[caption id="attachment_32140" align="alignright" width="678"] Kumuyi:“A man of no decision is a man of no value, no stamina. Decision makes or mars a man. It is the decision that makes the man; it is indecision that breaks the man.”[/caption] By Kazeem Ugbodaga. The atmosphere was sober; thousands have their souls lifted up to heaven in praise and worship to God. From the dais, stood a man, ministering in songs to the large congregation. They were held spellbound; there was no dull moment as everyone was in the spirit of worship and praise. The songs were accompanied by a trumpet, a musical instrument which the singer played. This was a scene from the Lagos City-wide Crusade held at the Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria recently. The crusade is being packaged by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM, in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN. The man on the dais was no other person than foremost gospel artist, Nathaniel Bassey. Bassey displayed his skills in the use of the trumpet in worship and praise to God and to lead people to Christ. One of the popular songs he played with the aid of the instrument was his classic: “Book of Life,” where he constantly harped on the need for everyone to have his or her name in the Book of Life as the only condition to be allowed entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. For one’s name to be in the book of life, Bassey demonstrated with the trumpet what they should do by playing the popular song, “Pass me not, O Gentle Saviour, hear my humbly cry.” With Bassey’s exit from the pulpit, the Deeper Life orchestra took the stage to render spectacular choruses, displaying the use of the trumpet. [caption id="attachment_32143" align="alignright" width="829"] Deeper Life Choir ministering at the Agege crusade [/caption] In Agege Crusade held at the Cocoa Playing Ground, off Akilo, Ogba, the PFN choir displayed their talent as they rendered the popular song, “He’s Coming, Hallelujah.” The Deeper Life children choir and the adult choir also joined in the songs. That was after the police band had entertained the congregation in choruses and dance. At the UNILAG Crusade, another gospel artiste, Frank Edward, was invited to thrill the large congregation at the event as he displayed his talent in songs as the congregation moved along by dancing and wiggling their waists to the rhythms of the rendition. In Oshodi, Gospel musician, Evangelist Ojo Ade held the congregation spellbound as he led them in praises and worship to God. He also displayed his talent in the use of musical instrument which he played while singing on stage. Another gospel artiste, Evangelist Bola Are and her group took time to render praises to God while the congregation danced to the rhythms of the songs. People defiled the heavy downpour to render praises unto God. The Deeper Life orchestra also thrilled the large crowd with impressive worship songs and choruses, accompanied with the trumpets. However, the crusade, held in several areas of Lagos had been great in ushering thousands of souls into the kingdom of God, with social vices taken away from the lives of people. The essence of the crusade has been the transformation of lives, which has been the hallmark of the event so far. [caption id="attachment_32144" align="alignright" width="250"] Nathaniel Bassey[/caption] In Oshodi, the participants were in ecstasy, even in the rain, and walked through flood and mud, just to have an encounter with Jesus. At the venue of the crusade, which was jam-packed, the participants deliberately refused to be discouraged by the heavy downpour, as they considered the programme a lifetime opportunity. They stood in the rain, holding on tenaciously to their conviction of maximising the opportunity of the crusade. Some of them said the rain was divinely engineered to pour extraordinary blessings upon them. Their resolve might have been bolstered by the choir’s rendition entitled, “Shout, for the Victory Has Been Won”. Over a thousand participants trooped out to surrender their lives to Christ during an “altar call”. They dared the flood; making the day, as Pastor Kumuyi said, “a remarkable day, a day of reference and day they will never forget.” [caption id="attachment_32145" align="alignright" width="900"] A crowd of participants at the Agege crusade[/caption] In Yaba, the participants, who included Uduak Inyang-Udoh, director of Academic Planning Unit (APU), and Sola Akeredolu, chairman of Joint Christian Management Committee, both of Yabatech, could not hide their excitement of being present at the programme. Inyang-Udoh, who represented Mrs. Margaret Ladipo, the Rector of the institution, noted that he had concluded not to miss out, saying: “Personally, I am excited because I see this as a lifetime opportunity.” Akeredolu, who had kept tabs on the activities of the crusade in Lagos since it started, not only encouraged himself, but also others, prior to Pastor Kumuyi’s ministration, saying: “Be ready to catch the blessings”. The participants, true to their expectation, experienced diverse manifestation of God’s power. Kumuyi, in his message at Yabtech, entitled, “Decision that Activates Supernatural Power,” hinged the predicament of majority of people on their preference to dwell in the valley of indecision, calling