RANDOM MUSINGS ON CAMPMEETING 2010

Rev Dr Tunde Joda, Snr Pastor, CCIC

The story is told of a man who fell sick and was taken to hospital. On arriving at the hospital, he was amazed at the opulence of the environment. Air conditioners everywhere; marble floors – all real five star hotel standards.  He settled in to enjoy the luxury, thankful to God that he wasn’t going to be picking the bill.

He was ushered in to see the doctor in a well apportioned room, which further heightened his awe. Consultations over, he was to receive some injections as part of his treatment. The nurse asked him if he had eaten anything that morning. He replied in the affirmative. What exactly did you eat, the nurse asked. The man remembered where he was and decided he had to “melt”, with the environment. He wouldn’t have a nurse look down on him for his culinary choice. So, he answered: “I had toast, sausage, bacon, eggs and coffee”. The nurse went on to administer the treatment, and took him to a room for observation.

That wasn’t the end of the matter, however. Shortly after the injection, he threw up. There was no trace of any of those items he claimed he had for breakfast. In their place was “akamu” and “akara”.

Rev Poju Oyemade told this story last week at Campmeeting 2010 of Christ Chapel International Churches. Speaking as one of the two main guest ministers, he was illustrating the sheer self-deceit with which many of us Christians, including many so called born-again, word of faith believers, relate with the word of God. According to him, many of us pretend to know the word enough to triumph by its application. But under pressure what comes out is the “yepa!” exclamation of helplessness and defeat.

Oyemade, who is the Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos was making a point around which virtually every other failing of individual Christians, whole congregations and the Church as a whole, revolves.

Have you ever wondered why good men, I mean men and women who had comported their lives with decency, integrity and the fear of the Lord, suddenly become bad when they go into government at whatever level and at whatever branch? Have you ever wondered why among the biggest culprits in the gargantuan frauds being unearthed in the on-going banking sector reforms are Christians?  Were these people always as bad as they eventually manifested? Were they hypocrites able to present to the world the side of them they wanted us to see; until it could no longer be hidden? Do you ever wonder if, found at the heights they got to and the access to wealth, power and influence they had, you would have fallen too?

Is it the case that some, at least some of these brethren, didn’t have the word grounding that they needed to do exploits at such levels - and genuinely didn’t know it? Or is it that once they got to those heights, they began to lose what they had because they no longer topped up, in a manner of speaking? Are we being defeated because, we are not being properly prepared for the heights we seek to attain? Ponder these with me, dear reader. Where are you? Does the word dwell in you richly enough, such that your recourse, in every situation, is to the word of God, rather than the wisdom of man? I know I need to constantly do this check; I know that I don’t always score very high when I do those checks honestly; but I also know that God’s enabling grace will always be available and sufficient, if I tried to tap into it. What about you?

Campmeeting 2010 theme, “Victory through the Storm,” was itself food for thought, but no matter your thought; no matter the questions you took to the convention, the Holy Spirit was there to answer through one minister or the other.

If you wondered why your victory had to be through the storm and not over it, there was campmeeting co-chief host, Rev Mrs Victoria Ebun Joda to tell you that storms, like an end-of-session examination, are designed or allowed by God to promote you. If your worry was why God seems to be unresponsive to your cry as you experience the storm, she assures you that, having taught his students well, teachers who serve as invigilators don’t talk to their students while tests last.  And there was Rev Mike Olorogun who recalled his days as an instructor in the Nigerian Navy to illustrate the fact that God never leaves you alone, in the midst of any trial. He told you how naval trainees would sometimes be instructed to swim across the ocean from Apapa to Marina in Lagos as a test both of swimming skill and endurance. But although the swimmers are on their own in the waters, he was always there, boat engine on at the ready to rescue any of them he adjudged unable to continue. 

There was also Rev Dr Lekan Babatunde who addressing the same issue ministered from these verses: “And when He had sent the crowds away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray. And when evening had come, He was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a phantom! And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, I AM! Do not fear … And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased (Matthew 14: 24-27; 32).

He pointed out that Jesus here knew his disciples were in trouble; cared enough to end his usual night-long prayer session prematurely to go to their rescue, and had the power to do so even it meant he had to walk on water to do so and the power to actually do so! He is still doing the same today. Going through a storm? Don’t panic; hold on tight to the word; remembering that He knows; He cares; He can and He will.