By Wilson Adekumola
Second from left Dr. Larry Burke, Africa Director of Faith Comes By Hearing with other participants at the ceremony
About 124 ministers were given awards as the Lagos Scriptures Challenge 2.0 came to an end on Saturday, March 19. Several participants also shared testimonies of how the challenge impacted them.
The closing event which took place at the Agape Generation International Church, Mende-Maryland, attracted top church leaders from across Lagos and a few non-Nigerians
The Lagos Scripture Challenge 2.0 is a project of Faith Comes By Hearing. But it is being supported by the Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association, the Bible Society of Nigeria, and the Christian Association of Nigeria
It was designed to challenge Christians in Lagos to engage with the scriptures through the audio and video format, for forty-five days.
This is a follow-up to the 90-day scripture challenge which took place From August to October 2021 in Lagos.
Participants’ testimonies
Rev Toyin Kehinde, Senior Pastor Agape Generation International Church presenting award to one of the finalists
On the challenge, Onyeabo Princess who came from Ikorodu says, “it has really brought a lot of change to me in every area. It has really taught me about love, faith, and most especially prayer. With this challenge, I have been challenged to improve on my personal routine, and just as Jesus would pray all night I now always do the same so I could get closer to God.”
For Onyeogoh Godday Cyril The audio Bible was the real deal. “It has impacted me greatly. I listen to it while engaging in other activities. As a result of that, I am not limited as to when and how to read the Bible.
“The audio Bible has also assisted me to be able to pronounce names and words in the Bible that seemed difficult to me before.”
It changed our lives for good
Festus Jeniffer described the program as impactful, “It has really made me know a lot of things that I did not know about the word of God before now. I always have it in mind to read my Bible but I never get to do it except on Sunday. But with this challenge, I listen to the word of God every day.”
“It really changed my life for good,” said Okegbami David who is from the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos.
He said before he was introduced to the App he did not know so much about Bible. “But from the day my pastor introduced the app to me, my interest in the Bible has increased.. I now know almost everything in the Bible that I need to know.”
On the challenge, Onyeabo Princess who came from Ikorodu says, “it has really brought a lot of change to me in every area. It has really taught me about love, faith, and most especially prayer. With this challenge, I have been challenged to improve in my personal routine, and just as Jesus would pray all night I now always do the same so I could get closer to God.”
Audio Bible the real deal
For Onyeogoh Godday Cyril The audio Bible was the real deal. “It has impacted me greatly. I listen to it while engaging in other activities. As a result of that, I am not limited as to when and how to read the Bible.
“The audio Bible has also assisted me to be able to pronounce names and words in the Bible that seemed difficult to me before.”
Festus Jeniffer described the program as impactful, “It has really made me know a lot of things that I did not know about the word of God before now. I always have it in mind to read my Bible but I never get to do it except on Sunday. But with this challenge, I listen to the word of God every day.”
“It really changed my life for good,” said Okegbami David who is from the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos.
He said before he was introduced to the App he did not know so much about Bible. “But from the day my pastor introduced the app to me, my interest in the Bible has increased.. I now know almost everything in the Bible that I need to know.”
Lagos Scripture challenge 2.0
The challenge began with 62 training sessions for 380 facilitators drawn from 362 churches. The available record shows Pastor Moses Adeoye mobilized 40 churches, Bishop Sunday Adeyemi, 23 churches, and Pastor Samuel Adeosun, 16 churches from December 2021 to January 2022.
Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) freely provided all the audio and video recordings and devices used during the full campaign. NEMA was responsible for the mobilization, recruitment, and administration of the project on the ground while the BSN freely gave access to the text, audio, and video in the Nigerian Bible App and other related devices.
The Lagos chapter of CAN provided the necessary moral and spiritual support also granting participants direct to all churches under CAN in Lagos State.
Youtube channel
A new YouTube channel tagged, “ The Nigeria Scripture Challenge” is now to replace the first edition YouTube known as “The Lagos 90 Days Scripture Challenge”.
During the challenge, emphasis was placed on the use of audio and video scriptures in the local languages in Lagos with the use of special apps and Devices.
It was divided into three phases. Phase one took place from February 2-16. The Bible was explored in Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and English (KJV and ESV).
About 380 WhatsApp groups were created for the 380 trained facilitators during the challenge.
Nigeria Bible App was downloaded by participants. Every day for 15 days, they listened to daily scriptures on the App in the language of their choice while a trained facilitator, led discussions on what they listened to
Only groups that held daily discussion every single of the 15 days qualified to receive a ‘Proclaimer’ which qualified them for the second phase of the project.
