BEVERLY HILLS, February 04, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential Candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday challenged Christian leaders to influence government policies to better the lot of the suffering masses.
Osinbajo spoke in Lagos at the Annual Lecture Series in commemoration of the 73rd birthday of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
The maiden edition of the lecture, sponsored by the Triumphant Elders Consultative Forum of the Church, was held at 10 Degrees Events Centre, Billingways, Ikeja.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Harmonising Virtues to Gain Heaven and Earthly Prosperity’, Osinbajo said that Christian leaders were in position to stand for the poor in the country.
“We have been placed in positions of greater significance, if we choose to, we have the power to influence government; to say to the government, why do we not have free health care for the poor?
“To say to government, why do we not have free education, to say to government why are you not providing for the elderly who are poor and for the disable who are poor?’’
He said Christian leaders should be able to influence policies such that millions of the poor would be able to benefit from such policies.
According to Osinbajo, believers should live their lives for others as Christ exemplified, by dying for all to bring prosperity for all.
He said Christian leaders who sacrifice their personal ambitions for the good of others were sure to get earthly and heavenly prosperity.
Osinbajo said true prosperity and significance could only come from a life of selfless and committed service to others.
“Serving others is sacrifice of personal ambitions for the good of others.
“The sacrifice of personal ambitions is crucial and a way of greatness,’’ he said.
The APC vice presidential candidate said Adeboye rose to become a highly influential man because he surrendered to Jesus Christ and abandoned all personal ambitions.
The professor also emphasised the need to have integrity, explaining that without it, there was no way believers could show leadership and attain significance.
“One of the big problems that we have in our nation today is an absence of integrity. It underlines every single failure of government,’’ he said.
Osinbajo urged believers to show love to their enemies and care for the vulnerable.
Responding, Adeboye commended the organisers and the guest speaker for honouring him with the lecture.
“I just want to thank the Triumphant Elders for organising this occasion, and I want to thank the guest speaker for bringing so much treasure into all of us.
“Whatever I am today is because of only one secret; somewhere along the line I met the Lord Jesus Christ and I surrendered my life unto him and He has done the rest.
“My advice to anyone that might be here who wants to become an influence in the society is give your life to Jesus Christ; that is the only secret.
“Jesus is the way out of problems, He is the way into joy and victory, He is the way forward, and He is the way upward.
“If you lift up Jesus Christ, He will promote you, and when Jesus is the one promoting you He promotes you everlastingly,’’ Adeboye said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the convener, Pastor Tunji Onileaja, said the idea of an annual public lecture for Adeboye came not because it was fashionable, but by divine inspiration.
“The Triumphant Elders (those above 70-years old), supported by some younger senior pastors by divine vision, joined to celebrate God in the life of our modern hero of the gospel,’’ he said.
Onileaja said Adeboye, instead of celebrating himself to mark his birthday, had been celebrating God through the special Holy Ghost Services, as a means of expanding the kingdom of God on earth, describing the RCCG General Overseer as “the role model of our day.’’
