Women with absent fathers often become beggars for love, safety, and security. It’s heartbreaking how deeply they invest themselves in others, hoping that their love will be returned, hoping to finally feel chosen, protected, and seen. They carry a silent ache—an invisible wound that whispers....Maybe if I give more, they’ll stay. Maybe if I’m good enough, they’ll love me. This voice doesn’t come from who they are today, but from the little girl inside them who kept looking out the window, waiting for someone who never came. Their love becomes a currency—they trade affection, loyalty, and even their own boundaries just to feel held. They over-give, over-function, and over-apologize, hoping that one day, someone will finally choose to stay without conditions. The absence of a father doesn’t just leave a physical void—it creates emotional gaps that women often try to fill with partners, friends, or even strangers. But what’s missing isn’t just a person—it’s the early belief that they are inherently worthy of love without having to earn it. She often becomes hyper-independent, saying she doesn’t need anyone. But behind that strength is exhaustion—from carrying her own pain, from pretending she’s okay, from surviving in a world that never taught her how to receive. When she finally does meet love, she may not know how to trust it. Her nervous system doesn’t recognize consistency. It feels foreign. Unsafe even. She might push it away before it has a chance to hold her. This woman is not broken. She is someone who has been asked to mother herself before she was ever truly mothered. She’s someone who has built a heart out of scars and silence. Healing for her doesn’t come from finding the perfect partner. It comes from finding herself. From meeting the little girl within and telling her, “You don’t have to beg anymore. You are already enough.” When a woman with an absent father begins to reclaim her worth, she stops performing for love and starts attracting it from a place of truth. Her healing isn’t just hers—it becomes a ripple that touches every generation after her. And maybe for the first time, she finally breathes deeply… not because someone stayed, but because she stopped abandoning herself. If you belong to this story, know that healing is possible. I’m here to help you on this journey—just reach out to me. - Abhikesh

Babe, being apart feels like forever, but knowing you're mine and I'm yours keeps me going. I promise to hold on tight, trust deeply, and stick together through this distance. My love for you is stronger than any space between us. You're my home, my heart beats for you. 🤍

