Ideas that Change Nations - Praying for A Wounded Nation with a Wounded Heart

By Pastor Sayo Ajiboye

Friends,
I wrote to request your prayers for the Conference with members of the Nigerian National Assembly, Pastors and Intercessors which took place December 10th and 11th 2004. I am sure that you have waited for a report and it has been long in coming. I apologize for the lateness in briefing you (Note: Please if you recieved this twice, I am still retooling my system after the move; thanks for your understanding).

LAST TEN DAYS...
I must let you know that the last ten days have been an interesting story in movements for myself and my family... I left Nigeria on Dec the 15th, was stranded at Detroit Airport for two days because a big plane lost its break while we were already on the runway (God's great salvation!), I did two major final exams on the 19th and the 20th at Washington University in St Louis; I packed and moved my family across the United States to California on the 21st, I drove a truck through snowstorms with my 14 years old daughter till the night of the 25th (my wife and little daughter flew). I sought accommodation and a base in Clovis California on the 27th and the 28th, we found one on the 29th, we moved into it on the 30th; I am sending you this email from my new house at the corner of East Palisade Av. in beautiful Fresno, California. It is from here that we will be serving in leadership for global missions at World for Jesus Ministries.

THE CONFERENCE - IDEAS THAT CHANGE NATIONS
God visited us at the Conference and the Strategy meetings that followed it. Papa Ayida was represented by his daughter Mrs. Alero Otobo. He proposed that "the decline of Nigeria cannot be arrested by economic revival alone - it requires a fundamental change of attitude for the rebirth of of a new nation. Papa Ayida prayed for the release of charismatic leadership that fires the imagination of the people and is marked by an attribute of unyielding integrity in the Nigerian nation. He envisioned the release of a new generation of incorruptible leaders characterized by a "culture of discipline" and who puts "service" back into public service and are willing to pay the true price of leadership by living sacrificially.

His daughter Mrs Otobo introduced the concept of "positive narc ism." She said this is characterized by a strong focus, a high desire for excellence, an unwavering commitment that is willing to stay with the object of focus - if necessary until death. She said that what Nigeria needs are leaders that that are willing to die to restore excellence.

Other speakers were Chinma Onyebilamma who spoke about the Conflict in the Nation as being predicated on the vision that God has for Nigeria to be a restorer of Order in Africa and Biodun Fijabi who laid out steps for the Healing of how the World perceived us.

Speaking for the Parliamentarians were Hon. Ade Adegbenjo (Ibarapa East Federal Constituency) and Hon (Dr.) Wale Okediran (Iseyin Federal Constituency) both of whom were extremely frank about the situation of the Leadership of the nation. They spoke about internal pressure to conform with the norm and external pressure of the expectation of the people. The agree on the extremely low level of support from the church. They appealed for this support because they are convinced that it is critical for them to be able to attain to their desired goals.

PASTORS CONFERENCE
On Saturday, December 11th, we met with Pastors from across the City and discussed the critical role of the Church. Rev Ajetomobi of "The Men of Issachar Vision, Ibadan; Nigeria" spoke about issues that have "Damaged the Understanding of the Nigerian Church" and called us back to seek the Lord and to model our lives after Daniel. He said that the Altar of evil abounds in the land and are well propitiated, he said it seems however that the altar of Life is being abandoned for the pursuit of frivolity. The Church has stopped praying for the nation and a cry needs to go forth for revival of Intercession. The church must get back on its knees.

Rev Eugene Underwood of Anchorage Alaska rounded up the meetings by calling the Church to seek her King in the place of Intercession. Nigeria needs to pray, Her friends needs to join her.

On Monday 13th, we flew to Benin City for another meeting and on Tuesday the 14th, we met with strategic leaders at different levels in the nation within the capital city. We met with secular leaders - most of whom were unbelievably candid, we also met with leaders of the Church in Strategy Meetings.

MY REACTION AND PLEA TO YOU
I came out of Abuja program weeping, I wept for four days non stop. My tears literally became my food and I came to the conclusion that but for God's exceedingly rich display of mercy, there would have been no other nation like Nigeria concerning whom people should be saying: "Where is the God that you claim to serve."

I went to Abuja to encourage change, I came back totally convinced that the change needed is beyond man. Everywhere I turned, it was like men repeated Nehemiah 1:3

"the provinces are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."

It seems to me that our leaders have abandoned their people, my nation is in pain so excruciating as to be unbelievable. The common people on the street have learned hopelessness, the people with access to the resources have learned to shut their hearts against their brethren... I would have loved to tell you (my friends) that things are not so; the truth however is clear, it is as if things are getting worse. This is the testimony of the leaders that I met in private meetings, this is the witness of the people that I interacted with in public; will you pray for Nigeria?

I however came out of Nigeria with a renewed conviction that a nation can be saved. God can dethrone Haman in a day and release the children from certain death. It will however take the Action of a Mordecai and the Intercession of an Esther. Will you join with us in the drive to save a nation?

I am making a passionate appeal... who will come on the side of the Lord for a nation abandoned (spiritually that is?) who will be his emissary? As I write the 1877 Hymn by Frances Havergal is so strong on my mind...

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Those who can help us in what I describe cannot come "for weight of glory or for crowns and palms," they must come to raise the warriors psalm, they must come to claim those for whom the Lord died. Will you join us?

PROJECT NIGERIA

We are proposing what we call Project Nigeria. We wish to build alters to the King in the midst of the land. We are starting with the few faithful men who have not bowed their knees to Baal. Project Nigeria will be an Intercessory project. Between January and March, we wish to sign up 70 Praying Churches and 7000 Intercessors to Pray for Nigeria on a daily basis. We will work with the Intercessors on what to do and the strategies that the Lord has given us. Please if you can spare a few minutes a day to pray for Nigeria, send me an e mail saying you can. I will put you on the list.

REFORMATION CENTER

We have initiated the process of setting up a Reformation Center in the heart of Abuja. This will be a base for the reorientation of the leadership; it is set in the heart of the national Capital. Its goal will be primarily Intercessory and secondarily a practical modeling of the Lord pattern for the life of a nation. It shall address the issue of justice, equity, access to resources from a multidimensional platform. We shall have a global focus but work within a local context. We have discussed this with the leadership and our teams on the ground are ready to run.

The Reformation Center will be facilitated by World for Jesus Ministry in Clovis California but utilizes men and resources available locally. It will be one of the four Centers proposed for 2005 addressing critical National situations in Countries of Nigeria, Italy, England and the USA. Can you pray with us on this? Can you also join with us to make this a practical reality?

Please pray for Nigeria. Pray with a wounded heart, pray with a passionate Cry, pray like a man experiencing a loss. God's investment over that nation is great; His loss is our loss: Can we pray that all that canker worm has eaten will be restored?

Finally, I wish you a New Year Filled with His grace and His glory. I pray Isaiah 62:4 for you. I pray that desolation shall be far from your doorstep, I pray that you shall not be forsaken. I pray that the Lord's delight will be in you: that you will do things that please him. May there be a shout of Grace upon your doorpost, and upon the lintels of your dwellings and your life. May you experience His happiness in the New Year 2005.

I write with deep love and a with a wounded Heart for a wounded nation. I write also with hopeful Heart in the might of a glorious God that gives birth even now to Nations and causes his glory to be above their heads.

I am grateful for your friendhip.

What will one then answer the Messengers of the Nations? That The Lord has founded Zion, and the Poor of His people shall take refuge in it. Isaiah 14:32.