Some churches are so committed to remaining small out of fear that growth will ruin fellowship. They fear when the congregation gets bigger, they won’t know everybody anymore. The idea is that if the church gets bigger, they will become a number. Other people are so committed to the church staying the way it is, they don’t really care if new people are sitting in the church pews because they are comfortable with the people they already know.
Here are some signs that say you are not welcome at a church;

No attempt is made to get information from visitors: Churches that are successful at reaching people are intentional about reaching new people and connecting them to the life of the church and a personal relationship with Christ. These churches often have a repetition tactic. They will have a welcoming strategy and multiple methods to engage newcomers. This includes everything from having greeters in the parking lot to friendly ushers to attractive bulletins and after-service receptions. If a person walks in and there is no attempt to get information from them, they are going to feel like their presence doesn’t matter.

Ushers who don’t greet: Greeting visitors at church is such an important part of the hospitality ministry of the church. They form part of the first impression that a visitor sees. If a person walks into a church and isn’t greeted from the time they step in the church premises until the time they walk in, there’s a really big chance they won’t want to attend your church again as they won’t feel welcome.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/how-to-know-you-are-not-welcome-in-a-church/

Entries for the 15th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria opens from March 26- June 1.

The competition, which is one of Dr. Mike Okonkwo’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities, is aimed at raising the standard in the educational sector by allowing students analytically minded to excel in their world by developing their ability to think through issues.

The competition is also a part of the activities lined up to mark the 73rd Birthday of Dr. Mike Okonkwo, The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

The topic for this year’s competition is “Nigeria’s Unity: Matters Arising”.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/entries-for-15th-national-mike-okonkwo-essay-competition-open/

Rev. Isah Nanaf, the newly ordained pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Toro District Church Council, has been killed by assassines in Toro village near Jos.

The pastor was said to have been shot severally at a close range by a gunman.

The gunman whose name was not disclosed has been arrested by the police in Toro village.
The Public Relations Officer of ECWA headquarters in Jos, Rev. Romanus Ebenwokodi who disclosed this to journalists, said the remains of the pastor has been deposited at the morgue of Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH).
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/newly-ordained-ecwa-pastor-killed-in-bauchi/

Prophet Josiah Onuoha, the General Overseer of Christ Foundation Miracle International Chapel, Lagos State, in an interview with news reporters, has said that God is angry with the current leadership of Nigeria and that God has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek a re-election in 2019.

Onuoha, who expressed worry over the present state of Nigeria, urged Buhari to heed the advice, warning that his refusal to heed the advice could lead to disaster.

There is on-going calls and counter-calls from Nigerians for President Buhari to seek re-election in 2019; what do you make of such calls?
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/prophet-onuoha-god-is-angry-with-nigerian-leaders/

A Catholic bishop, five priests and other administrative officials in Brazil, have been arrested by security officials, on accusations of embezzling more than two million reales (about $600,000) from the Catholic Church.

Bishop José Ronaldo of the Diocese of Formosa was among those arrested March 19, as part of operation “Caiaphas.” Among other findings, the operation discovered 70,000 reales (about $21,000) in cash in a cabinet with a false bottom. The cabinet belonged to Fr. Epitácio Cardoso Pereira, in the Planaltina township.

In wake of these developments, Pope Francis on March 21 appointed the Archbishop of Uberaba, Paulo Mendes Peixoto, as apostolic administrator of the diocese.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/bishop-five-priests-arrested-accused-of-fraud/

Bishop Seun Adeoye of the Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministry in Osogbo, Osun State, has accused the Osun state government of making sneaky moves to “silence” Kanmi Ajibola, a human right lawyer.

Adeoye made the allegation to newsmen at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the alarm became necessary going by his status as an harbinger of justice, equity, peace, and as a cleric, adding that he has plethora of evidence to show that the Osun State government is hell bent in “silencing the human rights lawyer for instituting several cases against the government”.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/osun-cleric-accuses-govt-of-gagging-rights-lawyer/

Anthony Cardinal Okogie, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, has written President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity and other burning issues in the country.

The cleric said the current government was sleeping while those that voted them into power were dying of hunger.

Cardinal Okogie in the letter also accused the president of handling the issue of insecurity in the country with kid gloves.
Okogie in a nine-paragraph letter he personally signed, yesterday, said his fears were founded in the President’s admittance that he didn’t know that the Inspector of Police, Ibrahim, Idris, flouted his order to remain in Benue in the wake of the new year day killing by herdsmen that claimed 73 lives.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/cardinal-okogie-writes-buhari-says-nigerians-dying-of-hunger/

By Olusegun Adeosun

US rapper, Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr, professionally known as Snoop Dogg is known for songs about drugs and women but he has now released a new gospel album.

