and filter every other month, and requires you to change without one person being uprooted from their own home. the brakes yearly with monthly scheduled maintenance. It Your space is no longer your own, so being confined with is oversized so you will have to find special parking for it, a person that leaves you feeling lonely (or desperately and after 50,000 miles, what you see is what you get because making you wish you were alone) should spark another the warranty expires.” I can pretty much guarantee that you sober examination of your readiness for marriage. would hesitate in buying it because nothing was explained in an attractive manner. Although all of the mentioned is One strategy of learning the art of being alone but not true to the car, it’s not what you lead with if you want to feeling lonely is to practice being by yourself. Turn the make a sell.

TV off, cut off your ringer, sign off from Facebook and DENNIS AMOUS & WOLE OMOGUNSOYE ARAMIDE SHITTU Twitter and just be. Commit to not filling the silence with I believe to an extent, the same concept applies with something, but to just rest in the peace of being with you. relationships. If all the person is informed of is the work It’s easier said than done. The average person can only they are required to put in, and they are not presented with comfortably stand silence for a few seconds when in the any of the perks of how you will add value to their life, or presence of other people without trying to fill it in some what distinguishes you from all the others; it may be a bit way. I have lived alone for the past nine years and I have more difficult to get them to buy in. This should not be only recently begun to understand the magnitude of being misconstrued to say that all of the “maintenance” shouldn’t content alone, and I still find it hard to just be and really be addressed, because you definitely don’t want to make do nothing. When I am alone, I am either reading a book, my mistake of portraying the “perfect mate’ from Chapter 2. watching a movie, talking on the phone, cleaning the Discuss them, but don’t blow your own sale with the wrong house, or doing something else. It is almost unnatural to pitch. just do nothing. Why is this? I believe partially because we seek companionship; we were created to be together.

Finish school, start your business, pay off your debt and make your resume speak for itself. Become your best you.

Christ exemplifies this concept when He states that we Figure out your sales pitch.

God has His best companion are many members but one body and the Bible even advises AYO,but YINKA, ADEOLA orchestratedL-R for you, I don’tSOPE, believe&that He will ordain against being alone becauseBROTHER there is noCHOSEN one to help us up that appointment until you are working to be your best. You when we fall. can’t expect to get a ten if you are slumming it around the Although He understands the desire and need for fives. companionship, (because He created it) I don’t believe that He was saying to never be alone. Jesus would often Date yourself. The same energy that you would spend steal away to be alone with our Father. Desiring company getting to know the ins and outs of a potential boo, use that or the pleasure of being with others is not to be seen as time getting to know yourself. Find out your quirks, your negative, but it can be a crutch if you don’t know how to fears, your hopes, your deal-breakers, and your annoying be comfortable alone. At this point in your life, you have habits (no, you are not perfect); even what type of eggs you the choice to spend as much time alone as you desire and like in the morning. You’d be surprised how much stuff I encourage you to enjoy it fullysoak it all in. When we about you that you don’t even know. May sound silly, but get married, your space will be shared with your mate and this encounter with self can be powerful if done right. your family, so this will turn into one of those, “If I would While you’re Single, use this time to beef up your resume. have known then what I know now” moments. Time to be alone then may be a rare commodity.

I spent time going to restaurants alone and ordering dinner.

LaVonia R. Tryon is an Author, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, and Motivator.

This may be a small feat forSINGLES you, but for me it was a big one.

CHOIR I am always the last person to order at the table. I’m the one 23 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014 that always asks other people what I should eat, the one who ends up getting six suggestions from the wait staff, only

LADIES CORNER

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Circumstances, trials, crisis, let downs have captured the people of God. Some have succumbed to the hardships of life. Some have even given up hope. While others have lost their faith and doubted God’s plans and purposes for their lives. This journey has been long and daunting.

The journey that you have been on has been unrelenting in trials and hardships. You may have even wondered at times what you have done to have such pain. Sometimes you have felt alone on this journey and that you have been misunderstood and even rejected by others closest to you. You have not known which path to take and have even found yourself going in circles or around the same “mountains” again and again. You have tried to express to others how you have felt but it became apparent that you were not being understood. You may have lost all or most of your traveling companions on this journey.

Others left because they could no longer figure you out or you realized at some point you were traveling two different journeys.

