MEWELA to Impact Nigerians with Life-Changing Programmes, Convene Women’s Conference

The Men and Women in Ecclesiastical Leadership Alliance (MEWELA) Global, a non-denominational Christian organisation in Nigeria, is poised to impact Nigerian society and gospel ministers through life-changing programmes and strategic interventions.

MEWELA Global had its maiden outreach programme in Lagos, with a women’s conference themed “Crown for Impact”: Raising Women of Power and Possibilities, held at the main auditorium of Abundant Life Bible Church, Iju-Agege, Lagos, with a large turnout of women from different denominations and other organisations.

The Convener of the women’s conference and MEWELA Global International President/founder, Archbishop Dr Olufunmilayo Esther Olufemi, speaking to the large crowd of women that filled the expanded auditorium during the conference, said, “Women are wearing a crown designed for global impact, they should not be limited, and confined to their immediate environment.” She encouraged and challenged women not to deter or lose hope in God, but to keep faith in Him as their Creator.

Sharing from personal experience, she relayed that all hope was lost due to the inability to have a child, with how medical reports and doctors had sealed her hope of getting pregnant. However, her faith in God and His words kept her hopeful, and with God’s intervention, at an unexpected time, her hopelessness turned to testimony; today, she is a proud mother of her biological children.

Archbishop Olufemi stressed that that period was traumatic for her, especially at the early stage of her marriage, when she had to embark on various medical examinations and tests that eventually proved she was not fertile with first-degree infertility because she was not ovulating. “The tests were repeated, and the result was the same. I was told there’s no chance of me having a child, and the doctors advised that I should start planning how to adopt children”.

I was heartbroken and devastated. I called my late dad and explained the situation to him; he assured me God would do it miraculously.

The UK-based legal practitioner said she went into a series of prayers and fasting while trusting God for a miracle, as she had gotten to a point where she was involved in working for God and embarked on a series of ministerial tours, only to receive an invitation from her doctor, who only wanted to find out how she was doing. But on examining her and asking her to do a scan, by the time the scan results came out, it was discovered that she was about 13 weeks pregnant.

“I did not believe the scan’s result because I did not feel any pregnant, more so, I have been told, there’s no chance of me having a child of my own”, she said.

But in truth, she was pregnant and had her first child in 2003; a few years later, she had another child. Archbishop Olufemi went on to encourage women to remain resolute in faith, while also praying for those who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb.

The Vice Chairperson of Lagos State Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the host of the women’s conference, Rev Janet Onaolapo, in her address, admonished that, to navigate every challenge of life, women should seek the power of the Holy Spirit.

At a press briefing with selected journalists, the Convener/International President, MEWELA Global, Archbishop Olufunmilayo Olufemi, in the company of MEWELA National President, also the immediate Chairman of Lagos State PFN, Apostle Enyinanya Okwuonu, the host, Rev Jane Onaolapo, Bishop Oberiko, Prof Andrew Oladepo, and other members of the Nigerian team, she expressed how she got the lead some years back while praying, to start the women’s conference, which is a phase of MEWELA. “For about six hours, the Holy Spirit ministered to me, giving me insights and instruction on the need to start the programme”, she said.

According to her, the women’s conference will be followed by a youth convention and continue with a 3-day minister’s conference, themed “God’s Army Without Walls”, starting from Wednesday, October 29th, to Friday, 31st, which will attract delegates from across the country, the US and some European countries as participants.

Archbishop Olufemi said MEWELA is a global organisation that started in Nigeria with a vision to break denominational barriers among Christians, unite Christians for soul-winning, and create a pathway for Nigerians to achieve their potential.

“MEWELA is a family that wants to work together to see the kingdom of God advance, and we believe in the holistic approach of the gospel that ministers to the spirit, souls, and bodies of people. That was the template Jesus gave us”, she stated.

In his contribution, Apostle Enyinanya Okwuonu said, bearing the testimony to what God is going to do through the organisation in the coming days.” The Lord spoke to me a few years ago that women will begin to take leadership roles across the world, and that has been the experience globally; women are coming up, and in Nigeria, women are holding strategic corporate and leadership positions, and our goal in MEWELA is to ensure that they attain their potential.”

“It is important we encourage women. Today, God is doing a great work around the world using women. I’m interested and passionate about women’s ministry because God spoke to me precisely on 1999 December 24, that He is changing the leadership structure of the world”.

Apostle Okwuonu, who made an unwavering pledge and support for women, stated that men were not left out in the planning, as MEWELA plans for them are in the pipeline.

“As part of its soul-winning mandate, empowerment of women, advancement of God’s kingdom and breaking of denominational/faith-centric walls. The movement is centred on Christ, and membership is not restricted to only Christians nor ministers of the gospel, but open to all across faiths”, Apostle Okwuonu emphasised.