From the leader's desk
Welcome to December, the last month of the year. Although it seems like yesterday when we celebrated the new year. I am very happy to congratulate you for making it to this time despite all the hindrances this year. You are victorious in Jesus name (amen).
By the grace given to me by God, I want to use this medium to express my profound gratitude to every member of Praise Family, Youth Ministries, and the entire church for your labourious toil in the master's vineyard this year.
You have laboured to steady the hands of leadership and to uphold the vision God gave to us at the beginning of the year- when the families came on-board.
It was very challenging at the beginning, but you laboured with us in prayer, finances, counsel, moral support, and above all you remained steadfast in your service to God;in your bid to maintain a growing relationship with God.
I therefore pray that God whom you have laboured in His vineyard, will not despise your labour of love.
He will bless you and wipe away your tears, straighten your hands for exploits as we journey ahead.
I wish you a merry Christmas,Remain blessed!!!
-Okechi-Gospel Okereke
Monday, December 20, 2010
READ N LEAD
By Emeka Anyaogu
One of the many reasons of publishing praise focus, is to improve our reading culture. But it is sad to note that some receive this leaflet and never bothered to read the content.
Obviously, we would rather see three seasonal movies than read a book.
A student once told me that 'reading was the hardest thing to do'.How ironical? Reading should be enjoyed as much as seeing a movie.
Benefits of reading.
✔ It gives confidence
✔ It increases the Intelligent Quotient
✔ It aids the human mind.
✔ It enhances creative abilities.
✔ It enables one to break new grounds and explore.
The benefits are endless. The saying that 'Readers are Leaders' can not be over emphasized.
Here are some tips on how to improve our reading culture.
Develop a curious mind
Increase your reading petite
Buy books and establish a personal library
Set reading goals and be zealous to attain them.
Practicing these tips will definitely make reading more enjoyable. Read vastly, no knowledge is a waste. You can fill leaflets like this for future references.
For more on Read and Lead, please visit our blog.
See you at the Top...
-Emeka Anyaogu
One of the many reasons of publishing praise focus, is to improve our reading culture. But it is sad to note that some receive this leaflet and never bothered to read the content.
Obviously, we would rather see three seasonal movies than read a book.
A student once told me that 'reading was the hardest thing to do'.How ironical? Reading should be enjoyed as much as seeing a movie.
Benefits of reading.
✔ It gives confidence
✔ It increases the Intelligent Quotient
✔ It aids the human mind.
✔ It enhances creative abilities.
✔ It enables one to break new grounds and explore.
The benefits are endless. The saying that 'Readers are Leaders' can not be over emphasized.
Here are some tips on how to improve our reading culture.
Develop a curious mind
Increase your reading petite
Buy books and establish a personal library
Set reading goals and be zealous to attain them.
Practicing these tips will definitely make reading more enjoyable. Read vastly, no knowledge is a waste. You can fill leaflets like this for future references.
For more on Read and Lead, please visit our blog.
See you at the Top...
-Emeka Anyaogu
THE CHALLENGES OF CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP
Reported by Favor Ezuma
It was an issue that has been swept under the carpet, bringing it up was sure a 'way forward'. The Praise Family plunged into the minds of the Youths, unravelling the challenges of Christian relationships.
The speaker, Bro. Sam Akighbe, talked about our relationship with God, and then with brethren.
It is an obvious fact that relationships among Christians, young and old is strained - with an aura of distance, which negates the real Christian relationship that existed in the Church described in the book of Acts.
He also spoke on retaining members in the Church via good relationships and healthy communication. Admonishing that we learn to show sincere brotherly love to one another.
Then, he let the floor open to the house. A Sister painfully narrated the ill reception she received on her first day in church and subsequent times. A brother, stated that 'he believes the issue of class is the backbone of this strained relationship in the church. Another lamented that 'some people are not just willing to be in talking terms with others. And yet another said ' he does not believe in the existence of 'class'. he asked,'how could one bridge the gap?'
Seeking solutions, the speaker responded that 'the culture to establish healthy relationship, is lacking in our midst'. Stating that if we remain in this state, the gap will grow wider.
The common saying,' common ground breeds common people', should encourage us to neglect the 'class' issue, because we are one family and common under God.
It was an issue that has been swept under the carpet, bringing it up was sure a 'way forward'. The Praise Family plunged into the minds of the Youths, unravelling the challenges of Christian relationships.
