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By Henry Akubuiro
We are used to footballers and other athletes, musicians, writers and politicians receiving awards. Men of God are merely celebrated for their efforts at winning and saving souls. Apostolic Impact Global Outreach (AIG) is striving to change the narrative by adding garlands to the pulpit and honouring individuals outside the clergy who have made a difference in the society.
The 2022 edition of AIG Fresh Oil Conference and Excellence Awards, which was held on October 2 and 3, 2022, at Overcomers World Outreach, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, witnessed some enlightening lectures by some men of God, including Bishop Chuks Uzukwu, who spoke on “Warfare Prayers”, and Rev. Chris Charles, who spoke on “Grace for Generational Impact”, on day one.
The topic of “Warfare Prayers” recurred on day two, with a different preacher, Dr. Philip Iwuanyanwu, leading the discourse, while Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio spoke on “Dealing with Faulty Foundation”. Bishop Reuben Oke was the last speaker for the day, as he spoke on “Building a Sustainable Ministry”.
The high point of the two-day conference was the presentation of awards to Archbishop Joseph Imariable Ojo, Apostle General Anselem Madubuko, Bishop Reuben Olutoyese Oke, Mrs. Ehigiamusoe Ngozi, Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio, Bishop Goddy Okafor, Obiageli Obiora, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, and Rev. Chris Akano for their far-reaching impacts on Christianity and the wider society.
Some of the award recipients spoke to Daily Sun on the significance of the honour bestowed on them by the Apostolic Impact Global Outreach. Ohuabunwa, pharmacist, politician and business executive, said awards were often given with specific criteria in mind, and he believed the organisers, consisting of distinguished men of God, did their homework well.
“So you take it that it’s God recognising you, because God wouldn’t probably come down but he will use men, his prophets, ministers and protests to make known his will. So, I feel it’s an honour from God,” he said.
He pledged he would do better than he had done and ensure he didn’t disappoint “those who have seen either the Christian virtues in me or in my conduct, practice and profession. This award is like a guide or a reminder that there are people there watching you.”
Joseph Ojo, the Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church International, Lagos, who worked with Archbishop Benson Idahosa of Church of God Mission for 30 years before establishing his own ministry, said the award meant a lot to him “to be recognised that you deserve that kind of honour. It’s a plus. I am appreciating God and the organisers for counting me worthy of giving me this award. This is not an individual award. It’s a corporate thing. The organisation is a big body and have identified me as one deserving an award from them. I am grateful to God.”
He believed that an award like this was meant to have one’s heart open to extend to people both in cash and kind, to impact on more people as the name of the organisation suggested, and “the use of God to impact more lives.”
Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio, the founder of Liberty Gospel Church, who earlier presented a paper, told Daily Sun, though she had been hearing for ever that God would give rewards, “sometimes an award like this helps us to know that whatever we are doing is being watched not just by God alone but by other humans. Also, it shows that we are impacting the world; we are doing reasonable things that the eyes are seeing.”
The award, she added, wouldn’t challenge her to win more awards but challenge her to do more for the public, “because we can never do enough and tell ourselves ‘bravo’. So, we keep doing, trusting him to do more until when he deems it for us to rest.”
Rev. Virginia Moses is the wife of the late Bishop N.E. Moses, the founder of the Overcomers Church World Outreach, who now serves as the general overseer of the assembly. She appreciated the award, “for it’s a stepping stone to higher heights, to the glory of God, and also in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Chris. Of course, the award will challenge me to reach out more; impact my community and my generation, by the grace of God”.
She recalled that Apostolic Impact Global Outreach started years ago by a few men who came to her late husband to receive counsel, after which he instructed them to gather other pastors, instead of visiting him regularly, so that he could speak to them on a chosen date elsewhere.
“Today, it has spread out to different and diverse communities beyond Nigeria,” she added, “I am grateful that this great Christian movement is impacting believers and unbelievers.”
For Bishop Oke of TREM, who came from Abeokuta, it was a great vision by the organisation to honour people who they felt had made an impact in ministry and outside of it. “It’s something that I appreciate,” he said.
Much of the credit for sustaining the Apostolic Impact Global Outreach, founded on 21st February, 2005, goes to Rev. Akano, its president, who gathered a group of pastors to meet the late Bishop N.E Moses to give them a direction that led to their starting the network. “His advice and level of experience was able to take us to a certain level before passing on,” he recalled.
Until now, AIG Outreach wasn’t giving out awards to anybody. This year’s awards were the first of its kind in 17 years. “This year,” he explained, “we decided to do what we haven’t done before by adding awards to the annual conference.”
It’s an initiative he hopes won’t just peter out any time soon.
