Archbishop Lanre Obembe, founder of El Shaddai Bible Church, Ikoyi, Lagos, died at the age of 63. He was said to have battled an undisclosed ailment before he finally breathed his last. He was a former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos State chapter. Few weeks after his burial, the deceased’s widow, Dr. Oluremi Obembe stepped in as the Presiding Bishop and General Overseer of the church.
The glamour, the popularity, the respect as well as the riches it sometimes brings would tempt many to come into its practice, but the late Archbishop Obembe, said the profession of priesthood is strewn with temptations and potentially damaging challenges. He told of why he sometimes refused to grant press interview. He also recounted the challenges men of the pulpit face and how not to be befallen by them, declaring that great men of God are targets of sensational press.
You were once reported to have listed some of the harrowing challenges men of God face, we will like that you recall them.
For the ministry, there are areas of challenges which I call pitfalls but can be turned to success in doing God’s work. The first is fame. Some people are famous but without impact. Ministry should not be geared toward human popularity. Fight anything that makes you unnecessarily politically famous. But be famous in the things of the spirit. There’s the female, that is, the opposite gender. Whether you like it or not, you’re dealing with human beings and the way you handle the opposite sex has a way of helping you stay holy. The third is finance. Money shouldn’t be a factor for going into spiritual ministry. You may be persuaded for doing things properly but it ends with integrity. There have been several incidents of pastors who fall into the temptation of women because they’re doing things that are inappropriate. It’s a serious issue in the church and pastors should take all precautions to guide against the antics of women. They should not conduct night deliverance service with women in obscure places, and counseling should be done in a place where they will not compromise their faith.
How was your journey in becoming a Christian priest?
My parents never dreamt of having a son who is pastor. It never occurred to me too. In fact, my parents made a vow that I would be a professor of Engineering. But God began to visit me with tangible manifestations. It was unpopular to be a pastor then. It was likened to the office of local catechist, whose future is already determined.
With a ministry like yours and being involved in many activities, when do you enjoy privacy?
You should be careful not to be a people’s minister instead of God’s minister. Take out time to separate yourself from the people once in a while, be private and allow inspiration. You need wisdom to discern people who are time wasters and who subtract from you.
Years back you were assailed with a lot of attacks and backlashes following a Benny Hinn’s crusade and since then you no longer freely grant press interview, why is it so?
I’ve decided not to talk to the press again because I don’t want to be misquoted.
What was actually the problem then?
Though there was an overwhelming crowd coming to the church, what happened then would have crumbled some ministries. It was then that I discovered that there’s no covering for great men. Once you are news-worthy, you become a target. I could not believe some of the articles and stories published about the issue. Men of God must know that they are targets for sensational press. They should walk on wisdom and ask God for covering. They should shun flamboyant life style.
Given your busy schedule and constant travelling, how do you make time out for your family?
That could be a challenge but I create time for us to interact. There was a time we went to Abuja together after which we ended up in Akure. It was a nice time and there was room for communication. For a pastor, the church will want to own you but you should create time for your family and the rest. Since I heard some say that if you don’t rest, you will be laid to rest, I’ve started taking my rest. All that I lose through fasting is recovered by the food supplement I take.
How and when do you have the time to write all those numerous books you authored?
It’s my work book and I take it along with me anywhere I go and when an Inspiration flows in I jot it down. If I have the opportunity of staying alone for some hours, I get inspired and I start to write at any given time.
You’re renowned for printing the first amplified Bible in Nigeria, how were you able to do it?
It was in 1986, after God told me. I wrote to the publishers abroad and they refused. I called them again and was given permission to print based on many conditions. They sent the plates, the copyright and we printed here.
What lesson will you say you have learnt in the profession of being a minister of God?
I learnt many lessons over the years. One of them is that you should never let anything occupy God’s place in your life. The size of your ministry is not big enough to occupy God in your life. No achievement, no amount of offering should occupy the place of God in your life. And also, there’s no substitute for God.
How will you describe you feel on clocking 60 years recently?
Being able to get to that level of age is one of the reasons to celebrate. In fact, it was a day of gratitude and thanksgiving. It’s a day to give God praise, honour and worship Him for all he has done in our lives, for His faithfulness and loving-kindness. So, I feel elated that it’s real because so many people were not privileged to see 60, which means I owe God dancing, appreciation and gratitude. The significance of the age mileage is historic in that I’m alive and my pastors think I look 40, when I’m marking 60. It’s also historic because God has kept me alive physically and spiritually. I’m a product of Jesus, the resurrection and life; a product of Jesus the Lamb of God. I’m grateful that at 60 a new chapter of the ministry is for us epitomized.
