LIFT UP YOUR EYES!

Volume 2 edition 1 january 2011
Lift up your eyes!
HOP 2010 IN
PICTURES
Divine Inspirations
Wisdom for Possessing
the Land
Real Estate Today!
The Benefits of Home
Ownership
pastor wale akinsiku:
the man behind the
VISION
Get Ready
For A New
Beginning!
Pastor Wale opens up to L.I.F.E. about
ministry, mentorship and his personal interests
a par ish of the r edeemed chr istian church of god
empow er ing you to achiev e your dr eams and fulfill your destin y!
house
house of
of pr
praise,
aise, mississauga,
mississauga, canada
canada
THE PERFECT FIRST IMPRESSION
CAREER CORNER
Adapted from Anthony Tjan’s article in the Harvard Business Review Blog (November 23, 2010)
to school.
Find an online image of the person. It
is always more comfortable (not to mention
easier to spot the person) when you know
what he or she looks like before the meeting.
The more unknowns you eliminate before a
meeting, the less anxiety you’ll have in the
actual meeting. When you have seen the
person’s face, you will go into a meeting
feeling like you have met the person before
and feel more at ease. This is also helpful to
do for phone calls.
After months of trying, you have finally
secured an important meeting with a top-level
business executive or an interview for your
dream job. How do you prepare to make that
all-important first impression? Here are six
things you should do prior to any important
meeting to ensure that you get the desired
results:
Start with the company website and
google the person you are to meet
with. On the company website, look up the
person’s bio and also google the person to
get additional profile information. With the
person’s bio in hand, you should lock in your
mind the following facts: where they grew up,
where they last worked, and where they went
Get the latest news or analysis on
the company. For a public company, find
the latest analyst report and look up the
recent stock trading price and trends. At
the minimum, make sure you can fill in the
following blanks: “The company I am seeing
does/makes _________ and it is different
because _________.”
Find out who is connected to the
person or firm you are meeting
and talk to them. The best way
to get a good first meeting is to be
introduced to the firm. Find someone
familiar with that person or company,
and ask him or her to share as much
background information as possible.
Go in knowing your top objectives for
the meeting and the top one or two
questions you would like answered.
Ensure that you know what you hope to
accomplish with the meeting and don’t be shy
about asking the executive what their goals
for the meeting are. They usually welcome
the directness. With your top objectives and
top questions in mind, also understand the
expected time frame of the meeting.
Know this information but don’t show
off. One of the dangers of doing even a little
background research is that you can come
across as obsequious, i.e. a suck up. One
business expert has a great line — act stupid,
win smart. Be armed with the data so that
you can answer or direct the conversation
appropriately; your goal is not to demonstrate
what you know of the person or company but
what you had in mind when you first set up
the meeting.
WALK THE TALK
“We must be willing to get rid of
the life we have planned, so as to
have the life that is awaiting us.”Joseph Campbell
STARTING: THE GREAT SEPARATOR
Adapted from John Maxwell’s article on the ‘John Maxwell on Leadership’ website (December 6, 2010)
Start With Yourself
As a leader you must first obtain what you
need in order to help others succeed.
Start Early
It cannot be overstated how much you
gain from starting early. Consider the
ant (Proverbs 6:6-8). The activity of any
individual ant seems to have little impact.
After all, it can only carry one grain of sand
and it’s not clear what any single grain
has to do with what is being formed. But
regardless of how it looks from the outside,
something is developing. In building a
business, you must start one grain at a
time. The earlier you begin, the more
grains of sand you can accumulate.
Do you want to be a success? As you know,
many obstacles can keep even a highlymotivated person from succeeding. However,
the ONLY obstacle that will ALWAYS keep us
from success is not starting!
If desire were enough, everyone would own
a business. But success is like a book and
starting and finishing are the front and back
covers. Until you open that front cover, you
cannot experience anything from the pages
within. So how do you get started?
2
Start Small
Most of us would love to see the entire path
from where we are to the top. But life does
not work that way. Like a person carrying a
lamp, most of us only see the small portion
of the path ahead. Our best response is to
just take the next step. Starting small will
encourage you to start and allow you to
prioritize and concentrate.
Start With the End in View
First, pursue your passion. A goal that you
ENTREPRENEURial
intelligence
feel strongly about gives you energy. Next,
let planning give you direction. The beginning
of the journey is the place to study the map.
You may not always know the entire route
but your planning should always point in the
direction of your destination.
