Pastor Peter Aranonu is the Pastor-in-charge of New Message Gospel Ministries (Miracle Arena), Yaba, Lagos. The native of Nnewi-South Local Government Area shunned making cool bucks from secular job as a geologist and stockbroker to answer the call of God even when offered employment in an oil company. In a recent interview, he spoke about his call to the ministry.
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Born again
The journey started in 1992. Anytime I attened a crusade and they say those who want to give their life to Christ should come out, I will go out. It became an habit until 1999 when I came to the present church where I am. I started hearing sound word of God, it was then that sin started making meaning to me. Then, I realised heaven and hell are real.
Sin really became something I had to deal with, my life changed.
In the year 2002, I started a fasting programme, 21 days dry fasting programme. Before that time, I had applied to see the man of God, Bishop David Oyedepo, it wasn't easy, especially when he doesn't know me, I'm not a member of his church but I'm one way or the other affiliated to the church.
On the 10th day of the dry fasting, a call came where we were fasting with two other pastors that we've been cleared to see Bishop Oyedepo. I went with the pastors.
When we got there, (Winners Tower, Ipaja) one of the pastors came down and cross checked whether it was three of us. We didn't know we will see the man of God that day, suddenly the man of God appeared, he walked straight to me and said you are Peter. I was surprised. He laid hands on me and commissioned me, it was one of the wonderful experiences to cherish.
My present church is a wonderful church, they preach mainly on holiness and righteousness. The name of the general overseer is Dr. Charles Ujah and the wife is Dr. Princess Ujah, they are like parents to me, they nurtured me, guided, structured and ordained me.
That was how I got the commission. I basically tell God that I cannot be what I may call a yeye man of God. That there must be a sign and I so much needed a proof that I'm a man of God. I told God I wanted unique things to happen, something that will tell people yes! Because without signs and wonders Christianity is not functional.
Challenges
I never knew about people until I became a pastor. The greatest challenge of every man of God is the people. Moses faced that challenge in the wilderness. It's in the church that you have different categories of people. Some look innocent, some look pious but inside their heart is a different thing entirely. Some can dribble you, some can push you forward but our encouragement has always been in the Lord.
It was the people that brought Moses down, otherwise he would have continued the assignment. Every man of God should beware of the people.
The people are church members. It's easier to manage unbelievers than to manage the believing people. At times, these set of people know more than the pastors, they criticise, they find fault in all the pastors do, they can be very few, but very destructive few.
When you tell them thus says the Lord, they turn to say they didn't hear, but at the end of the day the spirit of God tends to make the difference in the life of every man of God. Who are the people? The congregation, the congregation can make or mar any pastor. But thank God for the grace God has given the pastors to manage such highly spiritual and very erratic congregation. Every congregation has them. They are highly intelligent, very spiritual but very erratic.
Signs and wonders
One important aspect of ministry that I want to talk about is signs and wonders. Without signs, God cannot be God and without signs, word and miracles there's no way a minister can claim that he's an elect of God. Signs must follow the word. If you preach and preach and there's no sign, it is just not enough.
Bible knowledge is good but where people just have knowledge of the bible is not good enough, signs must follow. I pray without touching people and they fall under anointing. Before, I used to think those things are stage managed but it's true.
I believe that people that criticize signs and wonders are people who are not gifted in that area. The first time I saw the power of God at work was in a service during the Holy Ghost ministration. I didn't touch anybody and people started falling under power.
The power is what determines ministry. No matter how intelligent a man of God is, what differentiates a minister is the power of God. Pastors nowadays become so knowledgeable and have intellectual knowledge of the bible but the power of God is not there.
How can you pastor a people for so many years and they keep on having the same problem? You keep promising them God will do it for 10, 15 years, check that ministry very well. There must be sign. A pstor must ask for the gift of sign and wonders, it is one of the gifts of the spirit.
You must solve people's problems, Jesus went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed. I believe strongly in signs and wonders and I thank God that I prayed and asked God to give me that gift of miracles which is one of the gifts of the Spirit and the Lord granted it.
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