Ashimolowo Plans Big for Ikorodu Crusade, …..says, ministry is not about preaching, but winning of souls
The founding pastor of Kingsway International Christian Church (KICC) and the Convener, Christ Compassion to the Rural World (CCRW), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo has declared that the call into the ministry is not all about preaching on the pulpit. But to win souls and to make disciples.
Pastor Ashimolowo was speaking at a recent meeting with group of church ministers and Christian leaders across Ikorodu and it’s immediate vicinity in preparation for a 5 days city wide crusade organized by Christ Compassion to the Rural World (CCRW) scheduled for November 6 to 11 with the theme, “This is Life” at Igbogbo town stadium.
Addressing the large turn-out of well attended meetings of church leaders and ministers from different denominations and Christian organizations held at Foursquare Gospel Church, Haruna, Ikorodu area of Lagos. Pastor Ashimolowo said, “This is the best time for the church to preach the gospel in different ways, to reach out to people that are confused about life and in dire need of salvation in their situation. “The era of just mounting speakers to preach and invite people to church is gone. This is the time for the church to synergize and draw people to Christ in different ways”. It is therefore the vision of CCRW to collaborate with churches, church leaders, ministers and Christian organizations in Ikorodu and about 150 environ villages to win souls for Christ”, he said.
Rolling out plans for the crusade that is expected to hold at Igbogbo township stadium, Ashimolowo said, in preparation for the crusade, logistics and organization modalities are already in place to make it a remarkable blessing to the city with attraction of guest participants from across the globe and grading of Igbogbo road by the state government.
Among activities at the 5 days crusade include packaging of relief materials containing clothing, food stuffs and other items for 50,000 people each day of the crusade, beginning from the first day. Inviting clinical surgeons and other medical personnel to take over the General Hospital and give full scale free medical attention to people of various medical issues, including operation in required cases. Also, 21,000 exercise books will be given out free to school children and another 5,000 eye glasses will be freely given to people with eye problems.
While seeking the support and collaboration of church leaders and ministers in mobilization of their church members and inviting other members of the public, Pastor Ashimolowo further gave the breakdown of the crusade and said, the Igbogbo town stadium have been approved and provided by the state government as the venue of the crusade. He assured the meeting that 17 high powered working committees will be inaugurated into various areas of interest for effective management, organization and execution towards the success of the crusade.
Speaking further on transportation and security, Ashimolowo stated that adequate arrangements have been made to hire buses that will transport people from different locations to the crusade ground with all security apparatus to be put in place in harmony with the crusade goal for safety of lives and properties.
Pastor Ashimolowo described the scheduled open air crusade as a serious business of soul winning, apart from the free medical service, clothes and food items to be given away with others every morning from Tuesday to Friday, the evening sessions is going to be a serious Holy Ghost night. Thursday and Friday morning is earmarked for the minister’s conference.
Lauding the support of Lagos state government, Ashimolowo said, the state government has specially set up a committee to work with the crusade committee especially on the use of some state facilities, like the stadium, the general hospital, grading of the road and traffic management among others.
In a brief chat with Providence News, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo explaining the vision that birthed the Ikorodu crusade, traces his early stage of life to Ikorodu, and said, the very reason why we are here is to ignite the light to shine over darkness and make it brighter. Instead of attacking the darkness, we are going to shine our light to brighten the land.
On his expectation, he said, “my expectation after the crusade is to see such a move of God’s power among churches in Ikorodu. To advance the church in areas of growth and development and taking their rightful place in the land. Also, for darkness to turn to light and the light to shine brighter with experience of Christianity the way they had never experienced it. I am of great expectation that other cities across the country will hear what happened at Ikorodu, yearning for a similar crusade experience until millions of souls that are yet to be reached and touched could experience the salvation and touch of Christ”, Pastor Ashimolowo said.