Start Now
It is too easy to say, “I’ll start tomorrow.” We
promise that tomorrow, we will start a diet,
studies, a career, or a relationship. But until
we actually begin, a dream remains a dream.
It may be a cliché to say that every journey
begins with the first step, yet it is still true.
Successful people do not wait for everything to
be perfect to move forward. They do not wait
for all the problems or obstacles to disappear.
They do not wait until their fear subsides.
They take the initiative. They know a secret
that good leaders understand: momentum
is their friend. As soon as you take that first
step and start moving forward, things become
a little easier. If the momentum gets strong
enough, many of the problems take care of
themselves and talent can take over. But it
starts only after you have taken those first
steps.
L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
pASTOR’S
COLUMN
exercising your faith in God.
Make a decision to cross the line today.
Learn from the Woman with the “issue
of blood” in Mark 5:25-34. Though she
had many previous treatment failures,
she maintained her confidence that she
would be healed. When the opportunity
came for her to connect with the power
of God, she was ready.
WISELY ENGAGE YOUR PRESENT
Your future depends on the choices you
make now! What will you do with what
you presently have?
Your present time, talent, treasures are
all available for you to use as seeds to
sow into your future. Are you consuming
the seeds or investing them?
Do not fall into the deceitful trap of the
enemy to think you do not have anything.
No matter how things might look today,
the key to your glorious future is hidden
among your present inventory (2 Kings
4:2).
GET READY FOR A NEW BEGINNING!
BY PASTOR WALE AKINSIKU
D
o you need a fresh start? Do you
desire a higher level of blessing?
God is a God of new things (Isaiah
43:19). He is prepared to bring you into
a higher level of greatness.
You might have made some wrong
choices in the past that are presently
affecting your progress. Some decisions
might have gone against you. Certain
things might have turned out contrary to
your initial plans.
Take Courage. God is a God of New
Beginnings.
Life is in seasons and each season
ushers in different opportunities and
challenges. If you have not maximized
the opportunities that have come your
way (or have not even seen them), or
you have been overwhelmed by the
challeng¬es of this season…God is
able to change the season in your favor
(Daniel 2:20-21).
God changed the season of pain and
unbearable challenges of Daniel to a
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season of promotion and rewards.
Daniel was threatened with death. He
was under a lot of pressure but God gave
him a new beginning and gave him a
great opportunity for promotion despite
his fierce challenges.
What the enemy meant for evil turned
out to be the platform for his next level
of progress.
I decree that the enemy’s plans to stop
you or frustrate you will turn out to
favor you and bring you into astonishing
greatness.
Start getting ready for a New Beginning.
Things are set to change in your favor.
How to get ready:
FORGET THE PAST (ISAIAH 43:18)
Make a conscious decision to forget the
past. Do not allow your past mistakes to
rob you of your confidence. There is no
condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus (Romans 8:1).
Do not allow the emotional pain of past
disappointments to rob you of presently
Take stock of what you have: your time,
talents and treasures and determine to
exchange them for your desired future.
You cannot continue with your present
routine and expect things to eventually
work out. It rarely does!
Take responsibility and wisely sow
something in your present for your
desired future.
EMBRACE THE FUTURE (PSALM
37:37)
Your future is peace. There is joy in your
future. Your future is colorful. Therefore,
rejoice!
Refuse to be oppressed by depression,
despair and sorrow.
Wow! I see a great future ahead of you.
The challenges you face today will be
tomorrow’s testimonies.
Something great is prepared for you (1
Corinthians 2:9).
Go ahead and rejoice.
It is the season of new things.
You are about to be launched into
unparalleled greatness.
I see you having unprecedented
testimonies.
Get ready for New Beginnings!
3
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
DIVINE
INSPIRATIONs
Strategies for Possessing the Land
The Spirit of Wisdom
We need God’s wisdom and revelation
knowledge to be able to possess this
land. God is the only wise God (Jude 5)
Jesus is the wisdom and the power of
God.
As children of The Most High God,
access to the wisdom of God is our
heritage.
This Spirit of Wisdom generates
unending results. It brought Joseph
from the prison to palace and allowed
Daniel to take over and prosper in
captivity.
WISDOM FOR POSSESSING THE LAND
BY DEACONESS PATIENCE OLISEMEKA
G
od’s Word for us for 2011
is ‘Possessing the Land’.
Deuteronomy 8:1 says:
“Every commandment which I
command you today you must be
careful to observe, that you may live
and multiply, and go in and possess
the land of which the LORD swore to
your fathers.”
food to eat. However, verse 27 says:
“So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt,
in the country of Goshen; and they
had possessions there and grew and
multiplied exceedingly.”
