Conversation with Dwain Lynch

Dwain Lynch is a man who has gone through some hard and trying times. He had a life of being in and out of jail since the age of 12, and struggled with being addicted to heroin and cocaine. Overall, he spent 25 years of his life incarcerated. Today, he is a successful Man of God, who has written about his journey and overcoming his trials in his autobiography.

Trailer to his book

Finally my brother, we get to have this conversation.

It is an honor Sir. Thank you for having me.

What is the title of the book you wrote, and why did you write this book?

The title of my book is “Transformed” God Changed My Suit. I wrote this book for two reasons. One was because the mother of my church at the time pulled me to the side one Sunday and told me that she had a dream the previous night and that I needed to write a book about my life.

The second reason was that as I looked at the events in my life, I realized that I am only here because God placed his Grace on me and I believe that my story can help others. Sometimes people look at their lives and they think that their lives are out of control. I felt that my life is a testament that life can change regardless of who we are or what we have done.

Let’s go back to the beginning. So how would you describe your upbringing?

Well I was raised by a single mother. I was a good student starting out but I was abused by my mom a lot as a child. I didn’t meet my father until I was 11 years old. That encounter damaged me more than the abuse and by the time I was 12, I was sent to a Juvenile Detention Center. By that time I was a withdrawn introvert with anger issues from the abuse and the abandonment of my father.

What do you mean by being abused by your mom? Verbal, physical, worse?

I was physically abused by my mom. I got beatings with extension cords, I was locked in closets or red pepper was put on my tongue if I told a lie. I endured this until I was 11 years old when I first went to jail.

These days, there seems to be some reputation in claiming to be hardcore and having street credibility. What do you say to that?

Well what I say to that is, Street cred is an illusion. It’s a lie. I never wanted street cred. I literally never wanted to be seen as a gangster or a thug. I just wanted to get some money in my pocket to do the things that I wanted to do. What I can tell you is that claiming street cred has claimed a ton of lives for nothing. Some get a ton of time for nothing. And the rest are playing a role for nothing.

Give us a snapshot of what a day in your life was like back then?

Running the streets hustling and selling drugs was fun for me. We sold drugs and most times I also had a job. We hustled and stacked money. We went to Go-Go’s, movies, shopped and dated girls and avoided the police. Hustling was fun from my point of view.

How did you end up being incarcerated?

I had been getting incarcerated since I was eleven years old. After I met my father for the first time in my life, the way it played out angered me and I turned to crime because my mother was struggling to raise me by herself. So the summer after I met my father I  became a burglar to make money. By my 12^th birthday I was locked up in a juvenile facility.

What was the first day in jail like?

My first day incarcerated was a game changer for me. It actually set the tone for the rest of my stay. The next morning at breakfast a guy walked up next to me and took my milk off the table and just walked away. At that moment I had to make a decision. Either let him take that milk and make the rest of my stay a living hell or fight for that milk. I decided to fight for that milk. I won that fight!

How long was your sentence, and how did you survive in there?

My first sentence was a 2 year commitment to Cedar Knolls. My last sentence was 8 ½ years to Life in Lorton Reformatory. At the end of the day I ended up doing over 25 years in and out of prison and I survived those years by minding my own business, giving the same respect that I received and making it clear that I was not going for anything. I was respected because I gave respect. That’s how I survived.

As a child I’m sure you had secret hopes and dreams. When you ended up in jail, what did you think about your life and your future?

As a child I could draw real well. I wanted to be an architect and drive a TR7 sports car but I never got a chance to finish school or go to college.

People have faced hopelessness and felt like there was nothing worth living for. I have, and I attempted suicide 3 times. I’m curious…….did you ever come to a place of hopelessness? And what kept your head up from going down the route of depression and worse?

I reached that point myself when I was addicted to heroin and cocaine. I was losing my family and headed back to jail. I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder and I made numerous attempts at ending my life. At some point I was sitting in my car and I wanted to end my life and at that instance my pastor at the time called me and asked me what I was doing. I took that as God telling me that killing myself was not the answer. That was my last attempt at taking my life.

Wow. You were addicted to heroin and cocaine. That’s tough man. I was a meth addict, so I know how much work I have to put into keeping my mind on the straight and narrow. How has it been staying clean and sober?

Believe me it was tough in the beginning. Things were going on in my life that threatened my sobriety but I stayed in the word and I had good people in my corner. My wife, my daughter, my Pastor. I kept God in front no matter what came and I am happy to say that it has been 16 years of clean time. Praise God.

That's awesome man. Congratulations!
You had a moment of being suicidal too. Most times people think it is weak minded people that get suicidal. What would you say about that?

People say that it takes a weak person to commit suicide. Actually, it takes a tired person. I wanted to die because the heroin and coke addiction had total control of me. I felt that I could not live without it but I didn’t want to continue using. I was sick and tired of my addiction but for some reason I just couldn’t stop. I felt that if I couldn't stop I would rather die. So, the reality is. People don't want to commit suicide because they are weak; they want to commit suicide because they are frustrated and tired. That’s how I see it…..

So how did things lead to you getting released?

I was released for the last time after things had gotten so bad that my wife chained and padlocked the door and told me that I couldn’t come home. I was arrested that weekend and spent a year back in prison. In that year I made a pact with God that that would be my last stay in anyone’s jail. In that year I rededicated my life to God and I haven’t looked back. God has been blessing me ever since.

Your first day out of prison…….what was that like?

My first day out of prison was fulfilling. I was headed home with a new mindset and God in my corner. I saw my wife on the bus that day and we rode home together and have been together ever since.

I’ve known a few people who got out of jail, and the journey to being settled in society was a nightmare. How did you navigate your way to getting settled and established?

I admit that life for me was rough starting out but I immediately grabbed hold of seeking God and prayer and before I knew it God was making a way and opening doors. I had to humble myself and I took the first job I was offered. Today I am so grateful for where God has brought me from.

That's awesome man. What do you do now, and what would you say your purpose and passion is? What mark do you hope to make in life.

I pray and I study the word. I seek the Holy Spirit's guidance for everything that I do. I believe that my purpose in life is to show others that it really doesn’t matter where you have been and what you have done, God has set in place a way out of every situation. It is called His Grace.

Yes sir! And to that young kat running the streets and all, what would you say him without sounding like you are preaching.

To that kat running the streets, I would let him know that what he is learning out there is nonsense. The streets lead to one of two places. Jail or death. It’s that simple. It took me close to 30 years to understand and receive that. And the only way out of that life is God and his grace.

What about the person who thinks committing his life to God is denying him some fun in life, or pleasure at living?

To that person I would say that perspective is everything. It all depends on how we see things. When I was getting high, partying, hustling or whatever. It was fun for the most part. But I was killing myself. I was hurting my family, and I was able to eventually see that it wasn’t fun. Giving my life to God was the smartest decision I ever made and I am still enjoying my life. I have been given a new life and that new life is available to everyone. Just believe and receive it.

Hallelujah! That is the gospel message of a new life in Christ.
You’re happily married. Can you tell us about your beautiful family?

My wife and daughter are the reasons I am here today. God graced me with them to help me when I couldn’t help myself. They have stood by me through this transition and I praise God for them. I have found strength in the love they have for me and it has helped me to stay strong through all that I have been through. They have been a blessing.

Thank you Sir for the opportunity to share this. God bless you!

(Okay folks. Please go to Amazon and get a copy of his book. The holidays is around the corner. Please get it as a gift, especially to someone that needs to be inspired and encouraged by Dwain’s story)

Connect with Dwain on Social Media: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter

Conversation with a modern day Dr. Strange

In this edition of Conversations, I decided to interview a friend of mine who just happens to be more like Dr. Strange from the Marvel Universe. This conversation is me as a Christian looking into his world, and him talking about his journey.

I know the title sounds fantastical, but hey we are in a sensational world. So how would you describe yourself?

I am a teacher, artist, martial artist, minister, mystic, father and grandfather. I am a person who has spent the majority of my life seeking something greater; something greater within myself to allow me to be a more effective as a teacher, artist, martial artist, mystic, father and grandfather and leader.

I have a personal relationship with you so I know the answer to some of the questions I’m going to ask. What would you say your religious views are?

My religious path/spiritual path is New Thought, specifically Religious Science aka The Science of Mind and Spirit. I was a fundamentalist Baptist for many years before leaving it.

I noticed your title as “Rev Dr”. Can you explain that please?

When I was in the process of leaving Christianity, I went to a school and seminary to study Interfaith and Holistic theology and after several years received my first (of 4) doctoral degree and then ordained several different times. Currently awaiting my ordination panel within Centers for Spiritual Living which is the New Thought organization I serve as a Senior Minister in MD.

