How I Met & Fell In Love With My Husband, Pastor Yemisi Ashimolowo of KICC

Pastor Yemisi Ashimolowo is the First Lady of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) one of the largest and fastest growing churches in Western Europe, with branches all over Africa.

Pastor Yemisi, who added another year on September 23rd, 2014 is married to KICC Senior Pastor, Matthew Ashimolowo and she is the proud mother of two sons, Tobi and Tomi. In a recent chat whith City People, she opened up on her love story...enjoy:

Now, let’s go personal Ma, how long have you been married to Pastor Matthew?
I have been married for 33 years.

Did you envisage that you were going to be married to a Pastor as a Pastor’s daughter?
No, no, no! Marrying a Pastor was the last thing in my mind. Because my Dad is a Pastor and as a Pastor’s daughter, I dreaded marrying a Pastor. My Dad has 2 brothers that are Pastors also but of different denominations. I never really wanted to marry a Pastor but God knows the plans He has for our lives.

So, how is being married to Pastor Matthew like?
First and foremost, I thank God that I never listened to the Unilag lecturer who warned me against marrying Pastor Matthew otherwise I would have been probably in a one corner room here in Lagos. But see how my life has turned out to be traveling all over the world to preach and minister. The lecturer never saw any future in Pastor Matthew as a Pastor but the lecturer is late now.
I didn’t know that marrying Pastor Matthew will end this way even I didn’t want to preach when I married him, I just wanted to be a full house wife but he was the one who really discovered me, and saw the beauty of God in my life. So, he mentored me to be what I am today. And I never knew that KICC would be a big church that it is today.

How did it all happen between you?
Okay! I can still remember vividly, it was January 1980, when Pastor Matthew came to my Dad’s church to assist him as an Assistant Pastor. He just came out of Bible School as a fresh graduate then and he was immediately posted to Foursquare Bible Church as an Assistant Pastor to my father even though he had CAC background. And I saw this young vibrant man who was posted to my Dad’s branch. I remember, we were having a serious challenge at that time and we were worshipping outside because our properties were been thrown outside by our landlord over land problem in my area at that time.
It was at this period of time that this young and fresh man (Pastor Matthew) came. This man was so committed and the way he was serving God swept me off my heels. Then I told God that God, if only you can give me a man like this young and vibrant man that is newly posted to work with my Dad for a husband but must not be a Pastor, then I will forever be grateful to you. It was his commitment to the Lord that attracted me to him. This young man was so committed to the things of God.

Was it love at first sight?
Not really because he was a Pastor and I didn’t want to marry a Pastor but I was only attracted to him when I saw him. I must also confess, marrying Pastor Matthew is the best thing that has happened to me. But you know, as a Pastor’s daughter and having 2 Uncles as Pastors, I wasn’t interested in another Pastor again. But I thank God I married one now.

What has been the challenge(s) so far?
Definitely in life there will be challenges. But you need the grace of God to deal with them. And in the ministry, you have to meet and deal with different kinds of people and all of these takes the grace of God.

Marriage-wise?
Every marriage has its ups and downs and every marriage goes through challenges and as I said earlier, it only takes the grace of God.

HOW LONG?

LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. Psalms 94:3-4

Sometimes in the Bible, prayers of intercession take the form of a question. On some occasions, people get so desperate before God that their prayers for help turn into questions, crying out for an answer to their troubles.

Often, when we observe the arrogance of the wicked people and the boldness with which they defy God, we wonder about the Lord's fairness. With arrogance, they speak as if they own the whole world and can determine the outcomes of our lives.

As we encounter such arrogance of power, we ask questions, 'How long O Lord?'

These prayers, daring as they may be, are still expressions of hope in the ability of God to overturn the situations that perplex us.

They are not the cries of people who have given up on God; neither are they the sarcastic or rhetorical questions of doubters.

Instead, they are cries of intercession, from a people whose only hope is found in their God.

In asking questions, we express our total dependence on God. The Psalmist in our text cries out with this searching question because he acknowledges that God is powerful enough to change the situation facing him.

He also acknowledges that God will not delay in executing judgment for the righteous.

