It’s another September and it is time to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Greater Evangelism World Crusade.  This year, 2021, marks the 49^th anniversary of the Ministry. Forty-nine years of God’s faithfulness and outpouring of blessings.

This year, the theme is “Sounding the Trumpet of Jubilee” and celebrations kicked off on Sunday, 5^th September 2021 with a rally. Brethren all over the nation, trooped out en masse, spreading the good news and sounding the trumpet of Jubilee. There was jubilation, as both the old and young danced on the streets, praising God.

Celebrations continued Monday, 6^th September with thanksgiving and intercessory prayers in all GEWC churches.

 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:1, 6)

Psalm 124:1, 6 is indeed the testimony of Greater Evangelism World Crusade. But for the Lord who was on our side, 49 years would not be possible. One of the tripods of Greater Evangelism World Crusade is Prayer. Greater Evangelism World Crusade’s vision was given in prayer; Greater Evangelism World Crusade was born in prayer. Day 2 was therefore a time for intercessory prayers and thanksgiving. It was a time to recount God’s mercies and thank Him. It was also a time to pray for the Ministry and seek God’s face to enable her to achieve her vision.

Celebrations continue with evangelism and outreaches within our environment and communities. Join us today!

The youths of Rivers State, District 2, Greater Evangelism World Crusade gathered in their numbers on Sunday 16 May 2021 at the District headquarters, Mile 1 Church, to hold the first youth service as a district since its creation.

The program tagged OIL OF WORSHIP was organized to bring the youths in the District together in order to promote love and unity amongst them and a common ground to worship God.

Interestingly, the service featured worship moments from various choirs and special ministrations by Clinton Zidougha and Evangelist Kalada Numbere a.k.a The Highlife prophet as he was there to prophesy into the lives of the worshippers.

Those in attendance included Pastor Taribo Manga, the Rivers State District 2 Minister, Pastor Inima Okpaku, District 3 youth Minister and youths across the 4 districts of the Ministry in Rivers State.

Finally, feedbacks from the attendees revealed that this was a long-anticipated event and it was well appreciated. They urged the organisers to keep up the good work.

Once I Was Blind, but Now I Can See,

Once I Was Bound, but Now I Am Free,

That‘s How I Know There Is a Saviour for Me

Oh, Such A Saviour!

The above song, one of Geoffrey’s favourites, is a summary of what God did in his life on Sunday 11th May 1969.

That unforgettable Sunday, 11th May, 1969 was like any other Sunday. There was no meteor or rainbow in the sky to suggest that any strange or important event was going to take place that day. Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere, a second year Geology student in the University of Ife, Ibadan Campus, was like any other young student on Campus. He was completely and totally oblivious that God had His eye on him and that even the names he bore were like a stamp on him on his future.

Sunday, 11th May 1969, God decided that the time had come for Him to act. That Sunday, Geoffrey Numbere, the ardent Church-goer, must go to Church, but first he must write a letter to one of his girlfriends in Lagos. He had intended to mail it on Monday morning but it was so important to him to write her before leaving for Church. Glory be to God, events of that day saw to it that that letter never got mailed. He picked up his Bible and with a friend, left for Church service at the University Chapel. That Bible was a stolen one; it was looted by a relative of his during the Nigerian Civil War.

As he entered the Church he never knew that God was “waiting” for him right there. He entered the Church a wretched sinner but he came out a born- again child of God, cleansed and washed in the Blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.

Culled from “A Man & A Vision” (Biography of Apostle Geoffrey D. Numbere) by Pastor Nonyem E. Numbere

Join us for more, this May for Book Reading Sessions with Pastor Nonyem E. Numbere.

It was with great joy that we gathered together for the April healing service. With soul lifting praise and worship songs led by the Jubilee Voices, we gave thanks to God for His unending mercies. It was also a time of great rejoicing as we celebrated the 60^th birthday of our leader, Pastor Isaac Olori, the International Director, Greater Evangelism World Crusade.

The Lord spoke to us through His servant, Pastor Isaac Olori on the topic "Activating the Power of Your Closet"   (Psalm 91:1).

To help us understand the closet experience, Pastor Isaac Olori gave various examples. First is the human conception and birth process, stating that every man before birth goes through the closet stage in the womb for the period of nine months where the child is formed and develops into a full human. Secondly, is the transformation of the caterpillar in the cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly. This is well illustrated in The Butterfly Christian by Apostle G. D Numbere (of blessed memory).

Another example was the temple in the Old Testament which had the outer court, the holy place and the Holies of Holies. However, even though these “chambers” were part of the temple, anyone who wanted to encounter God had to go beyond the outer court into holies of holies (closet).

He further explained that the closet is a place of privacy, and whatever blessings we attract as believers will be as a result of our secret prayers and service to God.

Highlighting Matthew 6:6, Pastor Isaac Olori said that

• Prayer is a closet affair, that is, the personal time you spend communicating with God. These are not the prayers done in public but those done in your closet.
• Your inner life (what you do in secret) determines the outcome of your outer life.
• Jesus advised to “shut the door”. This refers to the inner shutting of the heart to external distractions and challenges that disconnect you from God.
• Approach God as your Father in your closet.
• As you relate to God in your closet, growth in other areas such as giving, service takes place.

Concluding with the examples of Daniel (Daniel 6:10) who had an active closet that is, prayer life, Jehu (2 Kings 9:2-3) who was anointed in the secret place and the widow (2 Kings 4:1 – 7) who had to go into her home to pour out the oil, he stressed that an active personal prayer life is the solution to surmounting challenges, receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and experiencing God’s hand in all aspects of our lives.

He urged everyone to make it a habit to consciously and constantly seek God in our private corners.

To wrap up today's teachings, the President of the women's fellowship of this great ministry and wife of the founding father, Pastor (Dr) Nonyem E. Numbere gave a talk on the topic “The Power of His Resurrection” (Philippians 3:10-11, Romans 1:3-4 and Romans 8:11).

Excerpts on her teaching can be found below:

Power comes from the Latin word, potere means “to be able” but things with power are much more than able – they are able to exert a lot of force (Vocabulary.com).  It also means “possession of control, authority, or influence over others” (Merriam- Webster dictionary); physical might.

The word, “His” in the topic refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings, Lord of Lords and “the first begotten (first fruit) of the dead.” His death and resurrection form the bedrock(foundation) of the Christian faith. The atonement for our sins was done on the Cross but breaking the power of death and captivity to sin and Satan was accomplished by His resurrection. Alleluia!  

Resurrection (Grk – anastasis) means “a standing up again” or “rising.” It includes not only coming back to life but a rising from the grave. There were a few cases in the Bible of the dead coming back to life e.g., the son of the widow of Zarephath, son of the Shunamite woman, the unnamed man whose corpse came back to life on touching Elisha’s dead bones, Jairus daughter, Lazarus etc., but all of them eventually died and returned to the grave.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is unique in that it is the only one without a human agent and is forever. He rose from the dead by the power of God and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:23-36, Psalms 16:10, Romans 1:3 – 4)

 Power was needed for Jesus to rise from the dead. It was an act of the triune God. One can therefore say from the above refs that the power of the resurrection came from God the Father, Jesus Himself. It was not possible for Him to be held down by death he also said that He had power to lay down his life and power to pick it up) the Holy Spirit.

Other refs- Acts 3:15; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:12; Hebrews 13:20; John 2:19; 10:18; 1 Peter 3:18

The Cross and the Resurrection

On the Cross Jesus cried out, “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19 :30). The Greek word for this is tetelestai and it was a word that was used in several ways – a task was finished, a sacrifice offered fully, a masterpiece completed and in commerce it was often written across a bill to indicate that the bill had been paid in full. The Resurrection is the receipt to show that Jesus paid the price of our sins in full. And the evidence that God had accepted His work of redemption. The Resurrection is the hope of all believers that we too shall resurrect and live eternally with Christ.

What if Jesus did not rise from the dead? We will still be under the Law and offering sacrifices that cannot not solve the problem of sin and death. Satan would have been celebrating because there would have been no escape for man, but thanks be to God, an empty grave was there to testify that Jesus rose from the dead and the disciples were witnesses to that effect. Without it, Christianity is nothing (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

Accounts of The Resurrection

• Jesus Himself talked about His death and resurrection (Matthew 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22).
• Gospel accounts- Matt 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-18.