Thank God that Deuteronomy 8:7-10
describes the land that He is bringing
us to possess this year.
“AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH
GOD, ACCESS TO THE WISDOM
OF GOD IS OUR HERITAGE”
In every land there are
two lands. A land of
no limit and a land of
limitation, a land of no
lack and a land of lack,
a land of no struggles and a land of
struggles, a land of plenty and a land
of scarcity.
This is clearly seen in Genesis 47:1327. The Bible records that there was
severe famine in the land of Egypt,
money failed and people sold their
livestock, lands and themselves to get
4
It is a good land, a land:
• Where there shall be no more
scarcity
• Of no limitations
• Of honour and dignity
• Of no struggle
• Of no lack
Characteristics of God’s Wisdom
1. An excellent spirit (Daniel 6:3)
2. A sound mind (2Timothy 1:6-7)
3. Empowers your mind for discretion
(Psalms 112:5)
4. Enables you to make sound
decisions
5. Innovative, inventive and creative
6. Generates practical solutions
7. Gives you access to the secrets of
God
Access to the Wisdom of God
The love of God is our covenant access
to the Spirit of Wisdom (1 Corinthians
2:7-9).
• Joseph loved God and refused to
sin
• Daniel loved God and would not
stop praying
• David loved God and was called a
man after God’s heart
• Paul the apostle loved God and
was the wisest apostle
Every lover of God flows naturally in
the Spirit of Wisdom.
Your love level determines the level of
wisdom you access.
In conclusion, if this Spirit of Wisdom
took Joseph from the prison to the
palace and enthroned Daniel in the
land of captivity, it definitely will
empower us to ‘Possess the Land’ this
year.
L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE
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ADOPTION
LEGAL CORNER
BY BUKY OWOTOMO
aybe God is leading you to give a
child a hand, to provide a fresh start,
M
a loving, safe and nurturing home. Maybe
you are ready to make a commitment to
helping a child grow and develop. Here is
some information on adoption.
This fresh start has profound legal and
social consequences. Adoption is “…the
total extinguishment of the birth parents
rights and the establishment, legally,
retroactively and permanently, of a parentchild relationship between a child and a
person who is not the biological parent
of the child” (Justice Nevin in K. v. B.
(1995)). Subject only to certain appeals,
adoptions in Ontario are absolute, final,
irrevocable, unquestionable and cannot be
reviewed in any court.
Adoption is a social and a legal process; it
is detailed, fatiguing and form-heavy (not
to put you off but to prepare you). The
rules and regulations of the province of
residence govern the process.
Beware though, you cannot adopt in a
hurry, you must develop the capacity
to contend with the legal minefield of
petitions, hearings, consents, documents,
deadlines, withdrawals, notices,
government and court forms, fees,
meetings, phone calls, etc.
There are three primary sources of
adoption in Ontario, each regulated
through clearly defined governmental laws
and regulatory bodies:
International Adoptions
With a larger pool of children, it is
the most costly and complicated; it
accounts for the majority of adoptions
in Canada. It involves provincial laws,
federal immigration laws and laws of
the child’s
country of origin. The costs are
borne by the adoptive parents and
can reach upwards of $30,000. They
are governed by the Ontario Child
and Family Services Act and Ontario
Intercountry Adoption Act;
Public Domestic Adoption
These are adoptions within Canada
arranged by a public or government
agency such as the Children’s Aid Society.
The costs are borne by government funds
and regulated by the Ontario Child and
Family Services Act;
Private Domestic Adoption
These are adoptions within Canada,
where birth parents voluntarily choose to
place a child up for adoption. They are
regulated by the Ontario Child and Family
Services Act also. The costs are borne by
the adoptive parents and can reach up to
$10,000.
An adoption may be ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’.
‘Open’ adoption is a form where the birth
parent and the adoptive parents discuss
the adoption and the child, whereas in a
‘Closed’ adoption the adoptive parents and
the birth parents have no contact.
Two main components of the adoption
process are:
•
•
Remember that every waiting child needs
a stable and fostering home.
All the best!
Book Club: maximise destiny
With chapter titles like attitude
is fundamental, vision is vital,
insight is essential and the
mind is crucial, just to mention
a few, there is no reason not
to pick up this life changing
book. Bishop David O. Oyedepo
states in the introduction that
we are redeemed to make a
difference, to stand out and to
be outstanding.