on them to escape from God’s wrath through repentance of sins. While noting that taking a decision should be a personal, practical and purposeful issue, the cleric said: “A man of no decision is a man of no value, no stamina. Decision makes or mars a man. It is the decision that makes the man; it is indecision that breaks the man.” In Agege, which witnessed unquantifiable testimonies, Pastor Kumuyi, in his message entitled, “The Supernatural Beginning of a Better Future,” charged Nigerians to shun night club, cultism and other social vices as these could be destructive to their lives. He also urged Nigerians to surrender their lives to Jesus who has the power to break negative habits and lifestyles, adding: “You would have gone to school, but night club will not allow you; you would have earned money but roaming about will not allow you. People could not get the original plan, which God has for them, because there has been a derailment. Satan, the society and sin conspired to derail your life with the cooperation of self. Your destiny, which has been in the hand of Satan, the society and sin, will be taken back. All the things that Satan, the society and sin have planted in your life shall be broken. God has a masterpiece for your life, but an enemy has been so destructive in your life with bad habits.” [caption id="attachment_32146" align="alignright" width="559"] Evangelist Ojo Ade mistering at the crusade[/caption] He added: “That place where you engage in occult practices, drunkenness, sucking of blood, adultery, robbery and others is not a place of rest because they will destroy you. You must not remain in sin. Awake and put on a new strength. Rise up from that evil and come to the saviour and something good will come to your life. All that Satan has planted in your life to make you miss God’s plan for you will be taken away tonight. A glorious beginning is starting in your life today. You must cooperate with God by rooting out those things.” After Kumuyi’s prayer, Okon Bassey testified of God’s favour. According to him, on 18 March, 2008, he had stroke and could not walk again. Since then, he had gone to many hospitals without getting any solution to his problem. But after the prayer, he claimed that he received healing and could walk. Abasi Emmanuel Obu disclosed that he was deeply involved in Olumba cult and was a member of the 144 Virgin Group of the cult. But he got converted in June, 2015, when Kumuyi held a crusade in Port Harcourt. Consequent upon his conversion, Obu submitted his shrines for destruction. At the crusade held at Agege, he received a phone call from home that strange things were happening in his house in Calabar and that the satanic objects, which were deposited there, were falling and getting destroyed. Also, Idowu Agida, who, two months ago, had high blood pressure from which he became paralysed both legs and hand, also claimed to receive divine touch. Prior to his deliverance, he could not walk. He was carried to the crusade ground by two persons. But after the prayer, the miraculous power of God touched him and he became completely healed. Now, he could walk by himself. Mrs. Ngozi Okpara, who used to work with a milk company, claimed that in 2008, when she was in her office, she had a spiritual attack, which not only affected her speech and breathing, but also affected her hands and leg. Since then, she had been in constant pain. She had tried all possible medication without any improvement. But after Pastor Kumuyi’s prayer at the crusade, she got healed. Oresile Kayode testified that, three weeks ago, he had stroke, which paralysed him and made him unable to walk. He had gone to hospital, but the problem remained unsolved. But after the prayer, he also got healed. [caption id="attachment_32147" align="alignright" width="400"] Evangelist Bola Are with her group, singing praises at the Crusade[/caption] Opeoluwa Ajayi said since 10 years ago, she had been partially blind with cataract, but she refused to undergo medical surgery, believing that Jesus would heal her. True to her faith, after Pastor Kumuyi’s prayer, she said she regained her sight. Also, Nathaniel Igabu said early this year, he had a strange swelling below his stomach. Since then, he had been on self-medication, but after the man of God’s prayer, the swelling, according to her, vanished. Adetunji Michael, a year ago, had vehicle accident, which affected his spinal cord. Since then, he could only walk with the aid of a stick. He had gone to an orthopedic hospital where he was slated for an operation, but after the prayer, he said he could walk unaided. A 60-year old woman, who could only be identified as Imeuruike, could not walk without holding on anybody to lead her. The sickness started six months ago, according to her, and since then, she had been on drugs. But after the prayer, she claimed she could walk without anyone aiding her. Ms Anike Williams, for 13 years, had mental problem. But after the prayer, she said she became healed, while Miss Nkiru Nwalioba, who is 14 years old, was deaf and dumb for 12 years, but after the prayer, miracle took place in her life and, according to her, she could hear and talk. The Lagos City-wide crusade, which has spanned three weeks, will be rounded off on Sunday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.