In other words, God is strong enough to intervene, and He is always perfectly on time.

He is always there even when we do not see Him or feel His presence. Yes, the wicked may seem to triumph over the righteous but when God lifts up His arm, the battle will turn.

Prayer: Turn the tide of evil O Lord and favour the cause of Your children.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 94:1-15

RCCG’s Living Faith Connections Choir nominated for Mobo awards 2014 ‘Best Gospel Act'

Award winning Gospel group Living Faith Connections Choir are flying the flag for a new wave of Gospel music in the UK and Africa at large. Having already been nominated at the Africa Gospel Music Awardsfor ‘Group/Choir Of The Year’ and reached the finals of the BBC Gospel Choir of the Year finals, the London based choir have now been nominated for ‘Best Gospel Act’, at the prestigious MOBO Awards.

The Living Faith Connections Choir released their debut album in 2013 titled Beyond The Norm, collaborating with award winning songwriter Evans Ogboi to create what has widely been regarded as one of the best modern Gospel albums to come out of the UK and Africa in recent times. The album’s lead single “Nobody But You” went on to win ‘Song Of The Year’ at 2013’s Africa Gospel Music Awards.

Living Faith Connections Choir now need your help to bring the MOBO Awards home! Taking place on October 22 at London’s renowned Wembley Arena,  Living Faith Connection Choir, are nominated for a MOBO award.

Please vote for Living Faith Connections Choir to win the ‘Best Gospel Act’ at the MOBO Awards here.

Living Faith Connections Choir - “Yahweh” (Music Video):

Living Faith Connections Choir Perform “Total Praise” On BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p027fg60

To make this scrumptious recipe

To make this scrumptious recipe first dice 1 medium onion and sauté it in 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 1 teaspoon crushed garlic. Cut 1 medium zucchini, 1 medium yellow squash, 1 medium potato and 1 medium tomato in slices. Spread a layer of sautéed onion in a greased baking dish and arrange the slices in the way shown. 

Sprinkle pepper, salt and thyme over the vegetables. Wrap the dish in foil and pop it into preheated oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. After 30 minutes remove the foil and sprinkle with 1 cup grated cheese. Then bake for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and brown.
Source: stylishboard.com

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The 7 Ways to Teach Youth to Discern Sexual Predators

When I was 17, I briefly attended an un-biblical church. I was drawn in by the size of the youth group and the swirl of activity. There was plenty of discussion about wealth and prosperity, satanic back-masking in rock music, and spiritual gifts. But I don't recall anyone talking about sin, repentance, sanctification, sacrifice, suffering or living for the glory of God. 

 

The youth-ministry leader was 22 and a recent convert. Plenty of rumors swirled around him, but I gave them no credit until he invited me over to his townhouse. When he acted just like the un-churched men I knew and attempted to initiate a sexual relationship, I called him out. Then I turned him in to the senior pastor. As similar situations surfaced with other girls, much chaos and gossip ensued in the weeks that followed. I'd like to say that this all went down well, but it didn't. It turns out that it is very costly to ignore both common sense (a single man only a few years older is leading the youth ministry?!) and Scripture's guidelines about leadership ("He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil") (1 Tim. 3:6). 

 

In the wake of this mess, I left that church and everything else to do with Christianity. I spent the next 12 years running from God, convinced I had seen the entire spectrum of faith, and it was hollow and deceptive. But God, being rich in mercy (sweet, sweet words!), arrested my attention and regenerated my heart and faith on one Easter Sunday on a trip to South Africa. While I doubt I was genuinely regenerated as a teenager (my journals show little fruit), I still ponder that early church experience from time to time and how it dishonored the gospel.

 

Most recently, I recalled it as I read about a youth director in a local church who for five years was sexually involved with many girls from the youth group. The church did a poor job in vetting the hiring of this man (his previous employer told them about inappropriate contact with a 14-year-old girl), in considering the doctrine of sin ("the senior pastor said he was shocked to hear that his youth director could be involved in inappropriate behavior"), and in observing and correcting his questionable public interactions with the teen girls (cuddling, personal attention, partying). What's commendable, however, is that the church has undergone a long, public transformation process to correct the problems and create a church that is responsive to victims of sexual abuse.

