By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

Pastors and Christian leaders at the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Centre for Deliverance through Evangelism, Dakibiyu District, Kubwa Branch, Abuja, have called on Christians, particularly youths, to deepen their relationship with God, rediscover the purpose of Christianity and sustain their faith through humility, obedience and continuous study of the Word of God.

The call was made on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the church auditorium during the Peculiar People’s Convention 2.0, organised under the theme, “Great Mercies.”

The convention featured ministering sessions by Pastor Alex Ogundipe, Pastor Gideon Oyedepo and Pastor Emmanuel Okunola, with participants and church leaders also reflecting on how Christians can translate their faith into positive conduct in society.

Speaking during his session on “Sustaining the Fire and Passion,” Pastor Gideon Oyedepo said Christians must understand that genuine spiritual growth requires humility and a conscious commitment to God’s purpose.

Oyedepo said, “If the purpose is wrong, the work cannot be right,” stressing that Christians who desire to sustain their spiritual fire must continually increase in humility.

Reflecting on the biblical account of Adam and Eve in Genesis Chapter 3, he said the central issue was not merely that they asked questions but that they abandoned the abundance available to them and chose what God had restricted.

According to him, the account teaches Christians to recognise God’s authority and remain careful when confronted with temptation.

He said the desire to challenge divine restrictions could lead to rebellion, adding that the example of Jesus Christ demonstrated the importance of humility and submission to God.

Oyedepo also warned against what he described as “consumer Christianity,” where people approach the church primarily because of what they expect to gain.

He said while God could use people’s material needs as an entry point into faith, Christians were expected to grow beyond that stage and develop a deeper commitment to Christ.

The cleric urged young Christians to look beyond personalities and examine the teachings and lifestyles of religious leaders against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“Your pastor might be fantastic. Your bishop might be great. Your apostle might be excellent and grandiose. What God expects of you is that you will evaluate them based on the teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Oyedepo identified regular study of the Word of God, aligning actions with biblical teachings, seeking greater spiritual knowledge, fellowshipping with spiritually mature Christians, supporting the work of God and encouraging others to study as some of the ways Christians could sustain their spiritual fire.

He further urged Christians to continually examine their ways and ensure that they were following God rather than merely following human personalities.

According to him, the challenges confronting the world should also remind Christians of the temporary nature of life and the need for spiritual alertness and repentance.

He said, “The clock is ticking,” urging Christians to recognise the urgency of their spiritual journey.

Also speaking, Pastor Alex Ogundipe explained the significance of the convention’s theme, “Great Mercies,” describing mercy as divine intervention that can halt or mitigate punishment after an offence has been established.

Ogundipe said the concept of God’s mercy recognises humanity’s disobedience while pointing to Jesus Christ as the means through which believers receive divine mercy.

He said the theme was particularly relevant because human beings often desire to do things they have been instructed not to do, despite having access to other opportunities.

Using biblical examples, including the account of David and Bathsheba, Ogundipe said humanity’s tendency to disregard divine boundaries could bring consequences, but God’s mercy provides a pathway through Jesus Christ.

According to him, “Jesus is the key that unlocks the great mercy of God to avert us getting through punishment and situations that we are guilty of.”

He explained that the convention was designed largely for unit heads, unit leaders, missionaries and others responsible for leading people, describing it as a form of “training the trainers.”

He said the participants were expected to be equipped with biblical knowledge and understanding that would enable them to improve their service to God and humanity and pass the lessons to others.

Ogundipe also challenged Christians who view church attendance primarily as a means of acquiring material possessions.

He said the purpose of Christianity was not merely to seek money, cars, marriage or other material benefits, but to know and serve God and fulfil the purpose for which humanity was created.

According to him, Christians are expected to represent God by being the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

He urged believers to rediscover the purpose of worship, service and fellowship with God, stressing that Christianity should not be reduced to the pursuit of miracles and material prosperity.

“Where purpose is not known, abuse is imminent,” Ogundipe said, warning that Christians could lose sight of their spiritual calling when material expectations became the primary reason for attending church.

He said his expectation from the convention was that participants would gain greater understanding and knowledge, rethink how they approached worship and service to God, and allow the lessons to reflect in their lives.

Oyedepo further encouraged Christian youths to develop a deeper knowledge of Christ rather than becoming overly dependent on religious personalities.

He said believers must be able to distinguish between genuine Christian teachings and practices that deviate from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

He urged youths to remain spiritually alert, increase their hunger for God and continually assess their conduct.

Speaking on the impact of the convention, Mrs Ekundayo Arogundade, Pastor of the Mega Youth Chapel, described the programme as a period of learning, unlearning, relearning and reflection.

Arogundade said the sessions had challenged participants to examine whether their conduct was consistent with biblical teachings.

According to her, the lessons could have a wider impact on Nigerian society if participants translated what they had learnt into their everyday relationships.

She said Christians could contribute to a better society by demonstrating love, fairness and humanity not only within the church but also in their workplaces, schools and communities.

Arogundade also said sustaining spiritual fire required continuous acquisition of knowledge, obedience and translating biblical teachings into practical action.

She stressed that reading the Bible alone was insufficient if believers did not apply its teachings to their daily lives and demonstrate them through their behaviour, words and actions.

Also speaking, Omobolanle Covenant Akeem, a member of the church’s choir department, said the convention had deepened her understanding of sustaining the fire and passion of God.

Akeem said the sessions taught participants the need to propagate the gospel and build on the foundation laid by Jesus Christ through knowledge, sincerity and, most importantly, humility.

According to her, humility and love were essential for Christians who desired to continue the work of God and maintain a meaningful fellowship with Jesus Christ.

She described the sessions as enlightening and said she had been blessed by the teachings.

The Peculiar People’s Convention 2.0, which brought together church leaders, youth, unit heads, missionaries and other participants, focused on deepening Christian understanding, strengthening spiritual commitment and encouraging believers to live out their faith beyond the church environment.