Category Archives: Feature

Complacency

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(Series 1)

Omolara Jegede

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile from Pexels

“Praise the Lord”, The senior pastor of the Chapel echoed as the congregation responded to his call with an “Hallelujah!”.
The service began and the choir stood up in unisom for the hymn. The ushers were beaming with smiles as they welcomed the chapel members and first timers to the service.

It was time for the praise session a beautiful woman mounted the podium to take the lead, ‘I go dance to my God’ the praise session was highly inspiring and filled with enthusiasm.

“I will be late again today for service, when exactly would I stop all this bad habit?” She said in bewilderment. Ten minutes later she was looking good to go. As she entered into the church the ushers welcomed her in and showed her to a seat courteously. She obliged.

The service ended the church members trooped out in twos and threes with their Bibles and some women with their bags.

“Rose”,Matthew the youth general secretary beckoned on her. She had planned to stop by at the market to get some things for herself, but on seeing him she concluded there was no way out for her.

“You came late again today to church, may I know the reason for today’s lateness, miss?” Matthew said raptly beaming with some holy ghost smile.

“Like, I slept off and eeerm!”, she skipped. “God will forgive me again sir” as she lifted her head courageously. “What are you up to for today and I learnt UNILAG examinations is next month guess you have started burning night candles in preparation for it, I trust you whizkid” she commended him.

“I have no power on my own to write UNILAG examinations successfully but I trust God’s judgment and his will is good, I really wish I can speak to you today can you spare me sometime miss?”
“See, I am running late already I wish to visit the market to get something’s for myself if you will excuse me, Matthew. Catch ya later now” . She hurriedly waved at a cab.

Matthew stood like a log of wood casting glances at her till the cab faded.

“Dear Lord, please let Rose see that she is a mighty seed upon the earth help her to wake up to her responsibility and stand in gap for her own nation.” Matthew interceded silently for Rose.

They had been friends long ago, they attended the same school and church. Matthew had no ulterior motive for her but his heart yearned and he knew that she was going to be a great sledge hammer in the secret place for God but she didn’t pay rapt attention to him or his words.

“Give her time, keep interceding for her and keep your distance his inner man whispered as he rounded up his prayers to get other things done”.

Rose sat on the plastic chair in her room as she brought out her smartphones to surf the social media she opened the latest UNILAG newsfeed on the institution site.

“Wow! They have past questions compiled in a textbook. That’s great!” She instantly downloaded the p.d.f of the past questions so she could tell Matthew and some of her friends about it. “Who exactly does he thinks he his to interrogate me everytime I go late to church?” She muttered.”

The UNILAG examinations commenced and ended well, some of the participants that wrote the examinations came out beaming with smiles, definitely the set of participants that came across the past questions. Some came out with uncertainties from the hall while some looked so down and highly devastated on what would be their end after the result.

“Matthew”, Rose beckoned on him as she hastily walked up to him.

“Rose, how was your exams?” He said, looking totally exhausted and unhappy. “Guess you blowed it excellently” he managed to give out a sly smile”

“What’s wrong, hope there is no problem? Matthew you don’t look happy, Is it the examinations or didn’t you read the p.d.f past questions I sent to you?” She bombarded him with further questions to see if he would provide answer to all her interrogation at once.

“I am not feeling so well am on drugs and its malaria but it is well. Rose, thanks for the concern about the examinations I think I once told you that I don’t trust my brain I trust God and his judgment he brought me this far and he knows the best way to sort my life.”

Nonetheless, glory to him for being committed. Matthew didn’t attempt the examinations well due to his health but he was determined to tell God his plights than men.

“Hope you are feeling better now or are the symptoms still persisting? She queried.

The Result was uploaded on the school portal but the list of admitted students was pending. Rose swiped her phone to check her scores.

