INTRODUCTION
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I must first thank you all for giving me the opportunity of being the Guest Speaker at this solemn assembly, marking the 18th Edition of Pastor S.A. Odunaiya Memorial Lecture. This is coming at a critical time in our nation, when there is an urgent need for national rebirth and transformation. Thus, this Lecture has become relevant at this time of our national life, when there seems to be no direction for our nation, when leadership seems to have suffered great deficiency and when Nigerians are grappling with suffering of unprecedented dimension.
THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANS IN THE SOCIETY
WHO IS A CHRISTIAN
A Christian is one who is a follower of Jesus Christ, who accepts the doctrines and messages of Jesus Christ and those of His disciples after Him, as expressed in the Holy Bible. A born again Christian however is one who accepts Jesus Christ as His Lord and Saviour, has renounced his old life, has obtained forgiveness by faith through the blood of Jesus and embraced a new life controlled by the Holy Spirit; one who is sanctified and wholly consecrated to the pursuit of heaven and filled with the Holy Ghost power, with evidence of speaking in tongues. He is totally, completely and fully under the Lordship of Jesus Christ – Mat. 1:21 (Jesus came to save from sin); Acts 4:13 (a Christian is one like Jesus Christ); John 3:1-5; (a Christian must be born again) 2 Cor.5:17 (he must let old things pass away and become a new creature, with a new life controlled by the Holy Spirit of God).
So to properly examine the role of a Christian in the society, one must necessarily x-ray the life of Jesus and his impact upon his own society.
THE LIFE AND IMPACT OF JESUS
In one WORD, Jesus came to CHANGE the world. He came to change our perspective, our thought process, our actions and our beliefs. He set out to achieve this through a process of thorough transformation and cleansing internally, (salvation and sanctification) and also a total change in the physical external structure (through healings, deliverances, prosperity and a life of total wellness).
Jesus took care of the soul of his society, he impacted their bodies, in various welfare programmes, as attested to in Acts 10:38, that Jesus went about doing good to all manner of people.
Jesus challenged the status quo, queried obsolete falsehoods and the hypocrisies marking the doctrines of the Jews and lived a life of leadership by example. And He is still doing all of these and many more even today, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANS
To change the society of the present time for God, political power has become inevitable, as shown in the recent election of the United States of America. Blame him if you like, criticize him if you want, but it is clear to me that the major difference between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, in the American Presidential election, is the God factor and the determination of all true Christians in America, to take their nation back to God. Thus, the effective transformation of any society for God, must also take into cognisance, the appropriation of the influence of Christians, for political advantage.
This is in tune with the lives of patriarchs like Joseph, Daniel and even Nicodemus. The life and times of Queen Esther have shown that if you are in the place of power, you can influence things positively for your society and invariably, enhance the practice of your faith.
WHAT THEN IS POLITICS?
Politics is the art and style of governance, whereby certain people strategise to aspire to leadership positions and to attain power and governance. The pertinent question then is: should any serious minded Christian, in the manner above described, partake in politics?
CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS
There are basically three schools of thought on the involvement of Christians in politics. The first is Sectarianism, by which believers are urged to isolate themselves completely from the process of politicking. The second, Christendom, postulates that Christians should seek to influence society for Christ from a position of political power. The third view, which is a position of balance, advocates that individual Christians may be involved in politics but the Church, as a body, should abstain. I am sure that there may be several other theories but we will be guided by Biblical examples in this treatise.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
Joseph was a shining light and a good example of who a Christian should be. He overcame all temptations to sin, he endured all manner of persecutions and deprivations, but yet the Lord promoted him to become the Prime Minister of Egypt and he governed Egypt successfully. The difference with Joseph however was that his ascendance to the throne was through divine appointment, as he never contested any election. You would however appreciate the subtle lobby and charge that Joseph gave to the Butler, to remember him when things get good. That is the place of influence, whereby the gifts of the God was deployed to influence recognition and acceptance.
THE PRACTICAL ISSUES INVOLVED
The fear of many Christians is not the art of governance itself, but rather the processes leading to the attainment of power, in particular the conduct of elections. In other developed democracies such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, etc, Christians play prominent roles in governance because of the transparency of the electoral process. Indeed in Germany, the Christian Democratic Party has been in power for a very long time. Christians in those climes are never taken for granted, or used as objects of gathering support during campaigns; they are actively involved in the determination of who governs them, what happens to their votes and they hold the eventual winner accountable, after the election.
CHRISTIANITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
Now part of the life principles of our Lord Jesus Christ is reflected in a way, in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution, on the Directive Principles of State Policy, which states in section 16 of the Constitution that the welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. The Constitution is also against the system of oligarchy, whereby the commanding heights of the economy are concentrated in the hands of a few. The consequence of this is that Christians have the responsibility not just to vote, or to participate in government but also to hold government accountable, especially in the areas of the provision of infrastructures, good governance, rule of law and indeed the uplifting of the welfare of the people.
THE CHRISTIAN AS LIGHT
Whether in or outside the government, a Christian should be a shining light to the rest of the society where he lives. That actually should be the primary focus of influence. People have given examples of those who attained power as Christians but gave a bad name to the children of God when they got to power. An example is usually given of a past President of Nigeria, who suddenly found himself in jail. He was ministered to in jail, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and even became a Sunday School teacher, while in jail. By divine intervention only, he survived his ordeal and was given another chance to rule. His regime was characterised by one controversy or the other, to the extent that he even attempted to extend his stay in office beyond the appointed time.
The example is also given of many captains of industries, especially the Banks, who are Christians, but who have not inspired the people with their records of alleged corrupt tendencies.
So, the challenge has always been how to maintain righteousness in political office as a Christian, or indeed any leadership position of influence. On the other hand, an example is usually given of another Christian, who never contested any election but was appointed into the executive council of a State in Nigeria and he became a leading light in that state. He maintained his integrity and righteousness, and indeed led many members of his state at very top levels, to Christ. He later rose to become the second citizen of the land and is currently under the microscope of the ever discerning public.
THE BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
It is a good thing to have people of God in authority, because the Holy Scriptures is clear, in Proverbs 29:2, that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when wicked and evil people rule, the people suffer. In Proverbs 14:14, it is stated that righteousness exalts a nation. So we must get to a stage when if we compare the reign of Christians with others, especially the darkest moments of Nigeria’s history of military dictatorship, we can boldly say that indeed there is a difference. Thus, the desire for Christian leadership is not just in the description or the title but rather in the positive influences that true Christianity brings to leadership, in terms of transparency, good governance and the love of God. In this regard, a Christian who is corrupt and then proceeds to dip his hands into the public treasury cannot inspire leadership at all. The challenge then has always been the manner of positive difference that full Christian participation in politics will bring, as many of them who get to power eventually, are either in crisis of leadership or of moral credibility.
Daniel was in power, as Governor of a district in Babylon, and he was promoted by the King as chairman of the Governors’ Forum, by reason mostly of the practice of his faith. So it is wrong to assert, as many people do, that you cannot be a true Christian and be a politician, just as some say that you cannot be a Christian and be a lawyer. But Daniel demonstrated the kind of leadership expected of Christians in governance; he kept to his principles of selflessness, abstinence from corruption and such other things that could stain the name of his God. He was incredibly diligent. Indeed, when other Governors wanted to plot a coup against him, it was recorded in Daniel 6:4-5 as follows:
“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; for as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
This should be the testimony of every Christian in government, but this has not always been so, especially in Nigeria. Indeed, there are some Christians in government who have demonstrated exemplary qualities whilst in government, but their number is so negligible when compared with the overall statistics of other fellow Christian leaders, who have fell below expectations, considerably.
THE DANGERS OF NOMINAL CHRISTIANITY (REV. 3:20)
There is the general opinion that those Christians who venture into politics cannot be described as ‘serious’ Christians, in the sense of the description and definition given to a Christian. Some claim that they are only ‘nominal’ Christians who probably parade Christianity as status symbol just to garner votes during elections. It is difficult to imagine what level a Christian should attain before he is fully recognised as a Christian; as one who has risen to the position of a Sunday School teacher of the Word, cannot in any way be described as a ‘nominal’ Christian.
