Bishop (Dr.) Adio Adewale Obanijesu Peter, beams humanitarian acts to the world. A Nigerian God’s General based in South Africa, popularly known as Bishop Obanijesu is a unique gift from Africa to the world. At all curves, he has gone beyond preaching the good news to demonstrate the humanitarian side of the Gospel. He is the Founder/President of Christ Ever Reigns Chapel International worldwide. He is a Christian leader who believes in the power of prayers and giving. He has in the last three decades dedicated himself to charitable causes that have seen him touching thousands of lives. He was visited by Ralph Akindele, Special Projects Coordinator of Noble International and had a chat together on how his life has moved from grass to grace.
Who is Bishop (Dr.) Adio Obanijesu Peter?
Bishop Adio Adewale Obanijesu Peter was born into an Islamic family. I was born on 28 June 1965, to Mr. Taimiyu Salako Shoneye and Mrs. Taibat Shoneye.I became a born again in 1987 and I answered God’s call in 1989 , so I have been in the ministry by God’s since 35years ago. I mean full time ministry.
Can you let us into a profile of your life?
Like I said earlier, I was born into an Islamic family. An incident occurred in 1987 when I still staying at Ilengba -Awori under Oojo Local Government, Lagos State. I was staying with my with my step sister. I was a devoted Muslim and I observed my ablution daily without missing any. I was really serving Allah ,yet I was suffering. One day, I told myself that my life must have a turnaround for positive by fire by force. So, I decided to have a serious Communications with Allah. I decided to pray in Islamic way from 7pm to 5am.I was reciting a verse from Quran .I recited it 3000 times and finished at 4.30 am. I lay down on the bed and had a knock at the door which I thought was my friend. I told him to come inside because it was normal for one of us to cook for each other when one wasn’t around. I told him to come in, even making a jest of him not knowing that he was not the person that was knocking. I saw a man in white garment .The only thing I could remember from all he said was John 14: 6, which says ,I am the truth ,the way and the light , nobody comes to the father expect through me and that you have seen me. To be sincere, those days I was an Islamic fanatic. I was so confused not knowing what to do, Through my girlfriend then, I met Oga Afi-Adura Jagun (Prayer warrior master).I narrated my revelation to him and he said “Take it or leave it, Jesus has called you into His Vineyard.” He said all my suffering would end if I accept Him as my Lord and personal Savior. He also told me to fast for seven(7) days .As a Muslim, fasting wasn’t a problem. That day was the first time in my life that I did dry fasting. That commenced my Christianity journey. From that encounter, I joined Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim,Itigbin, Oojo Local Government, Lagos
What are the challenges you faced when you commenced your ministry and how did you overcome them?
Hmm! I have never seen a sincere and genuine calling without a challenge .These challenges are also part of what God uses to elevate His own. I was in C & S Church from 1987 – 1994. Despite the hardship in the church, God used the Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim to train me as a soldier of Christ. I commenced with a Diploma to Ph.D. degree because I had already determined to seek for more knowledge. It was as a result of persecution that led to the founding of Christ Ever Reigns Chapel International. The church was founded in July 16, 1995, the day I left C & S Church. The ministry started in a dusty corridor of 7 by 15 feet.
What informed you the name of the ministry “CHRIST EVER REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL?
This is the story I always love to share .I got the name when I was still attending the C&S church. God used me to form a powerful group called SUCCESS PRAYER MEETING. Because I had joined Bible College, this caused issues between me and my Pastor Jimmy Adedotun Emmanuel. He still Is my father in the Lord to date. But because of the Bible College I was attending ,the program was hijacked, I was not given any role to play thinking I wanted to use it to commence my ministry. There was a day I was re – given an opportunity to minister. The revival was renewed because success prayer meetings was my vision and dream through God’s Inspiration. There is no way you can do it better than the visionary, as I finished the ministration ,I entered the office and sat down .I was thanking God for His power and success of the prayer meeting. I just heard the name ever reigns but I didn’t have the knowledge of what was happening .Rev. Olatokunbo was also around ,I told him that I was hearing ever reigns .He just told me that, that was the name of the ministry, but it would not be me who reigns but Christ. He advised me to use Christ Ever Reigns Chapel as the name of the ministry. The day we were 16 members in one Sunday service, we were rejoicing and rolling on the floor thanking God that he is enlarging our ministry. I heard a voice that said ,because you are 16 numbers and you are thanking me, I will make your ministry to be known worldwide. That was how international was included, Christ Ever Reigns Chapel International.
Must a pastor attend Bible College?
The Bible says, my people perishes for lack of knowledge. Many people don’t know that there is a difference between anointing and knowledge. I am not against people who say Pastors must not attend Bible College but they need to be encouraged and understand the role of knowledge in rightly dividing the word of God.As God’s general, you need the two to balance your ministry. Knowledge is very important because it is powerful and is light.
What were the mandates given to you by God when you commenced your ministry?
We call our mandates 5 pillars. We are less concerned because Holy Spirit will securely take control through the word, faith, power of prayers, giving, the fifth was that we are passionately concerned about, church planting.
As a Nigerian ,how would you describe serving God in Nigeria and South Africa?
Laugh! Serving God in Nigeria is so awesome It’s a honeymoon and excellent. I am saying that we will have a better Nigeria, although I don’t know how, but it will surely happen.
But in South Africa, I am sorry to say this, they are spoilt, they have credible leaders that cater for the citizens. Hardly can you see an untarred road in South Africa. It is very difficult to preach to someone that has everything and still accepts Jesus Christ. It takes extraordinary work and efforts. When the service ends, they wait for you to take them back home or give them transportation fees.
Sir, as a man of Prayer and Praises, what has both Prayer and Praises done in your life and ministry?