“Wow, Thank you Jesus” she blurted out loud and headed straightway to tell her Aunt Deborah about the goodnews.
“Aunt, I had eighty percent in the examinations.” Her aunt was excited. She remembered her friend Fransisca. They had both put in for UNILAG that same year she had a fifty percent while Fransisca had Eighty-five percent.

“I had lost all hope on the admission that year, I was sincerely happy for Fransisca as she also encouraged me not to loose hope. ‘Except there was a miracle’ I muttered after Fransisca words, Indeed a miracle happened that made me more confused about the real definition of miracles.”

The Admission merit list was pasted my name was the third on the list, we searched all day for Fransisca’s name and to my bewilderment, we didn’t see her name on the list.

‘Like what is happening here I queried myself, Fransisca had Eighty-five percent and I had fifty percent how? There is a mix-up somewhere I emphasized.’

The subsequent list too was pasted and my dear friends name was not on it, that part of the Bible dawned on my heart Romans 9:15-16 ‘it is the Lord that showeth mercy’ .

Fransisca cried out her eyes, weeks later she was referred to another Private institution In Abuja An optional offer she took up.

“Rose, I will be serious with you till date I don’t still understand how to define such miracle. Little sis, I advise you don’t trust UNILAG as such please pray for God’s mercy, Deborah said.

‘Rose didn’t oblige her Aunt’s advice, “that was her own time and now is my time nothing can stop me. UNILAG here I come”, As she placed her focus on the standing mirror in her room. “Make welcome the best student in the Physiotherapy department ‘Jayakaye Rose'” as she bowed. Yes that was the kind of honour she looked forward to get in the institution nobody can pour sand inside my garri (Cassava flour) she boasted.

Matthew saw his results he had Fifty-Seven percent, he went on his kneels worshipping God for the score. It was too obvious that he could never score up to that due to his health status that day. He kept hope alive as he trusted God for intervention knowing fully well that the Accounting department never accepted students below grade Sixty percent.

Weeks later the admissions board of the institution sat down to decide the cut-off marks for each faculty which resulted in so much unending argument.

“Dr. Makinde don’t tell me that. You can’t dictate for my department.” The H.O.D of Accounting Department blurted out.’

“I was just saying that let’s admit students within the aggregate score of Fifty knowing fully well that its the Business faculty”.

“Dr. Makinde, please stop trying to help us out. Last time I checked you are the H.O.D of Glass & Ceramic technology in the Science Technology Faculty. Save yourself the stress, pocket your gullible words,” Dr. Folorunso the H.O.D for Marketing remarked.

“Errrhm!” Dr. Makinde was about to speak.

“Dr. Makinde,what do you want to say again? It appears that you have been paid to trouble this meeting” Dr Sanusi the H.O.D from Architectural Department emphasized.

Few Weeks earlier Dr.Makinde had met with some parents requesting heavy dues from them so as to get their wards admitted to the university. Funny enough, eighty percent of the incumbent students were from the Business Faculty, with fifty-two below as their aggregate. The remnant were from the Technology faculty, Medical faculty Humanitarian faculty.

“I pray that the board accepts fifty percent for the faculty” He muttered silently.

“I want us to conclude now on the cut-off mark for this faculty so that we can proceed to other faculties” The Chief admission officer, Dr. Popoola pleaded.

The conference hall was at the state of decorum, every board members gave it a quick thought.

“I suggest fifty-five percent for them”, Dr. Ekpe, the H.O.D for Linguistics said.

“Perfect”, Dr. Luke stated.

“Good”, Dr. Sanusi added.

The House concluded fifty-five for The Faculty of Business after casting a votes. It was obvious Mr. Makinde had cockroaches in his cupboard. He was the only one who didn’t raise his hands in support of the mark.

“Now, we will take a brief break”. Dr Popoola announced.

Dr. Makinde opened the plastic soft drink to gulp it. “Are you okay?” was the word he heard from behind him, turning his head 180 degree.

Dr.Femisola the notorious H.O.D from the Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics receives bribe for virtually everything. They were friends indeed The adage Birds of the same type flocks together is the best definition of the duo.

