The Church and the Community

The Church and the Community

Help! We are losing out.

The cry for help cannot be at a worst time than this era, we need the help of God now than before in the music ministry, we gain nothing by casting assertions on God gifting  talents and creativity  Whilst we differently have what we variously perceived God Almighty to be and our own brand of methodologies of how we think he should best be worshiped, what we call DOCTRINES we should by now come to realize one thing …we seems to be losing more. The church we know from the scriptures was supposed to be one big happy family, indivisible, large congregation of people across the globe, with just one slogan LOVE and one vision HEAVEN Jesus himself prayed this prayer while he was here on the earth John 17:11 - And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. So I wondered what was most important to Christ then and what is most important to the Church now, He said then  John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Little did l always wondered supposing Christ was to give us doctrine, what would that doctrine have been, one of the early apostle said  1Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren… I just could not get out of the evil the devil has smuggled into the church, the madness embedded in our faith being in doctrine of church than the words of Christ Jesus. Do not get me wrong I belief in the church having a doctrine the bible talks about sound doctrine as admonished by Titus, one of the apostles of Jesus. But my concern here is that even apostle Titus rightly agreed to the fact that these doctrines find their roots from the WORD of God. Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful WORD as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers any doctrine that does not finds its root EXPRESSLY in the WORD of God must be thrown out. But the headache here is that every of these doctrines teachers still find some scriptures to back their claims and teachings, this brings me straight to my point here… any teaching that would make us lose to hell and devil should be abolished.

Carefully follow me here do not misinterpret me please! Any teaching that does not allow for the use of MUSIC in its entirety, is from the pit of hell, discard it. Like I have always said in teachings and seminars ‘there is nothing like worldly music or Christian music, what we have is worldly lyrics and gospel lyrics’, other than this, music is music. The definition of music simply put says “it is the arrangement of sound in a manner that is pleasant to hearing” so even if you sing the whole bible in an unpleasant manner you simply have made noise and not music, Psalms 33: 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. Emphasis here includes SKILLFUL playing of music, Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. This is the charge from the word of God, no specification or discrimination on the rhythms types, beat patterns or the entire musicology of presentation of the gospel. It is not how dead or slow a piece of music is performed or sung that makes is spiritual or how fast or the gyration of the music so played or performed that makes it worldly, NO! it is simply the lyrics, the message it is passing that determines the essence of the music, the immediate last quoted scriptures …says admonishing one another in psalms…, the word psalms here is pronounced qalmov, psalmos in Hebrew meaning a set piece of music, i.e. a sacred ode (accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument) we were not limited by this scripture and any biblical references on the rhythms pattern with which to perform hymns and spiritual songs, I have seen people go wild, screamed and really get undignified in the praise of God Almighty and I have also witnessed people whaling and crying still in the worship of Almighty God, regardless of rhythm so played afterall rhythms are simply BEAT pattern. The evil in the advancement of man-made doctrine to the use of music in the praise and worship of God has made us lose beyond measure and probably are still losing and will continue to lose more if we do not act now! My little over view of music industry globally has revealed one clearly known fact, today most world class entertainers and musician has always had contact with the church earlier in their careers, the church seems to be the place where these talents were usually first unfolded, some of these talent were even given opportunity to developed by the church and even in few cases the church actually invested in the development of these various talents at start up, but somewhere along the way we lose them. The reasons for these losses will be reviewed in more details in the next edition watch out!

Early in the career of world acclaimed king of pop MICHAEL JACKSON he was in a local church choir in Indiana, he probably was discovered there or atleast he had the church as his early platform to showcase his talents, but as time goes by we lose him and eternally lust him to hell when he Died at age 50 ,  June 25, 2009 in LA California, …we are losing. A great talent was born into the family of Rev’d and Mrs Ransome-Kuti, his name being FELA he had his earlier talent developmental activities right in the church more importantly as a son of a rev’d., whose grandfather was Nigeria's first Gospel Musician, but again we lust him, he wrecked a great havoc, created and promoted a shrine that became known internationally, got a Guinness book of record for getting married to twenty (27) wives in one day , he discipled enough people, old and young into the devilish acts of helm and drugs smoking, he was an alcoholic and eventually died of HIV/AIDS out so many acts of adulteries …again we lose. Little did we wondered what is wrong, history has it that Fela’s grandparents were completely given to God, Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti
Fela's grand-father was the first Christian in the Ransome-Kuti family. His parents were traditional religion worshippers but they apprenticed him to the missioners who came to Abeokuta from Badagry where they had earlier settled having arrived the West Coast from England.

