Doxa

The Men of Faith, empowered and emboldened, are coming out in full force this year with their annual conference (November 13-15), “At Times Like These”, a two-day event catering to the Christian man and Christian father. Without a doubt, this is a conference to be a part of. Why? Because the House of Glory Men of Faith are all about debunking the emerging trend suggesting that men in the church are generally less active than their female counterparts due to responsibilities and societal expectations. 

Join us to be a part of this radical move – at times like these.

What Can You Gain from this Conference?

• Re-energize your Christian walk with God
• Learn innovative ways to balance spiritual necessities with daily demands
• Receive encouragement to revive your family altar while performing your priestly duties
• Discuss issues (financial, spiritual, career development) peculiar to men and how to master and improve on them

 

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Men of Faith Conference. November 13-15.

Featuring Pastor Nimi Wariboko (Guest Speaker) and Pastor George Akhigbe (Host Pastor)

Friday 7:00pm - Prayer Meeting @ RCCG House of Glory

Saturday 11-4pm – Annual Conference @ Kahler Hall. 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia MD.

Sunday 10:30am – Thanksgiving Service @ RCCG House of Glory

Click here for directions to House of Glory

 

*Article co-authored with Bade Adedayo

 

 

HOG “Daughters of Zion” had another successful annual “Oil in My Lamp” conference Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, 2009. The event wrapped up on Sunday with a thanksgiving service, and the women of the church running the show.
The conference on Saturday took place at a community center in Columbia, Maryland a couple of miles of the beltway. Attended by both women and men alike, this conference highlighted a variety of events geared towards women, their role in their families and in the church.

There were icebreakers and other fun activities such as how to tie a fashionable “gele” (a striking head-tie worn by Nigerian females as an accent to traditional attire worn particularly during notable events and festive occasions) and how women (and men) can make themselves presentable with health, supplements and beauty products – A consultant from Ardyss International, Brenda, walked through the Ardyss product suite.

Following this, Pastor Roselyn Phillips gave a short motivational anecdote encouraging the women accordingly:

• Daughters of Zion should endeavor to be like the proverb 31 woman. 
• Daughters of Zion have the power to set the tone of their homes…
• Each woman should make her home a haven for our husbands. 
• She cautioned that whatever a wife (mom) does, her children tend to follow after
• When a woman respects and loves her husband as the bible commands, her husband will be more than willing to go to the ends of the earth for her.
• Each Daughter of Zion should make her home the kind where her husband looks forward to come home from work to.  She should take care of the home, and take care of her husband so his eyes do not wander.

The keynote speaker, Pastor Stella Babalola spoke on “Things to remember and things to forget”, urging that we should learAn to let-go of things so they don’t hinder our progress and future. Dr. Maureen N. Muoneke, Obstetrics & Gynecology, give a brief talk on women’s health, urging the women to be aware of their bodies and live a preventive lifestyle so as to protect from diseases common to women.

The conference was well represented by guest from churches in the Baltimore area.

“Oil in My Lamp” is inspired by the biblical story of the Ten Virgins, one of the parables narrated by Jesus illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven. Oil in My Lamp Conference seeks to refresh and recharge the Christian woman, as she goes about her daily walk as a covenant child of God.

On Sunday, August 30, Brother Kola Olaleye was ordained as a minister in House of Glory. This ordination was widely accepted and applauded by the congregation, as over time brother Kola has exhibited qualities that are evident in a minister. Brother Kola has been the very dedicated in the audiovisual ministry, where he has carved a niche for himself, and continues to flourish. It is a collective House of Glory prayer that brother Kola will not rest on his laurels, but through this ordination, take all the good work he has been doing to the next level.
Right now, he is the latest classic example of the parable that states, one who is faithful in little will be given more. He who is not faithful, even that which he has will be taken from him.

Matthew 25:29
“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Qualifications of a Minister

Above and beyond the general biblical requirements of a minister, in House of Glory the candidate:

• must have been a worker for at least two years to  qualify for ordination (“worker” experience can be carried over from a 
    previous Redeemed parish)
• is expected to actively participate in mid-week activities since this helps with spiritual and personal development. 