Indeed, the so-called nominal Christians have been the major challenge of Christianity. They always prefer to be on the sidelines, in order not to offend certain powers that be, as if they forgot that it is stated in Psalms 16:11, that power belongs to God. It was nominal Christianity that Queen Esther was practicing before Mordecai confronted her with the reality of her existence and elevation, in Esther 4:13-14:
“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than the Jews.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art com to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
This should be the charge of all Christians to all of our brethren who are in authority. The words of Mordecai fired up the zeal of resistance and freedom in queen Esther, when she rose up for her people and resolved as follows:
“15. Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer: go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shusan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
The quality of leadership and resistance of queen Esther is best appreciated when we dissect her resolutions properly. She was going to embark upon a dry fast for three whole days, together with her maids in the palace, most of who were not Jews. She declared famine right in the palace. Then she resolved to defy the law by going to see the king without any prior invitation. What a lady!
The Bible is clearly against nominal Christianity, which in truth is just plainly backsliding in order to retain power or just becoming lukewarm to gain mass appeal and acceptance.
Against the grain of the popularity of President Barak Obama and Senator Hilary Clinton, Christians in the United States of America openly supported and campaigned for Donald Trump and their votes counted so amazingly. The Obama administration had become suspect, especially in relation to its objectionable liberal policies of supporting LGBT (gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender), gay marriages, abortion, transfer of Jerusalem, granting refugee status to potential terrorists who disguise as immigrants from the Middle East and such other policies that tend to hinder Christianity and its basic doctrines.
The other opinion is that true Christians see politics as a ‘dirty’ game, which no heaven minded child of God will venture into. It is seen as a serious ‘distraction’ from the race to make heaven.
Whichever view you take, the most important thing is that every Christian should influence society for Christ. This is the sole essence of the message of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:13-16:
“Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
We must all answer the question being asked by unbelievers that why are there so many churches in Nigeria and yet the crime rate is ascending, the leaders are more corrupt than ever and family values are waning by the day.
I will encourage any Christian who has a leading of the Holy Spirit to so do, to go ahead and be a light to the whole world through participation in politics. But such should remember the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
BIBICAL EXAMPLES OF CHRISTIANS IN GOVERNMENT
MOSES, who assembled the children of Israel to resist slavery and servitude, amidst afflictions and persecutions; JOSEPH, who used his talent, gift, influence and faith to conquer for his people; NEHEMIAH, who deployed his closeness to power, to secure landmark victories for his people; DANIEL, who together with the three Hebrew boys used civil disobedience combined with faith to resist the monster called Nebuchadnezzar; MORDECAI, who rallied and influenced the appointment of Esther as Queen to rescue the Jews from annihilation. In Esther 4:1-3, Mordecai embarked upon peaceful protest along with all Jews to call attention to the wicked decree that was to see to their untimely death.
“When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry, and came even before the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.”
It was a great example of non violent peaceful disobedience, in order to resist an evil decree. What are Christians doing against several legislations that seem to hinder the practice of their faith, in Kaduna State and in other parts of the country?
SAMUEL was a torn in the flesh of King Saul; ELIJAH confronted King Ahab; ELISHA was a positive influence on the kings of his time; JOHN THE BAPTIST chastised the Pharisees and Sadducees and even rebuked King Herod openly, over his adultery.
In Ex.1:17, midwives defied Pharaoh and save the male children of Israel alive, leading to the birth of Moses; in Daniel 3 and 6, Daniel and the Hebrew boys openly defied king Nebuchadnezzar; in Mat. 2:12, the three wise men defied king Herod to save Jesus.
In Acts 4:19-20, the Apostles resisted the ban on free speech by the Pharisee in council.
Other Christian leaders like Nicodemus, Jairus, etc all helped to better their land. They all held their own and survived all temptations.
In our modern times we have had Mary Slessor, who embarked upon the campaign to abolish the killing and persecution of twins.
CHRITIANITY AND ACTIVISM: THE AMERICAN EXAMPLE
The liberty and freedom being enjoyed by blacks in America were largely influenced by the resistance of Christians all over the land.
It was preached as a common message in churches in the Southern part of America, for ages, that it is stated clearly in Acts 10:34, that “… God is no respecter of persons” and that the idea of segregation on the basis of colour and race was not Biblical.
Thus, on a particular day on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, a young Christian lady, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, refused to obey the bus driver’s order to give up her seat in the coloured section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled. Her arrest for civil disobedience spurred the civil movement in America and indeed the world over. This was combined with the great efforts of a new fiery minister in town, Martin Luther King Jr, who gained national prominence in the civil rights movement, purely on account of his faith and personal convictions.
