Despite present challenges ,there is hope for Nigeria – Pastor Olutayo

The Senior Pastor, Good Tidings Bible Church, Dr Dayo Olutayo, says there is big hope for Nigeria, with potential to become the biggest and most powerful nation on the earth.

Olutayo said this on Sunday in Abuja at the 19th Anniversary of the church tagged “The Goodness of God.”

Olutayo advised Nigerians to keep hope alive, be committed and work faithfully for the growth and greatness of the country, saying it was not normal for nations to have their time of crisis.

“There is big hope for Nigeria. We heard in church today about the war in Israel, these are strong nations. Every nation will have its crisis time.

“But what I tell people every time is that the place where you were born, was divinely determined. You didn’t choose your country of birth. God who chose it for you did not make a mistake.

“You are not in Nigeria by chance. We must keep hope alive. Even when we make mistakes, we correct ourselves.

“This nation has the potential to become the biggest, the most powerful nation on the earth. The population is here. We have resources there. We have people with brains here.

“Somehow, whatever has held this nation down, will have no choice than to let her go. If you and I would keep hope alive and do our best for our mother land,” he said.

He advised Nigerians not to rate the country by the current value of her currency, saying that there were still other currencies doing worse than the naira.

The cleric urged Nigerians to be patriotic and be committed to the nation.

“There is nothing bad that cannot be turned around with commitment. with everybody playing his or her role faithfully to our nation, not just what we can get, but what we owe our nation,” he said.

Olutayo advised Nigerian leaders to be guided on the crisis between Israel and Hamas, and not make statements that could outrage religious sensibilities.

According to him ,every informed person knows that the crisis is not religious -related.

Olutayo described the journey of the church as journey of God’s faithfulness and uncountable blessings.

“On that first day, I remember going into the service trembling ,wondering whether I will see anybody to come.

“But as it is to everyone that God calls or every commission that God is backing, He does all the work.

“So I got in there and then there was a crowd. Since that day till now, it has been one level of blessing to the other, “ he said.

Olutayo said that at the inception, he saw himself as a teacher , not a pastor in terms of planting branches, but as time went on the church started growing, with branches growing to over 50 presently.

He, however, said that the journey was not without challenges, saying having challenges was normal in any ministry or human group.

Olutayo advised every minister of the gospel to go to the school of the Holy Spirit and learn spiritual crisis management, saying “the moment you are there, He will teach you what to do.”

“There is no one on this earth that will not ,at one time or the other, have challenges.

“The difference is that the person who has learnt how to manage them will keep standing, while those who refuse to learn will crash,” he said.

A minister in the Church, Fidel Odey, said it had been 19 years of remarkable journey of progress and God’s faithfulness to the church and to members.

Odey said that the church looked forward to greater expansion in the years ahead nationally and internationally.

A church member, Mrs Uneoma Ofodile, described the 19 years of the church as years of joy and goodness of God.

Ofodile said she had learned a lot under the ministry of Pastor Olatayo, including the need to be dedicated to kingdom service.

Mr Joel Attah, another church member, said it had been a journey of testimonies, faithfulness and blessings of God in all ramifications.