Gada.chat online lunch in Abuja today was powerful , hope you were there😀

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

Pratik Joshi had been living in London for six years. A software professional, he’d long dreamed of building a life abroad for his wife and three young children, who stayed back in India. After years of waiting for due clearances the dream was finally coming true. Just two days ago, his wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, a renowned doctor in Udaipur, resigned from her job. The bags were packed, goodbyes said, the future within reach. This morning, the family of five, filled with hope and excitement, boarded Air India flight 171 to London. They clicked a selfie. Sent it to relatives. A one-way journey to a new life. But they never made it. The plane crashed. No one survived. In a matter of moments, a lifetime of dreams turned to ash. A brutal reminder, life is terrifyingly fragile. Everything you build, everything you hope for, everything you love, it all hangs by a thread. So while you can, live, love, and don’t wait for happiness to start tomorrow.

I am happy to be here, hope am welcome

A lovely morning to you all, hope your night was great, is good to see another beautiful day. Keep pushing you will get there.

A successful child can raise the status of both parents & family. Hopefully that child is your🫵child🤲❣️

Dangerfield Newby is the actual man on which the movie D’Jango Unchained is loosely based. He was a member of the John Brown raiders. He joined the gang to save his wife, Harriet and children from slavery. —Dangerfield Newby (1815 – October 17, 1859) was the oldest of John Brown's raiders, one of five black raiders, and the first of his men to die at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Born into slavery in Fauquier County, Virginia, Newby married a woman also enslaved. Newby's father was Henry Newby, a landowner in Fauquier County. His mother was Elsey Newby, who was a slave, owned not by Henry, but by a neighbor, John Fox. Elsey and Henry lived together for many years and had several children, although interracial marriage was illegal in Virginia. Dangerfield was their first child. Dangerfield Newby, his mother and his siblings were later freed by his father when he moved them across the Ohio River into Bridgeport, Ohio. John Fox, who died in 1859, apparently did not attempt to retrieve Elsey, Dangerfield, or any of his siblings. Dangerfield's wife and their seven children remained in bondage. A letter found on his body revealed some of his motivation for joining John Brown and the raid on Harpers Ferry. Dangerfield Newby's wife, Harriet Newby, was the slave of Jesse Jennings, of Arlington or Warrenton, Virginia. Newby had been unable to purchase the freedom of his wife and seven children. Their master raised the price after Newby had saved the $1,500 that had previously been agreed on. Because all of Newby's other efforts had failed he hoped to free them by force. Harriet's poignant letters, found on his body, proved instrumental in advancing the abolitionist cause. Newby was six foot two. On October 17, 1859, the citizens of Harpers Ferry set to put down the raid. Harpers Ferry manufactured guns but the citizens had little ammunition, so during the assault on the raiders they fired anything they could fit into a gun barrel. One man was shooting six inch spikes from his rifle, one of which struck Newby in the throat, killing him instantly. After the raid, the people of Harpers Ferry took his body, stabbed it repeatedly, and amputated his limbs. His body was left in an alley to be eaten by hogs. In 1899 the remains of Newby-plus remains of nine other raiders-were reburied in a common grave near the body of John Brown in North Elba, New York. Dangerfield Newby's wife, Harriet and her children were sold to a Louisiana slave owner after the raid.

