Evangelist Dan C. Daniels is the president of The Wealthy Place International Christian Life Outreach Ministry, based in FESTAC Town, Lagos. Daniel is a young man who leads a young mission, and comes to his calling with the zeal of somebody who believes that there's much to be done about people.

In this interview, he posits that a large segment of the Nigerian population has got the idea of a mission wrong, believing that it is only about a church, and added that there is more to a ministry because a ministry is about people. He also took a swipe at the Pentecostal segment of Christendom in Nigeria, saying they've failed the nation. Excerpts:

Evangelist, perhaps you'll like to make an opening statement about your church, your mission and your ministry generally.
The name of our church is The Wealthy Place International Christian Life Outreach Ministry, and I'm the president of that ministry. We are trying to let people know that ministry is not necessarily a church.

A ministry is a vision and a vision is the spiritual language by which God communicates His plan to man. Under a ministry, you have a church, schools, hospitals, etc. So, the ministry is like a big house with many rooms. Sadly enough, a lot of people see ministry as just a church, and that is why many things are muddled together.

God has helped us to define our mission very clearly to develop people, raise men and women and to build a nation, and to change character and mould people. You find out that integrity is not just about good public standing, but a good moral inward nature, and that's the essence of the mission; to make a difference where the people's history failed; so that we will not repeat the same mistakes of the past.

Our vision is towards human development, skill acquisition and building a nation by using every means possible spiritually, educationally, socially-to achieve this purpose. This is what we have stepped out to do, and God is helping us to achieve that as we are celebrating our second anniversary.

Have you had challenges in this regard?
As a leader called by God for a special assignment, I was quite aware of my mission, and I have already made up my mind and configured my system for all the unexpected. So, things that could have been a challenge to a boy of God is not to a man of God.

So, having known these things, when they come, it's like just any other form in what you like to do. So, I hadn't seen it really as a tough time for the past two years. It's strictly through the grace of God, because He prepared me for it, and I think by His grace I'm equal to it.

I told them in the church that a man who can pick your pocket and take away your purse without you knowing, has got a wonderful skill. If such a man comes to church, you can change that bad skill to be profitable to himself and his environment at large.

So, for now we are occupying the aspect of the church which is building, raising people, changing character and developing people's skills. I told them in the church that a man who can pick your pocket and take away your purse without you knowing, has got a wonderful skill. If such a man comes to church, you can change that bad skill to be profitable to himself and his environment at large.

So, we're occupying this one room, while at the same time, we're progressing, establishing an institute where people can come to learn on spiritual, social and academic levels. Those are the two areas we are occupying now, hoping that as we are moving into our fourth year, other aspects of the rooms of the ministry would be occupied. And that's why I assumed the position of a president of the ministry.

The church will have a different leader altogether, because somebody has got to pioneer the vision of a ministry that is so large. The man of a church does not need to be the leader of that church. We got it all wrong in this part of the country that once you are a pastor, you automatically become the overall force of the church. Somebody may occupy there, while I, as the visioner of the ministry can now begin to expand other aspects of the ministry. The leaders in charge of the church, school, orphanage, can manage them, while I coordinate everything to ensure that all these parts of the ministry are properly handled.

There is so much religion, yet the country is getting worse. What do you, think is responsible?
Let me come this way. I've heard people talk about somebody from the North, West, South-South becoming Nigeria 's president. Let's get it clear that the problem of Nigeria is not where the president comes from but who is that man who understands this country. A man of the future, who sees the future and knows how to put the structure on ground today. That's the problem of Nigeria . If a Hausa man or Igbo, Yoruba, etc, becomes president and people have light, food to eat, good roads, nobody cares about where the president comes from.

And I think, whether a pastor, an Alhaji, Imam, whosoever it is, that person must first of all understand this country. You see, the future is rooted in the knowledge of the past. How did we

come about this project called Nigeria ? What went wrong in the history and what went right? What can the present people use from history to project a better future for this country? These are the kinds of questions that we want. Although elections are not always won by ballot, money changes hands and so on, God is interested in Nigeria . That's why in 2007, a lot of people have predicted doom, but somebody unassuming, unexpected, will emerge contrary to speculations.

