Why did Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye Retired?

Pastor E.A Adeboye has retired as the general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, but he remain the international overseer of the RCCG. Few years ago there was so much discussion, as some members of the council of the church wants him to retired. I could remember in 2012, we prayed against that, but now it has finally happend but i'm glad he is still part of the church, on the international level. 

Pastor Joseph Osuolale Obayemi has been named as the new general overseer of RCCG Nigeria. Obayemi who was a deputy in charge of Finance and a member of the governing council of the church. However, Pastor Adeboye agreed to step down as the general overseer in Nigeria but he still the general overseer globally. 

Pastor Adeboye is a highly respected and educated man is currently 74 years old. He had his B.Sc in Mathematics at University of Nigeria Nsukka and got his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos, and worked as lecturer at University of Ilorin. He joined the RCCG in 1973; he worked in the church as translator of Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi from yoruba into English. Rev. Josiah who was the founder of the church also claimed God showed him that the man that will be his successor will be highly educated and when he saw Pastor Adeboye for the first time he said it that he will be his successor when he died. 

In 1980 Pa Akindayomi founder of the RCCG died and in 1981, Pastor Adeboye was appointed aus the General Overseer of the church. The church was not known before Adeboye became the General Overseer, and Pastor Adeboye worked tiredless, has the church has branches in about 190 countries, including more than 14,000 parishes in Nigeria alone. One of the goal of the church according, to Pastor Adeboye is to plant a church within five minutes walking distance of  every person on Earth. 

The church is one of the fastest growing pentecostal in the world no doubt. 

According to one of the member of the church, says that Pastor Adeboye announced his retirement during the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving as the overseer of RCCG in Nigeria. Stating that this is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all registered churches, mosques, that they now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations. And they are not permitted to hand over to any member of their family.

Pastor E.A Adeboye remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide. 

May the almighty God contiune to strengthen Pastor Adeboye and peace to the church!

So My Parish Pastor Has Been Transferred...

Today service was not the usually Sunday service where we do have few attendants. The Congratulations is always few on a normal Sunday service. Today is the first Sunday after the New Year celebrations. In Nigeria the first Sunday of every month is thanksgiving services in some churches but the case is different in Germany. However, the church was filled up today with a lot of people including some prominent people who also graced  the occassion. It was a  send off service for one the parish pastor of the Martins Church in Grünstadt; Pastor Stefan Kuntz who has pastoring the church for the past eight years alongside with Pastor Andreas Funke. 

It was a beautiful service but I was surprised as the people sat quitely observing the service. And I thought weithin myself; how do people react in german church when they heard their pastor has been transferred? For some Nigerians, even regular church going types or a dedicated full time church members it is a big problem for them, if their pastor has been transferred to another church because most christians in Nigeria do have a strong personal relationship with their pastors; some members of the church in Nigeria go as well to their pastor to seek direction of how to live theirlife, some go ask the pastor to prayer for them before embarking on any journey; for example, if they want to travel they ask the pastor to pray for them, so that they can have a safe journey,and return safely. Some even ask the pastor to pray for them to get Visa to travel out of the country and so on. They have a lot to do with their pastor, that if the pastor is good enough they can even go to the church he has been transferred to if is not a far place from the formal church. I have seen  some cases in Nigeria where a pastor has been transferred from a church and some members of the church will stop coming to that particular church.Some church members in Nigeria are happy when they learned that their pastor has been transferred. This could be that they don't really like the pastor for some pesonal reasons and it's fine for them to see him go without any emotion. And also a lot of people have said they do not understand why the church transferred parish Pastor to another church, but no one seems to understand why parish pastors are being move either; for spiritual growth or phyiscal growth or for church growth or for personal reasons. Anyway, as we all know that the only thing that is costant in life is change.

From left, Klaus Wagner Mayor of Grünstadt, Queendaline Schneider and Pastor Stefan Kuntz

I really like the German evangelism church, as the people prayed for Pastor Stefan, and thank God for his life for a good leadership during his ministry as parish pastor in the Martins church Grünstadt. As they earnestly wait for the new Pastor. I think all these pastors are working for God; though they are also serving the people God has put in their care. I am privilege to have know Pastor Stefan as I fellowship with the Evangelische church (Martinskirche) Grünstadt and he is also member of the New Green Voice of Hope Gospel Singer Group. He is really a quite and nice Pastor. 