BEAUTY FROM THE ASHES Episode 6 The women’s conference stretched across the week like a divine unfolding, each evening a sacred appointment that Amara hadn’t even known her soul had been craving. It wasn’t just a program; it was an invitation. An invitation to heal, to awaken and to breathe again. The first night had left her in tears. The speaker, a soft-spoken woman with eyes that seemed to hold the weight of a thousand stories, had shared her journey from despair to deliverance. Amara sat quietly in the third row, tears slipping down her cheeks as the words struck something deep, something raw within her. She wasn’t alone. Not in her pain. Not in her confusion. Not even in her silence. Every session after that peeled back another layer of pain, of pride, of fear. Like an onion shedding its skin, Amara found herself slowly unraveling. The masks she had worn for years...the brave wife, the silent sufferer, the spiritual martyr, began to fall. With every worship session, with every testimony, the walls she had so carefully constructed began to crack. Each night, she came home lighter. And each morning, she woke with a little more clarity. It was as if her heart was remembering how to feel again, how to hope. By Thursday, something inside her had shifted. That night’s message felt like it was delivered straight from the throne room of heaven to her wounded heart. The speaker, a fiery preacher with a voice that could calm storms or rouse an army, stood with authority and grace. She read from Isaiah 61:3: “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” The words echoed through the hall, soaking into the atmosphere like rain on dry soil. Amara closed her eyes and let them wash over her. Beauty for ashes. Joy for mourning. Praise for heaviness. She didn’t know when the tears had started, but they came in quiet streams, not of sorrow, but of release. For the first time in a long time, Amara allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, her story wasn’t over. That perhaps God hadn’t abandoned her in the wreckage of her marriage, but had been waiting in the wings for her to find the strength to choose. Later that evening, Amara sat in Chinwe’s cozy living room, cradling a warm mug of ginger tea. The lights were dim, the air fragrant with the scent of cinnamon and honey. Chinwe sat across from her, legs tucked under her on the couch, listening intently. “I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking for years,” Amara began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was so sure I was doing God’s will by marrying Eddy. Everyone said I was. And when things turned ugly, I thought... maybe this was my cross. Maybe I was supposed to endure it.” Chinwe reached out and gently took her hand. “Amara,” she said, her tone gentle but firm, “God never asks us to stay in darkness and call it faith. He’s not glorified by your suffering. He’s glorified by your healing, your wholeness, your courage.” Amara looked down, tears pooling again. “But how do I just walk away? I made vows. I kept hoping he’d change. I didn’t want to give up.” “Walking away from abuse isn’t giving up,” Chinwe replied. “It’s waking up. It’s choosing life. God is not a taskmaster. He’s your Father. And He loves you far too much to watch you slowly die in a house where your soul can’t breathe.” A long silence passed between them. “So what do I do now?” Amara finally asked, her voice cracking. Chinwe squeezed her hand. “You choose,” she said softly. “You choose light. You choose life. You choose you.” That night, Amara didn’t sleep much. She lay in her room, staring at the ceiling, thinking of all the moments she had silenced herself for the sake of peace, all the prayers she had whispered in the darkness, asking God to change Eddy, to save their home. But something had shifted. She realized she had been praying for resurrection in a grave she was never meant to lie in. The next morning, the storm arrived. Eddy came home with a man and started raining abuses on Amara; " See this idiot! You think you can come from African part of Nigeria to outsmart me that came from American part of Nigeria? It's either you hand over the school to me, channel all income to my account or I make sure the school is closed down completely." Her children, all came out to watch helplessly as usual. As Amara was trying to explain to the man he came home with, Eddy rushed Amara and started pounding her, targeting her face and bragging that he must make sure Amara becomes useless to any other man in this life; "By the time I'm done with you, people would spit on you at sight" Eddy continued hitting Amara until she collapsed on the floor. The poor man that came to ask for money to feed his family couldn't help the situation. When Amara regained consciousness, she saw only her children crying and waking her up. She sent for Chinwe. Chinwe immediately and secretly arranged for a drop that took them to Divine Mercy Hospital. The doctor was furious and demanded for his presence. When he arrived, he pleaded with the doctor that it's devil's handwork. As soon as he sighted Amara's brother, he begged Amara not to tell her brother but mocked her immediately her brother left. It's already few days Amara returned from hospital. Pastor Dickson visited their house. Bro Eddy pls kindly tell your wife what you shared with me. Eddy hesitated. "Sister Amara, your husband impregnated a lady called Jacinta and asked her to keep the baby. Although the lady insisted he must furnish a flat for her otherwise she will terminate the pregnancy. He was mad against you because he was having a showdown financially and couldn't meet the lady's demands and you refused to hand your income over to him." Pastor Dickson explained. Amara was lost in thought...so this man wanted me dead because of women. She remembered how he was bashed by one of his customers when she visited at the hospital. "Eddy, were you not the one that that told me this woman gave up her 12month salaries for you to have an English machine? Why are you treating this woman as if she worths nothing?" Mrs Aleme queried "How dare her say no to my order, a woman that bends to urinate? She must hand over the school to me. My account must be used for all income!" he thundered. But she has left the factory for you. The woman reminded And then? Eddy persisted. To Be Continued 🙏 What do you think that happened next? Find out in the next episode 🤔 Pls encourage me with like, follow, comment and share. God bless you 👏 ©️Grace Amarachi #teacherwritersingerlover #BeautyFromTheAshes #ChristianFiction #FaithAndResilience

