With the Pentecostal fire of the early seventies came the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With power and great zeal, the converts preached everywhere. The first set of the gospel converts came to Ora and set up its first branch at Eme Ora. This is the Church of God Mission led by Archbishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory. The Church of God Mission had so much prosecution of its members by the established churches but despite this, it was established – not in Eme but in Sabongidda Ora, which later became its Owan provincial Headquarters. Assemblies of God also came with its Holy Spirit powered gospel and converts were made.
The Chapel of Glory Ministries led by Rev. Godwin Ohi Abraham Ewenkhare came in 1989 January 4th and had its maiden service on 8th January in his father’s parlor at NO. 29 Iweode Street. This group came in with a gospel van equipped with P.A. system and with the power of the Holy witnessed through signs and wonders. The whole land was shaken for Christ and great Revival broke out.
Before now it was a to beat drums during the Ukpako festival and it should be recalled that this group will not adhere to a worship of Jehovah without musical instrument like drumming. Any culprit caught beating drum must be fined a goat and other items for sacrifice at the Ugboukpako (the masquerades bush and shrine).
A minister (not of the above mentioned church) was finally summoned to the chiefs so as to be judged and fined but all the ministers of the gospel gathered together and were at the place of summons and at the end this issue was resolved by granting concession to the churches to beat their drums in their church halls whether it is Ukpako festival or not.
It is believed in Sabongidda Ora and rightly too that this concession will not have come about without the faith of the Pastor of the aforementioned church- Rev. G.O.A Ewenkhare.
PRAYER WALKS
Another group, which played a very prominent role in dismantling idolism thus delivering many from the stronghold of hell is called the Intercessors for Ora, led by Ambassador Thonde and its prayer arm was led by Rev. G.O.A Ewenkhare.
The prayer arm led by Rev. G.O.A Ewenkbare in company with his members made spiritual and physical incursion into the strongholds of the devil everywhere in Ora land by going in the dead of nights to the shrines to spiritually decapitate the power of darkness whose power over the people made them to serve God but worship idols. All the notable shrines, river stones, trees had their spiritual foundations spiritually demolished. This would not have been possible without the unity of the body of Christ.
THE BENEFIT OF UNITY.
“Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven” Mathew 1819.
“And five of you shall chase an hundred and hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight…Leveticus 26”
“How should one chase an thousand and two put ten thousand to flight….?” Deuteronomy 325
The above quoted scriptures is a good testimony of the advantage of Christian unity in the propagation of the gospel and the destruction of idolism and the strongholds of the devil and his cohorts in Ora land. The ministers of the gospel in Ora land put aside their doctrinal differences by coming together so as to put the enemy of God and his Christ to flight, they prayed, fasted and prayer walked together.
This unity also made possible the fulfillment of the word of God as written in the Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians “I have planted, Apollos water but God gave the increase” 1Corithians3:6, and as a matter of fact true Christianity is thriving in every part of Ora land and the best is yet to come in Jesus name (amen).
EVANGELISM BY POWER
Power evangelism affected in no small way the stronghold of satanic power in Ora land because through this, the power of God to heal, save and deliver was made prominent by the Holy Spirit and through his ministers and especially this writer for testimonies abound of God’s miraculous doings which caused many to know the Lord and come to the knowledge of the truth.
By power evangelism those who hitherto served God but worshipped idols had to throw away their charms, Olokun idol worship and Izobo e.t.c. to serve the Living and true God.
“And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did for unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them and many with palsies and that were lame were healed and there was great joy in that city” Acts 86-8
“And many that believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” Acts 1918-20.
“And it came to pass afterward that he went through every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God and the twelve were with him and women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities —“Luke81-2
The above scriptures and some many others clearly examplified the effect of evangelism through the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, save and deliver which here is called POWER EVANGELISM.
TRUTH LIBERATES
Before the advert of Pentecostalism (which we represents in all its ramifications) it has been hitherto preached by our fore-runners and believed as the “gospel truth” that anyone buried at the church cemetery – Anglican and later Catholics will go to heaven and anyone buried elsewhere is a heathen and cannot be admitted into heaven.
With this erroneous “gospel” many became “Christians” and were enslaved to religion and not Christ (though they go to church and know not Christ, since they were baptized, confirmed and partake of the Holy Communion, their admittance to paradise is guaranteed) to liberate such souls we have to resort to the power of the gospel of Christ for Paul said
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek “Romans 116
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” John
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10. These and several scriptures were quoted and the doctrine of salvation, atonement and forgiveness in Christ was vigorously taught and as God will have it men who where before now went to Church to be buried at the “Christian” cemetery which is the “door” to heaven became liberated through the truth of the gospel and now believed in him who said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto my Father except by me” John 146