God is using our Ministry tremendously to populate the kingdom of light and depopulate the kingdom of darkness, through fervent prayers. We believe so much in Prayer and Fasting as no miracle cannot happen without fasting and prayer. If you kneel and pray to God, it is very difficult to kneel before men. Through fasting and prayer, God has raised men from rags to riches in our ministry according to Isaiah 2:8, God says He will raise up the poor out of the dust and inherit the throne of glory. We don’t commercialize the gospel as we believe solely on Prayer, Fasting and Praises.
Daddy, as God’s General that has seen it all in the ministry, what has life taught you?
Life has taught me to be humble because God doesn’t honor your status or title. God honors people that are humble. Even Jesus Christ was so humble during His earthly Ministry to the extent that He washed His disciples’ feet. Life has taught me that no condition is permanent. I was not born with a silver spoon.
I will also say maybe because of the Holy Spirit, I am not joyful whenever I see people in positions to help but they are not helping.
As a successful man of God, what does Success mean to you?
Well, some people believe that success is when you are financially capable, but to me, there is no success without a successor .To me, success is impacting in people’s life.
Where do you see Christ Ever Reigns Chapel International in the next 10 years?
Laugh! By God’s grace in the next 10 years, if Jesus tarries to come, we want to continue to raise soldiers for Christ and impact in people’s life . In our camp ground along Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, we have en-mapped land from Crèche to university llevel. Even a portion of land for hospital has been en-mapped . We want to give back to the society, as we know that education is vital in human life. So, in the next 10 years, CERCI will be well represented globally through our genuine teaching of the word of God.
What is your favorite verse in the Bible as God’s General that has read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation?
Wow! I have two major verses that I love so much.
In 1 Sam. 2: 8, God He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, To set them among princes, And to make them inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, And he hath set the world upon them. I got Psalm 2:8 which says ask of me , I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth you possession. I got this revelation when I was still attending the C &S church.
How do you think a Christian can hear God’s voice and differentiate it from the devil’s voice?
What God just needs from His Child (Christian) is attention. Until you give God attention, He will never give you directions When a Christian allows God to totally rule his/her life, he/she will get His voice right. To differentiate between God’s voice and the devil’s voice is so simple. God will never contradict His written word, the Scriptures.
Why do you think countries like China and Singapore have made rapid progress in human development and technology even though they do not believe in God as we Africans?
Remember that God gives everyone the right to think and choose either from positive or negative. He gives us the brain to think but the developed nations are using it to develop themselves, whereas in Africa we are highly selfish and callous. We love to be oppressors with our power, wealth and fame.
How can you prove the existence of Jesus Christ without using the Bible verse?
Jesus Christ is not only existing but alive without reading the Bible. If we can see what Jesus Christ is doing in people’s lives, we would know that Jesus is alive. Through my experience as a man of God, I have seen a dedicated drug addict that suddenly stopped drug addiction without being preached to. He stopped addiction through the word of God that penetrated him. Majority of people God is using for us in our ministry were once people who believed that nothing good could come out of them but through prayer and the word of God , they are champions and personalities today.
As a man of God that has been in ministry for over three decades, what messages have you preached that you can say they were the best?
You don’t just wake up in a day and want to preach a particular message. Messages come from God to meet certain people. But there are some messages you preach as a minister that you will not forget because people will surely come to you and appreciate you for the message preached. The purpose of every message is to populate the kingdom of light and depopulate the kingdom of darkness.
What message do you have for young Pastors?
Calling is not a matter of personal ability but availability. As a young Pastor, if you are so sure of your calling, do not derail but be steadfast in the Lord. Do all the necessary things you can do in accordance to the Lord. Grow in Spirit, but as for those that believe that the avenue to acquire quick wealth is to establish a Church, there is a reward for them. The problem we are having in the Christendom today is that everybody wants to be an Apostle without being a disciple.
Who can you refer to as your role model?
The founder of Faith Christian Theological Seminary, Sango Ota,,Ogun State. Late Rev. Samuel Ige Olumide .He sponsored my Christian education without knowing me from Adam .I mean from diploma to doctorate level. He invested heavily in me. He was a man of prayer and Apostle Paul of his life.
When we lost him, I realized that I had to forge ahead because if you want to go far in life, you must get a father (mentor) . I got close to Bishop Taiwo Akinola who is President/Founding Pastor – General of Rhema Christian Church & Tower International with headquarter in Sango Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria and branches worldwide. I also listen to Bishop David Oyedepo’s messages and read his books. Pastor E. A. Adeboye is also on the list as a God General because of his humbleness.
As a God General that has a Church both in Nigeria and South Africa, what message do you have for Nigerians residing in South Africa?
I am not encouraging xenophobic attacks to other nations from South Africans. I am also not justifying other African nations, to do so.
In Yoruba there is a proverb that says, “Ti sunkanmi ba kan ogiri, aja a lewo ( if you push me to the wall end and I find no escape route ,I will find something to defend myself). I want to advise Nigeria immigrants not only in South Africa but in other countries to be good ambassadors. They must not be involved in illegal business. Don’t forget that South Africa’s background is apartheid. Their best way to settle any matter is through violence. What do you think of a lad that was 6 years old when his parents were killed in his presence to do?
I am also appealing to the visitors to be tolerant. I thank God that through the church, the bridge is getting closed.
What advice do you have for Nigerians as we are under new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
I must say the bitter truth, Nigeria is gradually returning to a democratic system. He truly understands politics.
Before the election, I was praying to God to give us His best.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a confirmed democrat. He was trained by late Chief M. K. O. Abiola and Co. while Alhaji Abubakar Atiku is also a democrat trained by late Shehu Musa Yaradua.
We should be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
