The World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) and its members worldwide are in a joyous mood at the moment. The leaders and members of the church regarded as one of the most enduring Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria are still basking in the euphoria of a successfully held Mantle Anniversary. It is the church’s 24th Mantle Anniversary celebrations.
Its an annual event held every November to commemorate the birthday of the church as well as celebrate the day the Lord gave the founder of the church, Prophet (Dr.) Samson Ayorinde the vision. The week-long celebration began on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 and ended with the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 10th, 2019. It was a huge success. Thousands of WEBIC members from far and near converged daily at the church’s headquarter in Ogudu for about a week to mark this year’s annual celebration. The anniversary recorded countless miracles, healings and deliverance. This year’s Mantle anniversary was particularly special because the leader and founder of the church, the charismatic and spirit-filled man of God, Prophet Samson Ayorinde who had been battling to overcome some health challenges was part of the celebration all through.
The legion of members of the church were excited beyond words when they saw their father in the Lord, the man they affectionately call Daddy, looking fresh, stronger and far better than the last time they saw him. His beautiful and adorable wife of many years who, by the way is still looking as pretty as ever, was by his side, supporting him all through like she’s done over the years. From the gratified look on her face, you could tell Rev. Mercy Ayorinde was profoundly proud of her husband. And she appeared to have been silently proud of herself too for taking exceedingly great care of her husband, the man she lovingly calls ‘my daddy.’
On Sunday, November 10th, the whole congregation erupted in wild jubilation when the prophet emerged dressed in a white flowing Agbada that fitted his tall frame like a second skin. He had only just returned from a medical trip to the United Kingdom and he had obviously rested pretty well. While he was away, the leaders and elders of the church, led by the Resident Pastor of the church, the very vibrant and resourceful Reverend Harold Chinonyerem, took charge of the running of the church. And from what we gathered, the very articulate Rev. Harold did a fantastic job. With the help of the other loyal and fiercely committed Senior Pastors of the church, he ran the ministry seamlessly without a crisis in the last couple of years to allow Daddy time to rest and focus on his health.
Just in case you do not know, Prophet Sam Ayorinde is one of the prominent and renowned evangelists in the country today. He sits atop a multi-million naira ministry that is today twenty-four years old. He started World Evangelism Bible Church around 1995 in Zaria with just about 20 worshipers in attendance at the time. He was formerly a lecturer at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, where he bagged his first degree and Masters in Architecture. It was upon the completion of his NYSC that he returned to ABU as a lecturer. He returned to Lagos a few years after and bit by bit his church began to grow. The church’s flagship programmes, Miracle Service and Anointing Night, were two powerful programmes that recorded massive crowd anytime they held at the premises of Lagos Television, Agidingbi, or the National Stadium. One of Prophet Ayorinde’s strength is that he is an all-rounder. He is a preacher, an evangelist, a teacher and a prophet. He knows the bible inside out and has the ability to teach so effortlessly such that your knowledge of the bible becomes broadened once you spend only a few minutes listening to him. He is also an incredibly prophetic man of God. He can see things most men of God lack the ability to see. He also has the power, as backed by God, to liberate some of the most forgotten souls who have been held in captivity of the wicked. This explains why testimonies abound in the church right from inception till date. One of the things that have kept the church’s popularity soaring is the testimonies of the barren women. This gentleman of God appears to have a special anointing on the problem of bareness. No wonder some describe him as the ‘bareness bulldozer.’ Women in search of the fruit of the womb have continued to flock his miracle programme, they don’t joke with it. Same with students, the unemployed and hordes of miracle seekers who are looking for solutions to various spiritual problems afflicting their lives. Ask anybody who knows this hugely respected man of God, they would tell you he has paid his dues, having taken the word of God across continents with prophetic anointing, confirmed with signs and wonders. WEBIC’s headquarters is in Ogudu, Lagos but the church has branches in many parts of Nigeria, Europe and the United States.