God paid such a high price for
our redemption that to die a
failure would be a slap to His
face. He indicated that we are
in the success-age of the church
and that God’s people should
not only amaze and astound
the world but that that same
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Completing a HOMESTUDY, i.e.
an investigation and assessment
of your home, your suitability and
readiness, medical, employment
and financial histories, criminal
background checks and discrete
interviews with neighbors or
collaterals; and
Completing the Parent Resources
for Information, Development and
Education (P.R.I.D.E.) training. A
mandatory course on parenting an
adopted child.
david o. oyedepo
and you need spiritual, mental,
emotional and physical strength
to maximize destiny.
Here is a small peek into chapter
Discipline
Operating
as
one (Attitude is Fundamental).
demanded not as is convenient,
There are 12 fundamental it is also cultivated.
attitudes
that
guarantee
impactful living, here are the first Determination - The “If I perish,
I perish” mentality is a catalyst of
five:
destiny
Decisiveness - Indecision is a
cancer of destiny. Decisiveness Focus - To “run here and there” is
births
greatness
because to lose ones place in destiny.
whatever is not decided cannot
be delivered. It is cultivated and Are you not excited to read on?
not a gift.
This is more than a motivational
Strength - You need bravery book; it will put in your hands
to dare and you need daring to the keys and practical steps as
conquer. Till you are stretched to how you can maximize your
the star in you cannot manifest destiny.
success will be a sickle to harvest
souls for the Kingdom.
5
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
real estate
today!
Are You Ready to Buy a Home?
First – do you have the financial
resources? You should have five percent
of the purchase price of a home for the
down payment, but ideally even more.
Are there other priorities in your life e.g.
starting a new business, which require
your savings? If not, buying a home
should be on your radar.
Second – do you expect to stay in your
new home for some time? Moving can
be expensive and you will want to build
some equity before having to relocate.
Your job and home life should be stable.
THE BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP
Adapted from ‘First Time Home Buyer’s Guide’
Buying a home is one of the biggest
emotional and financial decisions you will
ever make, so prepare yourself to make
a knowledgeable decision. Here are a few
benefits to home ownership:
Pride of Home Ownership
Pride of home ownership is the number
one reason why people desire their own
home. There is no landlord looking over
your shoulder. You are able to make
home improvements knowing that any
appreciation that results will be to your
benefit. Home ownership gives you
and your family a sense of stability and
security. It is making an investment in
your future.
Appreciation
In Canada, especially in the last
few years, homes have appreciated
considerably and in doing so have added
substantially to owners net worth. Unlike
stocks and bonds, you get to live in your
real estate investment. Also, in Canada
your principal residence is exempt from
6
capital gains taxes.
Mortgage Reduction Builds Equity
Each month, part of your monthly
payment is applied to the principal
balance of your home loan, which builds
your equity. You can borrow against a
What Can You Afford?
If you have not already gone through
the mortgage pre-qualification process,
you will need to meet with a lender or
mortgage broker. They will establish how
much of a mortgage you will qualify for.
Mortgage rates vary considerably and it is
paramount that you shop around for the
best rate, terms and options.
At www.remax-western.ca the
affordability calculator will help you
determine what monthly mortgage
payment and the maximum mortgage
you can manage. Note: if you are buying
a condo, the amount of your monthly
assessment has a direct impact on how
“HOME OWNERS ACCUMULATE WEALTH FOR THE FUTURE
WHILE ENJOYING BENEFITS OF A SHELTER THEY CAN USE”
home’s equity for a variety of reasons
such as home improvement, sending
your kids to university or college, or
starting a new business. Why pay-off
your landlord’s property when you can
own your own?
Homeowners accumulate wealth for
the future while enjoying the benefits
of a shelter that they can use, improve
and sell. Their home is a safe haven for
investment.
much you can afford to spend on your
mortgage.
First time homebuyers may want to take
advantage of the federal government’s
Home Buyers’ Plan. Under this plan, you
may use up to $25,000 of your RRSP
towards the purchase of a home. The
money is tax-free as long as you pay it
back in the next 15 years.
Look out for questions to ask when
assessing home features in a future
edition of L.I.F.E.
L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
BIBLE STUDY
kingdom service
BY DEACONESS AGNES NKEMDIRIM
Do you want to give people
a place to connect with other
believers in fellowship? To
grow in their understanding
of the Bible, as Jesus’ own
small group of disciples did?
To become equipped for
evangelism? Then the Bible
Study Department is the place
to meet that goal.
of each class is to
effectively
teach
and discuss the
Word
of
God.