The speaker, Bro. Sam Akighbe, talked about our relationship with God, and then with brethren.
It is an obvious fact that relationships among Christians, young and old is strained - with an aura of distance, which negates the real Christian relationship that existed in the Church described in the book of Acts.
He also spoke on retaining members in the Church via good relationships and healthy communication. Admonishing that we learn to show sincere brotherly love to one another.
Then, he let the floor open to the house. A Sister painfully narrated the ill reception she received on her first day in church and subsequent times. A brother, stated that 'he believes the issue of class is the backbone of this strained relationship in the church. Another lamented that 'some people are not just willing to be in talking terms with others. And yet another said ' he does not believe in the existence of 'class'. he asked,'how could one bridge the gap?'
Seeking solutions, the speaker responded that 'the culture to establish healthy relationship, is lacking in our midst'. Stating that if we remain in this state, the gap will grow wider.
The common saying,' common ground breeds common people', should encourage us to neglect the 'class' issue, because we are one family and common under God.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Exploiting opportunity through potential discovery
By Angela O. Musa
We are indeed fortunete to be alive in the time when opportunies are vast.
The discovery of our God giving potentials will enable us to identify these opportunities.
WAYS TO DISCOVERY ARE POTENTIALS
Have a thought process of what you really want to be in life
Invest more time in the activities that give you a sense of meaning
Set goals for yourself and pursue them
Have burning desire to achieve your goal
Pray and ask God for a revelation of yourself (1 Cor. 2:12)
Believe in yourself
Never procrastinate
Confess positively (prov. 18:21)
Overcome fear
It’s pathetic to note that many die without discovery their potentials. It’s common saying that; ‘the greatest brain-banks are in the cemetery’. Discovery your potential today and be a plus to humanity.
We are indeed fortunete to be alive in the time when opportunies are vast.
The discovery of our God giving potentials will enable us to identify these opportunities.
WAYS TO DISCOVERY ARE POTENTIALS
Have a thought process of what you really want to be in life
Invest more time in the activities that give you a sense of meaning
Set goals for yourself and pursue them
Have burning desire to achieve your goal
Pray and ask God for a revelation of yourself (1 Cor. 2:12)
Believe in yourself
Never procrastinate
Confess positively (prov. 18:21)
Overcome fear
It’s pathetic to note that many die without discovery their potentials. It’s common saying that; ‘the greatest brain-banks are in the cemetery’. Discovery your potential today and be a plus to humanity.
Business Lunch Report
By Sam Akhigbe
Networking is the key tobusiness growth. –Daniel Mbato
It’s another eventful moment with the family on Sunday 28th November, when the cross section of the youth was hosted in a business lunch that lasted for 1:30 mins.
The quest s speaker Mr. Daniel Mbatu spoke extensively on principle of building a formidable business network. According to him, networking is the key to the growth and survival of any business, and the process begins by connecting people around you first, and as those ones connect with others the network begins to expand.
The audience listened with rapt attention as the speaker sighted the cases of Yemi and Demolar, His two friends who built their businesses from scratch to multimillion naira investment using the principle of business networking. He also stressed the importance of effective communication with client as a strategy for building a successful business, noting the principles will work for anyone if correctly applied
The program formally came to an end after the question and answer session which was followed immediately with sumptuous refreshment. During this period, participants were having a good time exchanging contacts and business cards. This secession again lingered on until past 6 o’clock as many were seen in groups discussing business interest with excitement on their faces.
The program was fun and excitement all the way, and we look forward to having another of its kind soon.
Networking is the key tobusiness growth. –Daniel Mbato
It’s another eventful moment with the family on Sunday 28th November, when the cross section of the youth was hosted in a business lunch that lasted for 1:30 mins.
The quest s speaker Mr. Daniel Mbatu spoke extensively on principle of building a formidable business network. According to him, networking is the key to the growth and survival of any business, and the process begins by connecting people around you first, and as those ones connect with others the network begins to expand.
The audience listened with rapt attention as the speaker sighted the cases of Yemi and Demolar, His two friends who built their businesses from scratch to multimillion naira investment using the principle of business networking. He also stressed the importance of effective communication with client as a strategy for building a successful business, noting the principles will work for anyone if correctly applied
The program formally came to an end after the question and answer session which was followed immediately with sumptuous refreshment. During this period, participants were having a good time exchanging contacts and business cards. This secession again lingered on until past 6 o’clock as many were seen in groups discussing business interest with excitement on their faces.