At the end of the Mantle Anniversary Thanksgiving service two Sundays ago, Prophet Samson Ayorinde and his ever-smiling wife who was also dressed in a lovely white gown to complement her husband, were gracious enough to speak to City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL despite the fact that they just rounded off a very exhaustive programme. The prophet and his wife haven’t granted any press interview in a long while, this was their first in many years. Here are excerpts.
Sir, let’s begin by asking, what makes this year’s mantle anniversary different and special to you?
PROPHET: Well, this year’s anniversary is special because it is a year of Graceful God and God has been very faithful to me, to my family and to the church. The convention committee has done a great job as far as the planning is concerned. I really thank them for everything they’ve done. And for myself, I want to give thanks to the Almighty for His divine guidance and protection on his work, on us and on me in particular. The five days programme has been very wonderful, the rains did not disturb us and everybody really worked hard together and as you can see today, the attendance has been really very encouraging.
Would you like to share with us one or two high points of the anniversary that had an impact on you and reminded you of the awesome powers of God?
PROPHET: Yes, on Tuesday we had the miracle service and so many people came to give powerful testimonies of the miracles of what God has done for them. There were testimonies of deliverance. There was a woman who was sick of sickle cell for so many years. She’s 62. years old now. It’s one of the outstanding miracles. There were so many other testimonies of salvation, deliverance, fruitfulness and healing.
If I understand the Mantle anniversary correctly, it’s like the birthday anniversary of the church…
WIFE: Yes, the Mantle anniversary is like the birthday of the church like you have said. It’s the time of the year that we remember and celebrate the day God gave our father in the Lord the vision. It’s called Mantle because that is the word he was given. The Lord told him that Mantle means clothe of power. The Lord said He would renew our garment of power yearly. That’s why you saw Daddy during the service giving out handkerchiefs free after he had prayed on it. He said they should go and use that garment of power to go and pray for the sick and go for evangelism, that the power of God that called him will manifest itself. And at times he would pray on women’s gele and people bring results. So, it’s a year that we look on to God to do something new, something better than what He did the last time and God has been faithful. Now, this year is called Graceful God because in a way, as a mission, God has been faithful to us and has shown us so much grace. Our Father in the Lord had some health challenges and the Lord in His infinite mercy spared his life for us. That’s why the whole church is rejoicing because as at this time last year he was not as healthy as he is now. Every day, God is renewing his strength and he is gradually returning to his full strength. What many have found really amazing is that during the period of his health challenge, he still prayed for people and miracles are still happening. If you were here on Tuesday it was so amazing. We couldn’t even do anything anymore. The miracles were just too much. People were just lining up to tell the church about what God has done for them. People that used to smoke say they have stopped smoking, those who were engaged in all manner of social vices have also stopped living their lives recklessly. You could also hear the man of God who ministered today, he said he wanted to greet Daddy and hug him but instead, because he had already taken too much alcohol, he just vomited on daddy. And afterwards, he gave his life to Christ. You know, when we see people like that and how God has turned their lives around, as a man of God you’re happy. You can imagine all the great things that man of God has been doing in the vineyard of God, none of it would’ve been possible if he had not been ministered to by our father in the Lord. So, its testimonies and times like this that encourages us to do more. And on Wednesday, we had a breakthrough seminar where we were told that you can breakthrough to any level but God must be at the centre of the breakthrough. God is not denying anybody from being wealthy, but God must at the centre of that breakthrough.
