10TH ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE:
PASTOR IDORENYIN E. AMANA
"WHERE COULD WE EVER GO; FROM YOUR PRESENCE, OH GOD !"
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit ? Where can I flee from your
presence ?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the
depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of
the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me
fast.
Beloved brethren,
I have the honour and privilege to welcome you to
the "presence of God" on this 10th Anniversary, of the first
Anglo/African Pentecostal Church in Montreal, Canada. At the last
count, there are more than 8 Anglo/African Pentecostal Congregations
in this City, but many may not have known who lit the flame that
started the Anglo/African “Pentecostal Fire Storm” that has now
set Montreal Ablaze for Christ. For your historical record; as at
1999/2000, there was no Anglo/African Pentecostal Church in Montreal,
no, not until this very Redemption Bible Church was conceived in a
Basement at Lasalle, across 2000 and then constituted into a Church
congregation in October 2001. Members of this Church need to be very
humbled by what God has used them to do for his purpose in these past
10 years.
The development and achievements of these past 10 years are quite
extraordinary. Notably, it is on record that Redemption Bible Church
has in itself given birth to 2 other Churches in Montreal (founded by
our former Pastors). This Church was the first Anglo/African
Pentecostal Church in Montreal to buy and own its own place of worship
in 2004 and the first to be issued its own certificate of localisation
/ location expressly zoning its property and authorizing it to use
its premises (through attached to a residential dwelling) for Worship
purposes. This was victory after a long drawn battle with our
residential neighbors - and in a time where such certificates were
being rampantly revoked for other bigger, longer existing Churches in
the city. Beloved, if we had not been in God's presence these past 10
years, we would have been consumed by the adversary of the brethren.
Will I dare to say that in the past 10 years God’s faithfulness has
exceeded our expectations in every way? Yes, but I won’t belabour
the point in every detail. You are all part of the miracle and know
some of them better than I do. Of course we had many questions for
God; like Moses about to embark on a journey in the wilderness (of
Montreal, of Canada; as relatively new migrants in a strange land),
but the answer we got was as in Exodus 11: 14: The LORD replied, “My
Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
God`s people, permit me to entreat you that the journey from the room
in a Basement in LaSalle, to Dalaih Hall at the Holiday Inn in Old
Montreal, to Africa Center on St Hubert Street in Downtown, to
Montreal West Church of God in NDG and finally for the time being to
Charon Street in Point St-Charles has been quite an enterprise. The
Journey has not been without its intense challenges, trails, labours
and victories. We have had times of acute anxiety, disappointments and
sheer hardship, and not all who began, this journey, nor all who
joined us on our way to Zion, are here today. But the Abiding presence
of God has been with us all the way.
I therefore deem it fit on behalf of God whom we serve and the
Leadership of our Church to say a public thank you to God, and to all
of you who have laboured so faithfully to turn our vision as a
congregation, into a 10-year old reality today. I also want to thank
you for leading others congregations to venture in this direction. The
Bible has redeemed its truth in us; that whenever and wherever the
people of God are in one accord, a miracle must happen. Well, it has
happened to us, with us and through us; yes it is marvelous in our
eyes – Praise the Lord !
I will never forget the extraordinary generosity of brethren to the
work of God; the commitment and faithfulness of all the Pastors and
the workers and members –through the years. I can’t forget a
sister and a brother, who pledged their line of credit for the Church,
or brothers & sisters who agreed to mark-up their credit cards and
adjusted their budgets to accommodate God, so that the Church of God
will march on. I remember with awe a brother who has not yet bought
his house, knowing the implication that getting the Church a Mortgage
on his credit will have on his chances of buying his own first house,
yet said: Pastor, as long as the house is for God, my own house can
wait, if that is what will be for my fate, so be it. This was a
complete ministration to my soul; Oh My God, we have had many helps
from the most unlikely places on this journey.
In this 10th anniversary, I want to remind you that God has not
forgotten your labour of love and sacrifices for him. God does not owe
a labourer. As a matter of fact he declares in his word… “A
labourer is worthy of his wages... I will not forget your good
works”.
I will not forget brethren who have never resisted my Leadership but
rather encouraged me in the leadership of the Church, supported,
accepted me and believed in my leadership genuinely from their heart.
God bless you all !
My word to you is simple and true: Because you have been a submissive
follower, The Spirit of God will anoint you a mighty leader in Jesus
name. David did not resist Saul’s leadership, Joseph did not resist
Potiphar, Jacob did not resist Laban, and Moses did not resist Jethro.
That is why the heavens marked them out as candidates for Leadership
positions. Show me a great leader of tomorrow and I will show you a
very submissive follower today. Does someone know President Good luck
Jonathan’s track record?
Being flesh and blood I acknowledge that, in the past 10 years, some
mistakes may have been made, therefore we must pause and come to terms
with our mistakes. This is a very important aspect of the agenda of
our life as a Congregation and as individuals in the body of Christ.
We must learn from our mistakes and not let them repeat themselves.