Another thing that I observed that  is different from the church in Nigeria and the church in Germany;  there were also some politicians who were invited for the service today, the Mayor of Grünstadt Klaus Wagner and the District Councillor of Bad Dürkheim Herr Hans-Ulrich Ihlenfeld. I'm surprised in Germany the politicians do not go every where with police men and bodyguards unlike in Nigeria the Mayor will not go out without maximum security, and you see them with their entourage. And some of the Nigerian politicians do not really go to church service, they go only during their election campaign and when they go some of them feel too big and very important to stand up from their seat. I am surprised seeing the District Councillor and the Mayor standing up to sing the hynmm with the member of the Congratulations and standing up for prayer, such an act of humility to God and human I have never seen from the Nigeria politicians. I hope the politicians in Nigeria change some of their ways, as the New Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo is also a Pastor. I am privilege to have seen Pastor Yemi Osinbajo is a member of the Redeemed Christian  Church of God, and he is really a humble person.

At the end of the service, the Gospelchor (the Green New Voice of Hope) sang a song titled "Blessing" as a surprise for Pastor Stefan. And of course fellow by refreshment at the Old Latin School in Grünstadt. 

The old Latin School was renovated last year by the church with support  from the Grünstadt government. I find it very interesting that the church gets support from the government in Germany. I pray Pastor Stefan contiune to waxing strong in faith and the strength to face the new work ahead of him, and a ever burning love to do the will of God. Amen!

My 365 Days of Gratitude Project And My Testimony

At the end of 2015 I decided to be thankful for everything God has done and what he will do in my life then I started sharing my daily gratitude with pictures on Instagram, I tagged it my 365 days gratitude on Instagram. Before started writing my gratitude challenge; I was jobless, hopeless, lonely, cashless and so on.

As my gratitude goes on, I became very positive about life, I started writing things that are not in my life, as if they already exist. Yes some of you my call it "the law of attraction" but I call it faith because I so much believe in God. To be honest with you, it took me three freaking years of confusion, humilation and determination, to pickmup back to the woman that I would like to become. 

Before I started my gratitude all my years of living in Europe was nothing but a life of  'uncertanity'- sorry I don't know if that is the right word or phrase to use here. I had no direction of where to go and what to do. 

My 365 are as follow;  I hope it will inspire you, not to give up on yourself:

1). I am Thankful For The Year 2016: The year 2016 is the year I discovered my purpose, and I started living according to my purpose in life. It is no doubt that many people are only existing and not living. As a child, I grew up in the appreciation of beauty of life; gifts, friends&family, godly-lifestyle. I have the privilege of knowing/meeting some great people in life, and these 

have help in shaping my life. 

2). I am Thankful For Writing/My Career. I am so thankful for my life as a journalist and the privilege to write or work with a German Newspaper (Die Rheinpfalz Zeitung). I was so passionate to 

work as a journalist in Germany, and I didn't not know this will come to pass in my life. At the beginning of year 2016, I joined the green voice of hope gospel singers, and I always go to the choir 

practice, the people took interest in me perhaps because I was the only African (black) in their midst. So they often asked me what I do for a living and I told them that i am a journalist because I studied 

Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institude of Journalism where I obtained my Diploma in mass communication. So they told me to go to the local newspapers in my area maybe they will employ me. I remember 11th March 2016, I walked into the Rheinpfalz Newspaper office in Grünstadt, I spoke with the Editor that I am a journalist and I would like to work with them but he told me they would not be able to employed me then because my german language is not pefect to write...

  I was not so happy but I asked the editor if we can take some pictures together? ( Können wir ein Bild zusammen machen?) and he said "yes" "ja" then we took some pictures together, then he asked me to give them my contacts, I did and left. Some hours later someone called me back and offered me the position to be writing/reporting for the culture page from the Africa perspective. On  16th April 2016, my first story appeared on the sport page.  And ever since then, I have been writing for the Rheinpfalz Newspaper , and next year my story is coming up on the front page of the newspapers, which means the story is going to be circulated throughout the Rheinpfalz State how amazing! Super excited for 2017, I will strive to write more, I'm looking forward to completing my book manuscript. 

3). I am Thankful For My Family: There are not more words in the world to describe the love of one family. Family love is said to be built on unconditional love. The Ebiniyi family is a very big family with royal blood from Ondo State but since we lost our parents our family has limited to only my immediate family even though that is not Africa culture because most Africans have closed relationship with their extended families unlike the Europeans who only stay in the nuclear family. So in the above picture is my younger sister, my brother-inlaw, my nieces, and my nephew. And of course my friends are part of my family and I really love and appreciate everyone of you for your love and support as well. 