4 Doctoral degrees? Wow. You worked hard on those, so it is worth celebrating. Do you mind sharing what they are in, how long did it take to acquire?

The full list is:  Associates in Illustration/Graphic design, Associates in Interpreting (ASL), BA in art education, BScD in Metaphysical theology, MFA in Theatre pedagogy, MScD in Metaphysical theology, and Doctor of Divinity in Christian Theology/ MScD in Metaphysical Theology/ PhD in Life Coaching/ and PhD in Holistic Theology took about 20 years? Give or take…

Wow. I'm doing one PhD degree and it is requiring a lot out of me.
So you were a Christian of the Baptist denomination, what made you unsubscribe to that theology?

I was a Fundamentalist Baptist/Evangelical Christian from around 1974 to 2000. After moving to Richmond VA with the person I was supposed to be marrying, I started to attend the MCC church there. My views of Christianity, which had been waning for years, really started a major deconstruction. Attending a “Gay” church and having a few friends in Richmond say things to their kids like, “We love Mr. Ray but his being Gay is a sin and so we don’t accept or condone that part of him,” made me return to the seeking I had done back in the late 80s and 90s. I read stuff about Christian Mysticism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, Transcendentalism, etc. and eventually circled back to New Thought. I decided to dive in and read as much as I could and after moving to DC in 2003, started to attend a Unity church and then the Centers for Spiritual Learning (CSL) in Falls Church VA and after that started an active path to ministry within that organization. So the major things that ushered in my exodus from Christianity was the anti-gay rhetoric and the dogma that was taught in a way that was counter to the love of Jesus. It was not in alignment with who I wanted to be. Funny thing is that New Thought is considered a Christian teaching. It is a metaphysical approach deeply rooted in Christian mysticism. My path also has some other influences per the founder’s studies.

CSL is considered Christian teaching? Good to know. 
If your sexuality hadn’t been an issue Christianity, would you have stayed or still left?

Probably not, there were other things like rampant hypocrisy of ministers, a dogma that was not empowering and was more condemnation of people (not just LGBTQ, if you don’t tithe enough, you don’t volunteer enough, if you wear clothes like this or that, if you listen to anything that is not Christian music and only certain artists, etc.) Also turned off by my having been kicked out of many Bible study classes (sometimes physically escorted out of the church) for asking questions the teacher did not want to answer, could not answer, or just didn’t like.

That sounds like it would have been a traumatic experience. It is unfortunate you had to go through that.
To a layman, how would you describe your spiritual views?

God, not as a person or a being but as all that is, is all there is. And because it is all there is, it is what we are. Which means we are made not just in the image and likeness but made by, of, with and as the very stuff that God is. Voltaire said, “God is a circle whose circumference is no where and whose center is everywhere.” So the center of God is right were each of us is, always. I also tell people to think of a chocolate cake. If you take a slice out of the cake, is that slice all of the chocolate cake? No, but is all of that slice chocolate cake? Yes!

Is there any “benefit” to subscribing to your belief system as opposed to just walking down to the next church down the street around the corner?

The belief system I practice is an applicable practice that builds up the individual to awaken to their divine power and magnificence. It is not about fearing a devil or a God who judges because of sin. It is, if anything, about taking the passage where Yeshua said, I have done these miracles and so can you and even greater.” It is about developing the mind in such a way that we know the truth and are set free by it. So is there a benefit? Yes. Radical inclusion and acceptance where you are welcomed and celebrated for who and what you are as a divine individualized expression of Spirit! You will not hear a sermon or message about being born in sin and deserving to die or burning for all eternity in lakes of fire.

Not being accepted or validated for existing is the one thing people despise about fundamental religion. 
Yeshua. Hmm, who is Yeshua to you? A wise man, a prophet, more?

Yeshua, enlightened master teacher who walked the path and pointed the way for others to walk it as well.

I jokingly refer to you as Dr Strange, but do you see any parallels with him?

I love several superheroes as archetypes that have influenced my life. Dr. Strange is one of them. Parallels would be pain, fear, suffering, that led him to seeking out the Ancient One and then reading books and practicing in order to learn and develop his abilities. In many ways it was my pain, fear, suffering, that lead me to a different path and the books that I read that gave me greater insights and awareness to live and thrive whereas I once only survived.

In the Marvel Universe, he is the sorcerer supreme, who casts spells and incantations. How does that fit into your views and beliefs?

As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is… in the path I practice, we know that thought precedes action so thinking and being excellent stewards of our thinking and feeling is greatly encouraged. And add to this, you have the power of life and death in your tongue… and we also believe that our words have power. So add it all together, how I think, feel, speak, and act combine to create and manifest an experience in my life. I create that experience and if I want a different experience then I must change the thoughts, words, feelings, and deeds.

When you break it down like that, it does seem like individual perception of things. What do you think about the concept of evil? Like some individuals such as child rapists or sadists and serial killers who seem to be inherently “bad”. How do you explain such?

Humans have free will. Some are born with certain traits just like some are born with blue or brown eyes, that make them prone to certain behaviors, the pyromaniac has a love of fire that may be nature or may be part of nurture, either way there are other factors that support them in their choosing to harm others. I don’t refer to people as good or bad since that is a value judgement. Some express life in more or less healthy ways. Serial killers due to various factors choose the less healthy. Having watched several documentaries about the making of a serial killer, it is clear that certain environmental things pushed them into those heinous crimes. If there were more support in schools, churches, homes, communities, etc. much of that behavior could me healed before it even devolved.

As a doctoral student in forensic psychology, I know that the nature/nurture debate of the school of psychology regarding deviant behaviors is almost age old. lol.
Some eastern cultures endorse astral projection and transcendental mediation that enables feats akin to ESP (Extra Sensory Perception). Would you say all these are in the vein of your spiritual view?

They are not things we teach or promote but if a person chose to do so on their own, there is nothing that “forbids” or cautions against it. The idea is each person has free will to practice and study as they see fit. Some love The Course in Miracles teachings and find it in alignment with New Thought and some do not. Some read the Bible in a metaphysical manner and some do not. Some do chakra work and Reiki and some do not. In this way New Thought is rather eclectic. In some ways it is life being a chef. There are certain standards to what it means to be an Iron Chef for example but the Iron Chef themselves may focus on certain cuisine in their own restaurants and lives. Some are Italian food chefs, some Thai, others Mediterranean and others Indian, … each using different spices and ingredients but still following certain standards of practice per se.

Have you indulged in any of these feats? If yes, what was it like?

Years ago I practiced lucid dreaming, several meditation techniques, mudras, mantras, etc. and have episodes of clairvoyance, telepathy, clairaudience,  .. it was exhilarating and scary because of the circumstances of my life at the time.

In retrospect, how has your life and well-being been enhanced by your beliefs and practices?

I no longer suffer as I once did. I am very comfortable being who I am and living as I live. I used to live in fear all the time! Fear of being outed, fear of failing, fear of losing family members, fear  of rejection, abandonment, and of death. I am happier now than I ever thought possible. I am doing what I love. Not to the degree that I want but it is growing. I was in many ways one of the Walking Dead… I was people pleasing, codependent, porn addicted, closeted, self-hating, self-loathing, a suicidally reckless person and that person died several years ago. For the first time in my 54 years I love myself, engage in radical self-care, am healthy and well mentally, spiritually, relationally, financially, emotionally, and physically. Even amid the grief of my mothers recent passing and my family’s betrayal and the distance with some of my sons. Even amid all of that, which years ago would have tormented me, I am well, thriving, and alive!

My condolences to your mother's passing.
That’s a laundry list of issues you have overcome brother. We both know of people who have gone through such, and ended up self-loathing and committing suicide. What would you say to someone who may be going through some of what you went through, and is at the brink of attempting suicide?

Give yourself the opportunity to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Often we are sitting in the dark and see no way out, but when we give ourselves the possibility of there maybe being help, or a way that is better, the first step is made. Then seek support systems, like the alcoholic has AA, seek someone who is there to help. A trusted friend, therapist, minister, … someone who can listen without judgement and is willing and able to help find the necessary answers to what caused the depression and suicidal ideations and or attempts. Basically, it is giving yourself the opportunity when you feel hopeless to be willing to have someone reintroduce hope into our lives. And then the real work begins because then it is about structuring our lives in ways that offer continual support, self-care, self-love, self-awareness, and the audacity to Thrive!

Thank you for those words of encouragement.
What exactly is a daily practice for you that help to enhance your well-being?