Bishop David Olatunji Abioye: The Pastor of Generals By Daniel Breakforth In the year 1983, a new church called the Living Faith World Outreach Centre was commissioned by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. Shortly after the commission date, the Church moved by divine instruction to Kaduna instead of the initial plan to start off at Jos, Plateau State. The new Church was led by Pastor (later Bishop) David Oyedepo. Oyedepo was not a stranger to Kaduna. In the year 1973, he had attempted to join the Nigerian Air Force at the age of 19 through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) just after the Civil War. Now a young pastor, he sometimes visited his military friends at the NDA as well as other collocated units within the massive Ribadu Cantonment. However it appears that God had other plans for Oyedepo. In 1987, one of his young pastors, David Abioye who had joined the Church as a staff at the end of his National Youth Service Corps period was sent to Maiduguri to open up a new branch. Shortly after this, by 1988, Living Faith was considered the largest Pentecostal Church in northern Nigeria. In 1989, Bishop David Oyedepo announced to the 3000 members that the Church intended to build Garden of Faith-the largest Church auditorium in Northern Nigeria. The Church opened up a new branch at Iyana Ipaja in 1989 called Winners' Chapel in response to a divine call to Oyedepo-Get down to Lagos and raise me a people. That was not all, in his own words, Bishop Oyedepo explains the change of baton that soon transpired. THE CHANGE OF THE KADUNA CHURCH PASTORATE "In view of the enormous work on ground at Kaduna in the early days of the Lagos church, I was shuttling between Lagos and Kaduna; Lagos this Sunday, Kaduna next. I was always in Kaduna anytime I had any outreach up north. On a particular day in May 1990, concluding a seminar in the city of Jos on Saturday night, I started racing down to minister at the Sunday service in the Kaduna church. Suddenly, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘When you were the Pastor of the Kaduna church’. Immediately, I questioned, ‘Were?’ I did not have the patience to listen to what followed; I shouted, ‘Who then is the Pastor?’ And God said, ‘Send for my servant, David (Abioye), he shall be the shepherd of the flock’. While I ministered at the church that Sunday morning, in my characteristic manner, I shared with the congregation exactly what the Lord told me, and that was how the pastorate of the Kaduna church changed hands by divine order. From that very day, I ceased to see myself as the Pastor of that church. The good news is, there was no rethink or regret but testimonies of growth and expansion. Today, the Kaduna church is a beauty to behold". Pastor David Abioye was then transferred from Maiduguri to Kaduna in the early days of the Living Faith Church’s national expansion. This seemed like a routine ministerial reassignment. However, what followed was not just a chapter in church growth—it was the quiet unfolding of a legacy that would deeply influence Nigeria’s military elite. Kaduna is home to several of Nigeria’s most critical military institutions, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, Infantry Centre and School Jaji, Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Training and Tactical Group (TTG), other NAF units, and the famed Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, among others. Into this unique military atmosphere, Pastor Abioye was posted as resident pastor of Living Faith Church Barnawa—popularly known as the Garden of Faith. He was then consecrated Bishop in 1993 at the age of 32. He remains the youngest to be consecrated Bishop of a mainline Church globally Humorously, Abioye just like Oyedepo had also previously attempted to join the military from Kaduna. At a time when spiritual depth and moral guidance were quietly sought by many gentlemen officer cadets of the NDA and in fact, many young and seasoned officers alike, Bishop Abioye’s life and message stood out. His disciplined lifestyle, gentle demeanor and commanding yet humble pulpit presence drew men and women in uniform to the church in large numbers. For almost two decades, the Garden of Faith remained the largest megachurch in northern Nigeria and one of the most spiritually influential. NDA was, very tough...to say it very nicely. Consequently, week after week, cadets from the NDA having endured grueling training sessions all week, would find refuge and refreshing on Sundays at the Barnawa church. Midweek services were an unaffordable luxury! For the gentleman officer cadet, 'Heaven at last' was simply not enough as the daily sufferings and challenges otherwise known as Punishment Tutorials Endurance ( PUTTEE) always stretched them physically and spiritually to the limits. They needed reassurance, they needed words of Hope, they needed encouragement and they needed a purpose to stay alive. The Catholic Church is known to be very disciplined with time. Service times are fixed and start and end promptly. However majority of Christian cadets at the time were either non Catholics or at least did not attend the Barracks Catholic Church. Imagine a situation where a Rev Father complains during mass of sounds of 'up, up, up, up up...while voices under duress were counting...33, 34, 35...101, 102 etc behind the Altar (Very few, will understand this). The only other church which had the combined qualities of timeliness and promptness at the time was 'Living Faith'. The cadets could not afford a church that had no respect for time. Time was of essence and the time to come out through Abakpa, Equitation, Kurumashi or Silver Jubilee Gate was not fixed. With the 3 services at Garden of Faith which was the only Living Faith Church at the time, one could always find an early or late morning service that would fit into their 'Up' plans and Bishop Abioye was always on hand and bellowing... There is Hope for you! At the time Bishop Abioye took over in Kaduna, members of the NDA 37RC were passing out cadets. General Gwabin Musa would have been a 4th termer and gradually transforming from 'Kati Kati' to Acting Period. Also by the time Bishop Abioye was moved to Abuja in 2004, the members of 55th RC were second termers. This implies that Bishop Abioye oversaw about 18 Academy (Regular) courses (asides various short service courses) as the longest serving Living Faith Church pastor over Garden of Faith. Bishop Abioye’s messages were not only encouraging—they were stabilizing. They