You may have experienced health aliments and even emotional distress during this time. You asked for prayer and maybe have been standing, waiting for your healing; and you are still waiting. You are not even sure which direction to take anymore. You feel you are in a waiting period, but you seem to still be waiting. Waiting on what you say, “those prayers, promises, healings, restorations, and direction.” You have held out and waited as you have seen the desires of your heart upon your enemies.

The moms who have been praying relentlessly for their prodigal to return, the single waiting for their Godly spouse, family members waiting for family relationships to be healed and restored and for the sick waiting to be healed; these are the times to wait and trust a new journey will begin. It is not God’s intent to bring tragedy, pain, heartache and suffering for you entire life and you never receive good from the evil or harm that has come into your life.

Ruth waited a long time for things in her life to be restored. I am sure she had no idea how God was bringing these things to pass in her life. You may be in a place where you have hoped and nothing has happened or you did hope for something but it did not last. You may have deep discouragement and be very disillusioned about God. Ruth was so bitter about her circumstances she asked that her name be changed to Mara, which means bitter. What if she would have given up before her life was restored.

Keep hoping, keep believing, and keep trusting God is a restorer.

The time has come for many to receive a new direction for your life. There is a new tide that is turning for the people of God who will flow in it. This new direction will not be familiar, you will not have chartered this territory before. It may not look exactly how you planned, but it is exactly what God has planned for you and it is good. It may be difficult to transition over because we like familiar and comfort, but go with the new flow and direction of God; do not stay stuck or you will become stagnant. God has been refining, restoring, correcting, teaching, and now the time has come to embrace a new journey. Don’t pick up where you were before. Start fresh, a new, and don’t look back, or compare the past to the future.

The tide is about to turn on this very long journey that you have been on. Make sure you are obedient to what Christ tells you and cleanse and repent of all sins. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Embrace the new journey. God is preparing His people, do not be deceived and continue on the journey that the world is taking; stay the course Christ has for you.

There will be a day of reckoning, a day of restoration.

What have you been holding out on? What are you still believing God for? Or what have you lost hope in? Be honest before the Lord, He already knows your heart. Is there something you have given up on already because the wait became too long? I will encourage you to read the entire chapter of Ruth. Ruth lost everything, husband and two sons and was beyond childbearing age. Her future looked bleak and hopeless. But then, God restored everything back to Ruth.

“And may He be a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” Ruth 4: 15

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MENS CORNER

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But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

“Being a male is a matter of biology, being a man is a matter of choice”. Which one will you choose? If you choose to be Think about the question, Adam, where are you? (Notice a Godly man and stop being a P.O.W or M.I.A then there that God did not call out to the woman.) Did God ask this are certain things you must do: question because He didn’t know where Adam was? No, 1. You must realize who you are and who’s you are the reason He asked the question was because He wanted Adam to realize where he was, and where he wasn’t. 2. You must repent and ask God for forgiveness When we as men go astray from God, we should seriously consider where we are and where we aren’t; we are afar 3. You must develop an intimate relationship with Him and off from God, all that is good, in the midst of our enemies, surrender yourself totally to Him. in bondage to Satan, and in the high road to utter ruin. So where was man, and where is he right now? He is M.I.A 4. You must realize that things are not going to change (Missing In Action). It has become evident to me that even overnight. It took time to get you this way. It’s going to though time has changed, man has not. Thousands of years take time to change. later, God is still asking the question “Man, where are you?”

