In your own calculations, how would you access the year 2009 for the country Nigeria and the Church in Nigeria ?
Nigeria, in my view, has slid again in 2009. The facts are clear, still unable to provide the energy level for its people, universities were still shut for about 4 months in the year, the administration is clueless. For the church, it's difficult to make any meaningful assessment.

For 2010, what has the Lord shown you about the country?
We know that 2010 is going to be stormy for all and sundry. The scripture that came to me while preparing for 2010 was Mark 4: where Jesus told His disciples they were going over to the other side.

As a person, what major testimony do you have in 2009?
My understanding of testimony is slightly different from what I hear around me. Many are waiting for something to happen before they rush to church to declare it as a testimony. I understand testimony as the proceeding word of God that one is standing upon for fulfilment. I always have a testimony. Always. I have various testimonies in various aspects of life. Concerning my life assignment as a teacher and prophet, my testimony is crafted from Isaiah 50:4 – The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning, He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will.
For my protection, my testimony is Psalm 91. When the economy nose dived, I testify that
The Lord is my Banker, I shall not fail.
He makes me to lie down in gold mines.
He gives me the combination of His vault.
He restores my credit. He shows me how to avoid law
suits for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk in
the very shadow of debt, I will fear no evil, for God
is with me; His silver and His gold rescue me.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of
the creditors & bailiffs; He fills my barrels with oil
and my well with water. My measure runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy follow me all the days
of my life, and I do business in the name of the Lord.
The LORD be magnified who has pleasure in my prosperity.

There are feelings all over the place that the system has collapsed again in Nigeria. Is this feeling right?
System collapse in Nigeria is not a feeling but a fact. Check the indices: infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, life expectancy at time of birth, unemployment rate, poverty level, illiteracy level has deteriorated. Crime rate, electricity generation, level of infrastructure. The evidence is there to see around us.

... my take is that in a country where ignorance level is high, instructional teaching and preaching is what is required. Where people know what to do but need a bit of encouragement to do it, then motivation is necessary but where they don't even know, instruction is primary.

For believers in Christ, what advice do you have for them to tackle 2010 and be successful in a country like Nigeria where the system has collapsed?
I can share with them what the LORD showed me from His word, Mark 4:35-41 paints a good picture of how we should handle these troubling times. 35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)
What do we see in the picture?
i. Never get on any boat without Jesus. Make prayer a must in every decision – little or big
ii. Be careful what you say. Be mindful of His Word. He's very clear: You are getting over to the other side. Death and life are conveyed in words.
iii. When the storms rage, allow the peace of God to reign.
What do we know about peace?
Peace is not the absence of storms, turmoil or wars but the presence of the LORD in the boat as we make the journey.
i. Those who love God's Word enjoy great peace and nothing can make them stumble ( Psalm 119:165 )
ii. God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him ( Isaiah 26:3 )
iii. There is the peace of God which is beyond all understanding which keeps the heart and mind safe.
This peace enables you to operate on Higher Laws of Life. Let me explain. For centuries, Man lived with the basic law of gravity: whatever goes up comes down. For a very long time, Man was unable to fly until he discovered the Law of lift and aerodynamics which delivered him from the limitations of the Law of gravity. Now we know that there is a level that is beyond the gravitational pull of the earth. May you discover Laws that will free you from your present limitations.
Another example that comes readily to mind is the Law of sowing and reaping: whatever a man sows that will he reap. Really? But Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them”. Selah
Galatians 3:5 describes the Law of works and the Law of faith. Which of these does God use to perform miracles in our lives?
These higher Laws are embedded in the peace of God so they are beyond human understanding. May your heart be flooded, in the New Year, with divine light that will cause you to operate in these Laws and make you more than a conqueror in Jesus name.

If the Christians are the light of the world and Nigeria has these numbers of Churches, then why is the country the way it is? Has the Nigerian Church played its parts well? What percentage of blame can we place at the door steps of the church for the challenges we face in the country?
As I understand it, God has given the responsibility of preserving the earth to His church. He says to us: “You are the salt of the earth; You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father”. He has given us the responsibility of preaching the good news of His kingdom – the reign of God on earth. But as I see it many of the churches are busy preaching the gospel of heaven which does not make them very relevant on earth. Secondly the economic situation in Nigeria has made many, including those in the church very desperate and they have included in their Bible the saying ‘heaven helps those who help themselves'. It's clear to me that God will hold the church responsible for the decay in the society He has placed the church.

