indigenes and residents of Mgbidi, Emekuku, Orji, Awo-omama and Owerri in Imo State and Amorka and Ihiala in Anambra State were in a state of confusion when our correspondent visited the areas. They were not happy with the shift in venue of the yearly crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement in the first week of January from the South-East regional headquarters of the church at Umuaguma, Mgbidi to the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos State. They prayed for the change of venue to be reversed to the original venue by the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka.
Though no official of the church has admitted it, our correspondent gathered that the prevailing state of insecurity in the entire South-East region might have prompted the general overseer to move the crusade to Lagos as the fair of attacks and kidnapping of worshippers gained ground.
The venue for the crusade in Mgbidi is an expansive one. It is located at Umuaguma Mgbidi, which also accommodates the Chosen International Secondary School.
The Regional Resident Pastor of the church, Victor Chinedu, said the crusade was a four-day event, but could last up to a week as a result of the series of meetings that usually take place after the main events between the many units in the church and the general overseer.
He said the import of the spiritual event was for people to rededicate themselves to their creator at the beginning of each year, noting, “The crusade is a four-day programme. It is always done in the first week of every January of the year. The whole church gathers in Mgbidi in millions to rededicate themselves and dedicate the year to the Almighty.”
Chinedu, however, said the entire branches of the Lord’s Chosen Church in Mgbidi received the announcement of change of venue with mixed feelings.
He also said that the change of venue announced by the founder of the church was spiritual, adding that since he had said it, the congregation had no powers to change it.
The regional resident pastor stated, “Since he (Muoka) has announced it as a man of God, who speaks through the Holy Spirit, we don’t have powers to change it but abide. We shall all prepare to go to Ijeshatedo in Lagos and be part of the crusade in January 2022.
“I cannot tell you the reason for the change. Having been speaking through the Holy Spirit, the reason for the change is best known to the GO. The only advantage to that is that those Christians and members, who have not been to Lagos, will use the opportunity to visit Lagos.”
He, however, prayed for the venue to be changed back to Mgbidi for the people in the area to benefit from the spiritual exercise, adding, “It is not yet concluded that the venue is changed. Believing God, anything can happen on or before January 3, 2022.”
On the acquisition of the large expanse of land at Mgbidi for the crusade, the Vice-Principal (Admin.), Lord’s Chosen International Secondary School, Mr Chris Ochije, said it was the work of the Holy Spirit.
He said, “Pastor Lazarus Muoka is from the Orsu LGA in Imo State and not from Mgbidi. The crusade is all encompassing as it accommodates other Christians apart from Lord’s Chosen adherents. For him to have acquired such an expanse of land in Mgbidi shows that he is a real man of God, who wants to use the land to propagate the word of God.
“The present crusade started as a one-day event, later two days, then three days and finally four days.”
Another pastor and tutor at the secondary school, Ononuju Patrick, stated that the theme of next year’s crusade, ‘What God has determined shall be done’, had been the same since 2015, adding that before 2015, the theme had varied from one year to another.
“As a man of God, Pastor Muoka knows why this theme, which started in 2015, has remained the same. People have benefitted immensely from this theme and the crusade as many cripple had walked, the blind seen and the dumb spoke. As he directs, so we follow,” he added.
The indigenes, especially landlords, were not happy because during the four-day crusade, they usually made huge sums of money as they rented out their apartments to members of the large congregation who partake in the crusade. Food vendors were also not happy for the change, because of the huge sales during the event.
Mechanics described the crusade as another “Christmas” in January as they work on many motor vehicles that break down during the religious festival. Other indigenes and residents are also not happy because Mgbidi bubbles a lot during the event.
Hoteliers are not left out as their turnover will take a huge hit due to the absence of guests to take up the accommodation they offer to people who come from different parts of the country as well as from the United Kingdom, Dubai, France, Australia, Canada and Indonesia, among others, to participate in the spiritual exercise.
A resident of Ihitte Mgbidi, Mrs Jovita Ndimkoha, noted that the shift of venue would negatively affect the people.
Ndimkoha, a mother of four and a widow, said the crusades had in the past helped to better her life and those of her children.
“It is in that crusade that I make money as a food vendor to pay the second and third terms’ school fees of my children. I make a lot of sales during the crusade. But with this change of venue, how will I pay the school fees in 2022?” she queried.
A landlord, Chief Isaac Ndulue, who hails from Umuehi Mgbidi, regretted the change of venue, saying he was renting out accommodation to over 200 persons during the crusade.
“Members of the church always book accommodation ahead of time. I used to charge N5,000 per room for the period of the crusade. With this change in venue, I will lose lots of money and I don’t know when such windfall will come again,” he said ruefully.
A mechanic, Jude Isiocha, a native of Umuadobaihi Ihiala, regretted the change in venue as he used to make a lot of money during the period of the crusade.
He said, “The crusade time is when big Molue buses from Lagos come to the East. Since there are not many that specialise in the repair of that type of motor vehicle, I make a lot of money as many of them spoil. I am always busy during that period.
“Owing to that crusade, I come back from my village immediately on January 2 of every year so as to make money from the Lord’s Chosen congregation.”
For the traditional ruler of Alienyi Mgbidi, Eze Samuel Meghamobi, the change of venue of the crusade is not a step in the right direction.
The monarch said he had over the years benefitted from the crusade, stating, “I love the yearly spiritual exercise. Pastor Lazarus Muoka is a real man of God. Most times, I take my cabinet members to the event and even invite traditional rulers from other communities to attend the crusade. The spiritual exercise in no small measure has helped in the cleansing of Mgbidi land in particular and Imo State at large.
“I am not happy at the way the venue was changed, but Muoka being a man of God, knows why. Though I am not among those who do business or rent out houses during the crusade, the spiritual benefits I get from it are second to none. Even if the venue is changed from Umuaguma Mgbidi to Lagos, I don’t mind going to Lagos to be part of it.”
A hotelier in Owerri, Mr Chima Chukwunyere, said he would lose money as his hotel of many rooms was always filled up during the crusade.
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