offered hope, moral clarity and spiritual courage, reinforcing the discipline instilled during military training but anchoring it in godly values. His altar call would always begin with... Say with me Dear God... Beyond the cadets, officers stationed across military formations in Kaduna and beyond—AFCSC, ICS, NAF Base, Depot NA Chindit Barracks/NASMP Zaria and even more remote military units—made it a routine to worship under his leadership. His consistency, integrity and rare ability to relate the gospel to leadership and purpose earned him the respect and loyalty of Nigeria’s rising military brass. In 2002, he was invited to minister at the Fellowship of Christian Cadets within the NDA. That service made history: For the first time, the NDA’s garrison protestant church auditorium was filled to overflowing. Cadets, officers, administrative staff and even civilians came en masse to hear him minister—a moment that solidified his role as a spiritual compass to many within the armed forces. Though eventually represented by one Pastor Victor Olafisoye, the message he personally sent was well received. Over the years, many of those cadets have risen through the ranks to become 1-star, 2-star, 3-star and even 4-star generals in the Nigerian Armed Forces and many other countries within Africa. Yet, they continue to hold Bishop Abioye in the highest esteem—not just as a preacher from their youth, but as a father in the faith whose words and character deeply shaped their journey. Some regularly consult him for prayer and counsel; others simply draw strength from his continued presence, teachings and landmark example of stewardship and loyalty. The Transfer of Bishop David Abioye to Abuja Bishop David Abioye was transferred from Kaduna to Abuja during a period of rapid church expansion and reactions as well as to douse some inflammable situations that had arisen. At the time, the Church was transitioning from a regional ministry centered in northern Nigeria to a national and international force and strategic placement of senior leaders was essential. Bishop David Oyedepo, founder and presiding bishop of the Church, needed to solidify the church's presence in Nigeria’s new Federal Capital Territory and neutralise efforts at rebellion in some quarters. He appointed Bishop Abioye to lead the growing work in Abuja, a move that proved to be both strategic and transformative. Upon arriving in Abuja, Bishop Abioye began pastoring at Durumi which was then the only branch in Abuja. This would eventually lead to him pioneering the Church work in the suburbs at Goshen City, the church’s massive 700 acre mission headquarters in the northern region which was built within 13 months with no assistance from the International headquarters and broke the record of Garden of Faith, Kaduna as the largest Church facility in northern Nigeria by 2010 However, even before the establishment of the Goshen facility in 2010, Abioye’s ministry had already gained deep roots in Abuja. His influence in the city, particularly among military officers and senior civil servants, began to grow in a quiet yet profound way. This rise in influence among military personnel can be attributed to several factors. First, Abuja is not just Nigeria’s administrative capital—it is also home to major military installations, including the Defense Headquarters, Army, Navy and Airforce Headquarters, National Defence College and numerous officers’ quarters. The proximity of Abioye’s ministry to these centers meant his church was physically accessible to officers seeking spiritual direction and balance amid the demands of national service. After his move to Goshen, they were also willing to do the 30km+ drive out of Abuja metropolis to Goshen on Sundays. Second, and perhaps more critically, Bishop Abioye’s personality and leadership style deeply resonated with military culture. He is known for his calm demeanor, disciplined approach to ministry and unshakable loyalty to his spiritual leader, Bishop Oyedepo. These traits mirrored the military’s values of order, hierarchy, loyalty, and self-control—values that often determine who an officer chooses to follow or confide in. Abioye’s messages frequently emphasized honor, service, integrity, and responsibility—not only in spiritual matters but in daily life and leadership. His teachings avoided controversy and remained grounded in scripture and character development. For many officers, this was both refreshing and reassuring. He did not pander to status or power but modeled consistency and humility, which earned him long-term trust. Moreover, the structure of the Living Faith Church itself—with its protocol-driven services, cell systems and clear chains of authority—created an environment that felt orderly and familiar to those from military backgrounds. It’s no surprise that over the years, many high-ranking officers not only became members of the Abuja church but developed close spiritual affiliations with Bishop Abioye himself. Essentially, Bishop David Abioye’s transfer to Abuja was a pivotal moment in the growth of the Living Faith Church in Nigeria’s capital. His personal integrity, disciplined leadership and spiritual consistency made him a natural magnet for military officers and government elites alike. Today, he remains one of the most respected spiritual voices in the region—both within and beyond Pentecostal circles. Remarkably, his influence has grown beyond church walls. Bishop Abioye has ministered and lectured at the National Defence College in Abuja, addressing elite military officers from Nigeria and across the world. He continues to engage actively in both physical and virtual fora where military personnel seek spiritual and ethical guidance. Recently, Nigeria’s only serving 4-star general was spotted worshipping at the Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, the new phase of Bishop Abioye"'s ministry—an unassuming but telling sign of how enduring and respected Bishop Abioye’s pastoral role remains within military circles. Yet, in all of this, he has remained profoundly humble. Never one to boast or seek titles, Bishop Abioye continues to walk with quiet dignity, reflecting the servant leadership he has modeled for about 4 decades. His life is a testament to the truth that divine influence is not always loud—but it is lasting. Indeed, his posting to Kaduna and later Abuja was more than a church assignment; it was a divine deployment. In the process, Bishop David Abioye became, almost inadvertently, the Pastor of Generals. #ChurchGist