Some of the sermons one hears pander to the cultural bent of our people and not necessarily biblical truth. We eventually become what we hear. You therefore can determine the effectiveness of the sermons by looking at what people are becoming.

How do you assess the quality of sermons coming from Nigeria? Are the preachers saying the truths that could set me free? Are they preaching sermons that could save?
I was once asked if I was a motivational speaker. My response was ‘NO, I am not.' Don't misunderstand me. Nothing wrong in motivational speaking. But my take is that in a country where ignorance level is high, instructional teaching and preaching is what is required. Where people know what to do but need a bit of encouragement to do it, then motivation is necessary but where they don't even know, instruction is primary. Some of the sermons one hears pander to the cultural bent of our people and not necessarily biblical truth. We eventually become what we hear. You therefore can determine the effectiveness of the sermons by looking at what people are becoming.

A preacher said the current economic downturn in the world is not just a result of poor management of economies by man but a divine punishment of the world for being to far from God. Where do you stand on this divide?
Economic downturns have been with us from time immemorial. They are part of the structure of the fallen Man. In bible days, it was called famine and the Book tells us there were famines in those days. In fact Genesis 26 describes the famine in Isaac's days as distinct from that which occurred in the days of his father – Abraham. Whether they are God's punishments for idolatry or Man's poor management of economies, it's difficult for me to fathom. As we know it, at least since records began, there is always an element of man-made causes. The present one is obviously attributable to the greed of some of the operators of the economic engine and weak or poor regulatory framework and it is amplified by globalisation. My take is that since boom-bust cycle is a feature of our economic structure, we should work at minimising the effect of the bust when it happens. We should invest heavily in productive infrastructure during the good times.

The world was shocked recently when a Nigerian was caught in an attempt to bomb a plane. Were you shocked?
Terribly so. I have always thought, like Fela sang, Nigerians like life too much to contemplate suicide bombing? Generally when I travel and I'm subjected to bodily search, I jokingly say “You will never see a Nigerian suicide bomber. We love life too much to kill ourselves needlessly?” I have been proved wrong. It's a shame. Great shame.

What are your suggestions on tackling the Islamic insurgents all over the world, including your country Nigeria where Christians are being killed regularly in the North?
Recently, I started reading the Koran for myself to understand what is in it, if any, that motivates what we are seeing today? Maybe I might have an idea to suggest after I have finished. Meanwhile the current problems in the country should provide an opportunity to begin the discussion on the re-structuring of the federation.

You run an online programme called Lifeclass. What is the vision? What do you intend to achieve with it?
It's not only an online programme. We use online technology to facilitate what we do. LifeClass' vision is to make sense of life in the light of God's word. Our mission is to teach, train, impart the knowledge of God to build the person to affect unconscious underlying patterns in thoughts, behaviour and social interaction in a non threatening, interactive and stimulating atmosphere.

You were the pioneer pastor of KICC, Lagos Nigeria . Why did you leave the church to start another?
It is difficult for two people to walk, or serve, together, unless they are agreed.

In the Church you pastor, Strong Nation, what is the vision?
I no longer pastor. I stepped down in January 2006 to concentrate on my office as a teacher and prophet. This I do through LifeClass. I attend The Strong Nation as a member. It has a fantastic pastor, adeNiyi Adekunle. The vision is to build strong people and a strong nation under God.

Like it happens in so many churches in Nigeria, are you welcoming new converts or welcoming new members?
It's difficult to stop folks from transferring from other churches but TSN's emphasis is conversion.

What are the things you are doing differently from other churches that will attract non-believers to come over?
We are heavily involved in the local community. We support and sponsor a local football academy; we have ‘adopted' a local market where we organise health & medical programmes and we are also working closely with a local vocational training institute to up the standard. Our desire is that Matthew 5:16 be fulfilled: Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven .