The NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR

MARATHON PRAYERS

Monday 12th – Sunday 18th February, 2024

CAMA 2020 & MATTERS ARISING

“… Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me…? Feed my sheep” (John 21: 17).

In August 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. That law, amongst others, stipulated that “The Commission may by order suspend the trustees of an association and appoint an interim manager or managers to manage the affairs of an association where it reasonably believes that there has been any mismanagement in the administration of the association”. The law threatened the leadership of various churches in the country. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) promptly headed to the court when “all attempts to convince the Federal government why it should not intervene or interfere with the management of the Church in the country through any of its agencies failed.”

It was a long drawn legal tussle, and in April 2023, CAN won the case in court. Hallelujah! All the church leaders united to confront the government and resist what was evidently an ill-motivated law that would have conferred the control of churches on the Federal Government.

The outcome of the court case on CAMA highlights a few notable points as follows:

1. The Church has the capacity to unite against a common foe.

2. The much-vaunted denominational divisions and rivalry amongst various church groups can easily be surmounted.

3. The churches can resist the government and prevail.

4. The church has the capacity to compel government to do what is right.

The question that naturally follows is, if church leaders were capable of resisting the government over CAMA, why have they not engaged governments over the persecution and daily murder of Christians in Nigeria? Are we to conclude that church leaders mounted their spirited resistance against CAMA because it threatened their positions and benefits, while they demonstrate indifference to the plight of their persecuted brethren because they or their families are not directly affected? It is disturbing to note that since the insurgency started in 2009, fifteen years ago, there has not been a single Christian leadership cooperation to engage Government the way church leaders mobilized to engage it against CAMA.

It is reasonable to conclude that if church leaders could rely on legal representation in court to stop the government from implementing CAMA, nothing stops them from utilizing the same process to compel Government to comply with Section 14 (2)b of the Constitution which states that “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government:” It is sadly apparent that “the security and welfare” of Nigerians are not the primary purpose of the APC political party in government.

Jesus Christ commanded Peter, “Feed my sheep”. Inherent in that command was the expectation that the sheep of Jesus would be protected and well nourished. Today, in addition to insecurity, there in hunger in the country. What steps are church leaders taking to ensure that the flock of Christ is fed in obedience to the command of the Lord?

Over the years, churches have amassed enormous funds from freewill offerings, tithes, thanksgiving, seed faith, and vows, and some of them are able to build places of worship costing billions of naira. The cost of some 'special' and annual church programs runs into billions of naira. Invariably, some churches or denominations can afford to import shiploads of food into the country without denting their purse. Why then have such projects not been their objective?

Not only can churches import food into the country to alleviate the sufferings of their members, they also have the financial capacity to start large scale mechanized modern farming. Some would-have-been farm lands are wasting as 'campgrounds.'

In obedience to the command of Jesus Christ, churches should feed their people some of whom had helped to raise those huge funds. A church might not be able to feed the entire country, but at least it can start with its members.

Churches should not only  pray but also act like Jesus and meet the physical needs of their people. The suffering in the land is becoming unbearable. Miracle services for the suffering masses are great, but plus miracle food provided for those masses, it could be greater. To think that some church leaders were accomplices in foisting the present Government of hardship upon Nigeria puts on them the additional onus of alleviating the suffering that they have helped to bring upon the land.

The National Prayer Altar calls on church leaders to rise up in the interest of the flock of Jesus Christ by doing the following:

1. Take action to defend persecuted and vulnerable Christians the same way they fiercely fought CAMA.

2. Feed the sheep of Jesus Christ by importing food for free distribution to their members and others.

3. Embark on large scale mechanized farming to ensure sufficient local food production.

There was a prophetic word in August 2021, that the Lord was “ANGRY” with the Church leaders in Nigeria because of their indifference to the bloodshed and evil in the land. Caring thus for the suffering and hungry flock could be a redeeming appeasement. “...Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12: 29).

PRAYER POINTS

1). Acts 4:34–37 

Pray that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit shall rest upon church leaders and influential Christians to persuade them on the welfare of the flock.

2). John 13:35 

Pray that the selfishness and self-centeredness that currently characterize many church leaders shall be melted away by the love of Christ.

3). Ezekiel 45:9–10

Intercede for the suffering masses in Nigeria, that God would deliver them from an insensitive and self-seeking political class that has elevated selfish interests above the collective welfare of Nigerians. 

4). Gen. 9:6 

Pray against bloodshed and insecurity in the land. Pray that God will raise righteous and just leaders that will execute judgement on all those involved in shedding the blood of the innocent in Nigeria.

5). Ezekiel 34:11-16 

Pray that God will hear the cry of the poor and downtrodden in Nigeria, and give the land responsible, accountable, and God-fearing leaders.

6). Isaiah 32:10–15 

Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Nigeria, that the revival fire shall sweep all over Nigeria and bring an end to corruption, violence, and immorality in the land. 

7). Gen. 1:2-3 

Pray that the present darkness over Nigeria shall give way to the light of God. Amen.