OH LORD IN YOU I PUT MY TRUST AMEN 🙏

The fear of man bringeth a snare, but Whose putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

"Peter Obi is one individual people trust because his word is his bond" ~~ Olumide Akpata

*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL* *DATE: FRIDAY JUNE 13TH 2025* *TOPIC: PRAYERS FOR YOUTHS* *MEMORISE:* “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - (2 Timothy 2:22) *READ: ECCLESIASTES 11:9-10 (KJV)* 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. *PRAYERS:* 1. Father, I thank You for all the Christian youths across the world. Thank You for this new generation that You have chosen to show forth Your glory. 2. Father, please let all the youths in my community and around the world who are yet to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour be convicted by the Holy Spirit to surrender their lives to You. 3. Father, please guide the youths as they make decisions in their education, careers, relationships, and other areas of life. Help them to make the right decisions in line with Your will for their lives, in Jesus' name. 4. Father, please keep the youths focused on You. Help them to grow deeper in love with You, in Jesus' name. 5. Father, please help the youths break all negative generational patterns. May they not repeat the mistakes of past generations, in Jesus' name. 6. Lord, I come against any agenda of the enemy concerning the youths around me. They will not die, but they will live to show forth the glory of God and become terrors to the kingdom of darkness, in Jesus' name. 7. Lord, please help the youths overcome the devil's plans to indoctrinate them with perverse morals and cultures. I decree that his evil doctrines will have no influence over them, in Jesus' name. 8. Father, please set the youths on fire for You. Let them rise in every part of the world, speaking boldly about You and influencing their communities for Your Kingdom, in Jesus' name. 9. Father, please let Your excellent Spirit rest on every youth. Bless them with Your wisdom and creativity, and make them agents of positive change in their societies, in Jesus' name. 10. Father, please strengthen the youths to overcome temptations, depression, stress, and anxiety. Empower them with good health and a sound mind to deal with all of life's challenges, in Jesus' name. 11. Father, help the youths develop the right sense of responsibility that will make them excellent leaders, in Jesus' name. 12. Your personal prayer points for the youths around you. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 43-49* *AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE* *HYMNAL: 22 - SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER! SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER!* 1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! the joys I feel, the bliss I share of those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for thy return! With such I hasten to the place where God my Savior shows his face, and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! thy wings shall my petition bear to him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since he bids me seek his face, believe his word, and trust his grace, I'll cast on him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Trust the Quiet Transformation... When you feel lost in shadows and the road ahead is hidden from view, be gentle with yourself. Not every season is meant to be bright. Some are meant for soft unraveling—for letting go of what no longer fits, for becoming someone new in ways you can’t yet see. Transformation often begins in silence, like a seed pushing through the dark soil, like a river carving a new path beneath still waters. It doesn't rush or roar—it listens, waits, trusts the pull of something greater. So, if you find yourself unsure, aching, or standing still, know this: You are not broken—you are becoming. Trust the stillness. Trust the questions. In your own quiet way, in your own sacred time, the path will appear, and you will rise to meet it.

