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FULFILLING A

DIVINE

PURPOSE IN LIFE

(My Testimony)

REV. EMMANUEL A.A. UCHEGBULAM

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© Rev. Emmanuel A.A. Uchegbulam, 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be transmitted

in any form or by any means without the prior permission of

the publisher.

Published and Printed in Nigeria by:

PEACE PUBLISHERS LTD.

12 Ubochi Street,

Owerri.

08033423950

ISBN: 978-2579-18-9

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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my dearly beloved mother of

blessed memory, Late Mrs. Margret Akwajudge Amos

Uchegbulam. Even though she did not have western

education, she was a highly intelligent woman that

commanded respect in the society. She loved education,

encouraged and helped people to train their children in

school. She encouraged and sponsored my Bible school

training and was happy that I am in Lord‟s work.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

must give thanks to my loving God who has been

leading me all these years from place to place. I thank

Him for inspiring me to write this book on the account of my

purpose and destiny in life. I wish to appreciate my

numerous members who loved God, and manifested it

through their obedience and dedication to the service of the

Lord. I must appreciate my dearly beloved wife who for thirty

nine years has been a faithful and worthy partner in this

journey.

I appreciate Bro. Christian Chibuzo Ndiribe from Owerri

Nkwoji who is a friend indeed, even though I have left their

place for over twenty years. I must appreciate Egbu Local

Assembly that bought me the first car, and started my

personal house in my village and I also wish to thank the

entire Egbu community in Owerri North L.G.A for their great

concern over our lives in 1997 when a gang of armed

robbers, about eighteen of them attacked us. They caught

two of the armed robbers and burnt them at Afor Egbu

market square. I wish to appreciate my good friend Prof.

B.O. Esonu of Federal University of Technology Owerri for

his love and care. I wish to appreciate Brother Collins

Samson who is answer to my prayers. He is a great help to

my ministry at Naze church. He is my good Sunday School

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Superintendent and organizer of programmes. I must

appreciate my children for their good conduct of living, their

prayers, participation in programmes and worship of God.

I immensely appreciate Rev. Samuel Ijoma whose

unquantifiable effort at assembling all the materials and

ensuring the production of this book, has made this work a

success.

I also thank Engr. Udochukwu Mark of FUTO, who

proofread and edited the manuscript despite the short period

and helped knock this book into a distinctive shape. I

appreciate the love and co-operation I received from A.G.C

Naze I and Uratta II Sectional Pastors and members. They

are too many to mention all their names here. May the

Almighty God reward them all Amen.

INTRODUCTION

t is unfortunate that some people cannot or do not know

where they met rain and where it stopped. Every

journey must start from somewhere. The worst that can

happen to a person is to begin a journey without knowing the

spot he or she started and where to end the journey. The

worst curse anyone can say is; “prepare for a journey for

which you do not know where you are going”. Igbo people

have a saying that invokes such a curse, “E jikere a maghi

ebe eje kpokwa gi ihu”.

Everyone is on a journey of life; no one just appeared in this

world. We were made by Someone, a supreme being. By

His Spirit He fashioned us in our mothers‟ wombs. Although

there were many vying for survival [that is, many

spermatozoa were competing to fertilize the available ovum],

but you were the only one he granted victory. The psalmist

recognized this and sang Psalm 139: 14– 24.

The Creator has a purpose and destiny for every one‟s life.

Have you ever one day asked yourself these questions?

1. Where do I come from?

2. Why am I here?

3. And where am I going from here?

My good reader, have you searched out why you are here?

If you have, what did you find? What are you doing about it?

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Are you pleasing your Maker who created you for His own

pleasure? He has His purpose for you and you can only

please Him when you are living in accordance to His

purpose for you. He will require account from you at the end.

Wickedness and sinful life is never the purpose of God for

anyone; these are from Satan the enemy of God. Repent

now and turn back to Him through Jesus Christ. He will show

you the way and it shall be well with your soul.

NOTE: You are sent to this world which can be likened to a

market where people buy and sell. Perhaps you might be

among those who live long like Methuselah who lived 969

year and he died [Gen. 5: 25–27]. This was the report of

him; there was no other recorded achievement than the fact

that he lived – had sons and daughters – and then he died.

Will you be like Matthias [Acts 1:23,26] whose name can

only be found at the incidence of his election and no other

report of him throughout the Bible? Whether you are a man

or a woman you were created for a purpose. The “elect”,

you are chosen for a purpose, do not disappoint God and

humanity.

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CHAPTER ONE

MY BACKGROUND & EARLY LIFE

was born in the year 1942 into Amos Uchegbulam‟s

family in Umuafor Itu Ezinitte Mbaise L.G.A in Imo

State, Nigeria. I was born and brought up in a religious

family under the Roman Catholic Church; but from the time I

came to know my left and right, my life was bad, and as I

grew then, I was getting worse. I was taught how to sin and

confess to the Priest as often as I can at least one or two

times a year. But a time came when I asked our teacher how

I can live without continuing in sin. The answer he gave to

me was that, “you cannot do it, because we are like fishes in

the water”. From that time I was tired of attending religious

activities including Sunday masses. Since there is none

righteous and being religious, I cannot be free from sin. Then

I went deep into more sinful life especially sins of smoking

Indian hemp, adultery, fornication and drunkenness. I could

not go further in education than standard six with First

School Leaving Certificate, after which I went to Aba and

learned photography which was my profession till I was

called unto salvation and later into full time gospel ministry in

1972.

My Parents

My parents Mr. Amos Ihuannya Uchegbulam and Mrs .

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Margret Uchegbulam had three (3) children – one female

and two males (two of us, my sister and I are alive today).

The gift of my parents was peculiar; my elder brother was

older than me by nine years (9) and I was older than my only

sister by eleven years (11).

I grew up in our family like every other person. I saw my

parents as those who loved themselves; they sat together,

ate together and slept together. If any of them went to a

faraway market and might carry a heavy load, the other

would go on to the middle of the journey to help out. They

hardly quarreled.

I grew up to see my father as a farmer and herbalist. People

were coming to him for treatments. Sometimes he would

travel with another old man then in our place by name

Ugwuanyi Ozurumba of Umuocham Itu Ezinihitte L.G.A who

was also an herbalist. They would go to Ngwa, Azumili,

Akwuete, Umuahia areas treating people. My mother was an

industrious woman doing both farming and petty trading.

When Nkwo Mbaise market was established, she was selling

food in the market. She was known as “Onye Ofeoma”. We

the children were part of the business. At the eve of the

market, we would have no rest being busy fetching firewood

and water before daybreak. We had to go to the stream two

or three times before we would prepare to go school.

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My parents were religious; they both were of the Roman

Catholic Mission now Catholic Church. They wedded there, I

had infant baptism there when I was about three or four

years, because I could recognize the white Rev. Fathers

who officiated then, for they gave me gifts to pacify me, for I

was crying when they were coming close to me. Three of

them gave me 7½ pence as they were trying to calm me.

My Education and Training

I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and started primary

school when I was ten years at Christ the King Central

School then, now CKS Okpofe Ezinihitte Mbaise. I did

primary one to standard four there. When the Holy Rosary

Girls Primary School at Itu was converted to boys and girls

school in 1959 all the boys were asked to return there at St

Andrews. It was there at St. Andrews, I did standards five

and six. Due to failure, I repeated standard six at St. Peter‟s

Primary School Amumara where I got my First School

Leaving Certificate in 1962.