Why did you insist on fifty percent?” Dr.Femisola asked.

“It is coded”, he replied as he stretched his hands forth to share with him a plastic soft drink.

“Thanks for the soft drink, I just pray Mass Communication department will be forty five” Dr. Femisola said restlessly.

“Why would you pray such prayers?” Dr. Makinde queried.

“I took bribe from about twenty incumbent students (Fifty thousand naira only) they are all from the Mass Communication department. Please support me as soon as we get back to the meeting”, he pleaded.

“One million naira over twenty students that’s damn much, I didn’t even collect up to that from my clients. You be boss. I am your apprentice, Just Ten thousand on about fifty of them just Five hundred thousand naira he boasted.”

“Now I understand the reason for your protest against fifty-five percent, Yeye yeye man (Hilarious personality)” he teased him.

“Let’s continue from where we stopped.” Dr. Popoola pleaded that he will prefer a very fast and precise meeting, as they still had a long way to go, “My wife and kids will be expecting me home from 6pm” he joked.

The Medicine faculty was next on the list. They all concluded that range of students with Eighty-Five to Ninety percent will be on the merit list then if the population isn’t enough, Eighty-two percent upwards can be considered. “We can’t go lower than that” Dr. Popoola concluded.

The physiotherapy department was concluded to have eighty two as an aggregate.

The meeting was adjourned to a next sitting. “After the compilation of the first list. If all the spaces are not filled, then there will be a need to step down some departmental aggregates “, Dr Popoola said.

Dr. Ray the dean of Social sciences faculty said the closing prayers.

To be continued

STAY BLESSED

I CALL YOU BLESSED

Dexterity✍

JUST BELIEVE

I BELIEVE

Lady Omolara T.J

Morris Cerrulo Goes Home

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San Diego, CA — Dr. Morris Cerullo, world-renowned evangelist and founder of Morris Cerullo World Evangelism in San Diego, went home to be with the Lord on July 10, 2020 at the age of 88.

Dr. Cerullo, affectionately known as “Papa” to millions across the globe who were touched by his decades of personal ministry, is known for his outreaches to people in more than 400 cities, 150 nations, on 6 continents, in over 74 years of ministry.

Dr. Cerullo was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and was orphaned at the age of two. He and his four siblings were placed at the Daughters of Miriam Jewish orphanage in Clifton, New Jersey, where he lived until the age of 15.

While at the orphanage, Morris learned the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a nurse, and after heavy persecution from the staff and other students, Morris left. Almost immediately he began ministering in local churches, and at the age of 17, he received a scholarship to a Bible college in New York. By age 23, he was holding his first overseas outreach in Greece.

By the 1960s, Morris was conducting overseas meetings with hundreds of thousands in attendance. Miracles would break out as the power of God would sweep over the crowd, and thousands would give their lives to Jesus.

By the age of 30, he had one of the most successful ministries in the world, and soon began conducting Schools of Ministry to teach others how to reach their own nations with the Good News of Jesus Christ. By the time of his passing, Dr. Cerullo had personally trained more than 5 million Christian ministers face to face.

A domino effect took place. When these Christian leaders were trained, many would go on to establish ministries, churches, businesses, and organizations that help the poor, care for orphans and the homeless, and provide jobs to countless numbers of people. Millions across the world have been helped by what started as Morris’s simple obedience to God and a passion to help those in need.

Known as a Christian statesman, Dr. Cerullo has been presented with the key to San Diego and other cities in America, as well as having received letters of recognition for the work he has done in foreign countries, from mayors, presidents, and other governmental leaders.

Dr. Cerullo is also known for his humanitarian support. He has provided aid to Ethiopia, medical assistance in East Africa, and helped build multiple orphanages in Mexico. Morris and his wife, Theresa Cerullo, partnered with Tommy and Matthew Barnett to build several floors of the Los Angeles Dream Center which houses 200 women who have come out of drugs, human trafficking and prostitution.