*From Mansion to Miracle: How Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi Is Turning His Castle Into a Teaching Hospital for the People* Health and Education transform a society, a people from obscurity and backwardness to the most saught after much more than any other thing. No one understood this and is putting it into practice more Dr Samuel Maduka Onyishi, the Chancellor of Maduka University and the founder of Peace Mass Transit Group. He passed through the streets universities of entrepreneurship to build Peace Mass Transit Group into a stable cash cow. He tried setting others up in businesses, but found out that educating the people should be the first priority. He also insisted on doing it through sustainable legacy institutions. After setting up an entrepreneurial University and university college, he has now turned his eyes on health. As we know, health is wealth. In the area known as Nsukka Economic and Cultural Zone, which cuts across two Senatorial Districts, there is no tertiary health facility, despite hosting University of Nigeria Nsukka. With his strategic entrepreneurial eyes and empathic heart he moves to transform his country home into a Teaching Hospital. Is this possible? Dr Maduka Onyishi is a man who does impossible things quietly. Let us go to his Amukwa village of Nsukka town, Enugu State where he has a grand estate — what many would call a castle. This majestic building, which was once Dr. Onyishi’s private residence is a reflection of years of hard work and success. Most would have kept it that way, enjoying its beauty and comfort in peace. But Dr. Onyishi has chosen to do something extraordinary: he is transforming his private home and its surrounding buildings into an international multi-specialty hospital designed to serve both the public and the medical students of Maduka University and other medical training institutions. To make this vision a reality, he acquired 14 additional properties around the vicinity, all in an effort to make sure that this full-scale health care facility was established in his village. Thinking - home, you may call this. This isn’t just renovation, but some new buildings are already rearing their heads. It’s transformation on a massive scale. And it’s not just about healthcare. Dr. Onyishi intentionally chose the location of the proposed university Teaching Hospital to be in Nsukka urban town, with a clear purpose — to elevate the urban status of Nsukka and drive development in his beloved community. Yes, his personal castle and other surrounding properties are being converted into a teaching hospital. Renovations are already ongoing and soon, this luxurious property will become a state-of-the-art medical facility, not for the rich, not for the elite, but for the people. When completed, this teaching hospital is set to become one of the best in the country — a beacon of world-class medical education and accessible healthcare. At a time when many use wealth to build walls, Dr. Onyishi is using his to build bridges. Instead of adding more zeros to his bank account, he is investing in something far more valuable: human lives. He has openly declared his intention to return most of his wealth to charity, and this hospital is just one part of that promise. He has given it all. A billionaire without a home in his village. This is more than entrepreneurial philanthropy. This is leadership. This is legacy. This is love in action. Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi is not just building structures. He is building a future where healthcare is accessible, where education is empowering, and where transport is safe and reliable. He is proving that true success is not measured by what you accumulate but by what you give away. In a country hungry for hope, this is the kind of story we need. It is a story of a man who remembers where he came from. A man who understands that wealth is not just for comfort but for impact.

Nigeria's Cry for Help In twilight's hush, where shadows play, A nation cries, in desperation's sway, Nigeria's heartbeat, strong and free, Yet bound by chains, of poverty. From Lagos' streets, to Kano's ground, A people's plea, echoes all around, Of leaders failing, to lead the way, Of citizens suffering, night and day. The cry for help, a desperate call, For justice, equality, and freedom's fall, From corruption's grip, that holds so tight, From poverty's grasp, that chokes the light. The youth, a force, with energy and might, Yearning for change, and a brighter light, But opportunities scarce, and hope dwindles fast, Leaving many lost, in a future aghast. The economy falters, and growth is slow, The people suffer, as the system goes low, The infrastructure crumbles, and roads decay, The future uncertain, in a nation astray. But still we cry, for a better day, For leaders who care, and a brighter way, For a Nigeria, where all can thrive, Where justice reigns, and freedom survives. The cry for help, a nation's plea, For a future bright, and a destiny free, Let us unite, and work as one, To build a Nigeria, where all are won.

JUST THINKING : In Gen 3, after Adam’s sin, God’s first question is “where are you?” . In Gen 4 after Cain’s sin, God’s first question is, “where is your brother?” The core of our relationship with God is found in these two questions . First is FIND YOURSELF; Second is FIND YOUR BROTHER !!! Hope this made little sense?

When you hear people speaking ill of others: 🔘Always ask yourself why they feel the need to tell you. 🔘Know that if they're doing it to them, they will do it to you. 🔘Ask for the other side of the story. There's always another side. 🔘Keep in mind that gossip/slander is a sin that has relational consequences. 🔘Wonder why Satan deemed it important to get you to see this person in a negative light. 🔘Don't just stand there passively. Either speak up or excuse yourself. 🔘Remember, they're sowing a seed in someone else's garden that will eventually come up in their own. Hope this made little sense?