The challenge I had after primary school was what to do, to

be independent. I was searching for what to do in the village

then, but I couldn‟t since what was in the village then were

carpentry work, bicycle repairing, shoe mending, tailoring

and none of these professions were my choice. What should

I do? It was a challenge to me since I did not like any

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profession that is not prestigious. My parents were tired of

suggestions. They asked me go to the township to search for

my choice. I was sent to Aba now in Abia State. I lodged with

one of my close relations and friend, Late Enyereibe

Maduforo popularly known as “Afo Di Nkpa”. After telling him

my mission he left his job and accompanied me to the

streets searching for my choice. I did not like motor

mechanic because, you cannot differentiate them from mad

people while walking on the road then. Although due to

modern changes, some mechanics are now neater than

other professionals.

Finally, we entered into a photo studio, Young Babes. I saw

the man on suit very busy retouching the negatives and that

appealed to me. I told him my interest and he welcomed me,

and asked me to go and bring my father.

I went back home the following day and told my parents and

they consented to my choice. After some days, I went with

my father, and he accepted me. Therefore, I began the

training for one year and six months and I learned it well

because I loved it. Photography was my profession till I was

called into God‟s work.

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Unknown Training School

Whatever you are doing now, may be your training school,

especially for the young people. You can agree with me if

you have seen some people who had done more than two or

three different things before the one they are doing now with

success. They can boldly say this is my destiny; I have been

wasting time all these years. Let me tell you, whatever

training you received is no wasting of time at all. It was your

unknown training school, preparing you for the greater things

God is going to do through you. If you listen to him and obey

him, you cannot remain the same when you come to God.

Before Jesus Christ fulfilled the divine purpose when He

came into the world, He was a carpenter boy alongside

Joseph, His earthly father [Matt. 13:55, Mk. 6:3]. Peter was

a fisherman, John was also a fisherman, Luke was a doctor,

and Paul was a lawyer. In the Old Testament, David was a

shepherd boy, Moses was trained as a prince and later

became a shepherd and Amos was a farmer turned prophet

[Amos 7:14].

So my reader, whatever you are doing now is a school of

preparation for greater purpose of God in your life. Even if it

is flourishing don‟t allow it to distract your attention from God

when he needs you for His greater purpose for you. What

you are doing now may not be your final bus stop but your

stepping-stone.

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Please my readers I am not saying that you must become a

Pastor like me for you to fulfill God‟s purpose for your life. My

only concern is whether what you are doing is what God has

designed for you and whether you doing it for the glory of

God and the benefit of humanity? If your life does not affect

humanity positively and bring glory to Him who brought you

into the world, what it means is that you failed God; you

didn‟t fulfill the purpose for your creation.

How I Found My Sweetheart

I got married in 1968 before my conversion to Miss Felicia

Ochiawuto Nwaogu Ogbuaku from Umuekwelede Eziudo of

the same Ezinihitte L.G.A of Imo State. Her mother‟s name

was Grace Nwaogu Ogbuaku; she was from the same

Eziudo Community. My wife is the fourth child of the eight

children her parents had, five are remaining alive, one male

and four female including my wife, and both of my in-laws

are late. My mother was also from Umuhu Eziudo of the

same L.G.A of Imo State. She was the second child of the

parents, Late Uwazie the first son of late Egbukichi Oke and

late Orianu Uwazie Egbukichi (Nee Ododo of Ikenga

Eziudo). They had five children. The only one alive as the

time of this writing is their first son, Retired Major Livinus

Iheonunakwu Uwazie Egbukichi of the Nigeria Army

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My mother‟s interest was for me to marry from Eziudo their

place. She saw many other girls from other communities

going after me which she did not like for me to marry. And

my mother knew that I like beautiful girls; she negotiated for

this beautiful, ever young woman, I am now happily married

to. As beautiful as she was and is now, when I returned

home and saw her in my mother‟s kitchen she captured my

heart and I fell in love with her. I can say she was a trap set

for me by my mother, so that I wouldn‟t marry from our

neighboring communities. To say the truth her trap caught

me and its well with us today.

God’s Heritage - Our Children

We are happily married since 1968 with eight children. The

second son Udochukwu is late, remaining seven. We have

three males and four females, and they are: Mr. Melvin

Uzoma Uchewujo Amos (first son), Amarachi (first daughter),

Lois Enwerem Chidinma (second daughter), Nkechinyere (

third daughter), Phoebe Chiemelam (fourth daughter) ,

Gideon Chinacherem (third son) and Emmanuel Akachukwu

(fourth son). Four of them are graduates.

We married when both of us were unbelievers until 1971

when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I heard the call into the

gospel ministry the same year. I opened the first Church at

my community in 1972, and entered into the Bible School in

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1973. I am the only pastor of my wife; she is my convert, a

good sister in the Lord and my lovely wife forever.

I appreciate her for being a worthy partner in these years of

our journey in God‟s purpose in our lives. She has never with

the children brought reproach to me and the gospel of our

Lord Jesus Christ till now we are retiring strong. To God be

the Glory

I must not fail to give thanks unto the Lord my God; I shall

call upon his name and make known his good deeds unto

me among the people. I shall not cease from singing praises

unto him for the victory he gave to me in the race that began

from my mother‟s womb, and how I was wonderfully made. I

thank God for His wondrous works that he had done in my

life even the salvation of my soul.

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CHAPTER TWO

MY CONVERSION AND BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

t was in May 1971, that I was in a local hotel drinking

and smoking and God in is infinite mercy sent a man

who preached to me there in the hotel about Christ and his

saving power. He read to me the book of John chapter

fourteen verses twelve to fourteen, Mark sixteen verses

fifteen to eighteen (John. 14:12-14, Mark 16:15-18). There

and then the odour of what I was enjoining became poison to

me. I immediately dropped them. I asked the man to follow

me to my house and he did. At my house I knelt down and

he prayed for my salvation. Right from that moment I gave

my life to Jesus Christ; welcomed him into my heart and into

my house.

I started to hunger for the word of God. Before the following

day I got the bible and was rejoicing as I was reading. As the

light of understanding came in to me, I started to preach to

people how Christ had changed my life. As you read this

book, you will see one of my early messages on “Changed

Life” and “Follow-up Ministry”. On the following Sunday

morning I was led to the Assemblies of God Church at

Amumara, under the ministry of Late Rev. J.O. Akawor,

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there I was convinced of my conversion. About three months

later, I was baptized in water at Nriukwu River, in Aboh

Mbaise L.G.A of Imo State Nigeria.

SIN OF LATENESS

Brethren, it is not good to go to Sunday school or church and

other Christian activities late. It demoralizes the new

convert‟s zeal and enthusiasm. One Sunday morning within

this short period of time of my conversion, our Sunday

school class teacher could not come on time, we were sitting

and waiting for our teacher and the pastor came to our class

and asked of our teacher, we said, he had not come yet. By

then I used to attend every activity of the church, I asked the

pastor if I could teach having attended Sunday school

preparatory class. The pastor laughed and laughed. You can

understand why he was laughing. He said, “Brother Uche try

now”, and from there I became a Sunday school teacher.

MY CALL TO THE MINISTRY

I had much burden for the sinners and when I was explaining

my thought and the type of voices I was receiving in and out

of me, the pastor then, Late Rev. A.I. Nwaosu directed my

path, that I had the call of God to be a Pastor. I went home

and prayed and fasted and told Jesus, that if I am called,

that I would like to see him for sure. In the dream Jesus

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appeared to me, but I could not behold the glory. When I got

up I was convinced of the call.

Between August and September 1971, I went for the

preparatory course at Enugu. There on one Sunday morning

as we were worshipping at Late Rev. G. Anyim‟s Church at

Abakpanike, I was filled in the Holy Spirit and started

speaking in tongues, praising the Lord. I made a promise of

following the bible pattern of witnessing from Jerusalem to

Judea and Samaria. Returning from the course, the Lord

used me to open a church in my hometown, Itu in 1972 and I

pastored there for two and half years. Many souls were

saved; signs and wonders followed my ministry there. A

woman who was dead was raised to life. She is still alive till

date. Later I understood why the Lord did that miracle. It was

because of one of my new converts who was about to

backslide due to family persecution. We followed him up

when we heard about the persecution and we took him out

of the family. We went with him to pray for the dead woman

and God did it. After that miracle he was strengthened again

and totally gave himself to Christ and he is a Reverend

Minister in the Assemblies of God today in Mbaise District. In

this book you see “Follow-Up” ministry and it‟s importance.