Dr Burke and collaborating partners with Faith Comes By Hearing on the Lagos Scripture Challenge 2.0
The second phase
The second phase commenced Februray18 to March 4. About 162 facilitators from 153 Churches across Lagos qualified for the phase and each received a free ‘proclaimer’.
Members listened to the scriptures on the ‘Proclaimer’ in the language of their choice for 15 days. The daily discussion was led by trained facilitators at different physical locations (churches, homes, schools).
In the third phase which took place from March 6-20, the Bible was projected in video format. Participants had the opportunity of having real-life experience of the scriptures in languages of their choice.
About 130 facilitators from 123 Churches qualified for this category and each received a free ‘acclaimer’ (projector and tablet). Members watched the ‘acclaimer’ for 15 days in the languages of their choice.
At the end of the challenge, 124 facilitators from 115 churches qualified for the final.
From RIght, Bible Society of Nigeria General Secretary, Pastor Samuel Sanusi wiht some other participants at the closing ceremony
Alimosho and the challenge
The country director of FCBH, Nicholas Okereke said, “the 162 active WhatsApp groups containing a total population of 5657 participants. 77% of all the WhatsApp group participants were located in Lagos State and 14.8% in Ogun State.
“A total of 22 States in Nigeria were represented in the WhatsApp groups with some participants from outside Nigeria. The Local Government Areas in Lagos with the highest representation were Alimosho (14.8%), Ifako-Ijaiye (11.3%), and Ikorodu (11%).
He said about 19% of the “Proclaimer” listening groups were found outside Lagos (Ogun State). Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Ikorodu were the Local Government Areas in Lagos that have the highest number of ‘Proclaimer’ Listening groups.
“Over 1255 people met daily around the “proclaimer” and majority of outreaches took place on roadsides, in markets, and in schools.”
Okereke informed further that about 742 people surrendered their lives to Christ during phase two of the challenge adding that “during the phase 3 outreaches, at least 18% of all “Acclaimer” watching groups were outside Lagos (Ogun State). Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Ikorodu were also the highest number of “Acclaimer” watching groups.
He revealed that not less than 663 people gave their lives to Christ in this phase.
At the event, each facilitator received a certificate of completion. The free ‘KULUMI’ containing both the trauma healing materials and the audio scriptures in local languages will be given at the end of another training billed for May this year.
Live by the word- Lagos PFN chair
Lagos State PFN Chairman, Enyinanya Okwuonu urged successful participants to live the word rather than being mere hearers.
Okwuonu who was represented by Apostle George Anselm, Chairman, Ejigbo/Isolo Province of the PFN said the word of God is important in all their dealings.
He said, “There cannot be revival until the word of God takes root in the lives of the people. Charisma cannot do it. Personality cannot do it. Influence cannot do that. What the Lagos Scriptural Challenge 2.0 has done to me personally cannot be overemphasized.
“I feel fulfilled. It answers that question of taking the word of God to the people and awakening the consciousness of the word in the life of every believer. In fact, the Lagos Scripture Challenge has really impacted me tremendously.
“On behalf of the State Chairman of PFN who sent me, I want this program to be given more prominence. When I get back I will give the feedback based on the impact and testimonies I have witnessed here today. Many churches may not have joined now but in the next ten years, Christians in Lagos will be a misfit if he has not passed through the Lagos Scripture Challenge. I want every province to get on board. Alimosho is getting the upper hand now but watch it Ejigbo/Isolo is coming.” He added.
Rev, Toyin Kehinde, Senior Pastor of Agape Generation International Church, told participants to continually give themselves to the ministry of the word and prayer.
Participants at the event
Present at the event were: Rev. Gunnar Magi, Church Relations Manager, United Bible Societies, based in Estonia, Dr. Larry Burke, Africa Director of Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH).
Dr. Alemayehu Hailu, East/South Africa Director of FCBH based in Ethiopia, Engr. Lazare Lukute, Coordinator of FCBH, DR Congo and Central Africa, Pastor Samuel Sanusi of Bible Society Of Nigeria (BSN) were also there.
Also present were Pastor Moses Adeoye Hezekiah, Secretary of Lagos CAN, Inspector David Akinbolure from the Police Fellowship, Ogun State, and Evang. Edwin Ebeniro of Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) Mr. Lanre Oguntuase Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) Coordinator, Mr. Blessing Aluko, FCBH Ministry Digital Coordinator among others.