God has given us a framework for labouring in his vineyard and we all
have accepted and vowed like Peter to labour untiring: Matthew 26:33
-35, and like Peter full with zeal, we had set to work; unhasting,
unfailing and unfainting, but sometimes like still like Peter we got
things wrong. We could have made some bad choices and some things
didn't work out as expected etc. I recall many times that we ran back
to God in repentance and remorse. Yet, everything worked together for
good in the end - Praise the Lord !
I assure and encourage you that when these mistakes happened, God did
not unpick our mistakes. Instead he redeemed them, incorporating them
into the design of our life as Church. Being a God of second chance,
he had often set us free to try yet again, weaving a new pattern with
us. So be encouraged all the same that everything in your life will
work together for good.
Permit me liken our mistakes in comparison with the native art of
weaving carpets: There comes a moment when the father allows his son
to try to weave a carpet. Inevitably the child makes mistakes. But
what is interesting is that the father never unpicks his son's work.
Instead he incorporates the mistake into the overall design of the
carpet, which then changes everything and the carpet evolves into
something very unique.
And here is the paradox: the beauty and originality of each carpet is
dependent on the mistakes of the child.
Beloved Brethren, I say to you that the beauty and originality of
Peter being the foundation of the Church was dependent on the mistake
he made. If he had been a perfect no-stain disciple, there would not
have been such originality.
And here, it seems to me, is a picture of our 10-year relationship
with God as a Church and individuals in this congregation: The beauty
and originality all our achievements is inversely related to some of
the mistakes we made on this 10-year journey. But everything worked
together for good.
We fall down – and - we get up, a saint is just a sinner that fell
down and got up – Haleluyah !!
St Peter, the great hero of the early church, had to come to terms
with the fact that after Jesus was arrested, not once but three times
did he deny knowing his Master.
In one sense his denial was not different from Judas' betrayal, but
the response of the two men to their deeds was markedly different:
Judas went and hung himself; and Peter broke down and wept and
repented
I'm sure it's why, after his resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three
times if he truly loves him. 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church,' said Jesus.
Brethren, the church is built on the faith of Peter, that lovely,
impetuous, fallible, forgiven sinner - and I find that immensely
consoling for me, our Church and my ministry.
Today, as far as I am concerned, the most wonderful achievement has
been this gathering together “Today” of such a remarkable group of
faithful Christian men and women. I will not be afraid to mention some
names here: ...
No matter how the wind blows or whatever distractions may be, those
of you who have not swayed like reeds in the wind (back and forth) I
salute you: you know yourselves – God will continue to hold you
firmly - here in Jesus name.
From the miracles that God has wrought in our mist in the past 10
years, I am convinced that If God is known by what he brings into
being for those who gather together to walk with him and worship him,
then assuredly this Church is a place where God has made himself
known.
In awe of God, I recall a brother who went and told the Immigration
that his refugee story was a lie…. but he was accepted as a refugee,
I recall a sister who got healed of Diabetes, another one who got
healed of Cancer, a brother who was healed of Hepatitis, many sisters
who were delivered from bareness carried their own children. I recall
many brethren testifying as to how their accusers became their
defenders. God’s favour has been sufficient - and right here today,
right now, God is still in the business of working miracles in
Redemption Bible Church.
So if God’s fulfillment has so far exceeded our expectations for
the past 10 years what vision might God be offering us for the next
years; what might he be calling us as partners to create with him?
What is he expecting from us? This 10th anniversary is the moment of
reflection on our future – please pause for 1 minute and reflect….
I wish it were possible for me to express what vision is in your
hearts, for I know as truth that all brethren hold in their hearts
sparks of great vision for this congregation.
Assuredly, I stand in awe of God that today; Ayomide, Natasha, Eno,
Beverly etc, who were just babies when this Church started are now
singing in the Choir and leading us into God's presence with songs.
This is our earthly reward for bring our children up in the presence
of God and our assurance that we are a people with a future ! Can
somebody clap for Jesus !!
In Closing, God said to Moses, “Walk on into the future – I will
be with you.” “My Presence will go with you”, and I will give
you rest.” As they walked, on into the future the people of Israel
became Yahweh’s prophetic people.
Brethren, the word of the Lord to Redemption Ministries Canada Inc.,
on this 10th Anniversary is “Walk on into the future – I will be
with you. My Presence will go with you” As we obey this command
prophecy continue to follow us.
His Promise and his Presence was visibly seen in the risks and crisis
of the journey of the Israelites; in their failures and victories, in
their distress and restoration, until their settlement in the Promised
Land. So shall it be with Redemption Bible Church Canada Inc. In Jesus
name!
As we take our next step into the future together, it is my prayer
that every detail of our lives, (ministry, health, wealth, family,
ambition etc) personally or as a Body of Christ - will testify of the
Abiding Presence of God.
My brother, my sister, “He who calls you is faithful” The God
that has brought us this far will not desert us, but will establish us
in his own mysterious way.
You don’t have to be perfect, you only have to, willing and
obedient, then you will eat the fruits of the land, for God has said:
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
God bless you all for coming, thank you all – Thank God!!
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD !!!
