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Everything in life has a beginning. Let it be said on a serious note, that nothing is easy in life. Who would have believed that the creation of God which today looks amazing was, once without form and void? The Scripture confirms this! (Genesis 1:1).
If everyone be truthful to their selves, this is part of the truth in the journeys embarked upon in life. It goes then without saying that life is not a bed of roses but as the saying goes, every weed is a potential rose. There are indeed times when the going gets tough. In such times, it is only the tough which gets going. With these short information about life, come with me and lets embark on the journey, of unveiling CHAPEL OF BELIEVERS.
It all began in Year 2002 after my six years of service in the church where I was trained and ordained as a Pastor. KINGDOM EXPLORERS MISSION and its head Pastor Emmanuel Amaning, trained, moulded and gave me the opportunity to serve as well as grow before I finally went for a two year Theology study in a Bible College. For this, I am eternally grateful. However as the Scripture says, there is time for everything.
When the time for service was over after six years, I was released and set apart for what the Almighty has called me to do. I remembered vividly that I stayed home and prayed; just with my family in our apartment. One day, I was prompted to start having a midweek service. As soon as it was announced, the news spread like wild fire and our apartment became a mecca of its sort with people thronging from different corners of the Hamburg city.
The tale of this apartment is a testimony of its own and I will not fail to share it. It was a three room flat in a three storey building whose other apartments, were occupied by prostitutes with the exception of the one we lived in. It actually was the topmost and as such the upper room. To live in such a place with one’s family was temptation personified.
What will I tell my children when they, ask me why those women who dress almost half naked during the summer do such? What about friends and church members who would be visiting I and my family? I was however left without a choice as the challenge of securing an apartment in the city at that point in time was on the high side. I accepted to move in there and in turn test my calling. I will not fail to add that it was a decision which was taken under divine inspiration.
People close to me discouraged my decision but my mind was made up. Every Spirit filled man in the eyes of the canal minded, is stubborn. I stubbornly moved in! However I had a tarry night there before eventually moving in. On that night, I prayed and gave God two conditions which I was not willing to negotiate. Both was quit notice. I told God that it is either the prostitutes get converted and saved, thus quit their profession or they quit the building.
As a matter of fact, I was specific in my demand as I requested for either action to be carried out within a forth night. How those people who have thrived in the said trade and same for a very long time, would do either of both was none of my business. All I cared about was having made my demand known to the Alpha and Omega.
The trouble with Believers is faith. If not as long as we place a just demand and back same with faith, God will surely move (1 John 4:15). I went about my business and never bothered instead I waited. On the thirteenth day, there was a commotion in the house. There was ramblings and rumblings. A hue and a cry, but I was not bothered because I knew as the Jonah in the boat, that I was the culprit.
What transpired should better be seen than imagined. I saw the prostitutes take to their heels threw their unwanted properties out and left all their doors opened. I laughed and got terrified more of what prayers and faith can accomplish. After some days, I saw the house master and asked him where his tenants have gone and he was speechless. He told me that he does not know. Interestingly, this same man was the ring leader of the illegitimate trade. God sent them packing and sanctified the building for His own use. What an Awesome God we serve!
Thus, the building became the centre of possibilities where people were coming to for spiritual nourishments on Wednesdays. Uncommon testimonies were had. Who would have believed my reports? But God did it in a grand style. I however failed to key into what God begun. I failed to tell God that I needed that building for His work. If I had equally placed such demand, He would have as well done it.
Instead, after some months, the urge to go into full church services on Sundays was birthed. I sought for a place outside God’s given place. Little wonder till date, I have continued to struggle to secure our own building. We have moved to different places but I must, confess that none had been like the foundation place where the move of God was felt in diverse ways.
This was how and where we began. Many people have come the ways of CHAPEL OF BELIEVERS and gone. God in His Omniscience however has established the ones He has programmed to use in glorifying Himself in this great Church in these last days. These, He is using in diverse ways. C.O.B: Christ On Board is our slogan and at its first Year already, it was the talk of the town. I cannot forget how a fellow pastor approached me and said: “What is your secret seeing you seldom go on evangelism but the church is growing?” I remembered telling him that the secret is the WORD of God. Till date, we have continued to declare it undiluted and have no apologies no matter whose ox is gored.
Interestingly, our major place of exploit was a street called HAMMER. The Word of God is sure like HAMMER which breaks the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). It was equally the first official home of C.O.B. As the Word of God hammered, lives were changed, and souls were touched. The enemy became very angry and struck in diverse ways. I was not moved nor deterred having known Him Who called me.
It was in this same place that the test of my calling was confirmed. Prayers were answered even before they were said. I remembered how one fateful Sunday as I finished ministering on a topic titled: “Don’t worry, Be Happy” and dispersed the people after the LORD has finished the move of the day.
I was still in the basement of the building counselling and praying for some people when some of those who have left, rushed back to tell me that there was danger as the police, have surrounded the entire compound in search of a sister who was in the service that day. I went to them and they brought out the picture of the young lady and asked me if I saw her that day and where she was. They made me knew they followed her all the way from her home and monitored her moves until she entered into the church as such, there was no denying the fact that she was present in that service. She had overstayed her welcome and needed to be deported they told me further.
When I questioned their action knowing that we are a Church, they told me that we are a registered Church but where we worship was a private building and not a Church building. As such, they have the directives not to disrupt our services but are permitted to come in after it was over. The hour has come he said finally.
Am I to be a wicked shepherd and hand her over to them? Why did they not stop the Bus she travelled in but preferred to come and arrest her inside the church? The enemy is a wicked devil and would do anything to stop the move of God. He is however too small for the Alpha and Omega. I told the police that as they could see, there was a multitude; a crowd in other words, and I must not have noticed everyone personally.
They ended up searching the facility but God shielded His daughter having brought her into safety. What a Mighty God we serve! Satan was put to shame that day but he never relented. The attacks were too many but the more he struck, the more God glorified Himself. This is talking about our first Year. Sincerely speaking, the things God did at the said Hammer street cannot be adequately penned down. The straw which broke the camel’s back was the birth of our yearly 21 days fasting and prayers other wisely known as “DIVINE INTERVENTION” held every August. The Spirit of God gave me its direction when there was a pandemonium in the circle of foreigners especially Africans as they were being deported. When we cried, the LORD did divinely intervene.
The achievements of its first edition got the whole city shaking such, that we were unceremoniously kicked out of the building. We lost HAMMER STREET but did not lose focus! Instead, we have continued to be a torn in the flesh of the camps of the enemy of man. Divine intervention is observed yearly with uncommon testimonies.
Jehovah Man of war Himself, failed the devil and his agents at the infancy of C.O.B! Him, it was Who weathered storms, removed barriers as well as obstacles and have brought us to our 20th YEAR. He is worthy of all praise for if Christ tarries, He will bring us to that height which He has ordained.
GLORY! HALLELUJAH!!