...my Germans family 

4). Iam Thankful For My First Car in Germany: I worked so hard to bought my car. After walking in the cold for years. Although my husband had intended buying me one but I do not really like his choice of cars for me. I love cars and so I have had a dream car for a long time even though I didn't intended driving in Germany because I had thought I can always ride in my husband's car. Germany  transportation system is better than what we have in my country; and for this reasons I decided not to drive in Germany but little did I know that those that drive have a better chance of getting a job... I must say, I am thankful for my car because it gets me from 'point A' to 'point B'. I'm still working hard in order to buy my dream car. It is not really easy to drive a big car in Germany due to tax and insurance unlike in my country of birth (Nigeria) where people drive big and exotic cars without any taxes and insurance. Only the very rich and wealthy people drive exotic cars in Germany. I am surprised even the very rich people in Germany have just two-three cars, while in Nigeria some rich people have more than five-to-ten cars parked in their compound yet Nigerians citizens are living below the poverty line. My thought! 

5). I am Thankful For You Readers: Since I started writing my book I realized that writing is a battle, and to overcome this battle you have to believe in your ability to do so. See yourself as your own BOSS and Editor. Practice makes perfect' sometimes when i'm sleeping I will be composing a story in my mind. Sometimes I have sleepless nights because I needed to write down my ideas. I am not the best writer in the world but i am glad each time I chat or talk with people, I hear them says... "Queendaline why don't you write a book..." This has been a good year for my writing, I started writing my book at the beginning of this year, and my blog which you are reading now, I started blogging 2008, in 2017, it's going to mark exactly 9 years since I started blogging but I never write or share stories like I did last year.

Today is day 350 of my 365 days gratitude on Instagram, so far I have been enjoying the gratitude challenging and I can say I am blessed through this exercise. I did it without mentioning any names but JESUS. Thank you Lord Jesus for everything. 

"This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD"- Psalms 102:18 

What are you thankful for today? Please kindly drop your comments, in the comment box. Happy New Year Everyone! Greetings with a lot of love and blessings to you and yours!

  

Christmas Traditions In Germany And Nigeria

Christmas is here again! My favourite part of the holiday is Christmas Festival. Christmas to me is a celebration, which includes spending time with my family, and shopping, for the people I love. 

I learned that Christmas is better celebrated with snow, as the snow signifies the cold season as it been described in the scripture that Jesus Christ was born during the cold season. I remember someone once asked me, how do we celebrate Christimas in Africa without the snow or cold winter, and my response was I didn't know that Christmas has something to do with snow. However, I have never see snow in Africa. While kids in Europe or America  play snowmen, Africa children play with sand.  My questioner said yes, because snow and Christmas often go together, and she can not image how Africa celebrate Christmas, that often she like it more to see snow on Christmas Day. 

Also, I get to know that there are more Christmas traditions in Europe or Germany than in Africa or Nigeria. For example, in Nigeria the people do not observe the four advent sundays, there is no St. Nicholars's Day, there are no Christmas market as it is here. And Santa Claus is called Father Christmas in Nigeria. The Father Christmas is often seen at trade centers or schools sitting somewhere and children go to him to get some gifts. 

Another thing that is different between Christmas celebration in Nigeria and in Germany is the food; in Nigeria the special food on Christmas day is Rice and Chicken stew with salad or with some special traditional food such as, pounded yam and egusi soup. Pounded yam is similar to the German Kartoffeln Püree. And egusi soup made with grounded melon seed, and cook with cow meat and Pepper. 

People celebrate christmas differently, for instance in Nigeria, some family celebrate Christmas by going to church, cooking big pot of rice and chicken stew to entertain their neighbours, and visitors on that day, and poor beggers on the street. In some part of Nigeria some children go from house-to-house to get candy, food and little gift inform of cash from their friends and family. This brings joy to the children and it really fun for them. 

Also, in Nigeria people celebrate Christmas with a lot of firecrackers/fireworks they throw firecrackers at every conner of the streets and it often loud. Sometime people have to call on police to stop them, as some criminals also use this as opportunity to steal.I don't really like the firecrackers as I was hurt once when someone threw that on me. Unlike in Germany where fireworks is only allow on the 31st of every December, in Nigeria the people start fireworks/firecrackers from November till January and it is very loud and crazy. Speaking with Ademola Tistus about the Christmas festival in Nigeria this year, he said that the Christmas this year is different that is just quite, as the recession is real affecting them. There is no money to eat, drink and therefore most people has no money to buy firecrackers to throw but maybe they will throw some on Christmas Day and the new year eve. 