*CATHOLIC MEDITATION: 13 June, 2025.* ⛪📖🖊️ *FRIDAY* 🟩10TH WEEK - ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C 🟩 *Memorial* : St. Anthony of Padua, (Priest & Doctor of the Church). *1st R* : 2 Cor. 4:7-15. *Resp. Psalm* : Ps. 116. *R/ - A thanksgiving sacrifice l make to you, O Lord.* *Gosp.* : Mtt. 5:27-32. *Message:* *ALL IS GOD'S GRACE. DO NOT PRIDE YOURSELF BUT ABANDON YOURSELF TO HIS GRACE.* _God has entrusted great treasure(ministry of the Gospel) to us, unworthy as we are(clay pots/earthenware jars). We are beset with limitations and human weaknesses, yet if we are able to do well, it is thanks to God's grace. The power is God's not ours. It is he who does great things and accomplishes much through us and in us. On our own, we can not. We can not boast. We are rather humbled._ YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/XaY_uJqRziA *Fr. Blessed Ambang Njume*is

I thank you for entrusting me with the precious gospel of our Lord.🙏🙏🙏

Following Ifunanya's story of what her father's siblings did to him hurts my heart so much. An American returnee named Peter Mokwuah was reportedly held captive in his own mansion by his siblings for nearly a year in Anambra state. His daughter, Ifunanya Mokwuah, who lives in the USA, grew concerned after losing contact with him for several months. Despite repeated reassurances from her aunt and uncle that her father was fine, she felt compelled to travel to Nigeria in January 2022. Her father (Peter) had lived and worked in New York for 25 years before retiring and returning to Nigeria, where he had already built a mansion in his village during his younger years. He also receives a $5,000 monthly pension for his upkeep. Perhaps this was what they targeted immediately he had a stroke. I won't put it pass them being able to have caused him that injury. Despite this, his daughter continued to send him money, thinking he may have run out. When Ifunanya arrived at the village, she encountered resistance from her uncle and others who had blocked the compound entrance and verbally attacked her. With help from local youths and villagers, she gained access to the house. Her uncle falsely claimed her father was in Abuja, but after insisting on checking upstairs, she discovered him lying weak and emaciated on a dirty mattress. His beard and nails were overgrown, and he was clearly neglected in his poor medical state. Peter recognised his daughter and was visibly relieved. Imagine how Ifunanya felt seeing her father in that state, despite all the money he receives. Mehn! Thankfully, she was able to remove him from the house, moved him to Lagos for further treatment and return to the USA. In all these events, I am grateful Ifunanya's father trained her to know the way to her father's house in the village. Something all parents in the diaspora should think about, especially those with plans to retire in their village back home. This is also a lesson for those who see their wife as an outsider. Look at what a man's siblings did to him because he trusted them so much against his own wife and children. Yet it was the child who came looking and rescued him. They were already building a new house beside the one Peter built and it is clear whose money was being used for that construction. Thank God for his life and the gift of a daughter like Ifunanya. #TheMBN Martin Beck Nworah

Before you date her. You have to understand that she is damaged. There are days where she is triggered easily, and struggles with particular things. There will be times where she won’t talk to anyone, and shut most people out. She isn't going to be able to trust you for certain amount of time, because everyone has left her, cheated on her or chose someone else over her, so she will need more reassurance than the average person. She will need you to keep choosing her on a daily basis. She will need you to stop what you're doing and reply to her in depthly when she texts you asking ”do u still want me?” She's "alot" and she knows this, but there was a time in her life where happiness flourished like never before and the glass was filled to the brim with love and positivity until someone came along and mistreated her. It's not going to be easy, but once you show her.... that your intentions your genuine and you will stay by her side through everything in life, then you will experience one of most purest forms of love in existence. ➥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐰𝐞𝐲𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐌𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐳𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐨😭🙏❤‍🩹