Rev. Lawyer Edema, overseer and founder of Pillars of Truth Faith Mission Incorporated, is a many-sided individual whose call to ministry was very intriguing. Rev. Edema who is also Chairman of Grace Ministers Forum Ojo, Lagos State spoke to Daily Sun on the phenomenal nature of his call to ministry, church growth rate, and many more. Excerpts.

My call to ministry
I was actually called to ministry in 1990. It was not by accident but through God's divine intervention. It was funny because I came from a pagan background. I lived a carefree life even though I believed that the universe was controlled by a supernatural being. It continued until I got married in 1980 and had my first daughter on April 4, 1981.

Then came a break for nine years. And thought of it gave me serious cause for concern, until one day a Muslim friend visited me. While we reminisced, he noted it was not ordinary, that I should follow him to a place called Aradagun in Badagry. We went and when we got there, the man who happened to be a member of white garment church called me a king when he first saw me.

He added that I don't need to bow down to any man again. He pointed out my refusal to heed God's call to serve Him as reason for my predicaments. When we left there my Muslim friend took me to a diviner (native doctor) in Iba, who also confirmed what the former one said. By then, I had no bible until one was given to me in 1987and I began to preach. That obedience wrought a break through that led to my wife having a bouncing baby boy after waiting for nine years. I joined the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) with the only pick up van left with me and it was there the transformation began to manifest to the extent that today, I am the Chairman of Lagos branch of the association.

I was later introduced to the training arm of Christ Gospel Evangelical Ministries where I did a certificate course in ministry. I later proceeded to do a four-year programme that culminated from Diploma to PhD in theology at Faith Theological Seminary, Ota, Ogun State in 1994. What made it a striking event in my life is that there was no ritual involved other than the preaching of the gospel, and these people God used to provoke my breakthrough were all unbelievers. And since after the event, I have not seen my Muslim friend again. It shows that God can use anyone to intervene in the affairs of men.

Founding Vision of Pillars of Truth
I started the ministry with children and that has remained the focus of the ministry; to catch them young. It started with children between ages 5 – 6 years and four of them who began with the ministry have finished their university education. I met one of them who is in South Africa when I traveled there some months ago. So, the founding vision of my ministry is targeted at the young and less-privileged and to bring them to limelight. We also have scholarship programme for them. It is my little contribution to the society. Ministry for me is not purely for money. The lord is actually manifesting Himself to the ministry. The promise is; work for me, I'll work for you. It is a covenant.

Grace Ministers Forum
Grace Ministers Forum began as a prayer group composed of five members namely; Dr. F.O. Ajobal, I. O. Adejuwon, Dr. S. Omoruyi, late Dr. Segun Riyele and my humble self. It was an interdenominational forum to corroborate the scripture that "iron sharpeneth Iron'. It is basically set up to deepen relationship among ministers, as one hand cannot scratch the body, you need the help of others to grow. We started from visiting churches, praying and fasting to writing books and Sunday school manuals for interdenominational outreaches. There is more to Grace ministers forum than just Grace. And the fire in the forum has rubbed off on me that I can tell you today that I have authored a book on marriage and another one in the mill on covenant.

What I think about church growth rate
What we are seeing about church growth rate is not scriptural aspect of growth. In Acts of the Apostles, the Bible said that they were multiplying. We are yet to see the church progress in number. What we have is poaching on membership not church growth. Church growth rate can only be established when new converts are being brought into the church. And this is the responsibility of everyone who is an apostle by the standard of the Bible.

First Church and end time church
The end time church is a competitive church. It has been made to depend on how rich you are, join us. The Holy Ghost is not allowed to work. So, the first church is entirely different from the end time church. The end time church is made in such a way that if you are a rich pastor, you'll continue to associate with rich church. It is only in the end time church one finds the big church buying over the small church. It is like cult of rich men.

By SIMEON MPAMUGOH