Results of The Resurrection

•  The resurrection proved that truly Jesus is the Son of God and that the gospel is true.
•  By His resurrection Jesus was given power over death, over Satan and his demons and over every power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).
•  Power over death. The wages of sin is death and that is for both spiritual and physical. Jesus now has the keys of death and hell and so Satan can no more lay claim those (Rev1:18).
•  He secured the redemption of man and the power to give salvation and eternal life with God to man. The accomplishment on the Cross was stamped eternally by His resurrection.
•  The bodily resurrection of believers is guaranteed by His resurrection (Romans 8:11;1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:47-49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2.) He is referred to as the “first fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). We shall put on immortality and be like He is (1 Corinthians 15:33-53). That is the hope and comfort of the believers (1 Thessalonians 4:18). He has delivered us from the fear of death and we no longer fear death (Hebrews 2:14-15).
•  The defeat of Satan was publicly declared by the Resurrection (Ephesians 4:8-10; Colossians 2:14-15).
•  Jesus has given all believers power over Satan (Luke 10:18-19) and “we are more than conquerors” (Mark 16:15-18; John 20:21-23)

Conclusion

Apostle Paul had experienced the power of Christ in his life and in his ministry, yet he felt he was not close to Him as he should. He craved for closer intimacy with Christ to experience His power fully and also to die like Him or have a joint partnership in His sufferings.

The resurrection power of Christ is not found in idols like the so-called anointing oil, or “die by fire prayers”, or in worldliness. He has made all provisions for us. It was finished on the Cross and exhibited by His resurrection.  Paul made his choice. What is yours?

"Unforgiveness is a bait which Satan uses to trap people especially Christians".

The above is an excerpt from the inspiring book "I FORGIVE FOR MY SAKE" written by   Apostle Geoffrey D. Numbere (of blessed memory), Founding Father of the Ministry of Greater Evangelism World Crusade .

During the review, the book reviewer gave  a brief information about the author, Apostle Geoffrey D. Numbere. He was  born in1944 and ascended to glory in 2014. He was converted on May 11, 1969 and spent his life labouring in God's vineyard. The book was published in 2014 with 21 chapters and 194 pages. The foreword of the book was written by Dr Oluwafemi O. Martins of West Africa Theoretical Seminary (WATS) and a lot of comments written by different individuals.

Furthermore, Pastor A. Iyagba highlighted reasons why the author was the right person to write about forgiveness.  

• The author experienced a miraculous conversation that led him to repentance and forgiveness
• He had a slogan that says 'We do not teach people how to make money but we teach people how to make heaven"
• The author had mentioned earlier how he feels disappointed about how people whom he had been of assistance to disappointed him and how he felt hurt to the point were he felt no more hurt by the actions of men
• His life and teachings were also centered on forgiveness

In addition, the book is necessary at this time because Easter is a time of forgiveness, the rapture is at hand and we cannot live a crucified life without forgiveness.

The power to live a life of forgiveness is only possible when we have an encounter of the cross.

Some highlighted lessons from the book are:

• God initiated the whole idea and process of forgiveness (John 3:16)
• Forgiveness is a debt we owe (Matthew 18:21-35)
• Unforgiveness is a sin and has consequences
• Unforgiveness defiles a man (Mathew 15:10-20)
• Unforgiveness can grieve the spirit, expose one to the devil, hinder family prayers and cause one to have a shortened life
• We forgive others to free ourselves from the tormentors (Mathew 18:34)
• Vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35a).
• Forgiveness has the power to break the jinx in our life and society

This book also covers the characteristics of a forgiving heart, gives in depth analysis on the amendment of laws in the Old testament and considers the blood of Abel versus the blood of Jesus. It also contains real testimonies of people who had to forgive, for example, a young lady who had to forgive her rapists and the killers of her family.

To purchase this book, kindly visit our bookshop, Crusaders’ Bookshop, 1 Club Road, Lagos Bus Stop, Port Harcourt.  Contact: +234 806 866 8846

It was with great expectation, people gathered to get revitalized as the third day of the 2021 Easter Retreat commenced.