Each day I do something for each of those areas I mentioned previously: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, Relational.
When I wake up I journal my dreams and later meditation on what my subconscious was offering me. I meditate and read first thing in the morning. I do martial arts and workout. I pray throughout the day. I chat with close friends and family, Tracy (my sister of choice) and I chat over dinner. Each week I spend time with my oldest son, daughter in law, and three grandkids. I do some creative things daily, like draw or digital sketches. I write and am working on my third book. Later in the day I meditate again, I do Reiki before bed. I walk and or ride my bike. Spend time in nature. Watch movies and metaphysically analyze them for the spiritual lessons. I eat and drink higher vibrational stuff as often as possible. I used to indulge in lots of comfort eating and sugar and fat and went up to 300+ lbs as a result. That is all under control now and I make more effective choices without needing to eat my emotions. I spend time in contemplation.

Speaking of books, you have published a couple:

 
Available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Do you actively proselytize? And what would you say to people who believe that you should keep your beliefs to yourself and not attempt to influence them?

No I do not. Each person has their own path. If people want to know I will answer questions and share.

What’s your belief about life after death? Heaven, hell, God, the devil and all that?

God cannot die so we cannot die. We change form. “What the caterpillar calls death, the butterfly calls life.” Heaven nor hell are places but rather are states of consciousness, many who are very alive are in hell. God is all there is and there can be nothing other than or counter to it so there is no devil. Metaphysically the devil is the choice to belief what is not true about ourselves and our divinity. It is any lie that convinces us we are separate from Spirit and anything / anyone else.

Some people say religion is the scourge of the earth. That it has brought more discrimination, wars, deaths and pains than anything else. What would you say to that?

Fundamental Religion based in Colonization has done just that. The essence of what religion is and is supposed to be is about freedom not enslavement. Any religion that separates, casts down, victimizes, traumatizes, abuses power, is a religion led and promoted by men who desire to be and stay in power.

We just experienced a pandemic, and a lot of people were rattled to their core. How would you align that with your spiritual views?

How would I align what with that? Them being rattled to the core? People feel what they feel and what they feel is valid. If you feel fear, anger, sadness, etc. all are valid feelings. The key thing is, what are you choosing to do while feeling it. If a snake bites you, you can kill the snake knowing it cannot bit you or anyone else again, however they most important thing is, what do you do with the poison in your body now? How are you navigating the sadness, anger, fear? Remaining a prisoner to it is not healthy. How do you take care of yourself even while feeling all that you feel to your core? New Thought is about putting into daily practice those things that elevate consciousness and the quality of living for the individual and the collective. New Thought as a liberation theology is the answer to all forms of oppression.

What impact do you hope to make on the earth, and what would you like people to remember you as/by?

Impact has already been made in the lives of the thousands of students I have taught since 1983. The countless people in audiences when I performed. The young men that became my sons and the influence they have in the world. The people I have prayed and meditated with. Those who have watched videos on my YouTube channel of my Sunday messages, prayers, meditations, etc. The marriages I officiated. The Deaf people I interpreted for. The communities where I was guest minister and where I now serve as Senior Minister. The people who bought my artwork and hang it in their homes and offices.
I want to be known for and remembered as a man who is fun, funny, loving, compassionate, caring, empathic, wise, thoughtful and though-provoking. A man who walks the walk and has made the world a better place.

You mentioned your YouTube channel. I'll take the liberty of posting your social media info on here:

Website, Instagram 1, Instagram 2, Twitter, YouTube, Blog

CSL Website, CSL Instagram

Any last words to our readers?

Namaste and blessings! Thank you for reading! 😊

Conversation with Pastor Daniel Osagie Erhabor

This edition of Conversations is with a pastor and author. I remember attending a program of his, and he was so forthcoming with practical information on some basic truths, I knew I had to interview him. And fortunately he agreed to it.

It is great to have this conversation with you. Can you please introduce yourself to the readers?

I am Pastor Daniel Osagie Erhabor, Pastor of Love Foundation Christian Center.

You are currently a pastor. What ministry do you pastor, and how long have you pastored it? 

Our ministry is called Love Foundation International. The local church [located in Lanham, Maryland] is called Love Foundation Christian Center. We have a few branches around the
world; but, I have been pastoring this particular ministry since 1991. That is almost 30 years. However, I have been pastoring before that - I started pastoring when I was barely 18.  

(Love Foundation Christian Center is also on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube )       

Wow! You started pretty early I see. Did you always know you wanted to be a pastor? And how did you come to know this? 

Well, I didn’t always know I was going to be a pastor. I got born again around the age of 13, was filled with the Holy Spirit at 14, and a few years later, at 16, I started pastoring. And because of my mom’s record of how I was born, I knew I had a divine purpose but I didn’t know what it was. That was when I began to understand that I had a purpose to minister. I didn’t think pastoring was primarily what I was going to do, but eventually I saw myself being called into that ministry and I have been pastoring ever since. 