Even if you go down memory lane, you will find out that Nigeria , only 46 years old, has achieved such a measure of success even with what is happening. America at 40 was not like Nigeria . I can tell anyone who cares to listen that Nigeria 's situation now is completely better. It is the teething problem of any developing nation. It is just that many in Nigeria do not follow history.

What is your opinion of the miracle ministry in Nigeria?
Let me put it this way, I believe in miracles, and I believe miracles still happen today. But in Nigeria , there have been a lot of mystic approach to this miracle thing. It's not strange. In Church history, such kind of people arose too, and organized themselves.

How can I wear a suit of N120, 000 when such money can set up 20 people in good business? There are still suits that I can wear and still be very simple, decent and acceptable to the people as I engage in 'help' ministry. I want to challenge the churches that as a body of Christ, Christianity is not all about good building, good looking, it is not all about even showing faces on television.

The fact that there are a lot of mystic approaches to miracles does not still mean there are no originals. There are still originals, those who are really gifted in the healing ministry. But the gospel is so broad, not just somebody showing self and manifesting self as a wonderful pastor. You see, the gospel is all about people. It's not all about power, status, it's about passion for souls.

Now, to the help aspect of the Church: How can I wear a suit of N120, 000 when such money can set up 20 people in good business? There are still suits that I can wear and still be very simple, decent and acceptable to the people as I engage in 'help' ministry. I want to challenge the churches that as a body of Christ, Christianity is not all about good building, good looking, it is not all about even showing faces on television.

And of course, most of this thing is just to exhibit flesh, self, even when you have nothing to say. There is a lot of silent ministry work that would be going on to feed the poor, building schools. Like now, we have about 55 children that I am taking care of. I send them to school, pay their school fees. I want to adopt more and add to that number.

I think that the people, ministries, churches in Nigeria have missed it a great deal. There are going to be a people that will arrive, and make the difference by changing the system. Mostly, the Pentecostals are also different hooligans. Hooligans in the sense that you see different kinds of people. I mean the way they carry themselves...you know the mark of a minister should be decency and moderation in everything. And with the way they exhibit themselves, you can easily tell is this really of God? Who are you? Where is the humanity in your message? Jesus came to seek those who are lost. He said that those who are okay don't need visitation. It is those who are sick.

Now, how many people have been visited in the hospitals? How many churches even have hospitals? That's why, to a large extent, I appreciate the Catholic effort. Ob , while they may have their fault in one end, they are improving that aspect of humanity on the other hand, reaching out to the less privileged. Miracle is real. It still happens.

There is genuine and fake. In Nigeria , people need to read their Bible well and be in the spirit to know who is who. In fact, the competition is so much because of mystic approach. I was sitting in a congregation, you know sometimes, some people say they pray for me so that I will not fall. I said, I mean how can I fall, I'm not hanging anywhere. It's, somebody that is hanging somewhere that will be afraid to fall. I trek on the road myself. I drive myself. There is a lifestyle you build for yourself, that becomes difficult for you to manage.

Look, Jesus did not build a status for Himself. He touched the people and the common man was glad to receive Him. I adopted the approach to meet the common man and touch their lives in a peculiar way. So, they will know that somebody cares. People don't care how much you know. They want to know how much you care and that's what the gospel is all about.

So, I now want people to know that there are a lot of mysticism in gospel presentation in this country . Yet, there are genuine ones who still speak the truth. People do ask me, what can you say about that man? I say look, everybody will give account of himself to God. I can only talk of myself. The way the other man is doing­ it, is between him and his God.

" We're facing what we are facing in Nigeria because most people are not properly informed. An average Nigerian does not know what fundamental human right is. You find out that, through school, ministry and educating people, the eyes of people will open."

The bible says; "By their fruits you shall know them." You can perform miracles without character. If you are a miracle worker, God is using you, the same power He gave you for miracles will change your character, your lifestyle. The gift of the spirit and the fruit of the spirit work hand-in-hand. When people possess the so-called gift of healing and they don't have character to follow it. It is magic.

