It was attended by a motley of gospel ministers from different parts of the globe and as usual there were spectacular testimonies of miracles. In this interview with SAM EYOBOKA after the event, an relive his salvation experience, Oritsejafor relives his life before his conversion. EXCERPTS:
What is your assessment of the Sapele Crusade?
I am overjoyed because I can now see why God impressed it on me. Forty is a very significant number in the calendar of God: it's a number of liberation, an end of wilderness experience and so many other significances weaved around it. Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights; Moses spent 40 days on the Mount where he went to get the law.
I felt the urge for a while but I didn't really plan for the celebration of the 40thanniversary, but as the year 2011 was fading out, I felt the urge to mark the event. I can tell you that I have done many crusades in different parts of the world; but this very one stood out; it's so different because it reminded me of my humble beginning and if you noticed on all the occasions that I preached I kept going back to that experience-It reminded of that day 40 years ago.
You know the stadium wasn't like this. I could still picture myself; a young man with no direction; all messed up and mixed up in life, totally hooked on drugs just having the urge and somebody said I should come to a crusade. I wasn't caught out for that; but somehow I found myself in the midst of Christians in a crusade! And then after listening to the sermon and the man of God made an altar call, I found myself again taking a bold step, even in the face of all resistance and opposition from my friends and different people, and went out to give my life to Christ.
And then to look at 40 years after I had to go back there-do you know I have never been to that stadium since my conversion 40 years ago? I do not know how to describe the crusade; but I must say I am overwhelmed, overjoyed. It's just an incredible feeling for me! To crown it all for me, was the sight of a mammoth crowd of people stepping out every night to give their lives to Christ. Before I finished talking, they were already running out to the field to make a decision for Christ. I think that crowned the whole thing, because I can see a repeat of what happened 40 years ago.
I can go on and on but I think God has done an incredible thing for me and it tells me that, not only that God called me, but that I still have a great work to do. I can see God giving me an opportunity to partner with Him. Apart from my salvation experience, my wife and children, I believe the Sapele Crusade is the best thing that has happened to me.
The crusade has come and gone, what should Sapele residents expect?
I have challenged the pastors. I didn't go there-well Sapele is not far from Warri and people come from there to our church-but I didn't go there to establish a branch of my church. No! No!! I have challenged the pastors there privately and publicly; if they don't take advantage of the harvest I believe God will hold them responsible because I can't more than I have done now.
It's not left for then to follow up, because they have all the decisions cards with them and they need to now work and bring the new converts to their churches and nurture them. Apart from the harvest of souls, I am believing God that if it was God who inspired me to hold the crusade, there will be a remarkable change to that town.
I believe that within this one year we will begin to signs that God has started a new work in Sapele. I believe that this my visit will wake up a few people-you know most of our people in this area are nominal Christians. I believe God will jerk some people up to become vibrant for Him. I want to see the transformation and changes that will take place in the town will be tonic to wake people up to want to genuinely serve God.
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