Some pastors were involved in my kidnapping – Archbishop Iboyi

…asks clerics to suppose Northern Christians

By Jimitota Onoyume, Assistant News Editor

His Royal Eminence Archbishop Iboyi Godday, is the Spiritual leader of Okpe kingdom and the General Overseer, Promise Kingdom Ministry incorporated worldwide aka Over Flow Chapel with the headquarters in Okuovwori Amukpe Sapele, Nigeria .

He turned 50 recently and the anniversary coincided with the 28 years of his ordination as a priest. Arch Bishop Iboyi celebrated the twin events at his church . Governor of Delta state , Sheriff Oborevwori, former president Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria , Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, His Royal Majesty Major General Felix Mujakperuo, rtd , Orhue 1, the Orodje of Okpe kingdom , former Minister of Information.and Culture , Professor Sam Oyovbaire , former Chairman Editorial board of the Guardian , Professor Godini Darah and several other traditional rulers from Urhobo nation were among eminent Nigerians that graced the ceremony.

In this interview the soft spoken ArchBishop Iboyi, reputed for his prophetic accuracy , humility and message of salvation enjoined clergymen in the south to support churches in the north financially, stressing that most Christians over there are facing severe challenges of hunger and poverty. Among other things he also charged pastors allegedly involved in kidnapping to refrain from such sinister acts. He recalled how some pastors admitted before security operatives that they were behind his abduction in November 2015 after he was rescued.

Excerpt;

By the mercy of God Almighty , I have been in His service for 31 years. I was formally ordained as a priest 28 years ago. So it was multiple anniversary celebrations I had. I celebrated my golden jubilee , the 28 years of my ordination as a priest and the 26 years anniversary of the Promise Kingdom Ministry incorporated worldwide aka Over Flow Chapel. The church started here in Okuovwori Amukpe and God has blessed us with several branches across the country and we are still expounding .

The Promise kingdom Ministry has been spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ across the world. It is our clear mandate and we are built on the five fold ministry of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Any one called by God for His work must have these qualities combined in him . He is an apostle, pastor , teacher , Evangelist and a prophet. They are the five fold ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. We preach the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ symbolized by the Cross.

Beginning

I did not set out from day one to be a Minister of God. I grew up loving the things of God.I was a worker in the church as a young boy. But I never set out to be a Minister. I was
a former rubber merchant, I worked in Nigeria dredging and Marine company. I was into the real estate business and other businesses. Later I had the call to the full time Ministry.

It is not a surprise to my family members that I later became a clergyman. Because my mother was a baby, she was just six years old when they gave the prophecy in far away Ghana where she lived with her parents, that her third child would be a male and would be a great prophet. And it came to pass.

Challenging moments in the ministry

It has not been entirely rosy. One of the biggest challenges I have had in the ministry is how people respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ . People hardly believe that Jesus is real when you preach to them. When you preach to someone going through a lot all the person wants to see is a solution to his or her problems. Else Without the problem solved they dismiss your message , that is why we pray to God to give us His strength to demonstrate His signs and wonders. And He has been doing . People testify of God’s interventions in their challenges here. I give God Almighty all the glory. When God is using you to cast out devils, you tell the people the unadulterated teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and they see you also live the life of a good Christian, people begin to give their lives to Christ.

Finance is another challenge . I observe that when a Pastor stands for the truth, preaches only the truth, many people don’t support you financially to grow. They want you to join their occultic world before they can assist you financially. I let them know that Satan can give you everything but not the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is my focus, I will never compromise .The devil tried to convince Jesus to do his own will , he wanted to make him miss his mission. The devil promised Jesus everything in the world but not the kingdom of God . And Jesus rebuked him. So I tell those who want to drag me away from the path of Jesus Christ that I will not go their way with them. Finance is what helps to spread the gospel and God Almighty has been there for us.He raised partners that have been helping to move the ministry forward. And He is still doing .

Message to the Youths

Youths should shun violent acts. They should support the government of the day to build our country . They should work hard today for a better tomorrow, suffer a little for a better life.
I advise our youths to draw near to Jesus . Most of our youths have stopped going to church .I urge them to put on the banner of Jesus . They should put Jesus first .I have many of them I have trained , many that are followers of Jesus through me. I tell them to work hard and God will bless them from their little beginnings as he promised in the Bible.

The youths should learn to sow to build the country, not with money alone, they should sow their strength, character to build the nation and support the president . We all need the support of all to build. God said in the Bible , ” let us make man in our image” in that case we see how He called for support. Jesus made disciples that spread the gospel after his death. We all need support, the youths should support the government.

We should support Christians in the north

We have churches in the north . I cried the last time I was in the north last year around July . The level of suffering is much in the north. I called most of our great men of God on the phone to support the north, some refused, they said the churches over there should do that. I know the churches there can’t do much . Well I had to direct all my branches to be raising funds for Christians in the north , this is the only offering we take on Sundays. We only raise money for our projects when we have any. But our Sunday offerings go to support the north.
Sometimes we get fifteen thousand naira , five hundred thousand ,one million etc. And we send them to the churches in the north. I use this medium to appeal to all church leaders in the south to support the north . Remember Jesus warned that on the last days he would ask when he was sick if we were there for him , when he was in prison if we ignored him. I appeal to the General overseers of churches in the south to support the northern Christians financially not only with prayers. Any person who reads this news should see that the northern people need our support. They should please reach out to them.

I have visited more than ten states in the north. Tribes should not demarcate us. I channel our financial support through the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and my resident pastor in Niger state . There are people I also send directly to . I have five people on my scholarship in the north and some widows I take care of. I send them their money directly. I have rented houses for some . I take care of some Muslims also. And they appreciate it. I don’t discriminate. This was why when I celebrated my golden jubilee muslims were here. There is suffering in the north. Everyone should support the north. We send clothes to them .

Appeal to politicians

Our politicians should not be desperate over power or leadership, they should play by the rules and play politics of love and not of desperation. They should allow the votes to count. Believers should pray for the will of God to be done . I don’t support any candidate. I support the will of God. I dont tell my children who to vote for. They always vote according to their consciences . Politicians should not play the politics of bitterness. Don’t allow your ambition to consume the life of anyone like former president Goodluck Jonathan said that his ambition was not worth the blood of another human being.

Pastors, flee from kidnapping business, be what you preach

Pastors should represent what they preach. Christianity is the light of the world . People following us Pastors are getting tired because they say we don’t show genuine love, they say that those who should be mentors as heads of churches are becoming tormentors, tormenting people. We should love our followers . We should be patient with our followers . Jesus did not use force to convert anyone. We should learn how to be our brother’s keepers. I observe that many heads of churches are stingy, they don’t know how to give. They generate funds for themselves , they don’t care for the people. The majority of our church leaders are selfish. Let us go back to the real gospel of Jesus . The Bible says Jesus went about doing good.

Pastors should also stop kidnapping one another. Some pastors are doing it. A pastor was arrested for kidnapping in Port Harcourt recently , in Bayelsa a person arrested for kidnapping said he was sent by a pastor .When I was kidnapped on November 30th 2015, some pastors were involved . They were arrested and I forgave them.

The pastors behind my abduction said they were uncomfortable with my growth . Let us be our brother’s keepers. If you love your brother you will not kidnap your brother to collect percentage from the ransom paid . Remember heaven is real. If you miss heaven you will never miss hell fire. The hatred in Christianity should stop. We should be our brother’s keepers.

We should stop doing things that are not of God. And we should always pray for the government of the day.