In Nigeria many families usually throw a big parties that will last all night, especially in Lagos Island where the people like fun.
Nigeria do not celebrate Christmas or exchange gift on the 24th but Nigeria celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December and gifts and every other thing is been done on this day. And the 26th of December is known as the boxing day; on 26th people usually party and hang out with friends, the beach resort is usually full at this time of year the including the cinamas in Nigeria. 

In Nigeria what I really like is the Christmas Carol in church, drama or movies to reflect the birth of Jesus Christ, because Christmas is said to be the birth's of Jesus Christ and as we all know that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Make up the foundation of christianity. Although, the bible did not record the extact date of Jesus birth, but all over the world Christmas is been celebrate on 25th of December this is the day Jesus is claimed to be born.

However, Christmas celebration in Germany is absolutly different from Christmas in Nigeria. One of the big part of Christmas celebrations in Germany is Advent. Such as, the Advent calendars, Advent candles. The Advent candles is a ring of fir branches that has four candles on it. One candle is lit at the beginning of each week of the Advent. The Advent is observe in four sundays before Christmas. Also the Christmas Markets is well known in Germany here all sort of Christmas foods and decorations are been sold.

There is also what is called Christ Child- the Christ child has nothing to do with baby Jesus. The Christ child is often described as a young girl with Christ like character. This tradition often takes place in Nümberg where a young girl is chosen every year to participate in a parade wearing white and gold dress with a crown. She carry out a lot of duties on this day such as, offically opens the Christmas market on Friday before Advent starts. She visit the hospitals, the old people's homes, grant TV interviews and visit other places.

The St. Nicholas's Day is between 5th-6th December, Nicholas
comes in the night and give children sweets. Another Christmas tradition in Germany is the star singers. They go from house to house singing a song and collect money for charity purpose. 
This is mainly done by catholic- four children, three who dress up like the Wise men and one carries a star on a stick as a symbol for the Star of Bethlehem. After which they finished singing, they write a sign with a chalk over the door of the house. The sign is written in a special way, for example 2017 would be: 20*C*M*B*17. 

Unlike in Nigeria where rice and chicken stew is the main Christmas meal, in Germany goose are often served for the main Christmas big dinner on the 25th or 26th. I have also learned in Germany, that spending Christmas with our family is very important. We usually gather on 24th night, which is known as the holy evening in my mother-in-law house for the exchange of gifts and the 26th is the Christmas family dinner.

Decorating for Christmas is so much fun for me in Germany; I decorate the inside with the Christmas tree and lighting. Although, they are real Christmas tree in Germany but we always use the artificial tree. Personally I enjoy shopping, as it makes me happy. I love going to the mall, all the mall and stores are so beautifully decorated in Germany. Also I go to different towns and cities to visit a Christmas Market every year. However, my favourite Christmas traditions is the Advent period.

I was invited to a Christmas party this year by the Buschmänn NGO in Adamslust Frankenthal, to talk on difference between "Christmas in Nigeria and Christmas in Germany," it was a nice time to shared my experience with the people because I have celebrated four Christmas in Germany and I can boldly say there is a lot of different. I really do I enjoy each Christmas in Germany because it is a Quiet Time. This is a time to reflect on our Lord Jesus Christ and to talk more about him, not time for crazy fun. My thought! 

These are some of the German Christmas tradition that I have learned over the years I have lived here. Happy Christmas Nigeria! And frohe Weihnachten Deutschland!

K-Town shopping Mall. 

Ludwigshafen City Hall Shopping Center. 

Mannheim Christmas Market 

                                                 

Mannheim Train Station 

Sally Rausch Real Christmas Tree 

Mannheim Christmas Market 

Green Town City Christmas Tree 

Mannheim Fashion House Christmas Decoration 

Namibia Get Help From Germany

Africa has been described as a wealthy continent with many living in adject poverty and sickness. It is no doubt that Namibia is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, but still around half population lives below poverty line.

Namibia GDP per capita is 8,200 dollar- The economy is mainly minerals, and Namibia is one of the richest places in Africa for strategic minerals. Namibia is one of the highest producers of diamonds in the world.

In the year 1884, Namibia was a German colony, as the Germans took over the South-West Africa
during the colonial era. The country got her independence on 21 March 1990, but it organs do not function as an independent nation as many of her citizens are begging for international aid.

Germans has been supporting the country since its independence, there is a new government negotiations between Namibia and Germany, the German Government through its implementing agency Deutsche Gesellschaft Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH... This is will commence in 2017.