This year’s Glory Cloud kicked off with a great momentum. As anticipated, HOG members came out in full force. The resident pastor, Pastor George Akhigbe officially kicked-off the week, and also officially launched Doxa Magazine.
“This is the best first day of Glory Cloud ever”, Brother Femi Olawale exclaimed, while those around him nodded in agreement.
Pastor Dayo Brown, from Word Ablaze Ministries in Philadelphia, was the first of the speakers to give us a different insight, and perspective on the GLORY OF GOD.

In his message Sunday morning titled, “From Glory to Glory”, Pastor Brown exhorted us based on 2 Corinthians 3:18. “What you behold is what you become!” he mentioned with fervor. We are in many ways a product of our environment and what we surround ourselves with. He encouraged us in the Lord, saying that it is possible for a change to occur – possible for us to go through a metamorphosis (a caterpillar is translated to a butterfly). “You can undergo a radical change such that no one will be able to reconcile your past with your future”.

Points to Remember

• Change is a possibility (Luke 9:29)
• Don’t be satisfied with your present level, God can still take you to greater heights
• Seekers are finders (Psalm 27:4)
• There is a train in God’s presence – the train of his robe filled the temple
• There is fire in God’s presence (Exodus 24:17)
• There is a voice in God’s presence (Luke 9:35)
• There is smoke in God’s presence (Isaiah 6:4; Revelations 15:8)

Other Bible references: Ezekiel 10:4; Psalm 114:1-7

In the evening session, “A place by Me”, Pastor Brown intimated some reasons why we should covet being close to God.

When you run from the presence of God you end up becoming a wanderer (Genesis 4:16); When you run from God’s presence you end up in hardship and have to pay your way through. When God calls you, he pays your way. (Jonah 1:3)

Exodus 33:17-21 – There’s is a place by God where God will place us on a rock

• In the presence of God there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11-12)
• In the presence of God there are solutions (Psalms 97:5)
• Miracles happen in the presence of God (Psalm 114:7-8)
• There is deliverance in the presence of God (Isaiah 19:1)
• There is a refreshing in the presence of God (Acts 3:19)
• There is change in the presence of God (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Jesus is the solid Rock that we speak of -

• The rock brings salvation
• The rock of my refuge (Numbers 23:9; Psalm 40:2)
• The rock has honey in it (Deuteronomy 32:13)
• There rock has oil in it (Deuteronomy 32:13)
• There is water in the rock (Psalm 105:41)
• There is stability on the rock (Psalm 40:2)

Pastors and friends of House of glory showed up this first day in full support – Pastor Akintunde Phillips of Grace of God Ministries, Pastor Joseph Ibomo-Ezo from an RCCG Parish in Hong Kong, and Pastor Basil Osuji and family of Brentwood Foursquare Gospel Church.

Debut Sunday sermon preaching of Deacon K. Bassey

On Sunday August 1, Thanksgiving Sunday throughout the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Deacon Kingsley Bassey of House of Glory had his first preaching debut, delivering the day’s sermon to the congregants of House of Glory. The message, “His Might, Your Benefit” was a recount of how God’s display of His might has been beneficial to people in the days of old, and even today.

Hebrews 13:8 (King James Version)

⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Points to Takeaway:

• Even the lawful captive will be delivered
• God is always in the business of healing
• If God wants to bless you, only you can hinder it
• When God stretches out his hand to protect, no one can turn it back
• God is still mighty to deliver, and mighty to save
• If God could save Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus), He is more than able save you
• Our iniquities put a barrier between us and God
• God will make your enemies be at peace with you

Pastor George Akhigbe revels in victory along with HOG soccer team

House of Glory was invited to a “friendly match” tournament along with other local parishes by House of Praise, Baltimore, a sister parish that had their annual picnic on Saturday, July 25, 2009. The House of Glory team was comprised of members of the dynamic, all-inclusive Synergy group of the church. A group that has being showing great potential this year!
The first match was House of Glory (HOG) vs. House of Praise (HOP), where the HOG team proved its mettle by scoring two points against their opponents – one in each half. Each half lasting for about 25mins. Both goals were secured by Tobi Onibatedo, in an adept display of skill.

