Dr. Onyeonoro Emmanuel (Dr. O Emmanuel) is the founder and General Overseer of Breakthrough Fellowship Church INC. In this interview with Orient Daily’s Yolamchi Ukaga, speaks on his foundation, background, success, challenges and issues of national and spiritual importance:
How did you get into the ministry?
I am called into the work of God. I used the word “called”, because I was born into it. I started preaching at the age of 12. I have not done any other job anywhere other than preaching and I have never applied for any job.
I have my foundation and Bible background from the Assemblies of God Church. I started in Lagos state, under the Eko session of Eko District of the Assemblies of God Church. We started the Royal Rangers in the Assemblies of God Church. From there, we grew to the church’s campus fellowship; Christ Ambassadors Students Outreach (CASOR).
Assemblies of God Church played a wonderful role in my life and ministry. I went to Assemblies of God Bible School in Ogun State and ADGS in Umuahia. Under Assemblies of God, those of us, who gave our lives to Christ, believed in revival and so, we followed the footstep of Dr. Umah Ukpai.
Assemblies of God saw the gift in me and loving the gifts of Dr. Umah Ukpai, it made us to decide to follow his own line of evangelism – having an office, refusing to have a church and remaining a member of the Assemblies of God.
However, when one of us, Dr. Humphrey Erumaka, in 1991 or thereabout, said that the Lord said he should open his church, “Word Base Assembly” in Lagos, we all supported him and, in that direction, we started seeing where God was pushing us to. And after about 10 years of evangelism in Nigeria and Africa, as a young evangelist, I got instruction in 2003, to start the “Breakthrough Fellowship”. We actually started as a fellowship and later it became an incorporated church.
How has it been so far?
It has been wonderful. The Bible said, “I will build my church and the gate of hell shall not prevail”. It has been a wonderful experience.
What’s your relationship with Rev. Dr. Charles Osueke?
Rev. Dr. Charles Osueke, the then General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, has been a father, who supported me when I had a historic crusade in Enugu, in 1995. I had the crusade at Ngwo Park. The crusade was organised, by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in conjunction with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Dr. Osueke was there and was so proud of me, as a son of the Assemblies of God. The crowd was unimaginable and the miracles were uncountable. He took me to his house, encouraged me, as a father and since then, we have been relating, like father and son.
You believe in putting God first; do you think our political leaders have done enough to bring God into what they do in government?
They have not. They usually forget God when they arrive there. They start the journey with God, but when they get there, they forget God. Nigeria is where it is today, because we have many people that look mature, but have the heart of children.
Watch our leaders of today, they talk too much. Somebody that talks too much makes a lot of mistakes, reveals a lot of secrets and spoils a lot of things. Our leaders in the first republic did better, even though they did not know God.
But I saw maturity in them. They did not talk carelessly. But since those, who claim they know God came into politics, you can see that a lot of things have gone wrong. I am not saying that some of the occultists, who were leaders in the past, were far much better, but there was law and order then and people worked with fear, because they were guided by the law. My prayer is to see a Nigeria that will have a God-fearing leader.
What do you think is the solution towards ending the crisis brewing all over Nigeria?
The few genuine Nigerians that have the fear of God, should call upon God for his intervention. We have prayed for our leaders to change, but they are not changing. Things are moving from good to bad. So, we need God’s intervention. With God’s intervention, I am sure we have hope. God did it during the military era, and he can still do it. What I am saying is that God has prepared some people somewhere that will soon surface and this great country will take shape.
What are those achievements you have made so far in the ministry that keeps your name positively on people’s lips?
I believe in encouraging people. I believe in playing good roles in the lives of people to push them forward. By the grace of God, the ministry has been a blessing to people. In Imo State, where I have my Eastern Nigeria Headquarters, we played wonderful roles in the lives of people. By the grace of God, I helped that state spiritually. I raised an NGO in Imo, known as “Hope to the Helpless Organization”.