The program was fun and excitement all the way, and we look forward to having another of its kind soon.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
FROM THE LEADER'S DESK
THE CALLED-OUT-ONES, HOW CONSECRATED ARE THEY?
It is not a bogus claim to say that, a great percentage of professing Christians today are yet to experience the power of the gospel; in cases where they have, they are either carnal, lukewarm or backsliders, all because they fail to understand what this ‘Christianity thing’ is all about and also what the church represents.
The Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which is translated church simply means “the called-out-ones”-those who have had their sins forgiven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary. So, if the church is the called-out-ones, the question now is, where are we called out from? And to who are we called out to serve? We were called out of darkness (save from the penalty, power and future presence of sin) into His marvelous light (saved for God’s purpose and placed in His family-the church in which we express the likeness of His Son).
Believers are called unto consecration-unto God and unto holiness. By the way, consecration means to devote, separate, dedicate; give wholly over to God (Ex 28: 3, 4, 41; 29: 9, 33-35). So, how consecrated is the called-out-ones? Are we saved for nothing? Are we Christians by profession and not by character and practice? If Christianity is the life Christ in human person; I ask you, is Christ living in you? Enough of Churchianity and religiosity! If we have truly receive the life of Christ as we claim, then; where is holiness, where is purity, where is the righteousness of God that teachers us to say no to all form of ungodliness (Titus 2:11-15)?
Believers are the light of the world. Therefore, “let us live as children of light- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph 5:8,9). Paul the Apostle in 2Cor 6:14-7:1, enjoined every believer in Christ not to be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Brethren the truth is that we cannot enjoy the two worlds at a time, no not at all- you will either stand for God or against Him. Let us therefore cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Finally beloved as you go through the month of November do not fail for whatsoever reason, “to present your bodies as a living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.” This is the best service anyone can offer God- reason being that anything you do for God without holiness is frivolous and tantamount to nothing. Make up your mind even this month to do nothing else but to seek God out of a ‘pure heart’, because he who has called us is holy, we too must be holy for without holiness no eyes shall see God.
It is not a bogus claim to say that, a great percentage of professing Christians today are yet to experience the power of the gospel; in cases where they have, they are either carnal, lukewarm or backsliders, all because they fail to understand what this ‘Christianity thing’ is all about and also what the church represents.
The Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which is translated church simply means “the called-out-ones”-those who have had their sins forgiven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary. So, if the church is the called-out-ones, the question now is, where are we called out from? And to who are we called out to serve? We were called out of darkness (save from the penalty, power and future presence of sin) into His marvelous light (saved for God’s purpose and placed in His family-the church in which we express the likeness of His Son).
Believers are called unto consecration-unto God and unto holiness. By the way, consecration means to devote, separate, dedicate; give wholly over to God (Ex 28: 3, 4, 41; 29: 9, 33-35). So, how consecrated is the called-out-ones? Are we saved for nothing? Are we Christians by profession and not by character and practice? If Christianity is the life Christ in human person; I ask you, is Christ living in you? Enough of Churchianity and religiosity! If we have truly receive the life of Christ as we claim, then; where is holiness, where is purity, where is the righteousness of God that teachers us to say no to all form of ungodliness (Titus 2:11-15)?
Believers are the light of the world. Therefore, “let us live as children of light- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph 5:8,9). Paul the Apostle in 2Cor 6:14-7:1, enjoined every believer in Christ not to be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Brethren the truth is that we cannot enjoy the two worlds at a time, no not at all- you will either stand for God or against Him. Let us therefore cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Finally beloved as you go through the month of November do not fail for whatsoever reason, “to present your bodies as a living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.” This is the best service anyone can offer God- reason being that anything you do for God without holiness is frivolous and tantamount to nothing. Make up your mind even this month to do nothing else but to seek God out of a ‘pure heart’, because he who has called us is holy, we too must be holy for without holiness no eyes shall see God.
ARE YOU INFORMED?
By Emeka Anyaogu
I was listening to a radio programme one day and I heard the presenter says: “He who is not informed is deformed”. My friends, have you heard? Are you informed? What is the percentage of your information gathering?