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CHAPTER THREE

DESTINED TO BE A SOLDIER

t was in 1956 that my maternal uncle who was in the

Nigeria army wrote to my parents with forms from the

Nigerian army boys company for me to fill for selection which

I did. I was fourteen years by then, which was the age limit

and was in standard three in primary school; I did not attend

school for almost two terms then for I was frequently at

either Owerri, our divisional headquarters or at our regional

headquarters, Enugu. During selection and interview, I was

asked if my father was a soldier and I answered no. That

was the question I was asked and at the end I did not

succeed due to corruption in the system.

My Experience in the Army

In 1968 during Nigeria and Biafra civil war, one afternoon I

was on the road an Army Officer with his aide stopped by my

side, and said, “Come! Don‟t be afraid. I am looking for

accommodation; can you help me. I am flight officer Ikpeazu,

I need to live a little far from my family because whenever I

am taken off they will be crying”. I said, “I can, come back

tomorrow by this time”. And before the next day, I had found

a house for him; and he was very happy when he came.

Immediately he went back and brought his family and parked

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in. After that, he asked me, if I would like to join the Air

Force? And I said yes, with my friend then who helped me

find the house. Immediately, he gave us paper to meet him

tomorrow at the Air Force base at Azaraegbelu. We went the

following day and were enlisted into the Biafran Army force

and we did not come back again from there. We started

training at once and after three weeks of training, we were

carried to war front at Egbema axis.

I Said My Last Prayer

It was at Ukwugba that I got bullet wound, and could not

know where I was again until morning. I crawled to a

deserted house that had a bamboo bed covered with

grasses; I crawled on it, and laid on it and said my last

prayer. I told God to take my soul in peace, after confessing

my sins. I promised God that if He would save me and give

me life again, I will worship Him and serve Him all the rest of

my Life. I repented because in all my life time, I had never

said such prayer before. What I know as prayers were our

Lord‟s Prayer and „Hail Mary full of grace‟. Then I closed my

eyes expecting death to come.

Whenever I come across Jesus‟ teaching in Mathew chapter

5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness for they shall be filled”, I remember the thirst I

had in those three days I was in the bush. If I had seen

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anything liquid even urine or anything like that I would have

drunk. No wonder we find it hard to do righteousness;

because we no longer hunger and thirst for it. May God help

us in Jesus Name! Amen!”

Divine Intervention

Lo and behold, two angels that God sent as Biafran soldiers

woke me with army voice command, “Who are you?” I had

no strength to respond, I only showed them my Air Force

emblem of Biafra and they said, “Let us go”. They carried me

and brought me to our base and the ambulance that was

waiting took me to Red Cross Hospital, Ihioma Orlu and later

to Awomama hospital and I was healed after three months.

Now after the war ended in 1970 the formal sinful life style

began again. One day as I was in a local hotel, an evangelist

came in and began to witness to me, and on the process he

said, now people have forgotten the promise they made

during the war for God to save them, but now they have

gone back to sinful life again. It struck my heart; I sat up and

paid greater attention. I dropped the cigarette and wine I was

taking and took the man to my house and he prayed for me.

This was how my conversion happened. I began

immediately preaching Christ. Since then, I have been in the

Lord‟s Army until this retirement ceremony of this memorable

day. Thank God, that I have been commissioned as a

member of Nigerian Chaplains and as I retire from church

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activities, I will continue to serve the Lord wherever duty

calls.

CHORUS:

i. We are soldiers; soldiers of the cross, in the name of

Jesus, we shall conquer.

ii. Anyi bu ndiagha; ndiagha nke obee, site na aha Jisos,

anyi ga enwe nmeri

iii. Calvary, Calvary, Calvary, agaghi m echefu Calvary

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CHAPTER FOUR

MY JOURNEY My Experiences in the ministry

raise the Lord! In my ministry the Lord used me to heal

the sick and to restore backsliders. I am a builder; for I

have not pastored a place where I did not put up a building.

Apart from offices I have held, the Lord used me to form a

strong evangelism team called, “The Soul Hunters” in the

then Mbaise Section which has blossomed into a District

now. With this team alone and without sponsorship from the

section, we opened churches that stand as big churches

today in Mbaise District. To mention a few: AGC Eziagbogu

and AGC Ogunaebe. The Lord is good to me. He has never

failed me nor forsaken me, as He has by his grace led us to

different places in Imo and Abia States as I will mention

them later.

By His Grace we are finishing strong in the church work and

life in the pastorate. We will continue the service of the Lord

till he takes us home. May he grant this grace to all ministers

of the gospel! Amen!

Beginning from My Jerusalem

When I returned from the three weeks preparatory course, I

began to assist my pastor. One night I dreamed; in that

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dream I was told that I was going to pastor Eziudo church

and that I should get ready. In the morning, I went to see my

pastor who was the Sectional Leader. After greeting him, I

wanted to narrate my dream, but he called me “Bro. Uche”,

and I answered Sir. Then he said, “I am directed to send you

to Eziudo church to pastor”. Then I narrated my dream and

shared how I was told in that dream that Rev. M.I. Amadi

(now late), who was pastoring the church applied for transfer

and had been granted his request; and that I am going there

to take over from him. After hearing my story, he said, “God

led me aright”.

Now when Eziudo brethren heard it, they were stirred to

anger and protested how their new convert should be their

pastor. We all didn‟t understand God‟s doing; that rejection

provoked my zeal and I remembered the promise I made

when I received the Holy Spirit: to start my Journey from

Jerusalem. It was the will of God to go to Eziudo but, not at

that beginning of my ministry but in the future. I told my

pastor and leader that there is no Assemblies of God Church

in my community, that he should allow me to go and open

one there and he permitted me to do so.

My Home – Itu

On the first week of November 1971, I started the church

and we were worshipping at council hall at Nkwo Mbaise

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Market square. I was living in my own house pastoring the

church for two and half years. In 1973, I entered the Bible

School, the then Central Bible Institute (CBI) which later

became Assemblies of God Divinity School (AGDS), and

now Assemblies of God Divinity School of Nigeria (AGDSN).

TRANSFERS – THE PATH OF A DISCIPLE

Chokoneze

A disciple obeys God‟s will and follows where He leads. “I

cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, to do less or more”

(Num. 22:16). “Obey them that have rule over you, submit

yourselves.”(Heb. 13:17) When I returned for the weekend

from the Bible School, I got a letter of transfer to Assemblies

of God Chokoneze, which was in the year 1975. We stayed

there for two and half years.

When I got there, what I met was a small hanging roof

supported with steel poles and situated very close to the

main road. When I got information that the road would soon

be tarred, what I did immediately was to raise money to buy

cement and I tasked the members to gather local sand to

mould blocks which the obedient ones did. I told them we

were going to build a wall around the hanging house,

although some did not agree with me, especially the aboard

members. They said it will be a waste as tarred road is

passing through there. I didn‟t listen to them. I rather went to

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an architect to design the house which he did and I kept the

plan. One day, I came back from the bible school, I was told

that a white man looked for me, and he said that I should

wait for him the next Friday afternoon. I did. When he came,

he asked me, if I was the Pastor of the Church and I said

yes. He said, “Do you know that this house is going to be

removed?” I answered, “I don‟t know”. He asked again, “do

you have plan for it”? I said yes, and he asked me to bring it.

