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| Rev Samuel Olanrewaju ...Beneficiary of Riverside Church's Levites Project |
“…The Olanrewaju family was evicted
from their home when their Muslim landlord discovered they were praying in the
name of Jesus. Within three months, God made provision available and a
temporary house was hurriedly built for the displaced family, with the intention
of constructing a more permanent structure in the near future. Ten years later,
construction began on a permanent home. The Olanrewaju family spent $40,000 to
lay the foundation and raise the first floor of the new structure. However, in
response to the great need of missionaries in the field, all the family had was
redirected to the work of the ministry. Faced with these needs, the Olanrewaju
family sacrificially laid down their plans, and construction on their home was
abandoned indefinitely in 2005…”
The Riverside Church, pastored by
Preston Humphries, who you met on this page last week, is located in Norman,
Oklahoma, about 10, 500 kilometers from Lagos, Nigeria. But that church has
been in the vanguard of building a home for a Nigerian pastor, here in Nigeria.
And the church sees the project, NOT as charity, but a duty!
Taking their bearing from the Bible
book of Numbers, they style their effort The Levite Project. The relevant verse reads: “And the
cities which ye shall give shall be
of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few:
every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance
which he inheriteth” (35:8).
Explaining this on their website which has
been live since 2011, Riverside Church says: “The Levite Project honors the
faithfulness of a priest who has served sacrificially without seeking anything
for himself. The Levites - as the priestly tribe - counted God as their portion
in the inheritance of Israel. Their homes were given to them by the other
tribes in obedience to the Lord”
In a piece titled ‘A Matter That
Grieves My Heart’, Pastor Preston rationalised his taking on the burden of
providing a home for this Nigerian pastor and his family in these words:
“In recent months,
I have come into the understanding that Reverend Samuel is virtually homeless.
In all of his Kingdom advancements, our friend has literally emptied himself to
fund the work of the ministry. His obedient generosity is responsible for the
establishment of hundreds of churches and pastors throughout western Africa,
and the salvation and deliverance of countless men, women, and children.
Personally, Reverend Samuel has been a powerful and invaluable prophetic voice
in my life and ministry. I am sure this is a testimony we share. Truly,
Reverend Samuel has blessed us all. “In response to his faithful service, I have a deep conviction to see Reverend Samuel and his family established in their home. I believe it is only righteous that we come together and build a home for the man who serves to bring security and prosperity to the homes of so many…”
But, who, you may wonder, is
Rev Samuel?
Information
posted on the Riverside Church site had this on him: “Reverend Samuel (Olanrewaju)
was called by God to be a witness for Christ among the unreached, hard to
reach, and neglected people groups across Africa and around the world.
“He
is married to a passionate prayer warrior, Florence Temilade, and they are blessed
with six godly children, three boys and three girls…In addition to his natural
family, Reverend Samuel has close relatives and adopted children living with
him. His home - as an extension of his ministry - serves to house a divinely
extended family of 12 people…
“As
the President and General Overseer of Christ for Rural Areas Ministries (CRAM),
Reverend Samuel oversees over 100 churches and hundreds of pastors and
missionaries, reaching at least 13 unreached people groups in Nigeria and Benin
Republic. Through the CRAM Community Life Center, he operates CRAM Bible
Institute, which has produced over 200 graduates in the last 15 years, and has founded
the CRAM Elementary School and Bassa Elementary School, each of which enrolls
over 300 students annually... He serves as the appointed apostle in Nigeria and
Benin Republic for the Heart land Apostolic Prayer Network - a network of over
6,000 churches.”With such credentials, how did he come to be almost homeless?
In 1994, continues the write-up on Riverside’s website, “the Olanrewaju family was evicted from their home when their Muslim landlord discovered they were praying in the name of Jesus. Within three months, God made provision available and a temporary house was hurriedly built for the displaced family, with the intention of constructing a more permanent structure in the near future.
“Ten years later, construction began on a permanent home. The Olanrewaju family spent $40,000 to lay the foundation and raise the first floor of the new structure.
“However, in response to the great need of missionaries in the field, all the family had was redirected to the work of the ministry. Faced with these needs, the Olanrewaju family sacrificially laid down their plans, and construction on their home was abandoned indefinitely in 2005.
“Now, the temporary home that was hastily erected in 1994 deteriorates around them. Termites have eaten most of the roof, and what is left of the old roofing sheets is leaking. The walls are peeling off, the ceiling is falling down, and even the floors are breaking apart…”
Won’t you like to join Pastor Preston and his church “in responding as the church and establishing the home of a Levite among us?”
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