Among pastors of great flocks today, a select few emit the passion for giving. One of this very few is Apostle Johnson Suleman, the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide. Suleman is a perfect example of this tradition of old. It is always a moment of joy and fulfillment for members of his ministry and even strangers, the less privileged including widows, widowers and vulnerable children when he blesses them during his regular charity scheme. Of recent, Suleman had embarked on a wide range of aids to different categories of people, from the nameless to celebrities. The latest flow from Suleman’s milk of kindness was a donation of $7,000 (seven thousand dollars) cash he made to the New Day Youth And Family Services, Oklahoma during the Tulsa Raw Power Conference which took place two weeks ago.
In this interview, the firebrand preacher who will be having the next leg of his ministry’s Raw Power this week Tuesday in London, states candidly his views about his mission, the Church, men of God, and other issues of interest.
Excerpt…
Please share with us your mission in Ibadan. Was it just an evangelistic event or it included the process of training and outreach?
Our mission to Ibadan was like one of our Raw Power crusades that we have held in different cities in the country and different parts of the world from time to time. Actually, all our meetings are all encompassing and complete package of Ministry which include evangelistic events, process of training and outreaches and more.
Many committed Christians have never shared their faith because they don’t know how or they are afraid. Are your programmes planned towards preparing this category of believers for this?
Yes, of course. The programme is for all. We had such encounters before of people who only saw us from afar off to take decision of their lives. But when they drew closer, they discovered that they have actually missed a lot for the time they have stood aloof.
New believers naturally add vitality to congregational life and worship. What are the process being designed through your crusades to bring new believers into the ministry and how are they going to be encouraged in spiritual growth?
To start with, it is the Joy of every pastor to see that the coming in of new converts add vitality to congregational life and worship. The major aim of every meeting is to bring in new souls for the Lord. Apart from the general advertisement done, it is the Lord that saves souls as there is no salvation in any other name except the name of Jesus. As for the way to encourage the new believers in spiritual growth, sound teaching and proper discipline are involved. When this is done, they will turn out to do for the Lord what we are doing now.
Building a dream team defines what it truly means for the church to win. How does a Bible-believing church build God’s dream team?
What is a dream team for the Lord? It’s a team that will do what the Lord commands and plan big for the Lord. Having a dream team for the Lord is the very ultimate for passing Christian Leadership batons to other generations. Jesus gave us a solid clue as to that effect in John Gospel 15:6 that “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”
Everyone being raised up by the Lord to form part of this great team will be brought up in the fear of God, empowered to teach others also as Apostle Paul carried his own out and said in 2Tim.2:2 that “And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.” If all these are done, passing Christianity to the next generation will not be a problem.
As a leading pastor you preach on various moral, ethical, and social issues from a biblical standpoint but you are cautious while expressing personal opinions on political issues. How much prerogative do pastors have to address these issues or there are written guidelines against speaking personally on politics?
In Nigeria as it were, it is very hard and difficult for people to place politics rightly without attaching evils to it. This is what brings pastors’ intervention and prerogative into the affairs. Actually, Pastors should not be a partisan to any political affairs of any party but we cannot fold our hands when things are going bad. Since the government of any nation belongs to God, divine affairs in it are necessary but some politicians are found most times to use pastors as cover despite the evils perpetrated. There should be a restrain from pastors so that God’s name is not dragged in disrepute and for future testimonies.
How can those in leadership set a high standard of godly behaviour and avoid representing evil?
Leadership in a godly way or in an evil way is a Personal issue, and it all depends on the lifestyle of every Individual. Whether we are looking at it from a Religious or secular perspective, no leader can set high standard of godly behaviour and avoid representing evil without having fear of God and good heart. So, the way out and the way forward for whoever wishes to lead well is to follow well and fear God.
Pastors regularly teach and minister to others from the pulpit. Those outside the pulpit, how effectively can they mentor, coach, instruct the people in the way of God?
The effectiveness in and of pastoral mentorship, coaching and instructing people in the way of the Lord depends on several factors around the person involved: How trained is the trainer? How mentored is the mentor? The Personal lifestyle of the coach because most times our attitude forms a better coaching style for the people. How close is the coach to God or how much of God he/she has? The type of heart possessed by the mentor. The dedication of the mentor and the mentee towards the mentorship, individual focus on the assignments and the right consideration of these factors, makes mentorship easy.
You are regularly inspired to give. How often are you moved to give?
We give when the need arises and when the Lord directs.
What do you perceive the condition of the Church to be today? Where is the Church doing well, and where do significant improvements need to be made?
The condition of the church today is good but not as it was in the time of old popularly known as the old time religion. There is no love, unity and one voice among the ministers and generally in the Body of Christ. Ministries oppress ministries with styles, pastors oppress pastors in disguise. Members oppress members with their lifestyle. All these are the end time signs. As for the area the church is doing well, the Lord is adding to the church daily and God is raising the end time army that will take the gospel far. The significant improvements needed are the areas where we are falling short as stated above. The church should return to love that is the greatest.
A pastor who wishes to balance church, marriage, family and God’s work, how accessible should he or she be?
Accessibility to pastors who wish to balance church ministry, marriage, family and God’s work is determined by the nature of his or her calling and his or her personal strength to receive people. Men and women of God can be very busy for the Lord and yet still be very accessible. This is occasioned by individual principles, the planning of time and schedule created.
What are the skills that help you the most in carrying out your pastoral assignment?
Every successful ministry should be founded on working godly principles such as, understanding God, understand yourself, understand your call or your assignments, understand the people you are pastoring and understand your environment.