5. Stop making excuses, excuses have been around since Why is it, that in other religions such as Judaism and Islam, Adam, they didn’t work back then, why would they work the male is predominant, while in Christianity it is the other now? way around? Why are Christian men M.I.A while the women are constantly working in God’s kingdom? I remember 6. Start praying for other men (Men you know and men once hearing the phrase “It takes a man to start a church, you don’t know) so that they will come to the life changing but it takes women to keep it running”. This statement is so knowledge of Christ, and join you as Biblical Men ( Real sad but it is so true. When you look at women in the church, Men) on the front lines. you see that even though they might have differences, when it comes to doing the work of God they always come 7. Pray for all the wives, families and children whose lives together. Why does it seem like the women are always have been destroyed, because we as men have not been the ones on the front lines? Maybe because most men are standing in our place. not even in the battle and many of the ones that are, have become P.O.W s ( Prisoners Of War ). How do we become 8. If you are married ,ask your wife for forgiveness for not spiritual P.O.W s? by not being faithful, by not following covering her, not committing, and not loving and honoring our calling, by not following Godly wisdom when it comes her the way you are supposed to. to our decision making. This in turn creates in us a wrong Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved attitude which makes us prisoners of discouragement and the church, and gave Himself for her”. depression. This opens up the question “If we are spiritual P.O.W s then how can we fight for our wives, our children, Like I said previously, it’s all about choices, we can choose and our churches? to be Biblical men like David, or live our lives as M.I.A s Let me get back to the term M.I.A (Missing In Action) or P.O.Ws like Eli or Achan whose lives destroyed those Missing In Action is a status attached to a member of the around them as well as themselves. armed forces who is reported missing following combat and is presumed injured, captured or dead. Is this your status? I Pray you make the right choice... or are you a P.O.W ? either way it’s time for you to come home. Too many marriages are being destroyed, too many of our children are being adopted by, lost to our streets, yet it seems like there is a church in every other block. If we have as many churches as we do grocery stores then why are we losing so much ground in the battlefield? The answer is: the men are not where they are supposed to be.

Why do you think the feminism movement is so powerful? because women have grown tired of men advocating their roles and responsibilities, being MIA Sadly the same thing is happening in the church, and if we are not careful ,we will open the doors for that same spirit to creep into our churches. A lot of people blame feminism for destroying the traditional role in our families, I say, lets place the blame where it really belongs... on ourselves. If we were standing in our place being The Men that God created us to be, this would not be an issue.

By: Louis Verges

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CHRISTMAS AT RESTORATION

Time to take off

L-R Bro. Funmi

Bro. Bola, & Bro

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Fun in the Sun

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BRING DOWN THE GLORY

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CHURCH EVENTS

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LIFESTYLE

RESTORATION CHAPEL TESTIMONIES! The following testimonies are summarized versions of “deeper and larger stories” of what our God has done in the lives of some of His children.

1. A woman testified about what God is doing in her family – what happened in her home between her and her children concerning salvation. This woman had constant bouts of what she described as “cold and crushing headache” every night (over a long time). She tried medication but her condition did not improve. She was suffering in silence. During a night vigil, she decided to report her case to God. After that night vigil, the headache and “cold” vanished without further medication! Shortly after, her life took a miraculously beautiful turn that enabled her to pay off her car loan – quickly! Praise the Lord!

2. This sister is thanking God for saving her life. She testified that so much happened with her pregnancy leading to several tests by her doctor. She was diagnosed with blood clot and suffered from continuous pangs of pain. One such fateful day, she was rushed to the emergency unit; she started having contraction. Then, she lost consciousness (passed out) . . . and the hospital unit “called a code” on her, believing that she would die. Miraculously, she pulled through, but on the day of delivery, an ugly twist of events surfaced. As the doctors performed a cesarean (section) on her, she stayed awake (by choice).

She testified that the baby “could not come out” and she feared that she would not survive! That was when, she believed, God stepped in; after what seemed like eternity, “the baby was suctioned”. By the special grace and mercy of God, both the baby and mother came out o.k. and are doing well.

3. This sister travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, to take care of some business and decided to go to RCCG camp for worship. While she was at the camp, she fell sick – very sick – and needed a doctor. When she asked, she was told that there was no doctor at the camp ground area. The village had only a “Chemist”. She resorted to prayers at the camp and was healed without any medication. Back in the U.S., her son was involved in an auto accident on a busy highway; he crashed into a motor cycle (with biker and passenger). The generated force flung the son’s car and the bikers into the busy roadway! God intervened, mercifully and miraculously, as all three came away without serious injuries. She believed that it was a miracle that on such a busy highway, no vehicles ran over them or crashed into them! The enemy planned for this sister to weep, but God countered that plan. Praise the Lord.

4. According to this sister, God performed a miracle in her life that silenced her enemy. She was diagnosed with deadly cancer in 2006.

Her husband had abandoned her and her children; he now lives outside the U. S. According to her, when her husband was informed of her scary (cancer) situation, he said “we are waiting for you to die . . .”!