And I went and brought it. After going through it, he asked

how much our budget for the house was and I told him it

would cost 45 pounds and he took note. When I was

transferred from there, the money that the construction

company paid the church was used to build the church that

is standing there now. Do you see where wisdom was

applied? Late Rev. R.L. Cimino said, “Wherever you go hang

a door”.

Under my ministry at Chokoneze a mad man was delivered

and was restored to normal life and his teaching profession;

and he is in the Assemblies of God today at Chokoneze. Our

labour there brought the money that was used to build the

present church building at Chokoneze today.

Ovim, Another Transfer

In obedience to the Master who has called me, and the

promise I made when His Spirit came upon me, I was going

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to leave Mbaise Area to a far place. When the transfer letter

came to me and I was asked to go to Ovim in Isuikwuato

Section now in Abia State, we gladly accepted it for we saw

it as the will of God. At about 11.30 a.m. on the13th January

1981, we arrived at the Assemblies of God church Ovim and

we were gladly received. The Lord was also with us there.

The evidence of our stewardship is still on ground there. We

stayed there for five and half years and were transferred to

Owerre Nkwoji Assemblies of God in the then Nkwerre

Section.

Owere Nkwoji

And the Lord was with us here even though we came when

there was crisis in the community; tussle for Ezeship stool

between Eze Orisakwe and Ishigbo which lasted for many

years. The Lord used me with other ministers of the gospel

to bring solution to it and peace returned to the community.

We enjoyed our stay there for four years. The lord increased

the church in attendance and finance.

May I share with you my experience here? The increase in

the income of the church brought a problem. I was receiving

between three hundred to five hundred naira a month. From

time to time an abroad member would send part of his tithe

home. The Church began to write to the presbytery to come

and fix salary for their pastor. As they continued writing, the

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presbytery promised them that the superintendent would

come, and he sent a message about when he would come.

The Rev. M.O. Ogbah, then Superintendent came and after

praying, he read their letter and asked if they really wrote it;

and they answered in the affirmative. I was asked to leave

the house which I did. They deliberated and concluded and

called me in. The Superintendent told me that they said they

would be giving me four hundred naira a month. I said, “Sir, I

don‟t agree. Tell the Presbytery what I said.” He said, “So

brethren you have heard what your pastor said. Let me go

and tell Ndi Isi (leaders)”. After that, the presbytery wrote

them to wait until their monthly income stabilizes; not now it

fluctuates from one month to another. Do you know what

they did? When the abroad member sent tithe, they would

divide it into two, this month they put one part and next

month another part just to see that their account was steady.

After some months again, they wrote to the presbytery to

come, that their account had become steady. The presbytery

wrote to them on what to pay me every month as follows;

Salary N450, motorcycle allowance N150, visitors and

kerosene N150, all amounted to N750; and when their

income could not reach it, that they must look for money to

complete it. They shouted and rejected the option of fixing

my income. Instead, they reverted to the previous

arrangement, and said, “Let it remain as before”.

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Please, I will like you to read from your Bible: 1Cor.9:1-14

before proceeding. God bless you as you read. Amen!

God’s Will: Eziudo

At the fullness of time God‟s will must be done. In 1977 we

were transferred to Eziudo and we went and were received

joyfully. The Lord was with us, and proved that he sent us

there. Many souls were saved and baptized in water and in

the Holy Spirit. The sick were healed, and backsliders

restored. If you go there today you will see the big church

house we built. While I was there in 1978, I opened

Assemblies of God Eziagbogu with my team, the soul

hunters and also pastored the new church from Eziudo for

two years. While I was there too, my team opened

Ogunaebe all in Mbaise section by then. I preached there at

Ogunaebe the first Sunday after the crusade. The sectional

leader then, Late Rev. A.A. Njoku accepted my suggestion

to withdraw Pastor S.O Nwachukwu from Assemblies of God

Udo to Ogunaebe because the leading church then in

Ogunaebe was the Apostolic Church and Pastor S.O.

Nwachukwu repented from the Apostolic to Assemblies. He

pastored there for many years. He was ordained there, and

from there became a sectional leader of Mbaise I section.

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Amaifeke, Okigwe District

When Okigwe District was carved out of the defunct Central

Igboland District, Orlu area did not agree to go to Okigwe

and we were sent there to Amaifeke in 1990. This was the

sectional headquarters of Orsu section. The Lord was with

us and by his grace we were able to resolve the problem. As

the brethren listened to our advice and adhered to the

directives of the General Council, they were granted their

choice of going back to Owerri District. When the purpose of

sending us there was accomplished, transfer came and we

only stayed there for one year.

Crisis In Okigwe District In 1990

When Okigwe District was carved out in 1989, I was

pastoring at Owerre Nkwoji in Nkwerre section, Nkwerre

L.G.A of Imo State. When the District was inaugurated, I was

appointed District men‟s coordinator. Orlu area did not agree

to belong to Okigwe District. They withheld their accounts for

almost one year. What they were doing was, at the end of

every month they would give the pastor what they thought

was his allowance and they spent the rest. By the end of

1989, I was transferred to Ihube Assemblies of God to

change the Sectional Leader there. Before then, the man

came to me and I thought he came for us to arrange for our

movement not knowing that he came to find out the strength

of the church and the environment of the place. Listen; let

II

III

IV

me show you that God‟s own way is quite different from our

own. When I was at Ovim, this man I was about to change at

Ihube A.G. was my Sectional Leader. He was at A.G.

Eluama.

Two years before this event I hosted a woman evangelist

known as “Ebubogu”. She was conducting revival for us one

day and my sectional leader visited us and left. After some

days this woman evangelist called me and said, “Nnayiukwu,

do you know you will take over leadership from this your

leader” I said, “Madam, God forbid! How will it happen? No

madam”. She said, “You will not agree but God has said it”.

During the sectional leader‟s election our District

Superintendent late Rev. A.O. Asonye came. During

nomination I declined; what I was saying in my heart was

“Let me see how what this woman said will happen”. After

the election my leader was returned unopposed. At the end

of the year he went on transfer to Ihube Okigwe. He stayed

long there before I was transferred to Owerre Nkwoji in

1986. See what happened in 1990: he failed election at

Ihube; and I was transferred to Ihube to replace him as

leader. I call on you today to wait for God‟s time. He will

remember you. Just be patient.

Now when he had seen the condition of Owerre Nkwoji with

human eye he went home and rejected the transfer. This

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was the beginning of his downfall. At this juncture my district

fathers could not remove their eyes from me at Owerre

Nkwoji. They came again personally by the Superintendent

Rev. Nathan Eze and transferred me to Amaifeke in Orlu.

We accepted to go and went there January 1990. The first

thing they told me was that they were not for Okigwe district.

That what I should know was that at the end of the month

they will give me allowance. So at the end of the month

whatever they liked they gave to me. I started to summon

both deacons and deaconesses meetings with prayers and

counseling for many times. When it seems we are reaching

agreement to resolve the issue the bad ones among them

will take their motorcycles and run round in the night and at

market squares to nullify all we agreed on in the meeting. It

wasn‟t easy at all. Pastors that were there suffered so much

in their hands. I cannot narrate all that we suffered in their

hands. I cannot narrate all that we suffered there until one

day their big “god” known as “Agubata” was suspended and

was no more in the meetings both in the local church and

sections. People no longer listened to him. Then churches

began to comply and an agreement was reached to the

effect that they will be rendering account to Okigwe District

according to the General Council directives. The General

Council began then to look into their complaints and after the

deliberations granted them, their request to go back to

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Owerri District and that was how we came back to Owerri

District from Okigwe District.

After we came back to Owerri District, Agubata „the big god‟

of Orlu Area, petitioned against me to the Owerri District

presbytery claiming according to the constitution of the

Assemblies of God Nigeria, that I suspended him without

giving him a hearing, boasting that I did to him what Rev.