In
addition,
we discuss the
previous lesson and
how it was applied
to individual lives
since taught.
With the focus of getting as
many people interested in the
Word of God, the Bible Study
Department at House of
Praise is a teaching ministry
that conducts Bible study
between first and second
service. There are currently
three adult classes and one
young adult class.
An important skill
necessary to be a
part of this team
is knowledge of
the Word of God
and the ability to
communicate in an
effective manner to
the small group.
The
teachers
in
this
department
explain
and
communicate
the
Word
of God to their class and
encourage them to apply
the Word to their daily lives.
The people are encouraged
to practice what they hear
so that they can fulfil their
God-given purpose. The goal
The
teachers
communicate by narrating a
story in a sequential order,
describing, comparing and
contrasting. Students in the
class are persuaded with
concrete examples from the
Bible and everyday life.
This department meets on an
on-going basis to review and
receive instructions regarding
how to structure the class so
that the teaching is consistent
and
smooth
although
teaching-styles differ amongst
the teachers.
Classes are small and people
are encouraged to ask
questions and be involved.
This is a forum for everyone
to participate and contribute
(Proverbs 27:17).
The manual used for teaching
the classes is the North
American Redeemed Christian
Church of God Bible Study
Guide. The lessons are not
taught in the sequence that
they appear in the book,
but rather according to the
prophetic theme of the month
or in line with the current
teachings from the pulpit.
Champion’s Profile: Isaiah Ogunsiji (ID)
Gender: Male
Birth Date: August 11
Birth Place: Canada
Profession: Business Intelligence
Hobbies / Extracurricular Activities:
Sports, reading and singing
Years at House of Praise: Four
Department: Technical
How has House of Praise impacted
your life?
Where do I begin? Before I came here,
I basically had no concrete plans for
the future. It was more of finish school,
look for work in my field of study and
then whatever happens, happens. I was
somewhat set in my ways.
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All that changed in March of 2006. From
the teaching and the push to continually
improve yourself, there was no place to go
but forward. Talents that I didn’t really know
I had are now being used for God. Nothing
could be better than that.
I am comfortable stepping out of my
comfort zone now. I have learnt to stop
figuring out how things will happen but
just do my part and let God do the rest.
What makes you unique?
Quiet strength they call it, but I believe it
is my ability to stay calm under pressure
and still have a focus on the final
outcome. Some say I am a Jack-of-alltrades as well.
Favourite quote:
“The real art of conversation is not only
to say the right thing in the right place,
but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at
the tempting moment” –Lady Dorothy
Nevill
7
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
THE
MAN
BEHIND
THE
VISION
I
n the relaxed atmosphere of
his office, L.I.F.E. magazine
was welcomed and privileged
to interview Pastor Wale
Akinsiku, Senior Pastor of House
of Praise, Mississauga, Canada.
An inspirational leader, dynamic
preacher and exceptional
mentor, Pastor Wale opened
up to L.I.F.E. Magazine and its
readers about the vision that
God has given him for 2011 and
the next 5 years. He discussed
with us his strengths as a pastor,
most memorable moments
to date in his ministry, how
he prepares and delivers his
messages and much more.
8
What message do you have for the
people of God for 2011?
2011 is going to be a very fantastic
year! I see a strong wave of restoration,
generally, for the Body of Christ.
Restoration, not only in material things,
but for people to be in the position that
God originally created them to be in Dominion. Dominion in the areas of
academia, politics, business, religion,
sociocultural worlds and fields of
communication. I see that most of the
very influential positions, all across the
board, will be occupied by Christians.
In order for people to take part in this,
they will need to correctly position
themselves.
You are known for your prophetic
insight into the future. How would you
recommend that the people of God
position themselves to benefit from
God’s plan for the church in the next 5
years?
First, people must position themselves
spiritually by being planted in the right
church. The soil in which the seed is
planted determines the nutrients that
goes in the seed and also determines
what will happen to the future of that
seed. People are encouraged to make
up their minds to stay in the church and
align themselves with the teachings in
the church. Secondly, they must take
individual responsibility to build up their
own spiritual capacity by studying the
Bible systematically, reading and praying.
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Thirdly, people must have a personal
developmental
plan
and
become
experts in their field of endeavours. In
addition, they need to pick up books
on management and stay abreast of
the principles of management. Finally,
they should position themselves in the
community by giving back through
volunteering. Volunteering, for example,
in the church, hospital, shelters and for
good causes such as the CIBC Run for the
Cure or Multiple Sclerosis just to mention
a few.
How do you memorize the verses of the
Bible and how are you able to recall them
with such accuracy?
Naturally, I have the gift in the area of
academia. I am also very grateful to God
for the gift of a photographic memory.
When I became a Christian, I decided to
apply these gifts to the Bible. I love the
Word. Therefore, I take time
out, consciously, to study the
scriptures systematically, and
to not just memorize them but
to understand them. The Holy
Spirit then brings the scriptures
to my rememberance.
There are a lot of painful memories but
there are also pleasant memories. When
you have the opportunity to be part of
a person’s journey - you know where
they are coming from and get to see how
they are moving forward - you get to
share their joy and be part of their great
destiny, these are pleasant moments.
On a balance, the pleasant moments far
outweigh the painful moments but they
are both there.
What is your greatest strength as a
Pastor?
I have very few strengths but I have
chosen to develop those
areas of
strengths. I am able to think, plan,
strategize and envision. God has given
me the capacity to see the abstract and
communicate it in a very real manner.
Taking very difficult and abstract
concepts and making them interesting
“I PREPARE WITH THE
MINDSET THAT IT
MIGHT BE SOMEONE’S
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO
COME TO CHURCH AND
HEAR ABOUT CHRIST”
You have been a pastor for
10 years. During this time,
have you had second thoughts
about leaving the pharmacy
profession to become a full-time Pastor?
I have had second, third, fourth and,
hundreds of thoughts. The role of a
Pastor is very challenging; Pastors are
one of the most endangered species in
the world (laughs). Yes, there are days
and moments that I question my decision
but then I go back to the reasons that I
chose to answer the call of God originally
and those are the reasons that keep me
going when the days look dark.
In your ministry, what is your most painful
memory and what is your most pleasant
memory?
In ministry, there are mixtures of both
moments. I have gone through betrayal,
false accusations and misunderstandings.
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and understandable to people is one of
my God-given gifts.
Which well-known preachers do you hold
in high regard?
First and foremost I look up to Pastor E.O.
Adeboye, the General Overseer of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God and
my father in the Lord. He is the one that
God used to ordain me and to position
me where I am today. I have tremendous
and awesome respect for him, he has
influenced me greatly. There are a host of
other preachers who have influenced me,
to mention a few, my mentor Reverend
Sam Adeyemi, Dr. Mensa Otabil, Bishop
David Oyedepo, Dr. Bill Winston, and Bill
Hybels. I have a lot of regard for them
and what God has used them to do.
Pastor Wale is a visionary leader,
committed to biblical principles and
personal development.
How do you prepare your messages?
I prepare with the mindset that there
might be someone who is attending
a service and it might be their last
opportunity to come to the church,
hear about the gospel and make
a decision. I have 45 - 60 minutes
to preach a message that will help
them make the right decision or they
might regret it for life. Therefore, I
give it my all. I try to cut across the
different segments, from the old to
the young, from people doing well
to those coming up, from strong/
mature Christians to new believers and
unbelievers. This mindset disciplines
me to put in a lot of work. To get the
sermon, for me, is not the problem; it
is the spiritual preparation to be able to
make the sermon effective and this takes
days for a one-hour sermon.
How do you make sure that your sermon
speaks to a wide range of people?
I understand the people that attend
this church and I fellowship with them.
Meeting and mingling with them is a very
important part of my role. I endeavour to
stay connected with them, find out what
they are doing in life and this allows me
to understand them and their challenges.
I also live in this country and I am aware
of the number of challenges the average
9
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
person can face. I read newspapers
and magazines to understand various
challenges and peculiarities. Based on
all that, a platform is formed for me to
deliver my message and make it relevant
to the audience.
Having led a church from 15 people
to over 1200 people, what is your
one advice for pastors with a growing
congregation?
In addition to other good things that
you are doing, find a mentor with a
good heart. A mentor that has been
through what you are
going through and that
has succeeded. Follow
them, submit yourself,
be a protégé. Let them
show you the principles
and let them mentor you
(Jeremiah 6:16). You do
not need to struggle on
your own. The rest of
the other things you can read through
books but you need a mentor to help
you, lift you up and show you a lot
of things. I would encourage pastors
coming up, just like I have a mentor, to
have a mentor (2 Chronicles 26:5).
On a lighter note, which
two TV shows do you like
to watch?
I like watching
documentaries on
businesses and people.
I also enjoy watching
programs where complex
problems are solved (e.g.
Sue Thomas F.B.Eye and
Inspector Columbo). I
will add that I watch soccer a lot!
and really enjoyed was the remake of
The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith.