Shortly after, she believed that God touched her as she became “clean of cancer”. Then she relocated from New York City to Houston, Texas, and started having severe pains again! Her doctor in Houston requested for her medical record from New York. One day this doctor called to give her an “evil report that the cancer had returned!” She said she denied it (loudly) and boasted about the healing power in the word of God – 32 | RESTORATION VOICE APRIL 2014

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalms 118:17, KJV). She was determined to prove that the doctor’s report was not for her. Then, she remembered the case of a woman in Nigeria who suddenly became blind. When that Nigerian woman went for Holy Communion, she took the “wine” home, put it in her eyes, and tied her eyes with an handkerchief overnight. When she woke up in the morning, her blindness was gone! This sister keyed into that miracle; she also keyed into similar miracles. So, on a Holy Communion night, she cut out a part of a white, anointed, handkerchief she brought from “Redeem Camp” in Dallas and took it with her. She poured a part of the “blood of Jesus” (wine) on the white handkerchief, took it home and placed it on the lacerated cancer sport for four days. On the fourth day, she discovered that her continuous pain was gone; then, she removed the handkerchief from the spot and found, not only that the pain was gone, but that, miraculously, the scare was also gone! She is now free of cancer and free of the scare in Jesus’ name, Amen!

5. This brother is praising God for miraculous journey mercy. For most part of 2012 into 2013, he travelled frequently – almost every month - using Asiana Airline from Houston, Texas, to Asia. A couple of weeks after his long assignment ended (around June, 2013), the Airline “he has fallen in love with”, crashed in San Francesco! That was his route and his airline (and probably his day of return)! Also, God took proper care of his wife and daughter while he was frequently away from home. He also testified that at the end of his Far East project, his boss praised him for excellent performance on the project, which, unknown to this brother, was designed to test his competence. He had triple victory! Praise God! 6. This brother, diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria, has been undergoing a program of radiation therapy here in Houston. His doctors confessed that he had a terrible case of cancer and saw no chance of survival. He continued to travel between Nigeria and Houston for his scheduled therapies and check-ups. The cost of his treatment has summed up to a bill of two hundred and five thousand dollars ($205,000.00)! Then, in one of the church’s special programs, he took his cancer case, which was declared hopeless by man, to the Almighty God. Then, the Great Healer stepped in and performed two quick miracles! First, the next scheduled check-up (which became his final) the doctors were shocked to find no more trace of cancer in him! The brother was declared free of cancer and was discharged. That was miracle number one! Then, he was presented with the final bill of $205,000. Again, God showed up. As our brother was examining the scary bill, the hospital’s

!

Director of finance “appeared from nowhere”. The director asked the brother to tell him about himself and he briefly did. Then, the director asked the shocking question; “How much of that bill can you pay?” The brother, joyous and more concerned about his restored health than the bill said, “I can pay $25, 000” (about 12%). Then, the director announced that the Management (of the hospital) had just met over the bill and had decided that this brother should pay only five thousand dollars ($5,000)!! Not only was this brother free of a deadly cancer, he just won $200,000!

Praise the Lord!!!

7. This brother’s job gave him continuous stress, not only physically, but also mentally. The company he worked for was notoriously known for downsizing and other corporate vices which keep the workers nervous – not sure of what the next day would hold for them. Given this uncertainty, this brother prayed, continually, to God for mercy as he reported his situation to Him. He also sent out job applications believing that the Lord would give him another job before he received any bad news or “pink slip” from his current employer. One fateful day he went out to lunch (as usual) and met a manager of one of the companies this brother had sent job applications to. The manager told him that his company would send him a job offer letter that afternoon. The brother was so thrilled with the good news that he rushed his lunch and returned to his office with great joy in his heart. On getting to his office, his boss was waiting to “see” him – and a pink slip was also waiting for him! So, when his boss gave him the letter of termination, he shouted “PRAISE GOD”, that shocked his unbelieving boss. He assumed duty in a new company and a new office the next day. He described his new job as “a multiple of the job I hated and lost”. This is God in action!