You have a beautiful church. How was it starting your church?

Well that is interesting, because I have had to start various congregations, probably up to 5 at different times. This particular one that I am pastoring now started after my wife and I relocated here to the U.S. But, we started the ministry in Africa in 1991. That ministry was started by myself and a couple of friends. I had graduated from the university and I knew I was called to pastor at that time so I started a church. Before then, I had pastored under other ministries; planted other churches and campus fellowships. So that became my primary call--starting ministries, starting churches. So, even though I am pastoring here in the U.S., I have also been involved with starting and planting other churches in other countries that are pastored by other pastors. 

What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Well, there are always many challenges with starting a church. One is to make sure you are in the right place at the right time. That requires spending time to pray and to listen to the Holy Spirit. That’s how you overcome that challenge. The second thing is to make sure you are able to reach and gather people to hear God’s Word. And, one way you overcome that is to be consistent in evangelism and soul winning and discipleship. And then of course there are challenges of finances, making sure you have enough resources to build the church; and that you will also overcome by believing God and practicing the principle of sowing and reaping. Now, these are some of the major challenges that every pastor faces; and we have had to face the same and we have overcome them. And we are still overcoming the ones we face now by the Word of God and listening and following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

What would you say your vision is, and what influence are you hoping to make in the marketplace?

The vision of this ministry, which is also a projection of my vision, is to reach out to every people group--all nations--with the gospel of the love of God, as revealed in Christ Jesus; and build up disciples that are mature, that are like Jesus Christ. We believe that there are a lot of pastors, teachers, and preachers out there; but, not so many of them are bringing Christians to Christ-like maturity. So, one of the areas we are focused on is not only to reach out, but also to reach out to as many people as possible--all over the world; and once they have been reached, to bring them up to maturity by teaching, by preaching, and by discipling them until they become an exact measure of Jesus Christ. So, we have two parts to the vision: reaching out to new people and growing those who have already been reached out to until they become mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

When did you know you had a message of great value, and that you had to publish it?

Right from the start, one of the things that began this ministry was a vision I had where I saw a great wild wind of fire, coming from the heavens and touching the earth. And, from there it began to spring out with touches of light all over the world. And, I think that was one of the things that started the vision for me to start a ministry to reach the world internationally. And after that vision, I have never been the same again. My desire has been to reach out to every nation, every city, and to bring the light, which is the light of God’s Word to people. So, that is where the vision started and that is what I have been doing ever since the beginning of this ministry. 

I remember attending your church conference and hearing you speak. You mentioned how faith has to speak: it has to speak to the mountains. Yet, it seems we are constantly asking God to move mountains instead. Please speak on this.

Whew, that is a whole message--like 3 hours; but, I am just going to make it short. [Laughs out loud] Now, this is unfortunately the trend that even many, even faith teachers or people who prefer to teach on faith, seem to go in. They tend to tell the believer to beg God in prayer, to move mountains, to heal the sick, to change situations. Even though this looks good; this is not what the New Testament teaches about faith.  Again, it is understandable to see that in the Old Testament, they did not have power over sickness, over disease, and all those things. But, in the New Covenant, every born again Christian has power to move mountains, power to cast out devils, power to heal the sick. And, we ought not to be asking God to do what God has empowered us to do. Believers are not beggars; and beggars are not believers.

You said a whole mouthful right there to digest on, Pastor.

Each year we wait on the Lord to know what direction we should go as a church. God usually gives us specific instructions on what our themes will be for that year. So, for different years, we have had different themes. This year, for example, God said to us it is a year to shine, as light. Our theme is taken from Isaiah 60; where, from verse 1, the Scripture says, ‘Arise, Shine, for your light has come. The glory of the Lord is risen upon you.’ Then in verse 2, He said, ‘Darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people. But, the glory of the Lord will rise upon you.’ So, what we have been endeavoring to teach, actually from the end of last year, is that it is time for Christians to arise and shine in darkness; that we have power over darkness; and that darkness includes ignorance of the Word, sickness, disease, and poverty. And, that the truth, which is the light of God’s Word, can trump darkness and overcome darkness every time. 

You recently published a book (The Identity of the Believer). How did you come about publishing this book?

(Available on Amazon. Click on title to access).