The office of the NGO is located at 115 Douglas Road, Owerri. We have paid school fees of over 500 indigent students; we have settled hospital bills of people that cannot afford it. We have assisted the Nigeria Police in so many ways. We have also built toilets, to encourage the fight against open defecation. We have bought generators for several police divisions. We have also built houses for people, who cannot afford it.
If you go to Obile in Ohaji-Egbebema local government area of Imo state, you will see the houses we built for people. That NGO came through my prayers for people. So, when they come to appreciate God, I send the tight to the NGO, to continue the work of God. It is the revelation God gave to me. I pay my tight to that NGO. The Money is for God, it is untouchable. What we do is to take care of people. Some of my sons and daughters outside the country have a link to the account of that NGO and we do visible things that eyes can see.
Being a pastor is one thing, another thing is being a successful one, which you are already. What’s the secret of your success sir?
My secret is God. God is my secret. He gives me direction. I don’t depend on what I see, I wait for God’s direction and he cannot lead me astray.
Do you have plans of helping Abia youths out of social vices, like cultism and abuse of drugs?
Yes, I’m working with the state government, I raised an initiative in 2018 after the governor’s visit here. That initiative is known as, “Vision Abia for Christ Initiative”. It was flagged off on the August 19, 2018, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
Our aim is to bring youths to Christ and provide them with jobs. We have been able to raise close to 500 youths from different local government areas of the state and engaged them in some useful activities and at same time was paying and encouraging them.
The state government has promised us a lot and I am not relenting. I am still working hard to ensure that the governor fulfils all his promises towards “Vision Abia for Christ”.
Any plans for further expansion of the Breakthrough Fellowship Church?
Yes, the word of God says that this Gospel of redemption must be preached. Jesus didn’t say stay, even though He said occupy. To occupy, you don’t just stay, you have to go out. Again, He said, “go ye into the world”, so, I started in Lagos and now I am in Aba. I have a branch in Uyo, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Enugu, Abuja and of course Owerri, which serves as our Eastern Headquarters, while Lagos, where I started from, is the International Headquarters.
We came to Owerri in 2006, when the Lord gave me signal to start coming back home. We have a secretariat in Owerri and other things to make the work easier for us in the South East. Breakthrough Fellowship will soon go worldwide.
What’s your opinion on the view that religion and politics can’t be separated?
The mentality we had before concerning politics was that it wasn’t for children of God. We saw it as a devilish thing and worldly. But for how long will the world continue to rule the children of God? I’m glad for the unfolding in politics recently. I know that in 2023 things will even be better. More righteous people will come up to take over the throne and change things for the better.
The shadows of the righteous have been going and conquering, but hence they get there, they forget God, because their foundation is not strong. But for 2023, the righteous themselves will take over. I see Nigerian politics becoming emulative soon. And it will not be bad after 2023, by the grace of God, if people like me come out for governorship or deputy governor. With the experiences I have, I know things will get better.
What is the role of the clergy in nation building, considering Nigeria’s multi-religious structure?
The role of the clergy, primarily is to bring people together, where we can coexist and live peacefully. Thank God for the governor’s appointment to me, as his special envoy on inter religious matters.
Yes. For now, the office is quiet, because of the challenges around. But few weeks from now, when it will be officially announced, other states will come to borrow from Abia. Christian leaders, should not sit back and watch things go wrong. They must get involved in decision making of this country. They must also ensure that when they get there, they don’t forget God. I encourage Christian leaders and other religious leaders to get into politics.
What has been your contribution towards the development of Abia?
My major contribution is my prayers for the state. I’ve also had the opportunity to work and bless our youths, encouraged them and gave them hope. Even those that thought of committing suicide, received good things that made them change their minds.
What’s the relationship between your church and Abia state government?
The relationship is cordial. The government recognises me, as God’s servant and I give glory to God, for that opportunity to always pray for the state.