We had our architect that taught us how to be successful. We also had another man who taught us how we can start our own small business and still be okay and grow steadily with it. We were told you shouldn’t be waiting for one uncle to come and give you one big money, just start small and let God be at the centre of it all, you will be surprised the way God will grow your business and lift you up. On Thursday, we had another great service. There is a programme we call Shiloh Hour and it is for anybody from fifty and above. They are the elderly ones in the church, they were the ones that wore red gele in the church. The oldest person amongst them is about 86 years old. There are some who are older than that but they can no longer come to the church because of their old age. We sometimes visit them at home, do ministration, pray for them and give them Holy Communion. They all came out to tell daddy that nothing is wrong with his health, that he would remain their prophet and that they’re behind him. What was so spectacular on that Thursday is that they asked all the women to rise up, tie their ‘Oja’ and pray for him, that he is not going to leave them behind, that he’s going to outlive them. It was lovely, so touching, to see people using their grey hair in the name of Jesus to pray for him. Then, in the evening, we had a healing service and it was handled by one of our Reverends who also had a miraculous touch of God. He shared the testimony of how Daddy came to his uncle’s house, prayed and told everybody how they would make their breakthroughs and then daddy turned to him and said, ‘you, you’re going to a pastor under my ministry and he was already drunk at the time. He was like, me? So, you didn’t see any vision that I too would be rich, its vision of me becoming your pastor that you’re seeing!’ And today, to the glory of God, he is a minister of God today. He was the one that ministered on healing and there were miracles right there on the spot. And then on Friday, we had what we call Variety Night. Why do we call it Variety Night? It’s a night of drama, different branches come together to sing and represent their districts. All the various districts and branches were represented with their choir groups ministering and many gave testimonies of what God did for them. Many of those that were single when they came to WEBIC and are now married with children, with their children also worshipping here gave testimonies. The service was meant to finish around 2 pm but we couldn’t finish until around 5 pm because of the different testimonies people were sharing. And you could see that, for the fact that God spared the life of our father in the Lord, God spared my life, everybody is happy. This is why Daddy said this year, all he wants to do is magnify the Lord, giving grace to the humble.
One of the things I have noticed is that you still have a lot of your old members who started with you almost 24 years ago still worshipping here and another thing is the high number of non-Yoruba speaking members who are here at WEBIC. Many of them are even top hierarchy pastors of the church, has this got anything to do with Daddy’s personality and yours as well?
WIFE: We give glory to God for that, it has nothing to do with personality. It is just that the kind of people God has surrounded us with are people who genuinely love us irrespective of tribe. What is paramount to them is the anointing of God upon our father in the Lord before they even begin to give consideration to tribe or ethnicity. As a matter of fact, we have a very high percentage of people who are not Yoruba in the church. Like the Resident Pastor of the church, for instance, is Igbo but you will still see him operating as though he is among his other Igbo speaking people. The man that brought you here is not a Yoruba man. But what I see permeating through their hearts is more of God. They are looking for God, that is what is important to them. They are not the type of people that are sentimental about tribe, all they want is God in this place and a lot of them, one by one, they have testimonies. Even when there was a storm on the mission, they did not leave. It is God they are looking for. And I believe that it is God that is keeping them, it is God that is keeping all of us. Another thing is that we understand ourselves. People can easily walk up to me or daddy and air their views or grievances. We are that simple to approach. I always believe that saying you want to leave where you worship because of one person or persons is never the right decision because where you’re going you’re still going to meet different types of people there. I want to really thank God for the kind of people God gave us. In fact, it will surprise you to know that the non-speaking Yoruba members really stood behind us, firmly, like the pillar behind the church. They refused to budge. I think they’re gifts to us from God and we too do not take them for granted, we appreciate them so much.
Daddy, it’s been 24 glorious years of WEBIC, how would you say the journey has been so far?
PROPHET: God has been gracious. God has been merciful in giving us all the desires of our hearts. We’ve experienced divine provisions, open doors and favours, particularly in the kind of people He has brought to be established around us. It has been amazing and we give glory to God on their behalf and their family too.
Did you know from the very beginning that you would set up a ministry that will endure for this long, stand the test of time and then go on to spread into different parts of the country and beyond?
PROPHET: Absolutely. I knew that certainly, the ministry would witness the second coming of Jesus Christ and would stand the test of time. So, that’s why we put everything into it and believed in God to build the people on the word and that’s why, during the period of challenges, they were able to abide.
Mummy, please share with us what the challenges were for you at the time as daddy’s better half? You have been with him through the years and you have also proven that you have a profound anointing as well, not just because you’re his wife?
