“21st Century Reformation” – a letter about the conference

BEREAN THE REFORMER MINISTRIES

Last year the enemy battled my plan to attend the Berean International Ministers Conference. My mother was dying in the hospital and other family crisis, coupled with the distance from Lagos to Aba.

However, God’s mercy prevailed and I came penultimate and how blessed I am is already a published testimony. Ever since then I fought in my covenant prayers that I will not miss a day come 2012. True to fact, God honoured my prayers and I came in on the 1st day 23/04/12 and was in the hall even on time.

As a result of what Berean International Ministries is doing in our lives I will prefer to name it as “BEREAN THE REFORMER MINISTRIES”. Berean time as we call it now manifested from the first day to the last in 2012 conference. By a quarter to five pm, the Deputy African co-ordinator Rev. Ibekwe was on stage to lead in opening prayers and formalities. Four fifth of the hall had gotten occupants before it was 5pm when Prof. Chinyere was ushered to the pulpit by the African co-ordinator Rev. Simon Onwubiko.

Nigerians have something in common with Americans. The emotional ecstasy to see Prof. again in Nigeria threw people off their feet and everybody clapped in ovation. Truly, he frowned but you must know that Prof. Chinyere and Berean International now live in everyone of us as Christ does. And goes with us everywhere we go. Pardon our passion.

Prof. came on board again like the chariot of fire that took Elijah and yet no one heard the noise. He opened his mouth and taught us to “Dare to Be Different” the second serial of the message which he began to deliver since May, 2011. Our uniqueness is because we bear the name Christian he said. One way to dare to be different is to lead a sanctified life and so he dwelt of the theme of year 2012, “Progressive Sanctification”.

He enumerated the evidence that portrays a Christian who is sanctified. My first hook line of his divine message which echoes in me like a music symphony is his unique definition of the word ‘edify’. He showed that edification as in 1 Cor. 14 is not just speaking the positive words to encourage someone. But that as Col. 3:16 details, rebuke, reprove, correct is embedded in edification.

It struck me like ‘Thunder bolt’ and I remembered Dr. Thieme’s Mental Attitude Sins. There is that which I know of myself that, I normally took rebuke with a pint of salt from certain fellows: yet, the moment he defined it thus, I was on my knees in my spirit and I confessed that sin to God. Thus I was healed attitudinally and went to bed that night and slept like a baby. Today anyone can rebuke me and I don’t care the tone whatsoever. I now receive it wit joy unspeakable.

Israel is a good example of uniqueness in worship, even as in the dietary laws and dressing. Again he dealt with transvestitism which reigns in apostate Christianity of the modern day. Certainly God, who made male and female, means to maintain the difference between the sexes of all generation. So as Israel was ‘Set aside from heathen neighbours’ so should Christians dare to be different from the unregenerate world around us.

In any event, God even dealt with Israel’s marriage alliances. He does so even today for us Christians. The impact of these things in the audience was so strong you could see it on the faces. Avoidance of pagan practices as Israel did is binding on Christians too such as food scarified to idols otherwise fellowship with demons, occultism, spiritism, homosexualism and bestialism etc.

Every day saw an ever increasing crowd until the hall was completely filled out from the 2nd day to the 5th and last. Both sides at the altar, the balconies, the step ways as the photos reveal. I had predicted it last year and the fact that we would need a larger hall is apparent.

Prof. detailed pointedly things that make believers dare to be different. The number one is ‘Belief in the supernatural’. On he went deal with the subject of angels, demons and miracles. From this seminar we learnt that just as the old sin nature shows up in the believer, so do demons. So that the question of whether a Believer can be demon possessed is no light matter. He proved according to Psalm 24 that only God owns all things, and can be said to be the only possessor including the demons.

As we sat together here and there and talked people testified that their fear of demons vanished after Prof’s Teaching. Though demons may influence us, they cannot own a Christian for that is the correct, translation from Greek to English.

Thanks to God that we have angels as our ministers. Their ministries and miracles abide till date. No part of scripture teaches otherwise. He even identified some demonic activities like doctrines as in 1 Tim. 4:1-6. What an eye opener! Many whose churches are guilty of this are trembling and coming to us asking of what to do. For us pastors, to know, obey and teach it makes us good ministers.

No less dramatic was the fact that the Gen set packed up in the first session on the 5th and last day. Indeed it was clear to all and sundry that demons were infuriated at exposing them. We did prevail through prayers.

Afterwards, people began to testify of the great respect God paid to the conference. For Aba being in the rain zone had been witnessing daily showers. But from the first day till one week after no rain drop of any sort was witnessed in Aba. Thanks to the man of God, Prof Chinyere and the Berean International Ministries that have dared to be different.

Nobody suffered any disappointment only that we wanted more of Prof’s Message. The package of books we received was exhilarating and encouraging. The gift of Bible has been another classic booster. We have no reason not to dare to be different after now. Both the widows and less privileged who received monetary helps are flooding our office with thanksgiving

May Day, 2012 was Tuesday, the Berean International Ministry Fellowship day. It leaped beyond the bounds of human expectation. 82 people were seated in the hall and 73 people outside. Thank God that there was no rain or else it would have been ugly.

Who knows the sovereign plan of God at this point in time? The visit to the Motherless Babies home in Uratta Road, Aba is an excellent one. The pictures are there to tell the remaining part of the stories. All we are crying for now is that ‘You come over to Nigeria and help us’ to own a church building that will be large enough to accommodate or contain the swelling number of our membership.

How grateful we are to the Almighty and the Berean International Ministry Family in Bay Springs, MS, USA. May the Almighty ever sustain you all in all wisdom unto the coming age.

Maranatha.

Yours in the vineyard,

Pastor Peter Chima

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