The album, Bible Of Love features 32 songs in total, with guest appearances from gospel artists including Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Mary Mary and Fred Hammond.

In an interview on a national radio Dogg said: “I’m working on a gospel album. It’s always been on my heart. I just never got around to it because I always be doing gangsta business and doing this and doing that. But I just feel like it’s been on my heart too long.”

Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/rapper-snoop-dogg-releases-gospel-album/

Wife of the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Mrs. Folu Adeboye, has charged Christian youths to remain faithful to the Lord by shunning sins and all forms of unrighteousness no matter the challenges around them.

She spoke at the 2018 Redeemer’s Day celebration organised by Christ The Redeemer’s School Management (CRSM) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Redemption Camp, Ogun State.

The two- day event tagged victorious generation held in all regions of the church, featuring school parade, talks on Christian adornment, talent discovery and display exhortation, arts and science exhibition, sporting event and football competition.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/be-faithful-committed-to-god-adeboyes-wife-tells-youths/

Thousands of believers under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly at the weekend threw their weight behind the reelection bid of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The governor, they said, has done creditably well and should carry on with his industrial revolution in the state.

They spoke after a two-day conference tagged Dominion Mandate with the theme “One body, one voice”.

It was put together by Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly and Fathers of Faith.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/2019-akwa-ibom-christians-endorse-emmanuel-for-second-term/

By Olusegun Adeosun

They are reverend sisters who have dedicated their whole lives to the faith. But little is actually known about them. Here are some of the facts you should know about nuns;

1. Like monks, nuns inhabit the lowest rung of the hierarchy in the Catholic Church. Religious brothers and sisters aren’t members of the clergy, but they aren’t members of the lay faithful, either. They’re called consecrated religious,which means that they’ve taken sacred vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

2.They share all meals together and try to work together, pray together, and recreate together.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/five-things-know-nuns/

Lagos Zonal office, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, arraigned a member of Living Faith Ministries (a.k.a Winners Chapel), Chimezie Chuta, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a one-count charge bordering on stealing of $56,000 belonging to the General Overseer, Bishop David Oyedepo.

The offence is contrary to Section 285(7) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the defendant, a former employee in the publishing unit of Dominion Book Stores, an online book store owned by The Living Faith Ministries Worldwide, allegedly hacked into the company’s mail and diverted payments for some goods bought by online customers to his personal account.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/church-member-allegedly-duped-bishop-oyedepo/

The presiding pastor of Zion Church, Amilegbe, Ilorin, Kwara State, Pastor Simon Olupinla, on Thusday, during an interview, cautioned Nigerian youths against anxiety to get rich at all cost.

Olupinla, who gave the warning in Ilorin while speaking with our reporter, said the youths wanted short cut to riches.

He said most Nigerian youths were too desperate to ride big cars, even when they were not ready to work hard to earn it.

According to him, desperation has made many youths to become lazy.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/cleric-to-youths-ignore-get-rich-quick-syndrome/

A memorial service was held in honor of late evangelist Billy Graham in the United States Capitol Rotunda Wednesday morning, featuring remarks from President Donald Trump, congressional leaders and a performance from Christian musician Michael W. Smith.

“Here lies America’s pastor,” Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said in his short message after Graham’s casket was carried in and placed in the center of the Rotunda by members of the U.S. military.

“A man made great not by who he was but by who he served with all of his heart and all of his soul and all of his mind. We give thanks to God for the life and the works of this humble servant now and forever.”
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/billy-graham-honored-us-capitol-memorial-service-trump-recalls-dads-love-americas-pastor/

The founder of Jesus The Rock of Salvation Healing Ministry, Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of the State, Pastor Chiedozie Anochima, has been arrested by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Imo State Police Command, in connection with the February 22, 2017, robbery in a bank.

The attack on the Wetheral Road branch of Zenith Bank in Owerri, the state capital, left two policemen dead, with another injured, while one of the armed robbers was gunned down during the operation.

The police, who had since rounded up the fleeing members of the gang, said the arrest of the cleric during a church service last Sunday was a major breakthrough in the investigation of the crime.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/pastor-arrested-keeping-guns-used-robbery-church/

Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, will on March 9, 2018 hold its maiden inaugural lecture on the topic “Human being, being human: Theological Anthropology in the African Context”.
The lecture which holds at the seminary’s multi-purpose hall in Ogbomoso is to be delivered by Prof. Ezekiel Nihinlola, the President of the seminary.
In a statement by the seminary, the inaugural lecture is part of activities lined up to commemorate the seminary’s 120 years of existence.
Also the institution will equally be hosting the 15th edition of International Theological Education Conference between March 6 and 8 with the theme “The Development of Theological Education in Africa: History, Challenges and Prospects”. Participants are being expected from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun and other countries around the world.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/nigerian-baptist-theological-seminary-celebrate-120th-anniversary/

Members of a megachurch in Detroit, United States, have been thrown in mourning after a deacon and his daughter were gunned down along with another church sister at a local gas station by his daughter’s deranged boyfriend and father of her newborn child.