Information is life. The different between great men an ordinary people is the level of their information gathering. Study the life of great achievers; you will realize that they have one thing in common. They hunger and thirst for information. Take for example Bill Gates, the man who is said to be the richest man in the entire world for several years. He was a student of the prestigious Harvard University. While he was there he committed his allowance to buying computer books and magazines. Thanks to his investment in information! When he dropped out of Harvard he became a phenomenon in the world of computer software. What about Mark Zeckerberg, the creator of facebook? It was his zeal to create a platform where information could be exchange between fellows student at Harvard that made him a billionaire at 25. He had to drop out of Harvard to pursue his vision when he realized how well information could sell.
Have you seen how important information is? Are you now prepared to avail yourself the necessary information tools to change your course in life? Get informed! He who is not informed is deformed. Whatever you are today - be you a student, a business person, an employee, a brick layer or a writer, source for information. You can do this by reading newspapers, books, magazines, watching television and listening to radio programmes that will help broaden your mind on relevant issues, and above all take advantage of internet. The internet is the information super highway, the easiest and fastest way to source for information. Just a click will take you to information super market.
Thanks to the advent of GSM in our country. You don’t need to go to a cyber café before you can access the internet. If you have a wap enabled phone (most camera phones are wap enabled), you need to activate it with your network provider so that it will serve as your information gateway. With it you can google anything on the net, access your facebook account and get the latest happenings among your friends fold.
The Youth Ministries have created a group called Pinnacle Youth on facebook. That is where you can get the latest information about the activities of the youth ministries. If you are on facebook and have not joined that group, you are missing a lot. Better go and hook up, a lot of things are happening there! There are other groups from the church that you can also join, such as AG Connect, Youth Alive, Law of Success, etc. You will be doing yourself a whole lot of good if you join these groups because powerful stuffs are being posted there.
We in the Praise Family know the relevance of information in the present age that is why we are publishing this news letter. We want to be using it as a medium to pass information across to you. You can send us feed back anytime. Remain blessed.
Emeka Anyaogu is a member of Praise Family
To read more of his writings visit:
www.deyamman.blogspot.com
deyamman@yahoo.com
I was listening to a radio programme one day and I heard the presenter says: “He who is not informed is deformed”. My friends, have you heard? Are you informed? What is the percentage of your information gathering?
Information is life. The different between great men an ordinary people is the level of their information gathering. Study the life of great achievers; you will realize that they have one thing in common. They hunger and thirst for information. Take for example Bill Gates, the man who is said to be the richest man in the entire world for several years. He was a student of the prestigious Harvard University. While he was there he committed his allowance to buying computer books and magazines. Thanks to his investment in information! When he dropped out of Harvard he became a phenomenon in the world of computer software. What about Mark Zeckerberg, the creator of facebook? It was his zeal to create a platform where information could be exchange between fellows student at Harvard that made him a billionaire at 25. He had to drop out of Harvard to pursue his vision when he realized how well information could sell.
Have you seen how important information is? Are you now prepared to avail yourself the necessary information tools to change your course in life? Get informed! He who is not informed is deformed. Whatever you are today - be you a student, a business person, an employee, a brick layer or a writer, source for information. You can do this by reading newspapers, books, magazines, watching television and listening to radio programmes that will help broaden your mind on relevant issues, and above all take advantage of internet. The internet is the information super highway, the easiest and fastest way to source for information. Just a click will take you to information super market.
Thanks to the advent of GSM in our country. You don’t need to go to a cyber café before you can access the internet. If you have a wap enabled phone (most camera phones are wap enabled), you need to activate it with your network provider so that it will serve as your information gateway. With it you can google anything on the net, access your facebook account and get the latest happenings among your friends fold.
The Youth Ministries have created a group called Pinnacle Youth on facebook. That is where you can get the latest information about the activities of the youth ministries. If you are on facebook and have not joined that group, you are missing a lot. Better go and hook up, a lot of things are happening there! There are other groups from the church that you can also join, such as AG Connect, Youth Alive, Law of Success, etc. You will be doing yourself a whole lot of good if you join these groups because powerful stuffs are being posted there.
We in the Praise Family know the relevance of information in the present age that is why we are publishing this news letter. We want to be using it as a medium to pass information across to you. You can send us feed back anytime. Remain blessed.