8. This sister testified that she was “hearing the language of death” very clearly. The message, according to her, was so heavy on her mind. She told her husband and they prayed, as children of God would do, but the “message” persisted. She said she tried to disregard it. Unknown to this sister, God ministered that same message of death (of this sister) to a man of God. She came home one day to find that her Pastor’s wife had left her an urgent voicemail, “please, see us”, and wondered why the Pastor and his wife would need her to see them. When she (and her husband) got to the Pastor’s house, the Pastor said, “this is what the Lord told me; you are about to be gone!”

That was when the reality of the heavy weight on her mind hit her. She said she remembered a similar case of a “message of death” somebody had; that person died, making her case scarier.

The man of God (the Pastor) “separated time” to pray for her - - and she is, now, a living testimony. Thank God that she is alive and well today. Glory be to our God who has the power to cancel death!!

The Immigration Officer told her they would write her a letter – and it would not be a good letter! She called many Pastors to help her pray – Pastors she knew, and those other people told her about (both in Nigeria and in the U.S). According to her, some of the Pastors disengaged from her as soon as she told them that she admitted the charges. She packed up her belongings and was ready to return to Nigeria instead of going to court, and then be put in jail, but her brother (and his wife) prevented and encouraged her. They said, “You are not going anywhere; we will fight it”. She had no money to hire a lawyer and refused the services of a court-appointed lawyer because she had no faith that a government lawyer would work sincerely against the same government. Just then, her job (her employment) began to put out over-time positions.

She saw a great chance to make more money to hire a lawyer; she would work from “shift to shift” and started making so much money that she was able to hire a lawyer.

However, as soon as she had paid the lawyer’s fee, “overtime stopped”; then she lost her job! She appeared in court three times. The prosecutors made her to confess her guilt on a tape recorder. The confession was transcribed and she signed – GUILTY! Still, some men of God never stopped praying for her and for God’s intervention. On the 4th (and final) court date – the sister will never forget “the 13th” of the month – a miracle happened. Prayer warriors had earlier told her that there would be unprecedented confusion in court. The prosecutors presented their case and the CD of her confession, but the Judge said he had no equipment in court to play the CD. That started a minor argument between the Judge and the prosecutors. As the argument started to heat up, the prosecutors then told the Judge that they had a transcribed version of the tape; the Judge refused to accept the transcribed version. At that point the Judge “blew up”, “You know what, I’m confused, I’m confused - - - -; this case is adjourned, come back in one year” and he adjourned the case before this sister had a chance to say anything. There was confusion everywhere which shocked everybody in court! Just before the next court date (one year latter), this sister testified that Jesus called her (through her lawyer) with the miraculous news that the case has been thrown out!! She is now a free American!! Praise God!!!

9. This sister experienced God’s miraculous hand on her life. She has been in this country (USA) for quite a while; then she got into deep trouble with Immigration Department. According to her, the “trouble” was so overwhelming. In court, she decided to admit the overwhelming charges brought against her.

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LEVEL 3:16 Important Info: For Middle/High School Students (Parents too!)

1

by Tomi Ifelayo Youth Department

Grade Point Average (GPA)

2

Advanced Placement (AP) classes

4

The SAT

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3

The PSAT/NMSQT Exam

)

The most important things every student and parent needs to know about making the most of high school and paying as little as possible for college.

Grade Point Average (GPA) -Unweighted GPA: A straight-forward reflection of the grades received in a course => A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.

-Weighted GPA: A scale that reflects AP, IB, Pre-AP, and Honors classes by giving more GPA points for them. An “A” in a regular class = 4.0, but an “A” in an AP class = 5.0. The amount of extra points given to these advanced classes varies by district.

-THE POINT: Taking AP, IB, Pre-AP, and Honors classes significantly boosts your GPA, and increases your ranking (which is based on the weighted system). A higher rank increases the scope of colleges you can get accepted to and how fast you get accepted.

-WHAT TO DO: When selecting courses for the year ahead, look for classes that have the suffixes “AP, IB, Pre-AP, and Honors” on them, and select those classes. Although the work may be more rigorous, it is worth it.

-ADVANTAGES: You get to work in a college-level environment and see if you can keep up, while the GPA boost pushes you past your peer competition. There are also college scholarships with specific rank in class requirements for consideration. In most Texas public schools, having a rank in the top 10% of your graduating class gives you automatic admission upon application.