Several years later, the struggles and campaigns of the American black Christians eventually produced a President in Barak Obama. Yes it took years, decades and sacrifices; it took prayers and fasting, but the Christians eventually decided to be part of politics in order to realize their dreams.
FAITH AND WORKS: THE MARTIN LUTHER EXAMPLE
Now it is easy to remember Martin Luther King Jnr., but hardly would many Christians remember the man Martin Luther himself, the father of The Reformation.
He was born in November, 1483, in a small village in Germany. His parents were indigent and they were in the market place one day, when his mother, Margaret Luther, suddenly went into labour and was rushed to an inn to deliver. His early life was marred with numerous challenges, as his parents struggle to give him quality education. He was often beaten by his teachers, as poverty was a great challenge during his time. To assist his parents to defray the cost of his education, he often sang in the streets, to raise funds. In 1505, he took his bachelor’s degree, becoming a master of arts. But his soul was constantly troubled, over the issues of the forced doctrines. He was a devoted Christian of the Catholic stock but he had challenges accepting the doctrine of purgatory which ran in collision with his soul and mind.
Finally, he was persuaded to study Theology, which then exposed him to the truth of the Holy Scriptures, wherein he was shocked to learn that the work of salvation was accomplished on the Cross by Jesus Christ for all who believe in Him by faith, contrary to what he had been taught on purgatory and salvation through self cleansing. Luther then decided on a thorough study of the Bible, which led him to learn the original language of the Bible, for better understanding. Now well equipped, Luther began to challenge openly, the heresies of the church, having penned a 65 page booklet on the truths of the Bible, which sold like wild fire. On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed upon on his door, his 95 thesis against the theory of indulgencies, which has been recognised by historians as the beginning of The Great Reformation. He engaged the Church in an open debate that lasted 18 days, which endeared him to the people, greatly.
After several years of tolerating Luther, the papacy decided to confront and deal with him, through several pronouncements of ex-communication, to banning his books and even exile. He was openly tried by the Pope and sentenced to death but was fortunate to be rescued by some dissident soldiers, which led him to self exile. Like John and Paul, Luther converted his banishment into maximum advantage, when he translated the New Testament into German language, breaking centuries of false doctrines as the raw messages of the Bible got to the people. Today, the influence of the works of Luther is manifest even in the political life of Germany.
In Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been in power for decades and it is headed by Mrs Angela Merkel, the irrepressible German Chancellor. This political party was founded on June 26, 1945, following the collapse of the Nazi dictatorship at the end of World War II. Prior to that time, Christians had fought and resisted the monstrous ambition of Hitler to route all Christians and Jews. The CDU teamed up with other political parties for a great alliance and has been responsible for the birth of the strength of today’s Europe and arguably one of the strongest nations of the world. But the strength of the CDU is faith in God through political power, for the purpose of transforming the lives of their people.
In Australia, Christianity has been the dominant force of the strength of the politicians.
The point however is that they take their stand based on their faith and they are not ashamed to proclaim their faith and convictions, when they get to power, eventually, or when out of power, to confront any unpopular government or policy.
In the light of the support that the Obama administration gave to LGBT, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender, Christian evangelicals rose up against him and they campaigned vigorously for Trump, who eventually won the election.
CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION: THE CASE OF APOSTLE JOSEPH AYO BABALOLA
Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Odo-Owa, in the present day Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, on 25th of April, 1904. He was brought up as an Anglican. He was registered at an elementary school at Oto-Awori on Badagry Road, Lagos State, in 1914. He got to standard four, before he became a blacksmith’s apprentice and he learned it for two years, before he became a steamroller operator under the PWD (Public Works Department), then under the control of Great Britain, learning to become a steamroller driver. After 15 days of learning to drive the caterpillar, he was able to drive it without any assistance. After nine months; he became a master in his class. A steamroller was first given to him on 1 April 1928 ,to work on the Osogbo-Ilesha road. On June 14, 1928 he was transferred to Akure-Ilesha road. On 9 October 1928 at about 12 o’clock he was by his steamroller by the river Ariran, it was here he heard a loud voice from above like the roar of thunder which called his name thrice, saying: “Joseph! Joseph!! Joseph!!! Leave this job you are doing; if not, this year you are going to be cut off from the earth.” Again On 11 October 1928, while trying to repair his machine, he heard an audible voice from the Lord to abandon the job and start preaching. That was how he received the call and he went into fasting and prayer. Ayo Babalola was sent out of the Anglican Church of his village by his Bishop because most members of the Church could now see visions; speak in tongues and pray vigorously. Babalola was baptized in the Lagos lagoon in December 1929.