Detroit police Cmdr. Jacqueline Pritchett news reporters that 27-year-old George Anthony Davis began his deadly rampage at about 8:40 a.m. Monday at a Sunoco gas station in the 2200 block of Fenkell on Detroit’s west side where he shot deacon Raphael Hall, 60, of the Citadel of Praise church, his daughter, Cierra Bargainer, 24, along with their neighbor, Kristin Thomas, 21.

Davis later fled to a family member’s home on the 15100 block of Faust, where he fatally shot his 22-year-old cousin, Ja-Mon Thomas.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/deacon-daughter-others-fatally-shot-domestic-dispute/

A South African pastor, Lethebo Rabalago, popularly known as Doom Pastor, who sprays his congregation in the face with insecticide, is to pay a fine in order to avoid jail.

Rabalago was offered the option of a four-year jail term or paying a 21,000 rand ($1,800; £1,300) after being found guilty of assault and contravening the Agricultural Stock Remedies Act.

The 25-year-old has agreed to pay the fine off in 3,000 rand monthly installments.

Rabalago – who runs the Mount Zion General Assembly – was arrested after it emerged he had used the product to “cure” his followers of various ailments, including cancer and HIV, in 2016.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/doom-pastor-will-pay-fine-avoid-jail/

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Tuesday, inaugurated eight new governing boards of federal agencies.

The inauguration came a few weeks after the controversies that marred the exercise, after it emerged that some people on the expanded list were actually deceased individuals.

The governing boards inaugurated included; the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), Galaxy Backbone, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons ( NCFRIMI) and Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/sgf-inaugurates-new-ncpc-board/

Rebecca Bitrus, who was a Boko Haram prisoner for two years, is a patent reminder that behind all the balderdash about promoting peace and helping persecuted Christians, there are real people who have suffered unimaginable atrocities.

In Bitrus’ case, these atrocities include losing her unborn child as a result of her captivity; watching her three-year-old son be killed because she refused to convert to Islam; and being raped and forced into a marriage with a Boko Haram fighter.

Stories such as this are commonplace in Nigeria, where Boko Haram militants since 2002 have killed tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims who don’t share their extremist ideals.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/27923-2/

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry, has made a pact with communities in and around the Gbagada, Lagos, headquarters of the church towards the social, economic and infrastructure development of the community.

The pact, which will see the church improve access roads, will involve the collaboration of members of the community.

It was sealed at a townhall meeting between the leadership of the church and representatives of interest groups in and around the Gbagada area.

Speaking at the event, held at the Agape Hall, Gbagada, William Kumuyi, general superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, represented by Phillip Oluwi, a pastor at the church pledged the commitment to continue to attract development while also boosting socio-economic activity in the area.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/deeper-life-promises-develop-gbagada-community/

Popular Nollywood actress, screenwriter and film producer, Uche Elendu, has just bagged a Certificate from the Word of Life Bible Institute (WOLBI).

The screen star took to her Instagram page and announced her graduation from WOLBI, as she shared pictures from her graduation while appreciating God, friends and family for their support.

She gave thanks to her pastor, David Ibiyieome and her bestie, Anita Joseph for their support.

While speaking to her fans, she also shared some words of advice, and equated the knowledge of God to the knowledge of life.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/actress-uche-elendu-graduates-bible-institute-gospel-minister/

The third prosecuting witness in the trial of the suspects in the August 6, 2017 killings in a Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Chief Osita Okosieme, on Friday told the Nnewi High Court that his life was under threat by unknown persons.

Okosieme said he received a phone call ordering him not to appear in court to give evidence or risk being killed.

The witness, who raised the alarm while being led in evidence by the Prosecuting Counsel, Jay Jay Ezeuko (SAN) said he received calls from unknown persons from Ghana three days to his appearance to the court warning him not to come to court to bear witness.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/ozubulu-church-massacre-witness-cries/

The presiding pastor of Alter of Solution Church, Izuoma community in Adam, headquarters of Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor, has been arrested by Operatives of the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Rivers State Police Command, for the gruesome murder of three members of his church and an unborn baby.

Addressing newsmen at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cyril Okoro gave the names of the victims as Ada Concila Ezeawa, Christabel Joseph and Uluoma Onweagba, all females.