In specific terms, what can we be looking for from your mission, apart from church, in other parts of the ministry?
Definitely, you find a lot of people assuming that the church is filled with dropouts. That the people who go to church are not educated. That's why we are focusing much on the aspect of social education. It is very important, because we need to develop people. People need to be informed. We're facing what we are facing in Nigeria because most people are not properly informed. An average Nigerian does not know what fundamental human right is. You find out that, through school, ministry and educating people, the eyes of people will open.

Also, those who think politics is a dirty game and that Church should not be involved, Church may not be involved but there are people in the Church who are gifted in politics. So, the Church can empower and push them out to participate in politics.

So, it's very important that we raise men. We have a group we call the Samaritan Band. They are involved in charity, going to where people are in need of care. During our anniversary, we go to motherless babies homes and have a very big party for them. This, is because the gospel is not all about power, it is all about people. This is one area that's been lost in this gospel thing.

We'll try to change the face of the church. Jesus came to show us life and how to live life rightly. We need to let people know that Christianity does not remove education, sanity, decency, as has been preached in the past by some unenlightened minds who by virtue of circumstances, found themselves preaching the gospel on the altar.

Also, we will be developing the youth because they are the future. One of the things happening in Nigeria now is that you either have politicians circulating or recycling themselves. There is no development of the youth. Nothing much is being invested in youth development. That's why youths grab what they can because they feel there's no tomorrow, no future. The Church can make a difference by attracting government to see that we must not make things difficult because they are the future of this country.

What developments are ahead in the building of your ministry?
We just acquired about 1,000 acres of land along Lagos- Badagry Expressway purposely for primary, secondary schools and university. I have this burden in my spirit, that if we are able to raise up people educationally, there would be a future for the country. Although there are many schools, we don't have a school that has that future in mind.

The schools we plan to establish are schools that are heavily subsidized, such that if possible, people pay little or nothing to attend. This is because somebody has to make a sacrifice for the people to be rich, and that's why we're negotiating, for a property in FESTAC to establish nursery and primary schools. We know that the other one we've acquired is going to take longer process to achieve all. So, we can begin from here and what's happening in FEST AC will be a carryover on that one.

With this in mind, you set out with a people-oriented ministry?
God told me "Raise people, develop skills and build a nation." And when He said that to me, it was quite simple. He had to lead me into history, and I started studying the history of the nation. I've been able to come out and tell people that the way spirituality has been presented, is not connected with reality and the world at all.

" I explained that this is a system that's very corrupt. In this country, what people call bribery is not bribery. It is extortion, its money you're forced to pay against your wish in order to get what ordinarily you're supposed to get free..."

For example, one preacher came to our church and said, "Look, those of you who go into public offices and give bribe are going to hell fire. And the people were sad at the end of it. You know, that pastor is not connecting with the reality. I didn't allow him to go. I took the microphone and said, “Don't mind him, because he sits down in his office drinking tea and biscuits and carrying bible on his head, that is why he is saying this. I explained that this is a system that's very corrupt. In this country, what people call bribery is not bribery. It is extortion, its money you're forced to pay against your wish in order to get what ordinarily you're supposed to get free.

You know that files have been missing in Nigeria deliberately. I'm supposed to get my international passport for N5,OOO, but I may spend up to N20,OOO, to get it. If I have to pay only N5,OOO, I won't be able to travel out of this country, I mean now. Separate bribery from extortion, even in Bible days, there was extortion. The sin is not record against you, because it is a situation you're forced into against your will. Bribe is the money you give to pervert justice.

Also, I made it clear in my church, that if you go into an office and somebody shows you a little kindness, appreciate that kindness, the Bible says 'the gift of a man makes way for him.' Appreciate that gift. Like I told them in the church, I want to see people participate in governance. I want to see ministers, governors, in the Church. Infact, these people should be groomed in the Church so that they can go there and make a difference.

So, we're not just activists, but crusaders. We're trying to tell the world, look, you cannot exclude the Church from the reality of the world. The Church has a role to play in the nation's development.