The history of the Ransome-Kuti family started from him. Staying with the white men, he was also one of the early people in Abeokuta to convert to Christianity. He probably saw it all when the first Church in Nigeria, St Peter Anglican Church was built in Ake, Abeokuta and he was the Church organist. He distinguished himself from the early pack of Christians with his gift of music. As an organist, he was said to be a great composer. Great was his musical dexterity that so many local traditional religious worshippers turned to Christ. For that, he was a marked man in the society. But unknown to him, he was creating a record, both in heaven and on earth. On this terrestrial divide, and in what became Nigeria in 1914, he became her first gospel musician and the first Nigerian to write Church hymns. Many of these hymns are being used in so many Yoruba speaking Anglican Churches today. Not only this, his children, like Israel Ransome-Kuti, Fela's Father was also a great song writer. The popular Egba anthem, Abeokuta Ilu Egba, was composed by him. Another folk song, Ise Agbe, Ise Ile wa, was also composed by Israel. It is sad that many of the descendants of the pioneer Christian, Jesse Josiah Ransome Kuti are not in the faith today.

Some Songs by JJ Ransome Kuti; Eje komo ko wa o, Eje k'omode ko wa (2x), Jojolo... Omo kekere jojolo awon lore eledumare E je komode ko wa. This song was confirmed by Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.

Another was the case of Beyonce. We have the clear history and the upbringing of the world best female R & B singer Beyoncé traced to her local church where it all started as a church choir, Beyoncé was at the age of 8 when she started singing in church, today what do we have right in our faces Beyoncé is completely derailed and leading a whole lots into the worship of idol with her music, pulling a whole large crusade of idol worship through her marriage with Jay-Z when they put up shows and musical concerts. Born in Houston in the fall of 1981, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles started performing at age seven, from dance classes to singing in the church choir, Beyoncé was natural. But today our church girl today promotes sexual immoralities, and acts of seduction musically, with parade of awards that seems to give approvals for all her activities, this role model is populating the congregation of hell right in the face of the church that discovered and developed the very same talent she is using at the moment as though God is no longer in heaven watching! I think we are losing here if nothing is done in the place of intercessory prayers and supplication to God. Critizism by Church would win nothing to us, we are losing let do something pleaseeeeeeee! Atleast LET US PRAY FOR HER.

Maria Carey, Jennifer Lopez, world best Celin Dion, R Kelly and a host of others super stars moving and leading more people to hell, had their start ups right from the church, are we not losing more, do we continue to lose more, folding our arms, trading blames, doctrines superiorities and self-righteousness will only make us loose more, will would take a share of the reason for populating hell, when we refuse to allow these talents manifest within the four walls of the church with their music types.

A closer look at the reason(s) for breakouts from church by these talents reveals the rigidity of the church, usually borne out of share ignorance of the concept of what a good music and spiritual music should mean, a good music may not necessarily be spiritual, but all spiritual music MUST be a good music. But the church early has been deceived by what is called new music, creativity if constantly allowed is arts and music. Each act of creativity within church seems to threaten the conservativeness of the church, while the only reason for this conservativeness has always been anchored in the church DOCTRINE. Psalms 96:1 - O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Creativity in music should be encouraged in the church, where a church of a thousand years want to maintain same music would be difficult because even music evolved over the centuries too.

What do we say about Jennifer Lopez who grew up in Newbury Park and has attended Lighthouse Church since she was a teenager. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. More recently she and her husband, Greg, have led small groups. They were instrumental in forming the Starting Point, part of Lighthouse' growth and connection classes which explores questions of faith, God, the Bible and other relevant topics. But what do we have today people of God a media show of seduction by our one time teacher of the word of God, help us oh God!