Dr. Cerullo was awarded the Lifetime Global Impact Award at the Empower21 World Conference, a gathering of over 4,000 world ministry leaders and pastors in Jerusalem, Israel.

Few people have put as much effort, over such a long period of time, into helping those in need, as Dr. Cerullo. The fruit of his efforts has circulated the globe and will forever be cherished by the millions of lives he has touched.

In 2011, Morris purchased 18 prime acres on Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley, San Diego, California. After several years of EPA reports, architectural design changes, demolition, and city council meetings, construction began on Dr. Cerullo’s crowning jewel, the $200-million Morris Cerullo Legacy International Center.

Completed in December of 2019, Legacy is open to visitors. The presidential library contains Dr. Cerullo’s teaching materials, which are available to enrolled students. Thousands of visitors are drawn deeper into a relationship with God through this legacy of Dr. Cerullo’s life and ministry.

Located within the Legacy Center are many inspiring attractions such as the award-winning, interactive world globe and the 4-D motion seat dome theater playing the films, Walk Through The Bible, and Wings Over Israel. Children discover a world of adventure in The Legends of Lightfall area.

Visitors gain an understanding of faith, culture, and the world through the Legacy of Nations, movie Galleries, the Catacombs, and numerous ancient Bibles and artifacts. All of these movies, exhibits and displays were dear to Morris’s heart in his desire to draw others closer to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his precious wife of 68 years, Theresa, his children, David Cerullo and Susan Peterson, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

Dr. Cerullo’s life can be summed up in the words of the apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

NEW BOOK: Our Perfidious Act by Mayowa Adebayo and Omolara Jegede [Free Download]

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The Authors

Jegede Omolara Temidayo studied Computer Science from Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, who lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
A Christian, A minstrel, An Event planner, writer, speaker and Teacher. This is her first book.
Facebook Handle: Omolara Jegede
Instagram handle:omolara Jegede
Email: temidayoomolara27@gmail
Phone Number: 07068624359, 09012454130

Adebayo Oluwakayode Mayowa hails from Osun State. A builder by profession, he is a Christian by lifestyle and is passionate about writing.

Facebook: Adebayo Oluwakayode Mayowa Instagram: mayor_Kay_official. Mail: adebayooluwakayode75@gmail.com. Phone number : 08166756323, 08133436992

Download and enjoy the book below.

our-perfidious-actDownload

[New Story] DERELICT by Omolara Jegede

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By Omolola T J

The music was popping, everyone seems to be happy but not joyous as they danced to a pop track by a well-known secular musician. Some guys had long pipes of cannabis in their hands. Some strippers were too busy showing off themselves. Everyone was busy with either one thing or the other.


Pelumi a young lady was also at the scene, she drinking off her throat.
Earlier that day, Femi, her boyfriend, had called it a quits. All she could do was to drink to let the memories flush off her brain. Why am I always cheated? I need a true love. She whispered drunkenly.
Wale, a young, lanky guy showed up right before her face. I am here, the true love you seek for. He responded with cannabis in his hands.
Okay, let’s order more drinks since its a toast to me for finding another new lover, Pelumi snorted.
Pelumi stood to take her leave. As she stood, her legs were weak. she was going to fall. Wale grabbed her. I will take you home, miss, he offered.
Zoom! And they were there. It was a well furnished apartment of two rooms and a sitting room, a toilet and kitchen. She slammed herself on the couch and dozed off. Wale ensured sure she was safe. He took her phone and flashed his mobile phone so as to have her number for effective communication.
The next day she crawled from her bed to get the early momo chores fixed since it was a Saturday. As she stood up, she noticed her heels was still on her and the stench of alcohol. How did I get home? Last I checked, I was at the club. The confused expression was still on her pale face when her phone beeped.
Hi!”
Good morning.
Please who am I on to?”
I am Wale Badmus, our paths crossed last night at the club”.
Oh! I really can’t remember the occurrence. All the same, it’s my pleasure speaking with you. Hmm.
My pleasure. Did you see your purse where I kept it beside your t.v set?
Oh geez! A stranger brought me home. It dawned on her that she was having a substantial amount in her purse. Her salary. She was unable to deposit the money in her account due to the breakup, and it was a Friday. Banks closes by 2pm. I hope I haven’t been duped with the break up she thought as she stood up swiftly to get her purse and see for herself if Wale hadn’t picked her money. Men can’t be trusted so much and I detest them, She growled Wow! it’s intact. This guy is an angel!
Hello, are you there, miss?
Yes, thanks a lot Wale, I am grateful.
Please save my contact and I will save yours too, so we could get to know ourselves better. Thanks”.