Osueke, the General Superintendent could not do him. The

whole Owerri presbytery came to Amaifeke church. Rev.

M.O. Ogba was the superintendent and all members were

there. He was asked to state his case and after his

statements, Rev. Egekwu stood and called me, “Brother

Uche why did you judge and suspend him without hearing?”

I stood and asked the presbytery who he had expected to

hear him other than God and me; He did not belong to

Okigwe District, he did not belong to Owerri District, he didn‟t

believe in the General Council either and he fought his

fellow deacons. After the board unanimously passed the

motion of going to Okigwe District, he alone was trying to

nullify the decision of the board. When one of the board

members, Brother Emma Nwanguma stood up and said to

him, “Bro Agubata, you should not overshadow us like that.

This church is not your father‟s property”; he began to fight

the brother. I asked them who else would judge him. After

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the deliberation of the fathers, they came out with these

decisions:

(i) That Agubata should remain in suspension for two years

(ii) That I Rev. Uche should go on transfer immediately and I

was transferred to Assemblies of God Mbutu I, Mbaise II

section as their leader.

Brethren listen, as a minister of God, do not toy with the

authority God has given you. Use it to stop the devil from

spoiling God‟s work even if protocols must be broken. You

are ordained of God; do not compromise your God-given

power.

Mbutu I

Second Missionary Journey to Mbaise

A letter of transfer was given to us by December 1990 to

Mbutu I, the sectional headquarters of Mbaise II section.

True disciples obey and follow God even without

understanding the details. (Heb. 11:8; 13:17). We gladly

accepted the transfer and moved to Mbutu by second week

of January 1991. The church welcomed us very well and the

Lord was with us. Revival started; longtime enemies among

members were reconciled; backsliders came back and were

restored. We met Ezeship tussle again in Mbutu Community

between Eze Onwumere and Francis Eneremadu and

30

another case of assassination in different courts: Calabar,

Port-Harcourt, Mbaise and Owerri high courts.

One Sunday evening, one of their prominent sons abroad,

Mr. Francis Ndubuoke came to me and introduced himself to

me, after which he said, “Sir, this condition of our land; is

there nothing you ministers of the gospel could do to rescue

the community?” I promised him we would do something. I

went to God in prayer and he directed me on what to do. I

summoned the ministers and by His grace all the problems

were over. Praise the Lord! By his grace we stayed six

years there before another transfer came for us to go to

Assemblies of God Egbu in Owerri North L.G.A.

Egbu

At Assemblies of God Egbu, we gladly packed over there in

June 1996. The church welcomed us with open hands and

God who has His purpose for our lives also went with us. In

accordance to his purpose, work began and there was

progress in the church spiritually and structurally. At Egbu, if

not that God who has called us had been with us from place

to place, our lives would have ended there. „The men of the

underworld‟ visited us in 1997 (about 18 of them) but God

came down and arrested them. Their leader was burnt at Afo

Egbu Market and others drowned at Otamiri River. I thank

God for Egbu people; it shall be well with them. Egbu people

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loved us so much, both members and none members. It was

at Egbu that God gave us a car and started to build our

personal house for us in the village. God has time for

everybody and he is a covenant keeping God. Now at Egbu

the final transfer came.

Naze

We got a letter of transfer in the month of October 2001 to

Assemblies of God Naze in Owerri North L.G.A, another

village/township like Egbu. As obedient servants, we moved

to Naze in the same month of October 2001. I can remember

the topic of my first message to the church, „Your Gift Has

Come”. In response, they openly confessed that they do

accept the gift. God began his work again according to His

purpose. I sounded a warning as I used to do in any church I

go, that I don‟t need any body to come and tell me who is

who in the church. “Please, allow me to discover who is

who”, I warned. We started work at Naze. Revival began and

things began to change for better. Then having seen how

things are, I gave them my agenda up to 2011. Today, we

have completely transformed Naze Church from what it used

to be. The purpose of God for us in Naze has been fulfilled.

The evidence is on ground for you to see. Above all we

opened another branch of Assemblies of God at Umuorie

Naze, known as Assemblies of God Naze II. I am using this

opportunity to plead to our good leaders and fathers to help

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the fast growing, promising church to get their own

permanent site. All this achievements are as a result of the

cooperation and love of the members. To God be the glory!

Amen. Through Naze church, God completed the house he

started to build for us from Egbu and the house was

dedicated on 10th November, 2010. Assemblies of God

Naze is the final bus stop on this destiny journey. I can now

know why my parents called me, “Ozichukwu”. It has been

fulfilled.

God thank you again. God thank you for me your

unprofitable servant have come to the end of my destiny

journey alive. I am returning back to my father‟s house alive

with all the promises you made to us. Once again, I give you

all the praise in Jesus Holy Name.

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CHAPTER FIVE

THE SOUL HUNTERS

Passion for Souls

he “Soul Hunters” was formed in 1976 at Mbutu II

during the Sectional CA rally held there. [Those of us

who met AG in the 1970s will recall what Christ‟s

Ambassadors – CA for short – represented] The newly

planted church hosted the rally. Only 30 minutes was used

for outreach and that was my first time in life to see the

place. As we were going around, I saw in compounds at

every corner of the villages gods in little houses. The

eyesore burdened my heart so much that I saw CA as

ordinary ceremonial activity of the church that does not meet

the demands of the dying world. Getting to the end of the

rally, I invited all that were interested in soul winning to wait

for me outside. When I came out, I saw up to 10 people and

I challenged them with the scriptures and they caught the

burden and were moved with compassion. Then, I invited

them to a meeting the next Saturday where I was pastoring

at Chokoneze. When they attended the meeting, I took time

to explain to them why we should engage ourselves in the

work of evangelism; that God has committed into our hands

the work of reconciling sinners to God. Failure to do so will

bring their blood on our heads.

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Commitment to Evangelism

When we saw the need for our commitment, we agreed to

commit our time and money for the hunting of souls. Every

two weeks we went out to one community, two by two into

compounds for evangelism. Souls were saved and many

were healed. We opened two churches at Ezigbogu and

Ogunnaebe. This team also bought evangelism equipment

for the section then.

Challenges Encountered

Some sectional pastors misunderstood our zeal and

enthusiasm. They thought we were about to separate and

open our own church. When we were constantly

evangelizing Ogunaebe for the church planting, the Pastor at

Amusu then was accusing me of crossing to his territory

without permission. The sectional leader then asked him if

we were not from the same section. Others said that I kept

their members long when we went for crusades and their

members could not come back on Sunday mornings. My

trouble then was; “Were we not working towards one goal for

one Master?” Heaven will judge; for ministers are

accountable to God (1Cor 3:1-23).

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CHAPTER SIX

ENCOURAGEMENT TO MY FOLLOW MINISTERS

AND THE ELECT IN GENERAL

ho is a disciple? A disciple is a follower of the

teachings of His Master. The disciple should be as his

master (Lk. 6: 40).

The Bible says:

“If any man serves me, let him follow me. I have

given you an example that you should do as I have

done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a

servant is not greater than his master; or he who is

sent greater than he who sent him.” [John 12: 26;

13:15-16]

I encourage you, be steadfast in the work of the Lord. Serve

him out of love and gratitude; love him above all else and all

others. Jesus knows those he has chosen, he is faithful and

will always be on their side. I forsook my profession and

followed Him. He has not failed me and He will not fail you.

Look unto him; don‟t look unto any man. Even if the General

Superintendent is your biological brother, he will fail you

because he did not call you, and the work is not his own.

Please, I am not saying you should not honor, respect, obey

and serve your elders and the authorities for they are

W

36

ordained of God, but don‟t depend on them for your success.

