By Dayo Emmanuel
Participants at the March fellowship of Journalists for Christ (JFC) shared a series of personal testimonies, highlighting faith, divine intervention, provision, and perseverance in both professional and personal journeys.
The fellowship, which brought together media professionals and Christian faithful, provided a platform for attendees to recount experiences they described as evidence of God’s guidance and intervention in their lives, held at the hall of Journalists Against AIDS, Nigeria in Lagos with participants from various media houses.
Theme of the fellowship was Give to Gain: Give support, gain Imparts: Bible Takeaways for Media Leaders/Organisations
Academic barrier broken
Leading the testimony session was Yinka Fadare, Assistant Editor-in-Chief at the News Agency of Nigeria, who narrated how she overcame a prolonged academic challenge.
“I’m doing a course in Abeokuta and I was going to write a term paper. For about two months, I’ve been battling with how to start the methodology and everything. I didn’t know what to do. I was like, I feel like abandoning the program,” she said.
Fadare explained that her turning point came after she raised the issue during a Wednesday prayer meeting of JFC.
“So when I came on the call on the Wednesday prayer meeting, I raised the prayer point. The next day after the prayer, I traveled to Abeokuta, and I met one of our senior lecturers. We sat down, and I discussed with him what I was encountering. Then within a space of two to three hours, he took me through the methodology and it opened up my mind.”
Reflecting on the experience, she added, “If I had known, I would not have kept this thing to myself. Instantly, that was how I got the key to writing the term paper. I just thank God for this.”
Fire incident averted
Also sharing her experience was Amina Hassan, an educator and school proprietor, who recounted what she described as a divine warning that helped avert a potential fire outbreak.
“Few days ago, I had a premonition about fire outbreak, that there was about to be a fire outbreak. There was nothing that should bring about fire in the building, but I kept praying in the Spirit. The feeling was so strong, so I switched off the gas cylinder,” she said.
Hassan explained that although she initially dismissed the intuition, events that followed confirmed her fears.
“The next day, I forgot about the intuition. Then I sat in a place in the classroom. I’ve never sat there in that particular place. I sat there for two hours. Then I saw smoke coming from somewhere. If I had gone into the room, I wouldn’t have seen the smoke. That was how it was put off. I thank God for the intervention.”
Miraculous admission
Another participant, Mrs. Ihejirika, testified about what she described as an answered prayer concerning her daughter’s admission into the law school.
“I feel so honored and privileged to be here. I thank God during the last fellowship, I prayed about my daughter studying law,” she said, noting that her family had faced uncertainty over the admission process.
“My daughter graduated in law final year in Abia State University, there was a confusion. A lot of the law graduates from that school found it difficult to go to law school because there are people from other sets that have not gone,” she explained.
Despite the situation, she said the family remained steadfast in prayer.
“To the glory of God, when she searched her name, it was on the first list that gained admission into the law school.”
She continued that the family also desired a specific posting location.
“We were trusting God she would come to Lagos for her Law school, we had no connection, no exchange, nothing. Other parents were doing things. I was panicking. She wanted to go to Law school in Port Harcourt, but we decreed Lagos in prayer… Join me to praise God. Her name was out for Lagos.”
Supernatural provision
Publisher of Church Times Nigeria, Gbenga Osinaike, in his testimony, expressed gratitude for good health and sustained provision despite financial uncertainties.
“Throughout last year I can’t remember having any issue with my health… God has actually delivered me. God has helped me to overcome,” he said.
Osinaike also spoke about his work experience.
“By next year, it’s going to be 20 years I have been without salary, but with salary from heaven. The last two years I have been bombarded with projects that demand time, but God has helped me to handle the pressure. Praise the Lord.”
Unexpected funding opportunity.
In his remarks, the President of JFC, Lekan Otufodunrin, recounted how a funding opportunity emerged unexpectedly for a project.
“I thank God for provision. Sometime last year, I was thinking about major career work we are doing. We’re not getting grants. I sat down and started itemising where we can get grants. My mind went to an organisation I felt could support,” he said.
Otufodunrin explained that he reached out to a contact within the organisation.
“She responded that I should send a proposal. Then I sent it to her. I put in a budget. She said it was okay. Later, they said it was outside when they give such grants but because it was me, they approved a smaller budget that I requested for the project but I thank God for the favour.”
Divine provision
Another member, Mr. Chika Abanobi, also shared a testimony centered on provision, particularly in meeting a pressing financial need.
“God has been faithful meeting my needs. I’m also not on salary, but God has been faithful to me. Sometimes I had a problem of paying my house rent, I was afraid. I didn’t know where it would come from,” she said.
He narrated how an unexpected opportunity led to the exact provision he needed.
“While I was at home, the call came through my cousin… She asked if I could spare one more day to oversee some people working for her. We went to buy building materials and things went well. Some days after, she sent me some money, and what surprised me was that the money she sent was exactly the amount for my house rent. I thank God for this.”
Chaplain of JFC, Pastor David Alabi, reflected on his long-standing Christian journey, marking a significant milestone.
“This March 14th makes it exactly 40 years of my journey with Jesus Christ. God is faithful. I thank God today that I’m alive, 40 years after making a decision to follow Jesus Christ,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenges associated with the faith journey.
“It is not an easy journey. So many people I met on my journey are no more today. I know some who have fallen off on the journey of faith but I thank God.”
God’s hand in tragic times
Rounding off the testimonies, Mr. Tunde Abatan, publisher of New Dawn, a news website, offered words of encouragement, reflecting on personal loss and resilience.
“Mine is an encouragement. Thank God that since I gave my life to Christ, I’ve never had any cause to look back,” he said.
Abatan, who lost his wife 13 months ago, spoke about coping with the loss.
“Her departure was dramatic, but after her departure, every other thing was just so normal. When my children ask me how I’ve been coping… I always tell them to take care of themselves. God is in charge.”
Drawing from family history, he added, “I always remember my mother stayed for 41 years after my dad’s departure. I want to encourage all of us… always rely on God, and He will always make a way.”
The testimony session of the fellowship ended on a note of gratitude and renewed faith, as participants reflected on the shared testimonies as a source of encouragement and spiritual strengthening.