Some Pastors Lack Integrity in Their Walk With God – Bishop Uchenna Chukwuegu

 

Bishop Dr Uchenna Dedegu Chukwuegu is the Presiding Bishop and the General Overseer of His Glory Chapel Int’l Church, governor road, Ikotun.

The Church had its 10th Synod that had all the Church associate pastors, HOD, and Church workers in attendance.

After the intensive and brainstorming Synod, Dr Chukwuegu spoke with Gracious Akintayo on the way forward for the Church and ministers of the gospel. Read to Enjoy:

Why the theme, The spirit of integrity and exemplary leadership, and how does it apply to the church in general?

As a church, and as the synod is concerned, we should invite the spirit of integrity, and it is about being honest as a believer and as a child of God. Not playing pranks, or being crafty, but looking unto Jesus, as the author and finisher of our faith, who for the crown that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.

As an exemplary leader, Jesus is the person we look up to as our exemplary leader, not a bishop, pastor, or any other person. Any other person is secondary, because they are also looking unto Jesus. The Bible didn’t say look unto a pastor or bishop; they are also looking unto Jesus to be perfect as an exemplary leader for themselves. We are all working towards perfection, and Jesus is our exemplary leader, the spirit of exemplary leadership to follow.

He that put his hand into the plough, cannot draw it back; if you draw it back, you will fail. As ministers of God, believers, and Christians, as we put our hand into the plough, we cannot draw it back. Therefore, we must be honest in what we do, and not put our hands in what is not right; that’s the spirit of exemplary leadership and integrity.

What is the missing link between yesterday’s Christian integrity and the happenings today?

Honesty, some people are no longer walking in integrity with the Lord. They are more interested in what they can get, not what they can give. The old Christians and ministers of God were not interested in what they could get, but in doing the will of God, serving and pleasing Him. They are not interested in the kind of car they will ride or the mansion they will build; still, God blessed them more than they can imagine. Then everyone was interested in the salvation of souls and commitment to God.

Jesus said that there will be a mixed multitude, and false prophets shall rise. When you see false prophets and the true prophets, you will liken them to be one. But, they are not. What many people don’t understand is that they want to grade every minister as the same. There are the good seeds and the bad seeds; they continue to grow at the same time. You can’t portion the bad with the good. There are good Christians and honest ministers who are doing the work of the ministry to the glory of God.

What we are looking at is not what we will get as the ministry is concerned; we are looking forward to serving God with integrity, and that is the reason for the synod. To look into where we are coming from, what we have done, where we need to improve, and where we are going. I can’t remember when we had millions to be used by anyone. As long as the work continues, the monies that come from anywhere are used for the work of God, and God has been supporting us to prove His calling and sustain the ministry. We are not after what we want, whether we are to build a house or have a car. This is the work of God, not our work, nor is my church; it is the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. No time will I apportion it, it is my church.

This work of ministry is finished and gone. When you finish, you will go, and the work will continue. Our daddy, Rev Uma Ukpai, did a great job for the kingdom. He has finished and has gone. In the same way, every other person will go.

The office I’m occupying now, one day I will leave it and go, and someone else will sit there. I don’t know who, but God knows. That’s why we don’t apportion, this is my church or what I did. Many ministers are claiming that God is using them to do. I prayed for that man, and this happened. It’s not you; it is God working. You pray in the name of Jesus, and the miracle happened; it’s not in your name or title, it’s in the name of Jesus, and not about you. It’s a grace God has given in the name of whom you are serving.

Are you satisfied with the present state of Christianity? 

I can’t say I am, or not, satisfied. But I’m not happy with the commitment level of men. Some things make one unhappy, and one of them is the area of commitment, integrity and honesty to God. It’s discouraging that we have men and women who are not committed and honest, or you are moving with someone now, and the next thing, he stabbed you in the back to establish ‘his own church’. Then you begin to wonder which one is “my own church” and which one is not my own church. That is where we have missed it. The spirit of commitment, trust, and honesty is missing in Christianity and the service of God. Where it is not missing, things move well. Also, I’m glad that God still has people who are committed to Him and who are serving Him in truth and in spirit.

What is the place of mentoring, discipleship and fatherhood in a Christian life? 

The position of fatherhood, mentoring and discipleship is a place of importance in discovering a true service to God. If you meet someone God has positioned to be a mentor, a father, and a leader to you, and you are also truthful, follow up to not miss the way.

You don’t need to look for it; it will come naturally, through him, and you can say, you fit into him. I have a servant of God, Reverend I.M. Pamugo (retired). He is a member of the Lagos Assembly of God and the Pioneer Chairman of PFN Lagos State Chapter. A true man of God, I have followed him over the years. I once lived with him, and he has become a father to me. I was not looking for someone to be a father, nor looking for him to be a father or mentor. But it flows naturally, and up till now, he remains a father and a mentor to me.

Do you think the church has an impact on society? 

Yes, the church has an impact on society and will continue to make a positive impact on society. Without the church, things would have been terribly worse than what we are seeing now. Even when the enemy continues to fight the Church.

Jesus said, I will build my church, the gates of hell cannot prevail. As the church impacts, the forces of darkness also work against the church’s purpose in our society.

Forget about the false prophets; the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is making an impact and will continue to make an impact. The forces of darkness will also continue to fight, but they cannot prevail.

As far as I know, the church is doing well and will continue to do better; no situation can overcome the church.

Briefly tell about your ministry and encounter with God:

I grew up in the village and went to a village secondary school. I was brought up and grounded at The Apostolic Church of those days as a brother. As a member of the apostolic church then, people will mock you for being a member of the S.U of those days because in our place, the Roman Catholic Church was everywhere, and the Pentecostals were like a taboo for being a member.

My late father, one of the great sculptors who has ever lived and made an impact in Nigerian arts, was a member of The Apostolic Church, where he served God. He brought us up in the church, and we remain committed and rooted in faith.

I came to Lagos and didn’t abandon God’s service. I joined the Assemblies of God Church and served under Reverend Pamugo, who was the minister-in-charge of Lagos, then attended a higher institution, went for my youth service, started working, and was serving as a brother in the Assemblies of God in Lagos, where I was growing in the Lord.

It was when I became a lecturer in a College of Education that I joined TREM, where I was ordained a deacon, rose to become a pastor, and later a reverend. I continued my development in the ministry, and in the Spirit, with the conviction of God’s calling upon my life, I submitted through the ministerial process. During the process, I got married in TREM.

We have had many challenges and trials in the ministry. Some frustrating, life-threatening, disappointment, backstabbing, and other manner of things, but with all I passed through, I remained consistent and focused in the work.

What advice do you have for the younger generation of ministers?

My advice to the younger generation of ministers is that they should follow the leading and direction of God, not their own feelings or the direction of their minds. They should hold on to the Holy Spirit and let it lead them; should anything happen, they can lean back on the Holy Spirit. Also, confidently say, the Holy Spirit sent them.

We were sent here to Governor Road, Ikotun, by the Holy Spirit, and every challenge we have had and encountered was surmounted.

They should be patient, open to learning, ready to serve, submit to discipleship and mentoring, because all these will speak later in their ministry.