Work hard, love the work, and enjoy the work. Don‟t endure

it. It is better to be a good member in the church than to be a

bad Pastor.

Let me warn you, I am not telling you that all places will be

the same. There may be good soil and there may be hard

soil that may need somebody to till or break. Know it that you

may be the person to do so. Don‟t quarrel with any of your

members nor curse them. Take your members as your little

children; don‟t think they know it all, no matter their level or

background. If you are really called of God, there is a

potential in you that is not in them. God has called you to

lead them and not them to lead you. Always complain to God

who has called you. He is there watching over you. Endure

hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He has time to

visit you with those things you are expecting. It is not always

at the beginning; I am talking to you out of experience. It was

in the last two churches before my retirement that God has

given me all that he promised me. There is no

disappointment in following him. When he calls you, answer

the call. He who called you is faithful.

Members, please hold fast your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

for he will soon come to take us home. Obey and follow

Christ, even when you do not understand every detail.

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Abraham went out not knowing whether he went. Serve

willingly, adapt to changes. Love your pastors. Humbly

submit and obey them that have rule over you: for they

watch over your souls, as those who must give account. Let

them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be

unprofitable for you. Sow seed into the life of your pastors

and it shall be well with you. Love other members and work

in unity with them. (See Phil. 1:27.)

At this juncture, I will like to join Apostle Paul to declare that I

have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I

have kept the faith. Any day you hear of our departure from

the earth, come and celebrate us. God bless you as you sow

seed into our lives today for the sustenance of our remaining

years.

You can contact us on:

Phone Numbers: 08034060240, 08037652958

Acount Name: Uchegbulam Emma. A. A.

Union Bank Account Number: 0020063220

Aboh Mbaise.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

MIRACLES IN MY MINISTRY Harvest of Souls

n ministry what I consider and value much is the miracle

of salvation of souls. Salvation of souls is more

important to God than other miracles that are real too, which

I also did experience in my ministry. As I said, many souls

were saved as I went from place to place. Men, women,

boys and girls were saved and baptized in water and in the

Holy Spirit. These souls are in the Lord today fruitfully

serving in different capacities. Many are ministers of the

gospel of different categories. Others are deacons and

deaconesses and Sunday school teachers. He, who called

me, says:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who

abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for

without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not

abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is

withered; and they gather them and throw them

into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in

me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what

you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this

my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so

you will be my disciples. As the father loved me, I

also loved you, abide in my love. You did not

I

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choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that

you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit

should remain, that whatever you ask the father in

my name he may give you.” [John 15:5-9, 16 NKJ]

Other miracles, wonders, and signs are also important. They

attested to Jesus of Nazareth as a man sent by God.

Through them men believed on Him as Lord and Saviour.

A Dead Woman Raised to Life at Itu

In my ministry at Itu, a woman who was dead was raised to

life again. The woman is alive today. This miracle was done

in the presence of my discouraged new convert who was

being persecuted by his relations. The miracle strengthened

him.

Insanity Gone

When I was at Chokonaeze a man was delivered from

insanity. As he was following us with chains on his hands

and legs shouting “these are people of God” like in the days

of Paul, we turned to him, took him into his house and laid

hands on him and prayed to God to deliver him, and God

answered. He was delivered, and his family turned to God

and were all saved. Everywhere I went healing miracles,

signs and wonders followed my ministry. To God be the

Glory! Amen.

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CHAPTER EIGHT

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOW-UP

Definition:

ollow-up is an action or a thing that continues

something that has already started or comes after

something similar that was done earlier – Oxford Advanced

Learner‟s Dictionary.

From the above definition, we can observe that unlike in

evangelism where you have to initiate action, in follow-up

you are continuing what had already been started.

Therefore, there is a slight difference in approach in follow-

up compared to that given in evangelism. There is a saying

that “the Job is not finished until you have tidied up”.

Follow-up means to pursue until something has been

achieved. It is also aimed at nursing, educating and helping

one know what he has not known. It must be pointed out

here that evangelism and follow-up are interwoven; they

have the same aim and objectives. One cannot claim to

have actually evangelized until he sees the fruit of the

evangelism and this is usually achieved through follow-up.

Both evangelism and follow-up are geared towards winning

souls for the Lord. In Proverbs 11:30 the Bible makes it clear

that “… He that winneth souls is wise”

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Who Should Be Followed-up?

i. New converts – those who accepted the Lord Jesus

newly

ii. Backsliding Christians – spiritually sick Christians

iii. Weak or sick Christians (Those sick in the body)

iv. The bereaved, that is, one who has sustained some loss

of someone or something dear

New Converts

Remember that they had belonged to one sect or the other

before accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. They have grown up

with some characters or particular ways of life. For them to

know what their new found faith is all about, they need

someone to go after them. By following them up, you will

understand their needs and problems and be able to help

them out of them. You will also help to answer their

questions regarding the new way they are expecting to go

through. For you to be a good material for follow-up you

must be born again and be a Christian who is living a

transparently honest life and you must be filled with the Holy

Spirit. The special concern you show in the affairs of these

people (new converts) will encourage them to yield totally to

Jesus Christ and become mature Christians.

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Backsliders

Many a time, because of the tricks of the enemy, the devil

who goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour,

some Christians develop cold feet in the things of God. This

attitude is usually caused by one living in secret sins.

Through follow-up such people‟s problems are identified and

taken care of. This aspect of follow-up is often neglected. At

times we concern ourselves more with going out to preach to

new comers and do not care about those who are already in

the church. A member can absent himself or herself from the

gatherings of brethren for a month or two without anybody

asking what has happened to him or her. While we concern

ourselves with the preaching of the gospel to those who

have not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, let us also be

concerned with our wounded soldiers – the spiritually sick in

our churches.

Weak or Bodily Sick Christians

Ill health, which causes weakness of the body, can keep a

child of God away from the gatherings of the saints. By

means of follow-up such people are strengthened, prayed for

and they become healed. Our visit and prayers will

encourage such a person to develop faith and receive divine

healing. The one who has benefited from this aspect of

Christian service will also be encouraged to give himself to

follow-up service. Some people have left the church because

43

no one followed them up when they were sick. Some can

even purposely stay at home on Sundays expecting

members to show concern about him or her if actually the

church has love for one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ

himself showed us the importance of this aspect of Christian

service in Matthew 25:34 – 40

The Bereaved [One Who Sustained Some Losses]

These categories of Christians require being followed-up.

Remember that it can happen to anybody. On occasions of

bereavement or loss, the devil often suggests a lot of things

to the person concerned, which is usually aimed at removing

such a person from the faith. Sometimes the devil may use

human instrumentality to make certain unscriptural

suggestions to the victim. Visits or follow-up to such people

will not only encourage them to continue in the faith, it will

also destroy all the plans of the devil. For instance, if a sister

losses an unbelieving husband, the villagers may want to

force her into mourning the dead husband in their traditional

way, but the presence of fellow believers at this crucial

moment will strengthen the affected sister and help her

stand for the truth. Unfortunately instead of giving ourselves

to such service, most of the time we stay in the church and

judge such people as not being faithful in what we are doing.

Follow-up will bring us face to face with people‟s problem

and bring the brother or sister back to the fold. By going near

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we identify brethren who need moral support and also help

them. David would have hidden and died in his sin of

adultery were there not people like Nathan (2 Sam 12:7,13)

Some Examples of Follow-Up Activities in the Bible

Our Lord Jesus Christ started it in the New Testament

Church. When he rose from the dead, he followed-up his

disciples. The fact of his death and burial discouraged most

of his disciples including Peter who had boasted of doing

many things. Our Lord had therefore to reassure them that

their faith in him was not in vain (John 21:15-19).