Giving the 3^rd talk of the Retreat, Pastor Isaac Olori, the International Director spoke on the topic, “The Quickening Power” (Romans 8:1-11). He taught that it was the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead and that is the same Spirit that dwells in us. The challenge we have is lack of knowledge that this same Spirit dwells in us that is why we live defeated Christian lives.

Defining quickening as - to quicken is to make alive, to give life or the inflow of divine life, he explained that this can be  seen in three ways

• To endue with life (divine vitality, Ephesians 2:1)
• To produce alive(this means that the life we now live as believers is a new life Ephesians 2:5)
• To preserve alive

At  salvation, we are endued with life (Ephesians 2:1). There is a life a believer has that unbeliever does not have, that is the divine life (Ephesians 2:5). He stressed that one proof that you are born again is that you have been quickened that is, we have been given a different life that subdues the flesh (Colossians 2:13).

Pastor Isaac Olori described  two categories of people

• Those who are dead in sin – the life of the old man.
• Those who are dead to sin – the life of the new man on whom sin is powerless by the power of the cross (1 Corinthians 15:45)

He stressed that the born-again believer was designed to live not by the dictates of the flesh but by the quickening of the Spirit. You cannot live a victorious Christian life without the help of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that quickens.

In conclusion, he explained the Secret of the Quickening (John 6:63). It is the Word of God – the quickening agent (Psalms 119:50). We need this quickening every day.

The 2021 Easter retreat of Greater Evangelism World Crusade started on the 1st  through 4th of April 2021 with the theme " ENCOUNTER OF THE CROSS". The retreat commenced in joy as brethren glorified God during the praise and worship.

The International Director, Pastor Isaac Valentine Olori, gave the opening talk titled: "Christ our Substitute" (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 1:17-18; 15:22). He described a substitute as something that takes the place of another and Jesus took our place.

Some substitutes in the Bible include, Isaac whom God asked Abraham to sacrifice (Genesis 22). It was a costly sacrifice as Isaac was a child of promise after many years of barrenness. A ram was provided as a substitute for Isaac.  Another example was the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) which became a substitute for both man and animal so the angel of death passed over. Thirdly, was the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 – 37), who provided for the wounded traveler on his own account. It was a picture of Christ coming for our rescue. All these were temporary substitutes but the real substitute was Jesus Christ (John 10:11).

Jesus became a permanent exchange or substitute for us by the cross (John 10:11). In 2 Corinthians 5:21, imputation was used to describe salvation. Imputation means adding something good or bad to someone's account. He explicated that two imputations were made:

1. Adam sinned and God imputed it on the account of every human (Romans 5:12)
2. God imputed the sin of humanity into the account of Jesus.

Jesus volunteered to take up our sins and by this action, made us the righteousness of God (Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 2:24).  This righteousness can only be received and maintained by the cross.

 Speaking further from 2 Corinthians 5:21 he said:

1. God made Jesus to be sin. He made Jesus a payment for sin, our sin offering. He explained that without a sin offering, there is no closure for sin. (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
2. We become clothed in righteousness through Christ. For the animal to become a sin offering, the sinner must place his hand on the animal. Today, we place our hearts on Jesus, who is our sin offering and the sacrifice on the cross counts for us, God then clothes us with righteousness.  He stressed that if we separate from Christ, we lose that righteousness.
3. We become examples or exhibitors of righteousness. He encouraged everyone to examine themselves if we exhibit righteousness or carnality.

Concluding, he said, this was made possible through the cross. The cross procured righteousness for us.

The Son of God became the son of man so that the sons of men can become the sons of God (C.S. Lewis).

TRAIL BLAZER

I am a missionary, heart and soul

God had an only Son and He was a missionary

A poor, poor imitation of Him I am, or wish to be

In this service I hope to live,

In it, I wish to die

(David Livingstone)

Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere pioneered the indigenous Pentecostal evangelism in Northern Nigeria as well as in Rivers and Bayelsa States in the Niger Delta.

He started out his missionary work in the old Rivers State as a street preacher. In his scanty outfit – a T-shirt inscribed with the words “JESUS IS LOVE” and “REPENT” on the front and back respectively and with his raffia bag slung over a shoulder, he struck out to the streets of Port Harcourt preaching the gospel with great passion. Apostle Geoffrey Numbere would stand at street corners and weep for souls as he realized all these people were perishing and would preach to them with tears in his eyes, pleading that they receive Jesus as their Saviour. Of course, people thought him mad.