However, they are other organisations (NGOs) in Germany that have been supporting poor children in Namibia, one of such organisation (Buschmänner e.V) founded by Carlo 'von' Opel who along side with his team has been doing an amazingly good job in supporting the children in the undeveloped area in Namibia. Such as; donating bus, toys, teaching the kids farming system, and providing
musical instruments for talented young artist on the street, with the help of Jack Francis, the children
are learning how to play various musical instrument during church service and other event.

From left: Carlo von Opel, Queendaline Schneider at the Buschmänn e.V Christmas party yesterday at Weinstube Adamslust Frankenthal Germany. 

 I was overwhelmed with work Carlo and his team are doing in Namibia: Is it surprising that in such a world full of greedy leaders or governance who are only thinking highly of themselve, we still have people like Carlo who sacrifice his 75 birthday ceremony on 16th May, 2016 to meet the need of the street children in Namibia.

In a world that was empty, God created the earth: The earth provides everything every man's needs to survive no matter where we are born but the greed of corrupt leaders in Africa has brought shame on us  Or Isn't A Shame- that there are no any countries in Africa continent that is developed. Tell me how is it that the country, that is one the world highest quality producers of diamonds and its citizens are still living below poverty line.

Africa does not really need foreign aid, but Africa need leaders with selfless love and total commitment.

Nigeria Actress, Ini Edo Reveals How She Escaped Church Building Collapse in Uyo

Nollywood Actress, Ini Edo, has shared her testimony; how she escaped the collapse of the Reigners Bible Church building in Uyo on Sunday.

The church building collapsed during an ordination service for Bishop Akan Weeks, but unfortunately leading to the death of over 100 people and leaving many injured.

According to Ini Edo, says she could have been among the victims on Sunday, but she was held up in traffic from Calabar to Uyo for 7 hours, on her way to the church venue.

Read what she wrote on her social media page after the cut...

" 2 days ago, I was very bitter about the unreliable nature of some of our airlines cancelling flights without prior notice thereby hindering my plans to attend a church service ceremony held in Uyo. Now out of determination, I took a flight to Calabar with the hope of being in Uyo just in time for the service since the journey between Calabar and Uyo was just about an hour. The journey ended up taking over 7hours because of an unexplainable traffic. No accident, good road no hitches just a headlock traffic. Whilst in the car, I started wondering why all my efforts to be at the service was being thwarted... then I got a call, that the entire church building had collapsed during the course of the service... Once again, God had saved me... My heart goes out to the families of the departed... May the good Lord grant them the heart to bear the loss. Everyday we see a blessing... It's not because we are special or better... It's the exceeding grace of our Lord Jesus. I am so humbled and grateful to God for preserving me... Happy thanksgiving"-

Thanking God for the life of our dear Nollywood actress, Ini Edo may the almighty God continue to keep and preserve you in Jesus name.

Donald Trump's Grandparents German Hometown- Kallstadt

This is the house where, Donald Trump's grandfather was born in Kallstadt Germany. Despite his roots, Trump and "racism" Trump is also a descendant of immigrates; his forefathers left Kallstadt for economic reasons, in search of a better life. It is a known fact, that all the white people living in America today are all immigrates from Europe, just like the Africa America are immigrates from Africa. I hope Trump will have a rethink in its policy of allowing all people to live and work in America without any problem.

Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump was born on March 14, 1869 and he left for the US in 1885, joining his sister in New York. He later changed his name to Frederick and came back to Kallstadt, and married his neighbor's daughter Elisabeth Christ, before going back to New York with his wife.

According to Mr Uli, a native of Kallstadt, he said that the couple returned to Germany because
Elisabeth was homesick, but was banished in 1905 because Trump's grandfather failed to carry-out his military service.

However, Donald Trump is really proud of his German heritage- he says nice words about his grandparent's hometown in a 2014 documentary.

"The people in Kallstadt are very reliable, strong people and I feel that about myself- I'm strong and I'm very reliable. I'm on time, I get things done," he said.

It was also said that Kallstadt was a hometown and birth place of Johann Heinrich Heiz and he got baptized in the Kallstadt kirche (Kallstadt church), whose American-born son, Henry John Heinz, founded the Heinz ketchup company.

See more photos after the cut...

It was said that this is also Elisabeth Trump's house in Kallstadt

Kallstadt church, where Johann Heinrich Heinz was baptized. 

Photo Credit: Queendaline Schneider.