Also in Acts 11:21-26 we see Barnabas being sent to follow

up new converts at Antioch. He also followed up Saul of

Tarsus to his home-town. Who knows what would have

become of Saul (later named Paul) had Barnabas not

followed him up. The beginning of the Church of Jesus

Christ witnessed a tremendous work of follow-up. Paul‟s

second and third missionary journeys centered on follow-up

as he used the occasion to encourage and establish his

converts in the faith (Acts 14:21-23).

Methods of Follow-Up

There are many methods of follow-up, but let us consider a

few of them:

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1. Personal visitation – finding time to go after the person

and having discussions, bible reading and prayers

together.

2. Communication – Letter writing, telephone calls,

seasonal cards, radio requests, etc. Paul‟s epistles to the

Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Colossians,

etc. are typical examples of this method of follow-up.

3. Prayer: constantly praying for that person (James 5:16)

4. Teaching and Indoctrination: Introducing such a person

to the appropriate classes in the church that will help him

or her to grow, e.g. baptismal classes, general bible

class, etc.

Why Bother About Follow-Up

It is an obligation to every Christian to warn both believers

and unbelievers alike. It is mandatory and not optional

(Ezekiel 33:1-9; Ezekiel 3:17-21). It was the only assignment

Christ left with his followers before his Ascension (Matt.

28:19-21; Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8-9). As Christians, our

paramount duty is soul winning. Anything that will enhance

the salvation of souls should engage our entire being.

Things to Watch in Follow-Up

1. It must be done wisely; male to follow-up male and

female to follow-up female.

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2. Never give an answer you are not sure of its scriptural

background to any question from a new convert. It is

better you promise giving him or her answer another day

when you must have got the right answer.

3. Do not stay too long with a person as this may disturb

other engagements he or she may already have planned

for the day

4. Always try to go in twos.

5. Be polite to the parents or relations of the person you are

following-up

6. Always refer specific problem of your adherent to your

pastor or whosoever is your leader.

If we give ourselves fully to these activities, we will not have

time for gossips, backbiting, lust and other vices, rather we

will be busy for the Lord while waiting for his soon appearing.

Brethren, let us be fully involved in this lucrative business of

“Follow-up”.

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CHAPTER NINE

THE CHANGED LIFE

o you not know that the unrighteous will

not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be

deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor

adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor

thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,

nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you. But you were washed,

but you were sanctified, but you were justified in

the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our

God. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new

creation, old things have passed away, behold, all

things have become new.” [1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2Cor.

5:17]

The first stanza of a famous Christian song begins: “What a

wonderful change in my life had been wrought since Jesus

came into my heart”.

The Greatest Proof of the New Birth

Without doubt, the greatest proof of the new birth is a

changed life. The child of God now suddenly loves the

following:

“D

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(i) He loves Jesus. Before conversion the sinner might

hold Christ in high esteem (2Cor. 5:16) but after

conversion he loves the Saviour (1John. 5:1-2).

(ii) He loves the Bible. We should love God‟s word as the

psalmist did (Psalm 119). He expressed his great love

for God‟s word no less than 17 times. Verses 24, 40,

47,48,72,97,103,112,129,140,142,159, 162, 165, and

168.

(iii) He Loves other Christians. “We know that we have

passed from death to life because we love the

brethren” (1John 3:14).

(iv) He loves his enemies. (Matt. 5:43-45).

(v) He loves the souls of all people. Like Paul, he too can

cry for the conversion of loved ones. “Brethren, my

heart‟s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they

may be saved” (Rom. 10:1). See also 2Cor. 5:14.

(vi) He loves the pure life. John says if one loves the world,

the love of the Father is not in him (1Jn. 21:15-17).

See also 1Jn. 5:4.

(vii) He loves to talk to God. “Speaking to one another in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and

making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

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Growing in the New Life

Knowing how to grow in the new life is essential. The old

adage is ever true: “sin will keep you from God’s word,

and God’s word will keep you from sin”

Prayer and Bible Reading

No factor in Christian growth is more important than prayer

and reading the Bible, „His will‟. Prayer may be defined as

talking with and listening to God. We talk to him with our lips

and heart, and he talks to us through His will. It involves a

two-way conversation. Spiritual maturity is impossible

without systematic prayer and study of the word (His will).

Worship is Essential also to Spiritual Growth

Worship involves honour and respect toward God, the

ceremony of private and public worship, and joyful service of

Christians to their Lord. Christians who submit to the

Lordship of Christ in reverence and service will grow in their

spiritual lives.

Walking in the Spirit

The Bible describes Christian life as “Walking in the Spirit”

(Gal. 5:16). Walking best represents the step-by-step

character of the spiritual life. Living by the Spirit’s power is

moment-by-moment yielding to the Spirit’s will and

control. See Rev. 2:7. The evidence that we are walking in

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the Spirit is simply the display of the fruit of the Spirit. “But

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-

control. Against such, there is no law. And those who

are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions

and desires” (Gal. 5:22-24). Walking in the spirit involves

confession of sin, yielding to God and being filled with or

controlled by the Spirit.

Since you called yourself a Christian, is there a change in

your life? Do you see the growth in your new life? Or are you

a geographical Christian? By reason of being born in

southern Nigeria for example, you claim Christianity as a

religion. Come to Jesus Christ now, he will give you the new

life, not religion.

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APPENDIX 1

BRAVO GREAT GENERAL!

consider it a rare privilege to write these lines about

this servant of God, Rev. Emmanuel Uche. Having sat

under him for seven (7) years, I can boldly say that I am

proud of him as my Pastor.

He has been a source of blessing to me, my family and the

church at large. Under his leadership the church has

remained peaceful as well as experienced tremendous

growth spiritually, numerically, financially and otherwise. Let

me at this juncture mention some of his personal traits that

has made this possible. His brevity, courage and boldness in

the face of great challenges is worthy of emulation. Rev.

Uche is not sentimental, economical with or afraid of saying

the truth no matter the circumstance or who is involved. He

is open to positive ideas, suggestions as well as constructive

criticism. He is progressive minded and believes in changing

for the better.

Rev. Uche is resourceful and a human developer. This has

raised the standard and maturing of this local assembly in

the things of God and beyond. He is innovative and dynamic

not minding his age. He takes great delight in the stability of

a soul. This he does through his teaching ministry and

I

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fatherly care and concern. He does not allow the ego of his

office to rule him. He is humble and teachable. He is

sociable, if I will say it this way – he is a community man.

The event of his retirement is inevitable but we shall always

remain grateful.

Bravo great general as you bow out alive, healthy and

strong. Keep fit.

BRO. COLLINS N.S. AKOBUNDU

Sunday School Superintendent, AGC Naze I

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APPENDIX 2

A TIRELESS GENERAL RETIRES

od has so many generals in His sacred army of which

the Rev.Emmanuel Uche is undoubtedly among. Like

Caleb of old, Pa Emmanuel Uche still possesses

evangelistic vigour as he possessed about 40 years ago.

Like Moses of old, Pa Emmanuel Uche‟s physical strength,

his memory, agility and his command of English have not

diminished a bit.

I am proud to be identified with this exemplary man of God –

a preacher of righteousness, a demonstrator of the Holy

Ghost power, a giant prayer warrior, a believer and preacher

of holiness, a lover of souls, a peacemaker, a man of

practical humility, an honest and straightforward man, indeed

a rare gem of special species.

About 40 years ago, when he was the pioneer of an

evangelistic team, made up of vibrant youth, pulsating with

spiritual energy that traversed every nook and cranny of

Mbaise and beyond searching for condemned souls that

needed to be fished out and delivered. I happened to be

among those fortunate ones that fell into his net and was

hooked out and brushed up for the kingdom.