Okoro, who stated that the pastor killed the trio and the unborn child in order to conceal a pregnancy he was responsible for, adding that Okoroafor had confessed to murdering the victims.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/police-arrest-pastor-murder-three-church-members/

It was a tragic day at the Universal Church of God, after a hairdresser died in the church immediately she shared testimonies before the congregation.

The deceased, simply identified as Mpofu attended a church service at Bulawayo area of Zimbabwe where she gave a testimony thanking God for the wonders He had done in her life.

According to local reports, Mpofu slumped immediately after sharing her testimony and died in the church.

A close relative who asked for anonymity told the media that they were very disappointed and confused as they were not sure if the testimony was the reason behind Mpofu’s death.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/woman-dies-sharing-testimony-church/

Pastor Festus Oladoyin, of the Blessings of Christ Church, Tanke, Ilorin, on Thursday, urged girls to dress decently, in order to reduce the incidence of rape in the country.

Oladoyin, who gave the advice in an interview, said that indecent dressing had become a norm among many Nigerian girls, thus making them victims of rape.

According to him, many of these girls dress immorally, leading to being raped by some desperate men.

“Girls now dress half-naked going around the town. They expose every part of their body to the public, not minding their actions.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/indecent-dressing-attracts-rapists-cleric/

The senior Pastor of Unabii Christian Church, Kenya, Alfred Maingi Ndolo, has been arrested by the police for impregnating two primary school siblings aged 15 and 17 years respectively.

The 30-year-old pastor was arrested after the two orphaned girls who lived with their grandmother, disclosed that they had both been having sexual relationships with the pastor and were pregnant.

Kenyan News Agency reports that the grandmother reported the matter to the Police, and the suspect was arrested as investigations were launched.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/cleric-impregnates-teenage-sisters/

By Sunday Oguntola

Legendary American preacher, Evangelist Billy Graham, breathed his last on Wednesday at 99 with many lessons from his eventful life and ministry.

He was a preacher I admired so much since I read his autobiography, Just as I am, several years ago. His commitment to the gospel has challenged me just as his life of integrity.

As I pondered on his remarkable life, it occurred to me there are lessons preachers in Nigeria can glean from his life and ministry.

Here are seven of them I find worth considering for ministers hoping to finish as strong as he did:

He stayed true to main call and passion: Billy Graham started ministry in 1939 at age 21. He knew his main calling. It was evangelism. And that what he stuck to. He avoided every other areas of ministry to stay on his main call.
Everything he did was evangelism-related. His Billy Graham crusades reached out to an estimated 210 million in 185 countries of the world throughout his over 70 years of public ministry. He could do that much because there were no distractions.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/seven-lessons-nigerian-preacher-can-learn-evangelist-billy-graham/

Popular Uyo-based cleric and radio preacher, Rev. Fr. Patrick Henry Edet, ​who ​resigned as a Priest of the Roman Catholic Church​, last year, announced on Wednesday, during his Grace Family Church service that he is set to marry​.

Edet disclosed he had fixed Saturday March 17 for his marriage.
The cleric added that his fiancée would be would unveil next week.

Samuel Abasiekong, a ​publisher​ and ​Secretary Uyo Division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society​, confirmed the development on Facebook.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/nigerian-ex-catholic-priest-fixes-wedding-date-months-resignation/

Legendary American preacher, Evangelist Billy Graham, breathed his last on Wednesday with many firsts to his cap.

The renowned Graham was a beloved preacher whose fame went beyond America where he started his ministry.

Here are seven important facts to note about the preacher:

Billy became born again at age 16 when he heard the gospel explained in an amazing way by a travelling evangelist.
He was ordained a full-time minister in 1939 at the age of 21.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/7-important-facts-evangelist-billy-graham/

Controversial media personality, OAP Daddy Freeze, on Monday, has thrown shades at the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, over his 2018 prophecies.

Naijachurchnews recalls that Pastor Adeboye had issued prophesies for 2018, where he urged Christians to pray for the peace and development of the country.

Freeze said Pastor Adeboye should forget his prophecies, adding that the one he gave in 2016 was yet to come to past.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/freeze-slams-pastor-adeboye-over-prophecy-on-std/

According to news reports, an Egyptian court, on Tuesday, has sentenced 20 people to 10 years in prison for burning a church.

The convicts were also accused of illegal gathering, violence, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed weapons.

Investigations showed they broke into the church, threw Molotov cocktails inside and prevented people from putting out the fire.

The incident came after a government crackdown over two major sit-ins of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.
Read more: http://naijachurchnews.com/court-jails-20-persons-10-years-setting-church-ablaze/