As the deer for streams of water, so do we thirst for the coming of the man of God we have come to know. As our souls thirst for God, for the living God; to know Him who have not seen but believe in and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory! We are strengthened in waiting, comforted and built up being taught by the words of His servant Prof. Chinyere Onwubiko iiko) So he came in for the first day on 3rd May being Tuesday and not the characteristics Monday. The prevailing security challenges in the South East part of the country warranted the adjustment to days of activities. So we do not collide with the ruling authority and prove to be rebellious citizens. His  opening message was titled”  THE COMPASSIONATE FATHER.” After the whole teachings in the conference centre the central point upon which the messages revolved ended up producing the topic of Aba centre as the message of the year.

    While listening to him on the third day a pastor from Port Harcourt said,” If you think you are going to predict his next move, he outsmarts you the other way”. The audience was treated and thrilled to see a living legend holding us with spontaneous suspense in all the time of delivery of the messages. Simply stated,’ Prof. Chinyere Onwubiko as a prophetic teacher is simply dangerous when he picks up the Bible to touch any text. All your seeming familiarity with any passage, content and context vanishes to gain new insight from this isogogical, exegetical expounder of the Holy Scriptures.

   The world wide and proverbial Prodigal Son of the Lord parade in the book of Luke became an entirely an enigmatic subject matter. That which unbelievers even knew and quoted off memory was so elevated with heaven sent cinematic orchestra filled symphony of a living and running movie. We were enthralled, held spell bound with saliva dropping from wipe lips gaping audience unconsciously lacking words to describe the unusual presentation of this eternal truth long hidden in this parable. It all started when he turned to prove that the main character of this episode is not the prodigal son here presented as the younger son but their father. It is the point that the father of the two sons was the true victim and one deprived of his right of care as an old man culturally by the way ward son addressed as the apostate younger son. It turned out heads upside down to catch it. It is revolutionary to receive it.

   He dared to be different in all cases and in this one hit the hook line. It is an award winning message on its own and class. This is the heart of the kingdom of God on earth. The father’s humility and love is shown as on seeing the lost son from afar ran out to meet him breaching oriental culture. Caught him in embrace and welcomed him. Treated him to a cleaning up and dignified restoration with gaiety of kingly robe and heirs ring before the whole community in heavy gamboree of eating and drinking. Which the older son in learning of it became jealous but was assured that his unassailed privileges were his fault as he never asked. He repented and joined to celebrate the coming back to life and family fellowship of his apostate younger brother. This is the father and his family. A tale thoroughly revealing the entire behavioural pattern in our Christian walk before the Lord. All eyes now see the father as goog as he is challenging every apostate believer to return home and be treated to sonship privileges for we are not going to be placed as servants no matter how far away we have been. The death of Christ far surpasses all that there is no need to keep suffer untold chastisement and be wasting away.

We were shocked to be taught that the apostate younger son always remained a son. How permanent our sonship in the eternal salvation given to us by grace through sovereign faith. God be praised.

The people were forced to an unquestionable faith raising message and thus prayed to God. You could hardly stop their loud ovation.

  The news of the moving messages spread like wild fire increasing our numbers daily despite the security restrictions of movement. It was a very lary gathering on the last day in Aba. Pastors, General Overseers, Church workers, professionals etc. It turned out to be a stampede for as soon as it was over and Prof. left to his lodging, we lost control of the crowd. All books bearing Profs name, the Bible gift all were taken and no left over as witnessed some times past. Thanks to SAM MBAKWE CONFERENCE HALL at the Terminus Hotel that was capable of getting all the people seated comfortably. This was Thursday and on Friday morning being 6th May, we moved on to Umuahia. After checking in to our lodging we afterwards took of to go to ITEM in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State for the conference at the Berean Fellowship Centre there.

  At ITEM Prof. reiterated the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Seeing that no one can commit din under the power of the Holy Spirit, it is the safest way to avoid phariseeism with the attended self justification and holier than thou attitude of seeing sin in others only. Such arrogation of human good to divine righteous is self delusion. Per adventure such is blessed with material wealth the garb of superiority widens as he sees it as evidence of walking in uprightness before God. Yet there is no law in the Bible that says every believer mist be rich to prove that God is with him. Lazarus and Davis are perfect example. The biggest secret is that the messages was a round pole in a round hole. The very attitude ripe in this environment was hit on the head with the right concrete nail. Who knows why the usual roudiness chilled off as he ended the message with a call to self examination. Man’s lack of true objectivity in evaluating intents, conducts and actions of both himself and another’s is the more reason for dependence on the Third Person of the Divine Trinity assigned to this work in our lives. It went down well knowing that God detests man’s evaluating standard. And we prayed.

