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By Sunday Ani
Founder and Rector of Ever Increasing Bible School, Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Dr Taiye Olayemi has said that Christians cannot run away from persecution because it is an integral part of Christianity.
He made the declaration while addressing journalists during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the school on Saturday.
Dr Olayemi, who was responding to the recent concern about Christian genocide and persecution in Nigeria noted that since persecution is part of Christian work and Christians cannot shield themselves from it, they can only build themselves up to be able to face it because it will surely come. He stressed that no government, no policy or arms can stop it because it is part and parcel of the Christian race.
However, he noted that it may not be like the case of Boko Haram or banditry. “No, but Jesus said if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. It is a normal thing. It could even be from husband to wife, from children against their family or even from neighbours. It has been happening but not in the dimension of foreigners coming to our country to attack us; that is not right. Persecution is part of Christian experience. If you are doing the right thing, expect persecution. Jesus Christ said people love darkness because their work is evil. And since Jesus Christ is the light of the world, lovers of darkness would always persecute His followers; it is natural,” he said.
He said the school was established to build leaders who can stand firm and carry the vision of the founder. “The Ever-Increasing Bible School was established so that the practical vision that its founder has, will be relayed the way it was given to him originally, to be carried out by faithful men. That is the first purpose of going into this school,” he added.
He noted that the school was equally established to make the body of Christ holistic by providing the knowledge aspect. He said: “You know the body of Christ has parts and one of the parts of the body of Christ is the teaching aspect, which is the school. And that will contribute to the holistic of the body by imparting knowledge. Without knowledge, that part will be deformed because it will not be able to contribute to the holistic. But with this school now, they will be able to impart the knowledge they get to the holistic in their various places of assignments.”
On the kind of courses the students would offer, he said it would be a bit different from the theological school because it is a practical ministerial school. “It’s different from the conventional theological school. This is a ministerial school, wherein the majority of them that are here will be groomed to work in their ministries. Basically, they will get training in the area where they are called in the ministry,” he said.
However, he itemised the courses they would offer to include diplomas in the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Mercy, Ministry of Priesthood, the kingdom, Ministry of Prayer, Ministry of help and others.
“They need to know some practical aspects of life, which make them perform excellently wherever they are functioning. So, like I said, what is prayer? What is the importance of prayer? What is commitment, consecration, dedication and all those things? Who is a minister? What is the ethics of a professional minister of God? We are going to have a ministerial theology to actually impart knowledge. So, these are going to be imparted into the students,” he added.
He was joined at the press conference by Professors Tolulope Emmanuel Bolaji, Provost, Envoys College of Theology and Christian Education, Nigeria and Ayeni Edward Sunday of HighStone Global University, Texas, United States of America.
Prof Sunday, who is also a Governing Council member of the school noted that all the 60 pioneer students would be studying the same course, but stressed that beyond the secular theological courses, there would be other courses that would help them perform better in their ministries.
He said the school would be affiliated to HighStone Global University in due course but noted that the first step before that is to start with diploma programmes. “What we plan to do is to start at diploma level because when you are connecting to an international school, you start from a pre-degree or those things that make you qualified. By the grace of God, I am the deputy vice-chancellor of that university in Africa presently. I was the vice-chancellor in Nigeria before but I’ve been lifted up from that level,” he said.
Dr Olayemi equally expressed joy with the calibre of lecturers that are already on ground to kickstart the programme, saying, “Actually, they are legends in their own field and it is a privilege for me to have them. It is not something I take for granted. It is a privilege for the students that are ready to learn because they are getting the best from them.”
Prof Sunday also said the nine-month intensive diploma programme was starting on a good footing. He said: “It is a good foundation. You don’t start a programme like this with professors, but because of Dr Olayemi’s influence, we are laying the foundation with him. We know what he carries and what he stands for. You don’t start a programme like this and say you are expecting professors.”
Dr Olayemi said the 60 pioneer students would enjoy free tuition but emphasised that subsequent students would not be that lucky. “The first thing we are doing now is offering free tuition. But, for every other handout that they require, they will buy. And the registration is 5,000. The subsequent ones will not be free, but the church will take care of the funding,” he said.
He expressed joy that his vision had been translated into reality. “Some people have that vision but can’t translate it to reality and it is frustrating. But, I now see this vision in physical reality which is part of the joy,” he added.
Also speaking, one of the matriculating students, Esther Adebayo, described the programme as the beginning of something new in the life of all the 60 pioneer students of the College. “It’s an inauguration into what the programme is going to be about, because we are going to be here learning at the feet of the masters in the next 32 Sundays.
“We know that in the kingdom we are told to contend for life and that life means knowledge. So, I want to add more to the knowledge that I have, to serve as a better Christian, a better worker in church and also a blessing to the body of Christ.
“So, I feel excited. This is not the first school that I’m attending but I am glad to be among the pioneer students of the school,” she said.