Image used is for illustrative purposes only.

The call abruptly came to an end. She sat with the t.v set to watch a telenovo love series. She was drenched in tears. She had a flashback about her life in the past seven years. It was a total mess. She lost her parents earlier than expected which led to the quest for her seeking a shoulder to lean on but there seems to be no true love anywhere. About five guys had already had their ways through her, and each seem to get her even more broken. She lost her virginity to Akin, the silly guy that promised her heaven and earth, I want to marry you Pelumi”, Akin had said to her seven years back. But where is he now? She queried in bewilderment.
Or is it Olumide that turned me into Central Bank of Africa. Stop looking at me like that. I know it is Central Bank of Nigeria, but the useless thing really drained me financially. I paid his house rent, I fed him, I clothed him, I gave myself to him for free sexual intercourse. Some guys need serious ogun curse (god of iron curse). I thought I had gotten to my place of joy only for me to discover he was cheating on me.
Gabriel, another devil incarnate. This guy almost killed me in the relationship of just eight months. He fed me with nice punches and beautiful slaps. Though he had money, his rascality no be for here.
As she flipped the channels on television to check other stations ,she saw an advert for a singles summit with the dock, tagged: Single but not Stupid
Pelumi almost laughed her ribs off on seeing the tag for the summit, as she tried to turn change the channel, something struck her mind: I think I should attend this meeting”.


She wore a blue crop top to match with her pink skirt. She applied her sleek makeup to blend her face contour. The summit will be commencing by twelve, she had already scribbled the address on her phone notepad. She headed straightway to the venue, it was an event hall.
Just as she was about entering through the door, grin grin grin her phone rang and it was Wale, the new guy from last night. What does he want again? she soliloquized as she clicked the answer button, Hey.
How are you doing? Guess your day is going great. Just thinking if we could hang out together today Pelumi?.
Wow! that’s great. So what time do you think we can meet?” She queried.
How about in the next two hours or what do you think?.
Argh! I just remembered now, I am at a singles summit and I don’t know when we will be through”

Oh! oh! singles what? So you are a church mouse. What were you doing at the club last night?
Pelumi was already tired of the conversation, Please, lets talk later. I need to go now”.
As she entered the hall, everywhere was dazzling in lights and sparks. This is great, I must attest. Pelumi was mesmerized just then she heard a feminine voice from behind.
You are welcome to this summit ma. Please register your details here. She was given a profile pad to enter her bio. She was then given a tag with her name on it.

“Wow! I feel loved”, Pelumi marveled. Just then a young lanky guy came to her to lead her to her seat. She saw some people at the red carpet. She was too shy to go there. She focused on her whatsapp chat with her female friend. In no time, a young lady came to her staring at her tag “Pelumi, you are welcome to GPH. It is Godly and Purposeful Hub. Why are you seating all by yourself? Let’s join the red carpet.” Said Remi, the moderator of the hub.
She stood up slowly. The red carpet was lit. She met so much young ladies of her age as they exchanged digits and gists.
At exactly twelve, the program began. The hall was filled up with about 300 young guys and ladies.
Pelumi’s joy knew no bounds. She felt sincerely loved for the first time in the past seven years. “The guest speaker came forward for her session and it was as if my life biography was opened to her. She discussed about “self acceptance”. After the whole talk, she had an altar call concluding that the only person that could love us genuinely is Jesus”. Pelumi soliloquised as she dragged herself to the platform. “I need true love, I need Jesus”.
The sessions ended and she decided that moment to start a new life in Christ. She arrived home still feeling great. She knelt down and spoke with God as if she saw him physically. After her prayers, she headed to the kitchen to prepare something sumptuous. She deleted all memories of the past guys on her mobile phone.