In 1930 Faith Tabernacle affiliated with the The Apostolic Church, with its General Headquarters in the United Kingdom. Then following a schism in The Apostolic Church about 1940, Babalola went with a group led by Pastors J.B. Akinyele and D.O. Odubanjo to form a new independent church, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where he continued his healing and revivalist activities until his death. The CAC regards Babalola as an apostle owing to his evident apostolic gifts that characterized his revival ministry as the beginning of the church, while in actual sense by real church ordination he was not at any time historically ordained into that office. A CAC retreat center was built at Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State where Babalola was first called in 1928.
Like other Christian leaders in the past, Apostle Babalola suffered great persecution, first from the Colonialists and then later on from the Nigerian authorities. Behind the persecution was the combined power of the Colonial government, the traditional religious adherents (and some traditional rulers) and the existing mission Churches. It led to denials, including prohibition of land owning, refusal to admit their children into government hospitals and schools, subsequent imprisonment of some of the leaders and forceful ejection and takeover of properties.
The persecution was serious and intense that the new movement was forced to invite The Apostolic Church of Great Britain in a collaborative effort to stem the wave of persecution. These missionaries from Bradford came to join them in the work in the year 1931.
And truly the persecution stopped with their arrival because the missionaries came with a letter of authority from their home country. However, another wave of persecution and crisis much worse than the first started internally, bordering on divine healing and medical treatment. The disagreement became so sharp that it eventually led to a final division of the new Church and when an agreement could not be reached, Babalola and his loyalists who believed in divine healing without any form of medicine, severed all links from the Church to form a new group that formed the nucleus of what later became the Christ Apostolic Church. But the government was not done yet, as Babalola was under heavy scrutiny and monitoring.
There was a great crusade in a town named Otuo in the then Benin province. As was characteristic of all his revivals, the power of God came down upon the people and two women under the force and influence of the Holy Spirit began to confess their witchcraft practices before the whole crowd and audience. Otuo had a tradition that if a woman is truly a witch she must not take or drink of the Obbo tree in the town or she would die. This tree was potent enough to kill any witch that drank of its root. So these women were later taken to the tree and made to drink out of its root and in order to prove their innocence, they took out of the tree. One of the women had a brawl with another woman later on and during the cross fire, the other woman taunted her adversary that afterall, Babalola said that she was a witch. These two incidents led to a serious legal tussle in Benin and shortly after the Lent of 1935, court officials came with warrants from Ilorin to Odo-Owa, to fetch Babalola. What a great travesty of justice, as there was no connection between Babalola and the events that happened in Benin but the government was only looking for an opportunity to silence him and kill the revival that was then spreading like wild fire all over the nation.
Babalola was taken to Benin and tried on the allegation of taking part in witch testing ordeals. Two women also served as prosecution witnesses. Babalola however refused to get a lawyer or the services of any solicitor; as he wanted God to be his defence. At the end of the trial, he was found ‘guilty’ and sentenced to six months imprisonment. It was the greatest abuse of court process, a mockery of the judiciary, but it was clear to all that it was part of the plot of the Colonial Government and the orthodox churches, to stem the rising tide of Apostolic revival in the land.
As was the case with other Biblical patriarchs like Daniel, it was the imprisonment of Babalola that opened the entire Midwest and the East to his evangelical work. The mighty presence of the Apostolic Churches today in those areas (Port Harcourt, Calabar, Benin, Onitsha, etc) was due to that singular denial. Babalola came out at the end of six months with greater power, grace and glory and even more respect from his followers. Rather than the imprisonment diminishing his status or prestige; it even enhanced him. Later on, the two women who served as prosecution witnesses confessed to have been hired and a man named Agbi, who later became converted, admitted to have hired them.
Time will of course fail me to mention Mother Theresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and even at home here, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Rev Father Hassan Matthew Kuka, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, etc, who have all campaigned for and advocated a regime of peace, good governance, prosperity for the people and respect for civil rights.
WHAT ARE THE CIVIL RIGHTS?