WIFE: Well, I thank God for his life. What I found out about daddy, I call him daddy because I have a biological father but he’s one of those fathers that would want to deny you because you changed your religion, so he has always been like a father to me since I got married. He didn’t allow me to miss not having a father, this is why I always call him daddy even though I have my pet name for him. So, what I can tell you about him is that right from the start of the ministry he gave me room to do the work of the ministry with him. I remember that even before we moved here and were still going to the bush to go and pray, he would ask me to preach to the trees anytime I tell him that I don’t know how to stand and face the congregation. So, I believe that because he gives me room to express myself, he’s rare man. It’s not every man of God that gives their women the freedom to come out and express themselves. Some of them are afraid of whatever it is they’re afraid of. But he allows me to express myself. In anything the ministry is doing, I’m part of it. So, whenever there is any challenge, I see it as a challenge we have to face together. I remember many years ago when we went to minister in a town near Abeokuta, there was a serious storm and on our way back I had to ask him; did God actually ask us to come here? And daddy was like, ‘oh, because there was a storm?’ And he was laughing. So, he built me and made me a better Christian because from my background, I knew nothing. Of course, I married him as a believer, but as far as Christianity is concerned I knew nothing. He would tell me, preach to these trees, if they need to reply, I will reply on their behalf. If they need to shout Amen, I will shout Amen. And by the time I’m done he will tell where I need to improve on and areas I didn’t get right, even among the tress. So, I more or less grew up with him in the work of the ministry, so if there is challenge I also see the challenge as something we’re in together. That is how God gave me the grace to be a great support to him and to the ministry. Jesus did not promise us that as Christians it will always be a bed of Roses, there will be challenges. The good news is that while you’re passing through the waters, you will not be alone. He will always be the fourth man with you in the burning fire. And we have been seeing Him in His faithfulness. He has never left us alone. He gave us a fruitful marriage, gave us good children, both biological and spiritual children, so we’re contented and grateful to God.
As the wife of a great man of God like our Daddy, and one who shepherds the women congregation along with him, what would you say has been the greatest challenge that you had to contend with?
WIFE: In any church, even in crusades, women will always triple the number of men, so if you can arrange the women and co-ordinate them, you will have a good church. As at the time we started, daddy gave us time to meet every Thursday and will ask me to minister to them. And when it’s about fifteen minutes to round up, he will come and bless the women. Again, I have women in Prayer groups, women leading one thing or another which enables me to be involved in one thing or another with them. I have women who share the burden with him. Like today now, there was sharing of food but I didn’t know when they went to the market but I know I have responsible women and I’m always proud of them. Anytime there are issues I call the branch leaders or departmental leaders and hold meetings with them and tell them what the directive of daddy is and they will all cooperate. I’ve never had a troublesome woman that I have regretted having. I know that if women are not managed well, they can make you and they can break you. But the Lord has helped thus far, we have always had the type of women who are making us proud.
First thing that I noticed when you stepped out on the pulpit earlier today during service is you are still looking the same way I knew you several years ago. Your face, your total appearance, are the way they were back then. You’re not looking anything near your age. How come Mummy is still looking this young after so many years?
WIFE: Well, I thank God, but you don’t know my age anyway (general laughter). I will say it’s the grace of God, we are serving a graceful God and apart from that, sometimes I’m a bit conscious of what I eat. And although am not so much into exercises even though I’m supposed to, there are times daddy will lay hands on me when I complain of anything in my body, he will say he’s correcting it. That’s one of the things we’re enjoying as the wife of a General. It’s just the grace of God.
Finally, daddy, what would you like to say to members of your congregation, especially at this difficult time in Nigeria?
PROPHET: I would like to tell them that everybody should go for soul winning, live a holy life as well as prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. People should also continue to pray for the government so that Nigeria will become a more stable nation so that we’ll be able to feed ourselves. A time of famine is coming upon the world, I pray that God will continue to uphold all of us so that we will be able to survive the period of famine coming upon the world.