G

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His evangelistic thrust was wonderfully blessed that today in

his lifetime he could look around and see his spiritual

children who are also spiritual military giants some of whom

climbed higher in office than him, all prominent and relevant

in their various fields and duty posts among numerous sons

and daughters.

There is no controversy that his name is inscribed in gold ink

in the book of “THE WHO IS WHOS” of the heroes of faith.

“Old solider never die”, they say. Although age is telling on

you, daddy, I can still perceive youthful strength and zeal in

you. Your ministry has not ended even though you have

been retired. The youth could be mobilized to recreate the

Soul Hunters ministry for greater harvest.

I am wishing you:

More years of sound health,

More years of fruitful ministry, and

More years of happy and joyous family life.

Rev. C.D. Osuagwu

(First Spiritual Son in Ministry)

Book Review By

Engr. Udochukwu Mark

TITLE:

FULFILLING A DIVINE PURPOSE IN LIFE (My Testimony)

Most of us are conversant with the following valedictory remarks by

Apostle Paul, “… I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have

believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I

have committed unto him against that day”; “I have fought a good

fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2Tim.1:12;

4:7).

This book, “Fulfilling A Divine Purpose In Life – My Testimony” is

Rev. Uche‟s personalization of the above remarks.

INTRODUCTION:

Rev. Uche raises the question of living a purpose-driven life and

finding God‟s purpose in life. He summarized how he found God‟s

purpose as follows: “I know where the rain caught-up with me and

where it stopped”, in allusion to a popular Igbo adage.

He posited that there is a divine purpose for every human being who

survived the marathon race to the fallopian tube; succeeded in

fertilizing the only available ovum against all odds; was properly

2

attached or implanted into the wall of the uterus; survived the

gestational period of 9 months; and finally birthed alive into the world.

He appealed to his readers not to be like Matthias who won popularity

vote but did not achieve anything worth reporting with the mandate

given to him.

EARLY LIFE

The author was disgusted with religion and church activities very early

in life when a priest discouraged his genuine desire for salvation and

encouraged him to continue to wallow in sins by telling him in a private

counseling/confession session, “You know, we are like fishes in the

water, we can never be free from the contamination of water”. He gave

up trying to live holy and sank deep into drinking, smoking (Indian

hemp) and sexual immorality.

The question of purpose dawned on him after his FSLC, as he began

to search for what to do to earn a living and become independent as a

man. His attraction for beauty and elegance led him to settle for

photography. Rev. Uche says, “Professional photography was my

unknown training school preparatory to finding a higher

purpose/calling.” He advices all young people to take whatever they

are doing very seriously. Remember that Moses, David, Elisha, Peter,

Matthew, Paul, etc. were all busy professionals in their own fields

before God called them to a higher purpose. The lesson is: build your

CV and credibility with your present assignment to qualify for a higher

assignment.

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HOW I FOUND HER – MY SWEETHEART

[see pp.12, 13 (printed version); 8, 9 (electronic version)]

“I got married in 1968 before my conversion to Miss Felicia Ochiawuto

Nwaogu Ogbuaku from Umuekwelede Eziudo of the same Ezinihitte

L.G.A of Imo State… My mother‟s interest was for me to marry from

Eziudo their place. She saw many other girls from other communities

going after me which she did not like for me to marry. And my mother

knew that I like beautiful girls; she negotiated for this beautiful,

ever young woman, I am now happily married to. As beautiful as

she was and is now, when I returned home and saw her in my

mother’s kitchen she captured my heart and I fell in love with her.

I can say she was a trap set for me by my mother, so that I

wouldn’t marry from our neighboring communities. To say the

truth her trap caught me and its well with us today.”

SIN OF LATENESS – p.16 (print); 12 (electronic)

As a new convert, Rev. Uche became an emergency Sunday School

Teacher and eventually replaced his class teacher because the

teacher came late. Hear his advice: “Brethren, it is not good to go to

Sunday school or church and other Christian activities late. It

demoralizes the new convert’s zeal and enthusiasm.”

MY CONVERSION AND CALL INTO THE MINISTRY

[pp. 15, 20 (print); 11, 16 (electronic)]

It was during the civil war (when Rev. Uche fought on the Biafran side)

that he vowed to God that he would serve him if he survived. God had

to send two angels in the attire of Biafran soldiers to rescue him from

death. Let us hear from the horse‟s mouth: “Now after the war ended

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in 1970 the formal sinful life style began again. One day as I was

in a local hotel, an evangelist came in and began to witness to

me, and on the process he said, now people have forgotten the

promise they made during the war for God to save them, but now

they have gone back to sinful life again. It struck my heart; I sat

up and paid greater attention. I dropped the cigarette and wine I

was taking and took the man to my house and he prayed for me.

This was how my conversion happened. I began immediately

preaching Christ. Since then, I have been in the Lord’s Army until

this retirement ceremony of this memorable day.”

MIRACLES IN MY MINISTRY – pp. 17, 25, 43 (print); 13, 21, 39

(electronic)

“In ministry what I consider and value much is the miracle of salvation

of souls. Salvation of souls is more important to God than other

miracles that are real too, which I also did experience in my ministry.

As I said, many souls were saved as I went from place to place. Men,

women, boys and girls were saved and baptized in water and in the

Holy Spirit. These souls are in the Lord today fruitfully serving in

different capacities. Many are ministers of the gospel of different

categories. Others are deacons and deaconesses and Sunday school

teachers.” …”the Lord used me to open a church in my hometown, Itu

in 1972 and I pastored there for two and half years. Many souls were

saved; signs and wonders followed my ministry there.”

A Dead Woman Raised to Life at Itu

“In my ministry at Itu, a woman who was dead was raised to life again.

The woman is alive today. This miracle was done in the presence of

my discouraged new convert who was being persecuted by his

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relations. The miracle strengthened him. …he is a Reverend Minister

in the Assemblies of God today in Mbaise District.”

Insanity Gone

“When I was at Chokoneze a man was delivered from insanity. As he

was following us with chains on his hands and legs shouting “these are

people of God” like in the days of Paul, we turned to him, took him into

his house and laid hands on him and prayed to God to deliver him, and

God answered. He was delivered, restored to normal life and his

teaching profession; and his family turned to God and were all saved.

…To God be the Glory! Amen.”

MY JOURNEYS IN MINISTRY – p.22, 35, 36 (print); 18, 31, 32

(electronic)

“Praise the Lord! In my ministry the Lord used me to heal the sick and

to restore backsliders. I am a builder; for I have not pastored a place

where I did not put up a building. Apart from offices I have held, the

Lord used me to form a strong evangelism team called, “The Soul

Hunters” in the then Mbaise Section which has blossomed into a

District now. With this team alone and without sponsorship from the

section, we opened churches that stand as big churches today in

Mbaise District…The Lord is good to me. He has never failed me nor

forsaken me, as He has by his grace led us to different places in Imo

and Abia States…”

“We got a letter of transfer in the month of October 2001 to Assemblies

of God Naze in Owerri North L.G.A, another village/township like Egbu.

As obedient servants, we moved to Naze in the same month of

October 2001. I can remember the topic of my first message to the

church, „Your Gift Has Come”. In response, they openly confessed

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that they do accept the gift. God began his work again according to His

purpose. I sounded a warning as I used to do in any church I go, that I

don‟t need any body to come and tell me who is who in the church.

“Please, allow me to discover who is who”, I warned. We started

work at Naze.”

“Through Naze church, God completed the house he started to

build for us from Egbu and the house was dedicated on 10th

November, 2010. Assemblies of God Naze is the final bus stop on

this destiny journey. I can now know why my parents called me,

“Ozichukwu”. It has been fulfilled.”

Please pick a copy of this book and get all the details.

The aggregate experience and wisdom of Rev. Uche

for 39 years of fruitful ministry will be yours.

Thanks for

listening