“FIND A MENTOR WITH A
GOOD HEART, FOLLOW THEM,
SUBMIT YOURSELF. BE A
protégé. ”
10
What are some of the best movies that
you have seen?
My interest is war films (e.g. Black Hawk
Down, Six Day War, Raid On Entebbe).
The most recent movie that I watched
What is your favourite African
and non-African dish?
Fried plantain, my son calls it
‘Do-Dos’. Non-African, I enjoy
steak (medium).
Which two places would you
like to visit in the next 5 years?
I would like to visit Greece/Turkey and
go to some of the places mentioned in
the New Testament. Secondly, I would
like to visit Mount Everest.
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D aise.ca
FOR E XCELLENCE
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
ORAL HEALTH
healthy living
BY DR. ODUSANYA
Many people strive for good health but
most ignore their oral health. It has
been scientifically established that you
cannot claim to have good health without
good oral health because “the mouth is
the gateway to the body and the mouth
speaks for the body”.
There are 3 main keys to good oral health:
1. Good Oral Hygiene
2. Good Eating Habits
3. Regular visits to the Dentist
(Professional Intervention)
Good oral health is the practice of keeping
the mouth and teeth clean to prevent
dental problems and bad
breath. It involves the The following are ways to control plaque:
control of bacteria. Plaque
is the main culprit in dental
• Brush your teeth twice a day (in
disease.
the morning and last thing in the
evening before going to bed) with a
What is plaque? It is the soft
soft or medium bristle tooth brush
white sticky deposit, made
and fluoride-containing toothpaste.
up of bacteria and food
Never use a hard bristle tooth
debris, that forms on teeth.
brush. Hard tooth brushes, apart
Uncontrolled plaque starts
from cleaning your teeth also brush
hardening within 48 hrs
away your gum and the outer
and turns to calculus (Tartar)
covering of your teeth leading to
gum recession and tooth sensitivity.
in about 10 days. Once
plaque becomes hardened
• Floss your teeth at least once a day
there is no amount of brushing that can
– this is to clean the areas between
remove it except by a professional at the
your teeth which cannot be reached
dental office. Hardened plaque (Tartar)
also causes more plaque to accumulate
by a tooth brush.
on the teeth leading to a vicious cycle.
• Use a mouth rinse e.g. Scope or
Why control plaque? As stated earlier,
Listerine. Note that using a mouth
plaque is the main culprit in most dental
rinse should not replace brushing
diseases such as Caries (Tooth Decay)
and flossing.
and Gum Disease (Infection). Plaque can
also complicate some medical conditions
• Visit your Dentist at least twice a
like Diabetes, Heart Disease etc.
year for check-ups and cleaning for
removal of any hardened plaque
How to Control Plaque
(Tartar) and to make sure that
Plaque cannot be totally removed but can
there are no other dental issues you
be controlled to a manageable level where
are not aware of.
it will not have any negative effects.
CRUNCHY STIR-FRY
Preparation Time:
30 minutes
Makes: 12 servings
Preparation of Red Curry Sauce
Place Coriander, Cumin and Red chili
seeds in a dry frying pan and cook
for 2-3 minutes.
Add Onions, Cilantro, Cloves,
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Vegetable Oil, Lime Zest, Turmeric,
Paprika Coconut, and cook for
another 1-2 minutes and cool.
Place the roasted spices in a coffee
grinder and grind to a crunchy paste.
Sauce can be prepared ahead of time
and refrigerated.
Steps/Method:
1. Wash and cut the vegetables into
bite-size pieces.
2. Stir fry vegetables in an open
wok till all the water dries.
3. Add the red curry sauce for
flavoring.
4. Cook the Noodles.
5. Spread vegetable/red curry
sauce mix on noodles to serve.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
healthy KITCHEN
Ingredients:
Vegetables and Noodles:
Red Curry Sauce:
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 tbsp
Coriander seeds
2 tsp
Cumin seeds
1 tsp
Black Peppercorns
12
Red chilies
1 Cup
Fresh green onions
2 tbsp
Vegetable Oil
12 Cloves Garlic – chopped
2 tbsp Cilantro – chopped
2 tsp
Lime zest – grated
2 tsp Turmeric
2 tsp
Red spinach paprika
½ Cup
Desiccated coconut
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
500g
Carrots
Red sweet peppers
Green peppers
Yellow peppers
Long egg plant
Zucchini
Green beans
Yellow beans
Cauliflower
Noodles
11
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
POWER OF SACRIFICE
PASTOR SAM ADEYEMI
PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO
MAKING OF
CHAMPIONS
THREE NIGHTS OF WONDER
DR. EASTWOOD ANABA
DR. MENSA OTABIL
7 WEEKS OF FITNESS
MAXIMIZE DESTINY WITH REV. GEORGE
ADEGBOYE
HOP 2010 IN
PICTURES
MAXIMIZE DESTINY WITH REV. GEORGE
ADEGBOYE
HOP FC
ACHIEVE! WITH DR. BEN CARSON
ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP
12
L I V E S I N S PI R E D FOR E XCELLENCE
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
YOUNG
CHAMPIONS!
