It is Time to Arise - Rev. Philip Oyewale

Youths of the Nigerian Baptist Convention have been urged to arise and those who have left the denomination to return.

Rev. Dr. Philip Oyewale made this call during a UPROAR session at the Arise Congress opening session held at the Baptist International Convention Centre (BICC), Lufuwape, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The minister who has been preaching the gospel for over 32 years expressed delight at the Arise Congress holding for the first time in the history of the denomination.

He said it was a long-term dream of ministers who were colleagues while growing up, that a time will come to rekindle the fire amongst the youths.

“Lots of our youths have gone, it looks as if we are losing but we are not losing. God said he allowed them to go because a time is coming and this is the time. What this programme is about, is to make all our children come back to their father like the prodigal son. Baptist has a heritage."

“While we were growing up, we were called "pentirascals" because we felt that our fathers then, had no fire. Now, we are the fathers and we are happy that something like this is happening”

He charged the youths to have an understanding that it is their appointed time and as well know the capacity of the God they serve.

“God created you for a purpose, it is time for you to affect your generation, it is time for you to fulfill God’s purpose. God made everything beautiful in his time, you can fast forward the hand of God, if you understand your season, you can make anything come if it seems to be delayed."

“For the fact that you are a member of your family, there are things that are not permitted to happen. When you understand that it is time, you will place a demand like the prodigal son, “give me my portion of the inheritance of your estate."

“If you don’t know the worth of your father, you can be called a bastard and that’s the saddest thing that can happen to a son,” he said.

Oyewale is the pastor, Pentecost Baptist Church, Liverpool, and the founder of Immaculate TV.