My new book, “The Identity of the Believer,” is one of the first materials God put in my heart to write--probably about 20 years ago. I have been meaning to write it, but never got the time to focus on writing enough to write that. I have written a couple of other books before, but I have been wanting to write “The Identity of the Believer.” So, yes, last year, I began to work again on that book after my wife, Pastor Bridget, had given me a lot of push to start writing again. And, I eventually yielded after she released her own book. I was like, ‘Wow, I need to catch up.’ So, I started writing again. And, I believe the book was inspired to show people exactly who we are in Christ. Of course, you cannot exhaust that teaching but it at least gives us a pointer to who we are in Christ Jesus. It was published by TBN, the Trinity Broadcasting Network. They did a good work in helping to edit and to publish it on their site and market it on their network. So, I believe that people are being blessed by that material; and all the glory be to God

There are multiple authors publishing books. Would you please enlighten our readers to why this book would be a life changing read and affect how they operate their faith?

There are many books that have been written about the authority of the believer; but, not many I have seen, have been written about the identity of the believer. However, your authority is dependent on your identity. So, many Christians do not understand who they are and they are not able to operate in their authority. There are also many teachings that seem to undermine the identity of the believer. But, as we understand what the New Testament says a believer is, it takes us to a new level of operation. Which means, we begin to see ourselves different from what most people see themselves as out there. So, the focus of this book is to bring light to who we are in Christ and to what the New Testament teaches as our identity. I think one of the very major things that Adam lost in the garden, in Genesis, Chapter 3, was his identity. And that is why his authority also followed. So, this is supposed to restore people's understanding of the identity of a Christian, and I think it is an exciting topic.

Hmm. Understanding your authority is hinged on understanding your identity as a Christian. Interesting! Sometimes, even though we know how God is a miracle working God, we develop temporary amnesia, or we allow circumstances to dampen our memory of what God has done. Would you mind sharing a definitive moment of God’s intervention in your life that helped define your faith? 

Well, my faith has grown from faith to faith, like the Bible says--from grace to grace. I would not say that there were certain, definitive moments where my faith grew because the Bible tells us in the book of Romans, Chapter 10, verse 17 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So, experiences really don’t develop faith. What develops faith is the Word. So, what I have done, after I got born again, is to give myself a commitment to study the Word. I read the Bible everyday. I try to ask the Holy Spirit to teach me and my understanding is increasing everyday. If there is any definitive moment that has changed my faith is the day I got filled with the Holy Spirit.  Before then, my understanding of Scripture was not very clear, and things were mystified for me when I read the Scripture. But, after I got filled with the Holy Spirit, I discovered I had a teacher inside of me and when I have a question, I just ask the Holy Spirit. When I am slipping away, like you said, and I forget, the Holy Spirit reminds me. I also pray in tongues everyday; that’s one of the things I do to help stimulate my faith. So, praying in the spirit and studying the Word are the two most important things that have help build my faith and remind me of what the Word of God says about faith

With this pandemic that has happened, it has affected a lot of ministries. How did your church adapt to the change? What new frontiers of influence did you navigate into? 

I think that is a good question. Of course, the pandemic is not news to anybody living on this planet at this time, and many churches have been affected. We have been affected; but, I must say that it has become a positive influence for us. Since the pandemic started, just like most churches, we are forced to depend almost completely on the media to reach out. So, we have become more inspired in our media ministry. We are seeing the greater potential in reaching a global audience through media. For example, for one of the programs we had, our Communion Service, we have had over 100,000 views. So, it is interesting to see that we are able to reach beyond our local community much more effectively because we have a little more focus on being effective using our media.  Now, we do still believe that it is most important for people to come together like Jesus commanded, and that we should not neglect the assembly [of ourselves]. But, I think one of the things it will do for us, even going forward after the whole thing is cleared up, is that we will be more effective in our media outreach. 

For people who are philanthropic to support, are there any projects your church is involved in that they can support? And how do they support? 