Alpha Teens Celebrate
Christ in Christmas 2010
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L I V E S I N S PI R E D F OR E XCELLENCE
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house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
Prophetic Declarations of
the Month
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Your shame is converted to glory Begin to experience unique and undeniable proofs
Your dryness is converted to greatness
You will go ahead and go very far
Promotion is coming
Welcome to the realm of pleasant surprises Pastor Wale Akinsiku
events announcement
house of praise begins three services
Sunday January 16, 2011
First Service: 8:30am
Bible Study: 10:10 - 10:40am
Second Service: 10:45am
Third Service: 12:30pm
Celebrations
“Rejoice with those who rejoice“ (Romans 12:15)
Birth Announcements
Parent’s Name
Sex
Date of Birth
Mr & Mrs Ogbebor
Girl
November 10th
Mr & Mrs Igbinoba
Girl
December 1st
Are You a Gifted Writer?
We are now accepting
contributions (original
articles, essays, short
stories, poems, cartoons,
jokes, etc.) to the L.I.F.E.
Magazine.
Interested?
Please send an email to life@houseofpraise.ca
14
Testimonies
L.T.
I was a Muslim before I
joined House of Praise in
February 2010.
I received a letter from
Immigration to come for
an interview in March 2010. The interview was to decide if I
would need to go for a full hearing or not. When I got there
they postponed the interview to June. In May of 2010 the
interview was postponed to August. I went for the interview
in August but I received a phone call from my lawyer that
the Immigration Officer was not satisfied with my testimony
and that I would be going for a full hearing in December
2010.
As the date came nearer I was scared but the Deaconess you
assigned to pray with me encouraged me and built up my
faith. She taught me how to pray and the verses to read in
the Bible. As God will have it you announced the ‘Showers of
Blessing’ program. I took part in the fasting and prayer and,
just like you said, I left everything I was thinking aside and
just concentrated on the prayer and fasting. I completely
denied myself from watching TV and deactivated my face
book page. I was just focusing on my prayers and reading
my bible. I did not even open my Immigration documents
at all.
After service one Sunday, Deaconess bought the CD for
‘Outpouring of Prophetic Blessings’ for me and I continued
to listen to it from the moment I got home till the morning
I went for my hearing. I even recorded it on my phone
so that on my way there that was what I was listening to
while receiving all the blessings. As the hearing started God
was just answering all the questions the judge asked me
and I was talking with confidence. When the judge asked
my lawyer to give his submission, I knew God was at work
because as my lawyer was talking and quoting the law even
the judge was just coughing and clearing his throat. The
judge asked us to give him a 15 minute break to give his
decision.
During the 15 minutes I went into the washroom to pray
and I called the Deaconess but she had gone to work but
her husband prayed with me and told me not to worry that
the Lord had done it. I walked back into the room with
renewed confidence, so the judge came in and he started
to talk but the only thing I heard him say was “I HAVE
ACCEPTED YOUR CLAIM, CONGRATULATIONS”.
From the moment I left that building till I got home I could
not stop thanking God and laughing. Even the people that
sat down beside me in the public transit were wondering
what was wrong with me. The only song I continued to
sing was ‘Have you seen what the Lord has done? He has
destroyed the works of satan, He has given me victory!’
L I V E S I N S PI R E D FOR E XCELLENCE
house of pr aise, mississauga, canada
Entertainment
December 2010 Solution
I
VIII IX
VI
II
II
III VIII
IX
II
VI
III
IX
V
IX
V
IV
I
VIII
VI
I
IX
I
IX
I
V
III
III
VII
VIII IV
IV
II
I
V
IV
VIII
V
VII VIII
I
IV
VII
VII
VI
III
V
IV
VII
II
VIII
IV
I
V
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Difficulty Level: DIFFICULT
Lookout for solution to this sudoku in the February 2011 edition.
The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a
time. Abraham Lincoln
15