For more information: Alief ISD: http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/584?filename= EIC(LOCAL).pdf Fort Bend ISD: http://www.fortbendisd.com/docs/curriculum/ high-school-guide-2013-2014.pdf Top 10% Information http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index. cfm?objectid=6D0B8C2F-C987-12B0-27CAFED91FACC7FB

Advanced Placement (AP) classes AP classes are college-level classes taught in high school. At the end of every academic year (The first two weeks of May) the AP test for each subject is administered and graded on a scale of 1-5. A qualifying score of 3 and above grant college credit for the class in most U.S. universities (IMPORTANT: Many Ivy League Schools do not follow this policy. Check with the university you have in mind for their AP credit policy). These classes grant you a high school view of college and pushes you to work and study at the college level. These classes are an excellent way to save money and time on college classes, and a faster way to increase your rank (provided you do well in the class).

For more information: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap

The PSAT/NMSQT Exam This exam is offered to students in grades 9-11 as preparation for the SAT. While this is great practice, the second function of the test is much more alluring. This exam is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualification Test (NMSQT). The National Merit program picks the top scorers in the nation and rank them, recognizing them as National Merit Semifinalists, Finalists, and Scholars. There is also a National Achievement program specifically for African Americans that follows the same process. Having any one of these titles can get you scholarships (up to a full ride in some universities), along with many other college offers for admission. It is important for students to TAKE THIS TEST SERIOUSLY and prepare for it (PSAT/SAT prep books and courses are a great way to get ready). NOTE: take this exam in 9th and 10th grade for familiarity, but only the test taken in October of 11th grade is entered for the NMSQT program.

For more information: -Some colleges that offer scholarships for National Merit/Achievement: http://lhspsatteam.weebly.com/uploads/5/2/1/0/5210607/scholarships.pdf -National Merit Program Details: http://www.nationalmerit. org/nmsp.php#progrec -National Achievement Program Details: http://www. nationalmerit.org/nasp.php -Check the scholarship pages for schools you are interested in, and look for national merit and achievement scholarships.

The SAT This is the single most important test you will ever take in high school. The SAT has three parts: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Each section is scored from 200-800, for a combined maximum score of 2400. This test determines what types of colleges you can apply to, whether you get accepted, and the types of scholarships that area offered.

Like with National Merit, there are full-ride and full-tuition scholarships available just based on your SAT score!!! Again, TAKE THIS TEST SERIOUSLY!!

Make It Picture Perfect If you replace a photo with your own and it’s not a flawless fit for the space, you can crop it to fit in almost no time. Just select the picture and then, on the Picture Tools Format tab, click Crop.

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THE MERCIES OF GOD KEPT ME IN A STRANGE LAND

I

n search of “greener pasture”, it would seem great and wonderful to leave the shores of one’s country (birth place) and travel abroad. However, the question one must ask (which, I believe, many of us do not ask) before embarking on such a lifechanging adventure is “has God led me to take this action or did I desire to emigrate on my own self will?” Different people “relocate” for different reasons: some are God-led, some move for family reasons, and some just feel like relocating. For whatever reason one does relocate, if God’s mercy does not continue, one is doomed!

In my case, coming into this strange land (USA), with no relatives around me was, indeed, so hard but the mercy of God – which He showed through my husband and other brethren – pulled me through. Glory be to God! During that trying period, I relied on my “great ally and anchor” (God) who kept me going, and helped me to stand. In a strange land (so tough with several requirements), God helped me in all my situations. Some days, I laughed; some other days, I would cry, thinking, “what next?”, but in all, my God saw me through for He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1: 5, NIV). Glory be to His holy name! Living in a strange land gave me more opportunities to see that God is the all-sufficient one who helps me grow more spiritually, knowing full well that all I need to pull through in this land is the mercy and favor of God. God is my anchor, comforter, and my very present help when I need Him. He is very awesome. Living in a strange, multi-cultural, and multi-linguistic land causes me to realize that except the Lord keeps you in His love and His Will, no matter what you do or try to achieve, you will not succeed. This makes me to realize, again, that God is awesome and mighty.

CHALLENGES

I faced many challenges but God pulled me through every time. Despite all my challenges, I found solace in God – my only rock and hope. God has provided for me and has allowed the Scripture contained in Psalms 43: 10 – “The Lion may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing – to be fulfilled in my life.