Months later, she got a text from GPH that there was going to be another summit. Pelumi was glad to attend. She hadn’t gotten over the dealings of the last summit.
Pelumi drew closer to God. Indeed, she enjoyed true love from the Holy Spirit. He is so sweet. She also got promoted at her work place after the encounter. She enjoyed all round serenity.
God told her about her purpose that the fallow ground was broken. He imprinted it on her heart that she had a connection with the GPH. She was unable to fix her heart on what the connection is all about.
The next summit came up and the whole place was glittering. She sat down quietly reading a Christian e-book on her phone. A young guy sat adjacent to her. As she lifted her eyes, she felt aligned to him but he was a total stranger.
“I am Peter Bells , I will like to meet you”.

“I am Pelumi Bello, my pleasure meeting you too”.

The duo got talking about God before the commencement of the program.

The summit ended soon. Peter demanded to know Pelumi better. They exchanged digits. They got talking on whatsapp and via calls. Unknown to Pelumi, Peter was the convener of the summit though he was still single. God gave him the mandate while on campus and since then, God has been faithful. His humility was unbeatable. He only brought guest speakers to the program so that himself and other singles will get blessed. Only few of the people knew he was the convener of the hub.
Weeks later, Peter told Pelumi he would like to see her. She stopped by after work at the venue for the meeting with Peter.
“I like you, and I want to marry you, Pelumi. I will give you time to go to God and ponder on it”. Peter said immediately after greeting her.
Pelumi was dumbfounded and extremely sweaty, “Erhm! It’s okay sir. I will feed you back in the next two weeks sir”.
The meeting was brief. It lasted five minutes as they both went on their different paths.
God kept telling Pelumi that she had a link with GPH. She knew God was talking about her marriage and purpose. Indeed she met Peter at the GPH SUMMIT, but what is the purpose connection about? She was confused.
Two weeks later, Pelumi called Peter. They hadn’t spoken for the past two weeks since the proposal. “Please lets meet today at the same venue”.
“That’s great”, Peter responded from the other end of the phone.
He wore a simple polo t-shirt with a pair of sneakers to match his jeans trousers.

Pelumi wore a smart blue gown with a pair of sandals. She rehearsed her response again. She smooched the cologne on her body.

The duo sat adjacent each other in silence as Peter gazed on her. She felt so shy that she forgot all her rehearsed lines.
“God said yes, and I say yes too.”
Peter gave a very excited look and gestured wildly. He was a young man with courtesy, if not, he would have shouted at the eatery like the way some of you did. Yes, you that brother reading this. You almost broke a glass because she said yes. Peter maintained his tempo and joy. Afterwards he revealed to her that he was the converner of the hub. Wow! Everything began to make sense by and by.
The duo got married. They lived purposefully, as the hub impacted lives tremendously. Pelumi’s past became a check for as many in her shoes. They had two kids a boy and a girl, they lived beautifully and purposefully.

picture courtesy google

No matter how lost you are in the wilderness of sin, or the ocean of hatred, remember that there is a God that cares so much about you.
The best lover to be with is Jesus Christ. Why? He is love in person and in deeds.
Jesus loves you no matter how far and lost you had gone.

I hope this blesses you.
Stay blessed.

#Dexterity


I call you blessed.

Just Believe.

I believe.

Lady Omolara T.J.

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