Such a passion for souls! He had nothing, not even a roof over his head. So if anyone invited him over for food and shelter he would stay, otherwise, he would do without. He had no change of clothes and was known to borrow a piece of wrapper from sisters to wrap himself with while his clothes dried out in the sun after washing. All these inconveniences did not matter to him. Indeed, he had a vision he could not forget. Only heaven will reveal the crown of glory he has received.

What he desired most in his life is to preach the gospel anytime, anywhere, to everybody, no matter who you are or what it will cost him. Therefore he seized any opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ whether to the poor or rich. He once led a man to the Lord while on a queue to buy a book at the CMS Bookshop Lagos, by asking him if he could try his scissors on the man’s bushy hair; he asked General Gowon if he was born again when they met just to mention a few.

He went with his team through all the villages of the Old Rivers State, pioneering evangelism in virgin territories, some of these villages are still not found on any map, preaching and liberating them from the powers of darkness, in all kinds of conditions, sleeping in market sheds, drinking from the same waterholes as wild animals etc. God had promised him safety in all his journeys when He called him and so him and his team, were safe in all their missionary journeys. His mission was accompanied by signs and wonders, miracles that defied human science which cannot be enumerated here.

His pioneering missionary experiences could well be summarized as:

“Many times was I shot at, many times was I mobbed and almost lynched, many times did I know rejection, many times was I arrested, once was I put in the police cell, twice was I slapped on my cheeks, many times have I been betrayed by those who I had trusted, many times have I been lonely, many times have I been hungry, many times has my life been endangered as I was exposed to the elements of the air - beaten by rain and storm, almost electrocuted by lightning, bitten by mosquitoes and sandflies, tossed up and down by angry waves of the sea ready to swallow me up. Many have been my afflictions in the work of the gospel but the Lord has always delivered me from all of them”

As an apostle, he raised a vanguard against false doctrines such as falling, misuse of the anointing oil, prosperity gospel etc.  He was a strong advocate of holiness and righteousness in the Church of Jesus Christ and was very vocal against all forms of unrighteousness and compromise with the world and its standards. His forthrightness in his preaching, condemning unholy and unscriptural practices and doctrines, earned him many enemies. He always preached the Gospel as simple and as raw as it is. He never looked for shenanigans or used hypes in his delivery of the gospel. He always preached the pure Word of God and allowed the Holy Spirit to do the convictions, conversions and the stabilization of the converts. He earned for himself the unenviable reputation of being the preacher many Christians love to hate. In fact, at a time he was about the most hated preacher around. That in itself is a mark of a true Apostle.

From Rivers State, the Ministry of Greater Evangelism World Crusade has reached out to other States of Nigeria and now thrust out to other parts of Africa namely: Sierra Leone, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, the Congo Republic, Cnetral Africa Republic, Liberia, Ghana, United Kingdom and France.

Two days before he passed on, he said he felt very good and spoke in his native language Kalabari. When translated, this was what he was saying: “I felt like going. Did their car spoil? They have repaired it. Whatever happens to you people, you people should take it that way…” He was referring to the chariots of heaven that had come for him; obviously, the prayers of the saints had slowed them down. On Sunday, 12th October he said to Pst. Dr. Wari Numbere, his son and Dr. Mrs. Mabel Charles-Davies (his daughter in the Lord); “a mu late” meaning “I have arrived”. On Tuesday, 14th October 2014, in his semi-conscious state he screamed “I want to die; you people should allow me go!”

On Wednesday, 15th October 2014, he left this earth without a struggle (he simply stopped breathing) with a beautiful smile on his face. We know he woke up on the other side in glory to a rousing welcome by heaven, where he is with Jesus Christ, the Saviour of his soul, whom he loved until death.

(Culled from A Man and A Vision (A Biography of Apostle Geoffrey D. Numbere) by Pastor Nonyem E. Numbere

Visit our Bookshop to order: https://gephub.org/index.php/bookshop/a-man-and-a-vision