FAMILY

For so many years, I could not travel out of the United States. There was a huge hindrance, just like the days when the children of Israel were “tied up” in Egypt; but a day came for their release! They got their freedom and got out; I am going out too, in Jesus’ name!

Imagine being “held” in one place for so many years – neither going out nor coming in – but God gave me peace all around. My greatest joy came when my daughter came to join us (in the U.S.); then, my mom and other siblings also visited! That was a great obstacle the Almighty God removed. God organizes and arranges things to work (together) for His children. I know that this year – 2014 – is my year of release, and so shall it be, in Jesus’ name!

WALKING IN GOD’S WILL IN A STRANGE LAND

How does one walk in God’s WILL in a strange land, not conforming to the things of this world?

It is the Grace and Mercy of God that helped me pull through by studying His Word and allowing those passages in God’s Word to manifest in my daily life. The Word of God in Psalms 119: 11 says, “The Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you.” I know that as God leads me, I will not go astray.

MY SALVATION

I told a friend that, maybe the purpose I came to this nation is for the salvation of my soul. I appreciate God for saving me. Forty years of my life was spent in performing “religious routine” – not saved or routed in the Word. I thank God for choosing me and for causing me to surrender all to Him; He has taught me so much. I am so grateful to God for loving and accepting me as His own. Glory be to His Holy name;

By: Veronica Owokoniran

PULPIT JOKES The Post Office

A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery store.

As he waited, he was approached by a man who asked, “Son, can you tell me where the post office is?”

The little boy replied, “Sure, just go straight down the street a couple of blocks and turn to your right.”

The man thanked the boy kindly and said, “I’m the new pastor in town, and I’d like for you to come to church on Sunday. I’ll show you how to get to Heaven.”

The little boy replied with a chuckle, “Awww, come on; you don’t even know the way to the post office!

Long Hair A minister’s son had just got his driving permit.

He asked his father if they could discuss the use of the car.

His father took him to his study and said to him, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it.”

About a month later the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car.

They again went to the father’s study where his father said, “Son, I’ve been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you’ve studied your Bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut!”

The young man waited a moment and replied, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair....”

To which his father replied, “Yes, and they walked every where they went!”’

The Ten Commandments Many centuries ago, God came down to earth, went to the Germans and said, “I have Commandments that will help you live better lives.”

The Germans ask, “What are Commandments?”

And the Lord says, “Rules for living.”

“Can you give us an example?” said the Germans.

God says, “Thou shalt not kill.”

“Not kill? We’re not interested.”

So God went to the Italians and said, “I have Commandments...”

The Italians wanted an example and the Lord said, “Thou shalt not steal.”

Next the Lord went to the French saying, “I have Commandments...”

The French wanted an example and the Lord said, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”

And the French were not interested either.

God then went to the Jews and said, “I have Commandments...”

“Commandments,” said the Jews, “How much are they?”

“They’re free.”

“Perfect. We’ll take 10.”

The Priest And The Pilot A Catholic Priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates.

Ahead of him is a guy who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans.

Saint Peter addresses this cool guy, “Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?”

The guy replies, “I’m Alex Jones, a retired American Airlines Pilot from Dallas, Texas.”

Saint Peter consults his list.

He smiles and says to the pilot, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom.”

The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff.

Next it’s the priest’s turn.

He stands erect and booms out, “I am Father Joe McTiernan, pastor of Saint Mary’s in Pasadena for the last 43 years.”

Saint Peter again consults his list.

He says to the priest, “Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom.”

“Just a minute,” says the good father, “that man was a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff, and I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?”

“Up here we go by results,” says Saint Peter, “when you preached - - people slept; when he flew - - people prayed.”

Source: SQUIDOO

Kids Corner

GOD mADE EVERYTHING

One Sunday after church, Lucy and George decided to see God’s Creation.

Lucy said:andGodthecreated the rainbow, sky.

He created thebright. flowers oh so

George said: God gave the gift Lucy said: He created the ocean of music so we can praise and so deep, and the fish in the sea. worship Him

Hey!they we are forgotcolorful, the birdsandthat The lamb, the sheep, my dog, chirp, they and everything. fly so high.

God madeyouthis world just for and me.

Can you name 10 more things God created?