1. They are the rights that every person should have regardless of his or her sex, race, religion, etc.
2. They are the non-political rights of citizens, especially the rights to personal liberty, right to life, etc.
3. Some of the rights are natural to human existence, as in Genesis 3 when God granted Adam and Eve the right to fair hearing.
4. These rights are universal, as they were adopted by the United Nations in its Charter, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of 10th December, 1948, Magna Carter Rights, European Commission of Human Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
These are all stated in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as:
1. Right to Personal Liberty – section 35
2. Right to Dignity of Human Persons – section 34 (whipping, torture, compulsory labour, etc)
3. Right to Fair Hearing – section 36
4. Right to Privacy – section 37
5. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion – section 38, which has been abused severally, esp in the North, such as when the lady preacher was killed in Abuja.
6. Freedom of Expression – section 39, covering civil and peaceful protests, rallies, nullifying police permit or approval.
7. Freedom of Association – political parties, churches, associations, unions, clubs, etc.
8. Freedom of movement – section 41, anywhere in and out of Nigeria (environmental sanitation case)
9. Freedom from discrimination – section 42, on grounds of particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion (toll gate case)
10. These rights are enforceable – section 46 when they have been breached, are being breached or likely to be breached.
So, it is not the duration of life but the donation of it. Queen Esther influenced her society for her people at a very tender age; Samuel started his ministry as a lad; Jesus Christ started his ministry only at about 12 years old and Moses impacted his people at the age of 80.
CHRISTIANITY AND TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE MEDIA: THE CHAZ B STORY
Popularly called Chaz B by his radio audience, Mr. Charles Bruce Chukwuma hails from Delta State in Nigeria. With over 20 years of experience in the Hospitality Management Industry of the United States of America, Chaz B held consultancies on management turn around in the hotel and entertainment sectors in Nigeria. An ex-student of Kings College, Lagos, he had an Advanced Business Management Certificate from North Technical Education Centre in Florida and he was an Associate of Science Degree in Hotel, Travel and Tourism Management from Miami Dade Community College (North), Florida, USA.
Before he left Nigeria in 1979, Chaz B had moved within the entertainment world. He worked with his cousin, Ben Bruce, former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), back in 1975 when Ben owned the Fantasy Night Club in Yaba, Lagos.
He returned to the entertainment business in the United States of America, running a limousine and bodyguard service, catering just to celebrity and VIP clientele. Through that business he came to know people like Donald Trump, Renee and Celine Dion, Natalie Cole and other world celebrities, on a personal basis.
With a distinct voice purring through the Lagos airwaves, Chaz B’s hallmark show was “SHARING LIFE ISSUES WITH CHAZ B”, which earned him the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Awards for 2010 as the best On Air Personality in Radio and the show was rated the number one show across the city of Lagos.
Unknown to many of his fans, Chaz B had a history of kidney problems and underwent a successful kidney transplant in 2012 after receiving a kidney donation from his wife. Chaz B continued to be a strong voice through his program, ‘Sharing Life Issues with Chaz B’, which aired on the Rhythm Radio Network every Monday to Friday at 6.15pm, as well as other network programs.
He deployed the programme to affect lives all over Nigeria, solving several problems and crises that even governments could not solve. It was a faith based programme, that had mass followings across Nigeria. He took his theme from Proverbs 4:23 (keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life).
The distinctive thing about Chaz B was that he was unapologetic about his convictions and the decision to anchor his programme on the doctrines of the Bible. He would use the Bible to counsel youths, adults, couples, the frustrated and the hopeless and even Muslims and atheists, some of who would later call to testify of the potency of his godly counsel.
The lesson in all of these is for Christians to be a light for Jesus in their various positions of influence, whether as a wife like Esther, a servant like Mordecai, a former criminal like Moses, a pastor like Martin Luther, or even a commoner like Rosa Parks or a radio presenter like Chaz B, use your position to canvass for change in the society.
The examples of Joseph and Daniel have shown that Christians can take over the political space, for the glory of God. So I here today urge all young men and women of the Christ Apostolic Church, other Christians across the land and indeed all the good people of Nigeria, to take a stand for progress for our land, as the only thing that propels evil and wickedness to thrive in the society, is when the good people decide to keep quiet and do nothing.
If we do not do what has not been done before, the world will remain stagnant and idle and without any change – Lord Denning.
God bless you all.
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