What I really want to drive home in this article is for us to make a list of what talent we (the church) have lust and probably we are losing right now. What we (the church) are doing about it, the church has a lot of power, when we come together to pray God answers, if God had saved FELA do you think God would not want him to sing afro beat, he would have sung afro beat to the praise of God. What more do you think we should do for talents whom God has sent to the world to manifest His glory under the tutelage of the church other than guide the talents as a church and not let them slipped us by no matter the creativity and the dynamics of the manifestations of these talents because the word of God says; James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We simply push them out once they cannot fit into our box called doctrine. For you to know God does things when we pray, do you know an international figure in the music industry turned in for Jesus last year? King Sunny Ade is the undisputed king of juju music, the dance-inspiring hybrid of western pop and traditional African music with roots in the guitar tradition of Nigeria. God moves when we move Him with our prayers and worships.  King Sunny Adé know as  (Sunday Adeniyi), was born September 22, 1946 into a royal family in Ondo – Nigerian, pioneer of modern world music, he is a popular performer of Yoruba Nigerian Jùjú music.  His father again was a church organist, they always have the church factor in their start up, thank God today! The popular Juju musician, King Sunny Ade, recently gave his life to Jesus Christ during a church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Yaba, Lagos. Sunny Ade dedicated himself to Christ during an altar call by the RCCG’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. With Pastor E.A Adeboye confirming his commitment to follow Christ, he is today a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the fastest growing church in Africa.  

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the Juju music maestro was among 30 worshippers at the service who rushed to the altar to be prayed for by the general overseer. When Adeboye asked that the persons who answered the call should confess their sins, Sunny Ade was the first to kneel down.

The Lord that touches the heart of Rev’d Fabiyi Obey popularly known as Commander Ebenezer Obey will touch the heart of Omotoyosi Janet Ajiloye otherwise known as St. Janet, the now Obesere disciple girl, and the self-acclaimed General Overseer of St. Bottles Cathedral had her background from the church, she has literarily turn all gospel lyrics to vulgar worldly lyrics she is called sex music queen by her fans after the release of her album faaji plus, the album was banned by the Lagos state house of assembly because of the derogatory lyrics used, yet her manager still has this said about her “the popular belief among music lovers about the G.O of St. Bottle's Cathedral, St. Janet is that she is not only vulgar, but also weird in performing her act.” Her manager, Shina Ayo Oyinlola however feels otherwise, St. Janet is not only a very responsible singer, but also a complete gospel musician, aberration! This is the open embarrassment the church would have to face for our negligence, a former church chorister, now turned this?

A former Juju musician now turn world Evangelist has these testimonies to share; “I was raised in a Christian home, but I never knew the difference between giving one's life to Christ until after I ran into problem. I owed my property owner a 3 months’ rent of 6 pounds and he gave me a 7 day-quit notice. I began to avoid him. I would return home late in the night and leave before the break of dawn. One day, I found myself in a church called SIM (Sudan Interior Mission) which is known today as Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) prior to that time I had not entered a church in 3 years. That day, the Pastor's sermon was on ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me’. When the pastor finished his sermon, he said, “Is any one of you here passing through troubles and torments?” Jesus can do it and you can do it through Christ. He began to mention different kinds of challenges after which he asked, ‘are you owing, are you a debtor?’ This he repeated about five times. It was as if someone had told him about me. He later asked if anyone would like to give his life to Christ, that day, we were ten that came out subsequently, I met with the pastor and narrated my challenges to him. He prayed, counseled and eventually followed me to see the property owner who then cancelled the notice. That was how the problem was solved and that was how my rapport with Christ began. After many years out of the fold, the Lord started opening my eyes to certain things. I heard the voice of the Lord calling me ‘Son, I want you to leave what you are doing’. I want you to come and work for Me. I was reluctant in my heart because Juju music was in my blood. I said no!, why should it be me. The struggle continued for years with each year bringing a clearer picture of what God wanted me to do.

I started a fellowship and opened the Decross Fellowship Centre, where we had midweek programmes. We sent new souls won for Christ to different churches around the community. I was still not ready for the church proper. But my wife was all for it. She said if God has called you, you have no option than to yield. So after many years of declining the call, I said yes to the Lord and I was ordained on my 50th birthday by Archbishop Benson Idahosa (now late) in 1992 at Abeokuta.
My calling is clear. When I came on the gospel scene, people bombarded me with engagements and it was like I was in the world. However, God said no, that was not what He wanted me to do. He said He had called me to be a preacher, using music as a vehicle. When I asked Him to clarify His purpose, He gave me Ebenezer Obey Evangelistic Ministry, that is the umbrella body for the outreach programmes.

