Gilbert Ekezie
The Pentecostal Ministers Forum (PMF) has vowed to take Christian brotherhood to the next level; caring for one another and ensuring that younger ministers are also helped, to avoid pitfall in ministry to the glory of God.
The PMF President, Archbishop Chidi Anthony, gave the assurance at the end of year party of the forum held at Ajao Estate, Lagos.
He said that maintaining discipline among its members, would be given a pride of place.
He said that maintaining discipline among its members, would be given a pride of place.
Chidi, who is also the presiding minister of King in Christ Church International, explained that PMF is predominantly made up of younger ministers who feel abandoned to their own fate by older ministers in the faith, especially whenever they have challenges in ministry.
He stated that PMF members still retain their CAN and PFN membership; but pointed out that PMF provides the support and guidance, which other parent bodies do not necessary bother about.
Anthony assured the young ministers that they are in the right place at the right time, as PMF is no longer a forum, but a movement. “As long as you belong to this movement you don’t need to be afraid because we are not afraid. You belong to a forum where there is love for one another. That’s why our slogan is one love. When you are crying, we all are crying with you; and when you are smiling, we are also smiling with you.”
Quoting from the Bible to buttress his point, he reminded his members that God says he will build his church and the gates of hell will not stand against it. “We are matching on and nothing will stop us. The days when you preach with fear have gone. Most of us know what happened in the recent past when some preachers had to relocate to other states due to constant harassment from some quarters. But just as the saying goes, after the rains comes the bright and crispy sky. Therefore,I want to assure you that those rainy days are over.”
The Archbishop enjoined the PMF members to always remember the Commander of Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IGPSIRT), Deputy Commissioner Abba Kyari, for his patriotic and non-discriminatory stance on issues.“Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, is a very good man who really showed us love. Not minding that he is Muslim, he demonstrated that whether one is a Christian or Muslim, God is one. I am not going into much details here. Those who understand, know what I am saying.But,as long as you belong to this forum, ensure that you hang our banner in your altar, get your certificate and identity cards.”
The Archbishop enjoined the PMF members to always remember the Commander of Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IGPSIRT), Deputy Commissioner Abba Kyari, for his patriotic and non-discriminatory stance on issues.“Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, is a very good man who really showed us love. Not minding that he is Muslim, he demonstrated that whether one is a Christian or Muslim, God is one. I am not going into much details here. Those who understand, know what I am saying.But,as long as you belong to this forum, ensure that you hang our banner in your altar, get your certificate and identity cards.”
According to him, banner at the altar, will cover lots of things for the members.”There are some people who will enter your fellowship centres unannounced, but when they see our banner, they will respect themselves and leave.”
Speaking on the relationship between PMF, CAN and PFN, he said, “We are members of CAN and PFN, they are still our fathers, and we can’t move against them. But CAN and PFN can’t crush us because we mean well for ourselves and have freedom of association. Somebody might ask why we formed the PMF. I make bold to say that our fathers have failed us because each time any pastor has a problem, both CAN and PFN would abandon the person.”
He gave an instance when Pastor Fatoyinbo of COZA had issues, and the case started, instead of intervening, the christian associations was the first to go to the media to disowned him. “The CAN chairman of Abuja and PFN Chairman who showed solidarity with COZA, were suspended by the national bodies.But after the court acquitted the pastor and ordered his accusers to pay him N1m, they came back. This was the same pastor they wanted to crucify, without hearing his own side of the story.So,the difference between us and the parent bodies is that no matter the nature of the case, our member may have, we will try to sought him out.”
Anthony warned the members to be careful and avoid any reckless conduct in the cause of their ministerial duties. “The forum would not condone any form of indiscipline among its members. If you are a man of God, be careful with whatever you do or get yourself into. You cannot say because PMF will come to your aid and decide to go into crime. We will not tolerate any kind of behavior amongst our members.”
He promised that PMF would scrutinize her members next year, and any one found wanting, will be expelled. “There are still people we are going to scrutinize because if a rotten egg is allowed to mix with good eggs, it will definitely spoil the good ones. So we need to be very careful, so that those who want to nail us, will not have any evidence. So, I advise that in whatever you do or say, be careful and don’t do anything that will attract police to your work, because it is not a good testimony that a pastor is preaching in the church and police harass or arrest him for wrong doing.”
He promised that PMF would scrutinize her members next year, and any one found wanting, will be expelled. “There are still people we are going to scrutinize because if a rotten egg is allowed to mix with good eggs, it will definitely spoil the good ones. So we need to be very careful, so that those who want to nail us, will not have any evidence. So, I advise that in whatever you do or say, be careful and don’t do anything that will attract police to your work, because it is not a good testimony that a pastor is preaching in the church and police harass or arrest him for wrong doing.”