Two other sister parishes, Christ Villa and Holy Ground, battled each other, with Holy Ground coming out victorious. The winning team, now a mixed team, faced off with HOG, in a battle for the tournament trophy.
They started off by scoring a goal in the first half against HOG, but the HOG players quickly got their acts together and scored a goal, thanks to the combination work of Tobi Onibatedo and Orlando (our strikers). Orlando placed the ball beautifully into the “net”.
Within the last ten minutes of the game, HOG’s Tobi Onibatedo did what he does best, and once tucked in another goal, that inevitably sealed HOG championship position.

HOG Soccer Team

Rev. Adeniyi Daniel

On Sunday June 21, 2009, fathers were celebrated all over the United States, and like most churches in the nation, the day wasn’t any different for House of Glory. I guess you can chalk this under one of the qualities of being a growing church – it makes it very easy for gifts to be presented to tall the men/fathers in the house. Once again The Daughters of Zion stepped up to the plate.

[Daughters of Zion (DOZ), is the coined name for the Women’s Ministry of House of Glory.]

Rev. Adeniyi Daniel, one of the more frequent guest pastors on the House of Glory roster, was the speaker for the day, and like always captured the HOG audience with his doggedness and passion of things relating to fathers and children, family inheritances, and destiny alignment – mixing in, every now and then animated illustrations to drive his point home.

Through his ministration, once again we are reminded the importance of a name, and how parents should seek God in determining names for their children – when looking at the patriarchs and other examples in the bible, their names were usually linked to their destinies. Do you remember the story of Jabez? Depending on our names, its meanings or destiny, do we need to cry out a prayer similar to his?

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (New International Version)

⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Rev. Daniel and Deac. Bassey demonstrate how Jacob came out the womb grasping at Esau's heel.

Do we need to be adamant like Jacob, who wrestled with an angel at night (while others were sleeping) and got his name changed?

Genesis 32 (King James Version)

²⁷And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

²⁸And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Bottom line, we should live our lives with purpose and wisdom. Fathers, be the best dad you can be – mothers be the best you can be, and finally children/youth aspire to be greater and achieve the most out of your potential as you possibly can – God willing.

What better way to get started, than to quell all questions, validate the chatter (or invalidate) on what exactly is going on in this “place of worship” called, House of Glory in Baltimore? Now that the engine is all warmed up –

First Gear…

HOG (House of Glory) is a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). RCCG in its own right, is blazoning a legendary story, that is undoubtedly becoming one of the successful anecdotes of how a mere vision, can take a handful group of people from tens to millions.

Second Gear…

House of Glory is special because it has had its share of pains. HOG is special because we will continue to show that with merely a handful of people, we can accomplish feats far beyond what our size should typically dictate. You see – we are Davids, we are Samsons, we are Daniels, we are Esthers – continuously in the making.

Third Gear…

Ethnically, we are predominantly Nigerian – hopefully in the next couple of years we’ll be a melting pot for all ethnicities… the vision just needs to be kept alive.

Fourth Gear…

Fortunately for us, we’ve probably already been discounted, pushed to the side, scoffed at, and been victims of idle rumors – why should we complain, these are biblical ingredients for a greater future.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (New International Version)

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Amidst it all we’ve decided to remain focused, to wait our turn, and also to develop ourselves as Christians and as a church. Regardless of sentiments, we are blessed to have a pastor that will not compromise or adulterate the Word of God. Why? Because at the end of it all we are all about building our spirits, renewing our minds, quality worship, quality service, stronger/closer families, success in every area of life, promoting positive reinforcements in our lives and those of others. Because in due season, every man shall reap his reward.

Fifth Gear…

What Can You Count On? You can count on the fact that:

• We will continually seek to serve God better
• We will continually praise and worship God
• We will welcome grounded teaching and preaching of the Word of God
• We will have as much fun as we possibly can
• We will never pretend that paying tithes is optional

“Welcome to the Glory Zone – Welcome to Doxa”