God is known to make something out of nothing. I was not a theologian; I wanted to die a musician because it was my passion. But God said, “don't worry. You're still a musician but now you' will use music as a vehicle of soul winning. I sought advice on how to go about this from people who have come before me, many of whom had extended hands of fellowship to me. Pastor Billy Ingram, an African-American in California, advised me to go for an Observation Course rather than a 5-year Bible course.

He said we all have different callings and different callings have different approaches. I went and prayed over it. I took Ingram's advice and then travelled out. This really helped me. This course was in two bits of three months each. I saw how things were being done. Evangelist A. Daud was of great assistance. In addition to that was the ECWA church that sent me a pastor of my choice to assist me for two years, but for logistics' reasons had to extend his stay to 5 years.

Jesu Olore o! the first gospel record I did was accepted widely. One thing I realise is that there is a need to help both the secular and gospel artistes

©Bola Adewara.

Additional reports by Tope Olukole, (Nigerian Tribune) Adewale Ojo (Contemporary Age) and Decross Magazine.

Born in 1969 in Chicago, IL, R. Kelly discovered an interest in music when he was in high school and won a school talent show, singing Stevie Wonder's Ribbon in the Sky. He took his electronic keyboard to the streets of South Chicago, and began busking. His fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel, pop, hip-hop, and classic soul has garnered fifteen top-forty hits more than any other male solo artist of the 90's. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, and remixer and has written and produced songs for popular musicians including, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, and Toni Braxton. Kelly's third album, R. Kelly, was released at the end of 1995 and became his first number one Pop and rhythm-and-blues title. In 1997, he made I Believe I Can Fly for the Warner Brothers film Space Jam. The song won three 1998 Grammy Awards, including "Best R&B Male Vocal Performance," "Best R&B Song," and "Best Songwriter."

Married, and the father of three children, Kelly was arrested in 2002, when a video tape of him allegedly having intercourse with a minor was made public on the internet, and was charged with producing child pornography. In 2008, he was acquitted of the charges. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that R. Kelly has been a frequent attendee of Salem Baptist Church. A source says the troubled singer “goes to church whenever he can when he’s in Chicago.” Facing 21 counts of child porn, the source added, “He takes the service very seriously… and doesn’t want to be disruptive and have people asking for autographs, so he comes in after the start of the service and leaves before the end.” Now that he has been discharged and acquitted he his relax, we pray the God will have him taken over completely for His use.

Born August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Houston almost seemed destined from birth to become a singer. Her mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick and godmother Aretha Franklin were all legendary figures in American gospel and soul music. Cissy Houston was the choir minister at New Hope Baptist Church, and it was there that a young Whitney got her start. Even as a child, Whitney was able to wow audiences, she later told interviewer Diane Sawyer that a rapturous response from the congregation at New Hope had a powerful effect upon her "I think I knew then that (my singing ability) was an infectious thing that God had given me." By the time she turned 15, Whitney was performing often with her mother and trying to get a record deal of her own. Around the same time, she was discovered by a photographer who was awed by her natural beauty. She soon became an extremely sought-after teenage model, one of the first African American women to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine. But music remained her true love.

When she was 19, Whitney Houston was discovered in a nightclub by the renowned Clive Davis of Arista Records, who signed her immediately and took the helm of her career as she navigated from gospel to pop stardom. By 1992, Whitney Houston was on top of the world, but her life was about to get very complicated very quickly. That year she married the R&B singer Bobby Brown, formerly of New Edition, after a three-year engagement. At first the marriage was passionate and loving, but things turned sour as the decade progressed and both Brown and Houston battled substance abuse and increasingly erratic behavior. How do we always stand aloof as do they were never past of us (the church), Huston passed on recently, again we lust! There is the case of Majek Fashek also on substance now this article is a clarion call to the church to wake-up … help we are losing!

We community worshippers team invite you God into this situation and ask that you turn every of these hearts hurting you with talents you gave them to have a contrite spirit and you create a new heart in them all that will cause them to return to their first love in Jesus name. We also pray that your church will be devoid of ignorance and will be able to accommodate all this talents in Jesus name, the dynamics of music would not be the bane of quality manifestation in the church any more, you will pour out your spirit on us all that we should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil and shall not be limited in our ministry by the yoke of unsound doctrine of men in churches any more, amen.