 

Nevertheless, over the past few months, I kept coming back to this one thought: We need to instill discernment in young girls so they can more readily identify abusers and predators. This ought to be embedded in our Titus 2 discipleship, our parenting, and our youth-group leadership. Now please hear me out. I am not piling on condemnation for the girls who were involved in this particular case nor their families. They have my sympathy. But as I read their accounts, I kept thinking about them and many other young women I know who have been tripped up by the same smooth lies. It's the trend I want to address.

 

Predators and abusers offer the same routine each time: You're special, no one else makes me feel this way, don't tell anyone, here's the justification for my questionable behavior, what we have is unique, etc. It never varies because it so consistently works. And you know why? I'm speaking broadly here, but I believe it is generally true: Because the rest of us puff up the minds of girls with princess mythologies, but we don't (often) equip them to recognize that Prince Charming needs to have some character, not just sweet talk.

 

I can't tell you how many young women I've mentored who couldn't connect those dots. And in fact, how many got defensive when you pointed out the gap between the words and deeds of the smooth dude in question.

 

Therefore, based on my own experience, this particular church incident, and the interactions I've had with other women, here are the initial basics of a discipling discussion about discernment that I think we should have with every budding teenager (boys need to know these standards, too):

• If you can only remember one thing, this is it: What is legitimate and godly is done in the light, known by others, and doesn't violate biblical standards. Anything you experience that is done furtively, in the dark, and kept secret is nearly always sinful.
• Which means young women need to know biblical standards for godly living. They also need to know the Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 passages about the qualifications of leaders so that they can recognize those who twist the Word for their own gain.
• They need to know that a man who genuinely loves them will honor this relationship publicly, a love that is shown like a banner over them (Song 2:4).
• They need to know that a godly man and a future husband is an imitator of God who walks in the light, avoiding sexual immorality, taking no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, and who desires to nourish and cherish his wife (all of Ephesians 5). Therefore, one who pursues sexual immorality and encourages them to lie and deceive others is not an imitator of God and needs to be confronted or exposed.
• They need to know the standards of godly speech, so that a man (especially a man in authority!) who texts and talks to them nonstop about sex is automatically suspect in his motives, because this reveals the defiling overflow of his heart (Matt. 15:19).
• They also need to recognize, in humility, that their desire for romance and pursuit is legitimate, but it can become the very thing that trips them up if they aren't willing to acknowledge this is exactly how predators and abusers operate. If they aren't willing to consider that they are being lied to in any particular situation, then they aren't going to ask the hard questions—of the men or themselves.
• Love is an action. It is measured equally as much in the deeds of those who claim friendship or affection as it is in the proffered words. Make sure they match. 

This are just some of my initial thoughts. I'd like to hear your perspectives too. I don't want young women to distrust men, but to be wise and discerning, able to question improper actions but also eager to encourage the godliness of others around them.

 

Source: Carolyn McCulley

EASY BEADED BRAID BRACELET AND NECKLACE

Beaded braid bracelets and necklaces are high fashion and loved by nearly every girl. So how about trying making a two-in-one version yourself? To start making it first cut a silk ribbon cord in three strands of equal length. Then tie one end into a knot or secure with a ribbon fastener. 

Clamp this end with a clipboard or any other thing you find suitable and start making a braid by slipping in beads in the middle strand one by one as shown. When the beads are done make a simple braid of the remaining length of strands and fasten the end with a ribbon fastener. Wear it as a bracelet or a necklace. Happy crafting!

Source: stylishboard.com

Recipe: YUMMY BANANA PUDDING POKE CAKE

To make this delicious banana pudding poke cake first you have to make a yellow cake from a 10 oz box. After that when the cake has cooled down for a few minutes poke holes in it with a skewer. Mix 2 packs of instant banana pudding in 4 cups of milk and pour the pudding over the poked cake sponge. 

Pop it in the fridge for the layer of pudding to set. Then put a layer of 1 tub of whipped topping. Crush almost 12 vanilla wafers and put a layer of them over the cake. Enjoy this banana poke pudding cake when chill. Happy caking!

Source: stylishboard.com