Destiny Christain Centre recently had her 2024 annual Thanksgiving service themed ‘REJOICE, I SAY REJOICE’. The Pastorate captured the mood of the Link -church at the occasion.
Pastor Eke Okorie Kalu, one of the Pastors at the church said, “Since the beginning of the year, we give thanks to God for how far He has brought us as a family, members of DCC from January to December through these months. There are many things God has done for us particularly, He kept us, revamped us and we have all seen His Mercy which according to His words, ‘the Lord is good and His Mercies endureth forever; so it is good to give thanks as partakers of His Mercies”
This explained the mood of every worshipper, who looked excited and happy to give thanks because, despite the difficulties in the country, God has seen everybody through, won battles for us, and made us victorious.
On whether the tough economic situation in the country affected the 2024 Thanksgiving compared to last year, Pastor Kalu said,” No because in times of difficulties, Children of God give more because God rises above their situation”
Maxwell Anumba, the Thanksgiving Committee Chairman thanked God for giving him a platform and the strength to organize the Thanksgiving successfully for the two years he headed the Committee.
“I am grateful to God for having given me the strength to coordinate all assignments successfully, it is indeed a privilege for me to serve God through this avenue”
Maxwell holds other positions in other departments including the Marriage Committee and Crisis resolution chairman, which he attests to has made him the man that he is today.
Speaking on the difference between the 2023 Thanksgiving and 2024, he said there is a lot of difference because the people of God experienced more miracles, lessons, and great favors this year than last year.
“Despite people saying the country is hard because of the various reforms geared towards getting it right in the country, we thank God that we still pulled through and so we appreciate God because the service was a blowout, everyone was rejoicing and praising God which showed we are victorious
“Just like our Bishop said, when you praise God, He returns praises to you and I want to particularly thank the Bishop for the higher assignment he bestowed on me. I am not scared because of the higher assignment, just like when I was made a chairman of a recent INSPIRATION, I deployed a lot of new ideas and concepts. It is a big privilege to undertake new assignments because it generates new ideas.
“Even in the very jobs that we are doing, the same thing applies, it is many tasks that make us work well, the more we put so much for God, He through so many other ways blesses us more in return, but most importantly; He gives us sound health. Then other things begin to work for our good in other areas spiritually, financially, and other areas.
“I approach every task as an everyday challenge and I never give up on any because of pressure or any other challenge”.
Recalling their transition from TREM to DCC, Pastor Kalu said, that no kind of movement is easy that is why many people do not like to undertake any, citing the scripture where Jesus told His disciples, let’s go to the other side because there was something on the other side that the disciples have never seen or experienced. So, there’s something on the other side that we never knew nor saw, so it is good to go over the other side with Bishop Dan.
Typically when God spoke to our Bishop and gave him a vision about this other side, some of us who love him and are close to him, decided to follow him to experience that vision that God had given him.
On how the journey has been, Pastor Kalu said, that no journey is a smooth one, there must be one challenge but God has the solution for all challenges. That is why God said, He would go before us to make every crooked path straight. And I want to tell you that without these challenges, we will not be where we are today.
“My summary of our experiences is that we thank God because it has been a wonderful experience over the years though it has not been easy, we still give God thanks because it is the challenges that propel you to move further”
Reacting to whether the hurdles ever elicited regret or discouragement to return to TREM, an established church that they moved from, Pastor Kalu has this to say, “Yes, just like the experience of the Israelites where some asked Moses why he took them out of Egypt, yes because of the challenges and what we see, at some point we felt like throwing in the towel but being strengthened by the word that they that faint in the days of adversities, their strength is small and I remembered that I have come this far and no other option but to move forward”.
Pastor Kalu recounting what the Lord had done for them attests to the fact that he had grown by simply moving with the Bishop from TREM to DCC because if he hadn’t moved, some of the things he knows now, he may not have known them.
To the members, Pastor Kalu encouraged them to be steadfast with the Lord because the lord called them and will never leave them nor forsake them.
Deacon Olusola Oluwatosin Christain, a protocol officer who works under the presiding Bishop Dan Nnani, was full of joy for the success of the 2024 Thanksgiving because the mood of the members is not that of gloom, unlike the national mood of a tough situation.
He is grateful to God and the Thanksgiving Committee did well in their organization and planning as sufficient provision was made for everyone and the invited guests were taken good care of.