Emeka Anyaogu is a member of Praise Family
To read more of his writings visit:
www.deyamman.blogspot.com
deyamman@yahoo.com
PRAISE NEWS REPORT
By Anyaogu Emeka
Praise Family day has come and gone but the memory will not be forgotten in a hurry. This is because the day was full of life challenging and imparting features. The opening prayer was prompt and direct to the point as Bro. Benjamin Anwana led the session and asked the Holy Spirit to take control of the service. The Holy Spirit indeed took control right from the time Bro. Sam Akhigbe lead the congregation in praise and worship,which was followed by special rendition by Bro. Nnamdi Bonny and Sis. Favor Ezuma which set the floor for the guest minister to mount the podium.
At exactly 7:25pm the Praise Family leader, Bro.Okechi-Gospel Okereke invited the guest speaker, Evangelist Nkem Chima to the podium to do justice to the topic, “Today Christians and the Age of Moral Decadence”. It was a challenging message that prompted a number of questions from the audience. There won’t not be enough space to highlight all the points in this publication, but one of the issues raised was that today Christians are warring against a “Trinity of Enemy” that is, the devil, the world and the flesh. To win this battle therefore, the speaker stressed the need for the Church to raise an army that will fight against moral decadence, both in the church and the society at large. Meanwhile the message is still available on audio CDs for purchase (See Praise Family Excos).
Other activities that added spices to the day include the sharing of Praise Focus, (a monthly publication of Praise Family), a pen and a sheet of paper each for participants to jot down points during the teaching. To crown it all, after the spiritual food there was physical food to nourish the physical body. Personally, I was fed both spiritually and physically. Indeed, it was a memorable day. Thanks to the Almighty God, and to all members Praise Family.
Praise Family day has come and gone but the memory will not be forgotten in a hurry. This is because the day was full of life challenging and imparting features. The opening prayer was prompt and direct to the point as Bro. Benjamin Anwana led the session and asked the Holy Spirit to take control of the service. The Holy Spirit indeed took control right from the time Bro. Sam Akhigbe lead the congregation in praise and worship,which was followed by special rendition by Bro. Nnamdi Bonny and Sis. Favor Ezuma which set the floor for the guest minister to mount the podium.
At exactly 7:25pm the Praise Family leader, Bro.Okechi-Gospel Okereke invited the guest speaker, Evangelist Nkem Chima to the podium to do justice to the topic, “Today Christians and the Age of Moral Decadence”. It was a challenging message that prompted a number of questions from the audience. There won’t not be enough space to highlight all the points in this publication, but one of the issues raised was that today Christians are warring against a “Trinity of Enemy” that is, the devil, the world and the flesh. To win this battle therefore, the speaker stressed the need for the Church to raise an army that will fight against moral decadence, both in the church and the society at large. Meanwhile the message is still available on audio CDs for purchase (See Praise Family Excos).
Other activities that added spices to the day include the sharing of Praise Focus, (a monthly publication of Praise Family), a pen and a sheet of paper each for participants to jot down points during the teaching. To crown it all, after the spiritual food there was physical food to nourish the physical body. Personally, I was fed both spiritually and physically. Indeed, it was a memorable day. Thanks to the Almighty God, and to all members Praise Family.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
your world
"Look at the world around you. It supplies all your bodily needs. It feasts your eyes with its beauty. And its glory reflects the glory of God, so it feasts your soul also. Look at the plants and the trees. Can you count all the different species? Can you describe al the different shapes of the leaves, the color and fragrances of the flowers? Look, too, at the animals
and the insects. Are you not enthralled by their different sizes and shapes, by the different colors and textures of their skin and fur, by the different ways in which they move about and gather food? And the wonder why God has created all this. Has he created the marvelous universe just to supply our needs and to feast our eyes and souls? or is there some other purpose in it all? The answer is that he has created all things--for their own sake. Each creature has its own purpose and destiny, which God in his infinite wisdom
and love has planned. Do not try to understand God's plans; the human mind is hardly better than that of an ant in discerning the ways of God. Simply accept all his plans and rejoice in them." - Chrysostom, On Living Simply-
and the insects. Are you not enthralled by their different sizes and shapes, by the different colors and textures of their skin and fur, by the different ways in which they move about and gather food? And the wonder why God has created all this. Has he created the marvelous universe just to supply our needs and to feast our eyes and souls? or is there some other purpose in it all? The answer is that he has created all things--for their own sake. Each creature has its own purpose and destiny, which God in his infinite wisdom
and love has planned. Do not try to understand God's plans; the human mind is hardly better than that of an ant in discerning the ways of God. Simply accept all his plans and rejoice in them." - Chrysostom, On Living Simply-
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