Thank you for that question. Yes, we are a church that has a global vision and actually we are already beginning to make a global impact. Here in the United States, even though the pandemic is out there, people are worried about how the crisis will affect the recession. Not for us; we are taking steps forward. We are actually in the process of purchasing a property--a large expanse of land for which we are intending to build a permanent site; and we will have places where we can better serve our community, like a school to teach children to grow up in the fear of God; a pantry; and above all, a place where we can teach the unadulterated gospel and build disciples for the Kingdom. But, all around the world, we have other projects that we are helping to sponsor from here. We have a program in Europe where we are helping people who are transiting.  We have what we call the Love Foundation purse that we use to support them. There are no good churches in many of these places; and, they are actually suffering spiritually. So what we are doing is planting churches in almost every country in Europe. We try to plant at least one a year. And that is a major project, especially a spiritual project.
We also have a project going on in Africa, where we have a thriving church; and of course one of the needs of African countries is finances to help build things like orphanages and help people who are in financial challenge. The church is doing a lot of that. We have a building project going on in Africa as well. We have purchased the land; the building is already in the roofing phase so that we can accommodate the church, the ministry, and the schools we expect to function and reach throughout the entire continent. We are also supporting other countries, like in India, we have some outreaches there. So, there is a lot going on in this ministry at this time. And the louder question you asked: ‘How can you help?’ You can go to our website, LoveFoundation.org; there is a partnership page there where you can give. Or you can come into the office; or can give by mail as well. The most common way to give, of course, is using electronic media. So, go to the website and become a partner. You can give weekly, quarterly, daily, monthly, whatever you are led to sow; we are more than happy to receive it for the work of the Kingdom. 

(Click on "Become a Love Foundation Partner")

I met your beautiful wife when I visited. Can you tell us more about her, and any passion projects she may be involved in 

Well, my wife, Pastor Bridget Erhabor, is a beautiful wife, like you said. We have been married nearly 26 years. As a minister also, she has grown up to be a co-pastor with me and we travel together for most of our mission trips. Right now, one of the things I know she is really engaged with is her writing. She wrote a new book as well, just before mine was released, called “True Love”  (click on the title to access book on Amazon) and she started some outreaches in the media where she is addressing some of the topics she wrote about in the book. One of the major areas she addresses is marriages: where marriages are failing and walking in love--both in marriages and in relationships outside marriages. She is also writing additional books and she is focused on getting the message of this ministry-- which has to do with love, especially in the area of relationships-- out to the rest of the world.
Many people don’t really know it, but we have 8 children; and, none are adopted--all, naturally born. But, we thank God for that, of course. We have a lovely family, and everybody is busy with the church. Basically, they are like co-laborers with my wife and I. We need all hands on deck to do what we are doing; so, we have people working with our media, sound system, building committee; and all our children are very, very, very committed to the work that we are doing here. Again, they are growing up to be independent adults as well. So, as they grow, we know they may decide to branch into other areas of the ministry. But right now, their main focus is to help my wife and I to do what God has called us to do in this ministry. 

I don’t like putting people on the spot to make predictions about the future, so I won’t do that. However, as a Man of God and a leader, what do you perceive our new normal will be post-pandemic? 

Well, just like the scripture says. There is nothing that is happening now that is new; if you  read the Scriptures, you are reading tomorrow’s news. You don’t need a prophet to prophecy or a seer to see. You just need to read the Bible. One of the things the Bible says will happen in the last days is a pandemic. He said, ‘...there will be pestilence…’ and that is another word for sickness and disease that is widespread. So, I wasn’t surprised; unfortunately, many people were. The Bible also tells us some other things that will happen--that, as the world is getting darker--people are turning away from Christ, the church is going to be getting brighter. So, if you ask what will happen, I will tell you: the world is going to get worse. People are going to come against the church, and they are going to feel that the church is too religious and too fanatic. But, in the body of Christ, there is going to be a revival. The anointing of God is going to come upon the church, bigger and more powerful than ever before because we are in the last days; and God said He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. And, we need the power to conclude the work of God in these days. That’s what the Bible says; and that is what I am expecting according to the Word of God.

People have experienced major losses and are in the process of picking up the pieces and figuring their lives out. What words of encouragement do you have for our readers in this time of recovery? 

Well, the Word of God is usually our encouragement. The Bible tells us that God is our source; God is our provider; God is our protection; and, no matter where we might find ourselves, if we will put God as number one, the Bible says everything we need will be added to us. He will protect us; He will provide for us. So, my first advice would be to serve  God as number one--even if you’ve lost a job, you’ve lost a loved one, or things are looking bleak. God is able to bring everyone that trusts in Him out of every negative situation and actually make it better. Set your faith right. Be in church. Sow your seed, which is part of faith. And do what God says, and you will come out much better than when you got in. That’s what I would say. 

Well, thank you for having a conversation with us. And we celebrate you and your family.

Thank you for the opportunity and privilege.