 On Saturday being 7th May we went to Nkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. The Presbyterian church at Amurie Venue of the conference was full and overflowing.  Prof. took the stage to warn that when the Lord returns the unfaithful servant will be disgraced. The Lord expects his servants to be sensible, thoughtful, faithful, prudent, trustworthy and dependable. That we pastors are like slaves in charge of the other slaves a Joseph was in the house of Potiphar. We should do so in reverence of God who will reward us if faithful. That our love for the Lord is shown by our love to his flock in feeding them properly. The right food at the right time while waiting for his second Coming or when death takes us home to meet the Lord.

  On Sunday the 8th May we moved to Aba. Prof. paid a visit to Faith, Hope and Charity Orphanage at Umuogele and gave them money before going to minister at the Berean Church hall in Ogbor Hill, Aba. He conducted the Lord’s Communion Service first. Accompanied with SSS 115 , we ate and drank of Christ’s body and blood to affirm that we believe in Him and as members of his body. Next he delivered a message titled ISRAEL’S DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT. From his basic text he proved how that Israel though finally set free travelled from Ramses to Succoth all in Egypt. So is our present exposure as Christians. Though perfectly saved and secure to land on heavens table land yet we still live on earth ruled by Satan and Evil men as God permits them. We should depends on Christ our High Priest in heaven and live a pure life waiting for his soon return.

  On Tuesday 10th May, it was at Akpoha, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State that received us. Afikpo North is known as the home of culture. The treated us with the usual hospitality. A cup of water and a place of rice each with fresh fish as riverine area. The venue Apostolic Church hall was filled to capacity and those who couldn’t find space sat outside round about the house longing to hear the word of God. Prof taught in Igbo and English as he did in Item and Nkporo seeing the level of mixed crowd. He spoke in the language everyone understood. Above all his message THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS IN FACING HOSTILE PERIOD was most appropriate.

   I am from Afikpo South and our people practice the same African traditional pagan religion. It is done with force of extreme radicalism. All makes are forced to be initiated and failure to do so exposes you to loss of birth right and other common privileges. Resistance or protest warrant you to be summoned before the ruling powers, the Age Grade or Kings and priests of the land. It’s cumbersome. Some have often been attacked and killed, properties of believers destroyed.  Worse still is that some churches who syncretize with them do not defend believers among them who refuse to swear by the Lord and those gods.. They suffer terribly. So Profs teaching was a hall mark message on how to survive here at such times which are repeated yearly until these things be destroyed. False believers who lead others to sin will misquote the Bible saying,’ Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar’. He actually brought relief by showing us not to think it strange if we are hated for the sake of Christ. The congregation went home happy. Friends and fellow ministers came to thank me for being part of this team.

   11th May saw us in Emene Berean Fellowship Centre. They are long standing group and have mastered the Berean Way. They were given the bone message to chew. Prof. taught on THE DEMONIC PATTERN. Showing from the Scriptures that ,” When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armour in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils”. So Christ has done to set us free from Satan’s domain. But there is danger for one to leave his house swept, garnished and empty. Jesus revealed what happens in the spiritual realm. That the evil spirits will roam about and finding no better places traces back. If no occupant is found in it’s former home he comes back with seven more wicked spirit to fortify his occupation and do more harm. He warned us not to be this knid of persons and to check of our life is better now since we believed or is worse like unbelievers.  Thus he taught everywhere as a compassionate servant of God addressing God’s people for their good. This particular message forced many people to go and reconcile with others with whom they had broken relationships.

    The people who were blessed most are those who attended the Aba headquarters Conferencebefore engaging in the rest. It all became a cost of many colours fit for the King’s sons that we are.

   Finally, at Amaba, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, he warned us not to live in fear by explaining ,” THE RIGHT AND WRONG OBJECTS OF FEAR.”  Seeing that fear breeds hypocrisy, particularly the fear of man, we are warned not to fear man in our way with the Lord. Knowing that at best we may be isolated, suffer deprivations and even death but it is death to the body. We are to fear God who not only kills the body but casts the soul and spirit into hell. Choose who to fear and that determines your eternal destination. Hell is not a prison of even long term. You never come of it. So fear God, suffer if need be for faith in Him. Your reward is guaranteed in heaven. Be bold in the Lord.

It is the cure to hypocrisy.

  To God the Almighty.and our Lord Jesus Christ be glory, honour and praise for this year’s Awakening Conference. For the gifts of money to every worker. For accommodations to all who came from outside Aba and feeding and transportation and paying our hotel bills. Money was given to widows in all the centres even centres that we couldn’t visit for time like Elu Ohafia.  For that given to the Motherless Babies home. For transferring the Berean Headquarters team of 42 persons in the Bus each trip round all the places.

  For all the Bibles, Profs books and every other help rendered to us at this period. This is an exceptional parental care bestowed upon us.

  We say thank you to his Sponsors, the church abroad to have agreed to let him come. To the entire church we say thank you. God bless you all in Christ’s name, amen.

   Pastor Peter Chima reporting.