Pastor Ebenezer Ajitena, an anointed servant of God blessed with wisdom and a variety talents is the founding Pastor of CLIWOM Sanctuary of Praise, a multi-faceted ministry based in London. In this interview, Modakeke-born Ajitena speaks on his ministries, his musical talent, books and the church both in London and Nigeria. Excerpts

When were you called into the ministry?
I was called into the ministry in 1978 by divine revelation. I worked in Nigeria before I left the country about 13 year ago.

How were you called into the ministry?
I was born into a Muslim family and got born again at The Apostolic Church (TAC) at Modakeke, Osun State, Nigeria. Since then, I've been working with ministries of God and have been brought up by prayer-warrior leaders.

Like?
Pastor F. Olotu now Apostle Olotu of TAC, Lagos, and many others like that before I moved to Kano. I left for Kano in 1980. The Lord came into my life through ministration and I gave my life to Jesus.

Who was ministering then?
One of the church people. They were ministering along our street and the word was just coming telling about all I had done. Infact, it was like an axe.

There was unrest in me. When I slept I kept hearing it, so I gave my life to Jesus and I enjoyed every bit of that moment. That was in 1975. I got baptised on 19th of December 1975 and have become an active member of The Apostolic Church, at Odo-Okun, Modakeke since.

Before this time, can you give us a brief rundown of what your life was like?
Along the line I've been to different mission schools. I've been to The Apostolic Mission School, Modakeke after which I attended The Apostolic Modern School Modakeke before I got admission into Modakeke High School in 1972.

I was at home for a long time. In the process of that I got born again and after the school I started working at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) as a stenographer.

I was with TAC, Modakeke at that time. I was there until I moved to Kano. When I got to Kano I continued with TAC. I used to go to Kano hospital because my brother lived there. I liked the environment and got married there to Cecilia from Modakeke.

Infact there are two incidences where two mad people were brought to the church and they are now Okay….. Infact, if you get to London in the South East, there is slogan in the bus: If you want babies, go to CLIWORM. God is working wonders.

The Lord called me into the ministry, I have been having the dream long time but I never wanted to go out for full time ministry many a times, I'll see an old man coming to me telling me what to do, telling me that I was doing his work partially but that I should do it full time.

That was at the time I was in Kano. I did my service in a bank. I joined Afribank in Kano and later First City Merchant Bank.

The Lord called me into the ministry at First City Merchant Bank in Kano in 1989-90. I received the call there clean and clear ‘come out of there'. I had no alternative but to join the service of the Lord full time

I went to London through links with Pastor Jide Omidaisi at TAC, London. After about four years of service there, I started my ministry – CLIWORM is the church.

What were you called to do?
I'm a Pastor. Apart from that, I sing.

What's the size of your church?
At our headquarters we're an average of 400 now and we have a branch in Manchester. We just started another one in Vienna, Austria. I know Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Apostle A. T. Williams, Rev. Adeyemi, Pastor S. K. Abiara, Pastor S. O. Folahan (now late), and many others.

You've not told us about the strength of your branches?
What we have now in Vienna is just a monthly crusade and that was how we started our Manchester branch. Manchester branch is still under the strength of a hundred because it is a new church.

What advice have you for President Obasanjo?
That's a very good question. About four years now, the Lord revealed to me that Nigeria is going to regain its strength and glory. We will all see the glory of this country coming back.

Concerning President Obasanjo, we have been praying for him and thank God for what God is doing through him. I don't live in this country but at least we monitor things spiritually and I know he is going to do it better. I believe he is working towards God's instructions now. Give him more time, he will perform better.

Has the Lord given you a definite prophetic message for Nigeria?
No. no. The general word which the Lord has given us and which I have passed to the president is that all the leaders fear God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If all those at the top fear God they will do it according to the will of God.

Can you recall some notable miracles that have taken place in your church?
So many have discovered their fibroids disappearing. So many that had been written off in the hospital when they come to the church, receive their babies.

Infact there are two incidences where two mad people were brought to the church and they are now Okay….. Infact, if you get to London in the South East, there is slogan in the bus: If you want babies, go to CLIWORM. God is working wonders.

More importantly, spiritual lives of people are really, really growing, and I thank God for that because that is the greatest miracle. We witness a lot.

The Lord established a legal unit in the church to take care of the status of people have had their permanent stay through the wonderful efforts of the head of that department. Bro. John, who is a lawyer and a man of God.

There seems to be a great craze in the Christian world of projecting prosperity far above the very important aspects like holiness.

What do you have to say to this because even people of the world are already asking questions in this regard?
The word prosperity does not only refer to material thing. Prosperity in the spirit is there, prosperity in health, prosperity in our relation with God are there. Prosperity is not even supposed to be a subject of a crusade. It is our right. If we practice holiness, prosperity would come.

God told Joshua “this book of law must never depart out of thy mouth, thou shall meditate on it day and night and do and observe all that is written there, that you will make your way prosperous and thou shall have good success.

It is the Lord that teacheth our hands to create wealth” (Deut. 18:18). It is God's hand, He has committed it into our hand. We just need to be faithful and obedient to Him.

It is time the Lord has put church into the world but the devil is trying to put the world into the church – the quest for money, fame is now on the increase.

If we can live a godly life, all other things shall be added. It is true that all those things on earth are the things people are now giving priority, but we cannot influence God by our spiritual gymnastics.

God is God all by Himself but now that it has been shown to you what the Lord expects from you, it is your right, it is now left to you to dig deep and stand on the word of God and people who are preaching you can not discriminate or begin to condemn someone now.

What is important is to know the God you're serving, He has called me, I know what I preach, the Lord of the vineyard is coming one day and He is going to judge everybody…

People in the world that are saying it, it is time the Lord has put church into the world but the devil is trying to put the world into the church – the quest for money, fame is now on the increase.

But this is where we have to think back right now. We need to preach the kingdom, we need to preach the word, we need to preach about salvation, we need to talk about sin so that people who are doing it will hear.

Once the pastor has preached that sin is not good, he is free. You've heard it, if you're not going to correct your ways, he is not going to be penalised.

But if we don't preach it, well, may be that is why we have not got so large because we cannot compromise the truth… I thank God for what I see in Nigeria, the gospel is spreading and I believe in a little time to come the gospel would be everywhere. That is good enough. But yet we should see those who are not doing it according too the way of the Lord. Anyhow, it is not for us to judge.

The Bible says, “he who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls”. The Bible has not even confirmed your standing but if you think you're standing, be careful, hold on to what you have, the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Once the pastor has preached that sin is not good, he is free. You've heard it, if you're not going to correct your ways, he is not going to be penalised.

What are the other places the Lord has told you to spread to which you hadn't spread?
Well, I know we are spreading to Africa, I knew that long time ago. But when the time comes by the grace of God, we would do it. Very soon before the end of the year we are having a programme in Togo. Arrangement is going on with that.

Culled from Nigerian Tribune.