Former Protestant Pastor Baptized into Iglesia Ni Cristo

FULL TRANSCRIPT 

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Brother Sean Adam: Though religious disaffiliation continues in the US, the opposite is happening in the Church Of Christ. More are joining the true faith in places like Orange County, California. Richie Ferreira gives us the details.

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FORMER PASTOR FINDS THE TRUTH

Richie Ferreira: Religion has always been a part of Obie’s life, even from the very beginning. 

Obareze Oparah:  “Obareze” means “the blood of Jesus.” 

Richie Ferreira: But I noticed everyone calls you affectionately by Brother Obie. 

Obareze Oparah: Obie, yeah. When you are in America, of course, you have to get a simple name. 

Richie Ferreira: He tells me that when he was young, his family life always revolved around worship, devotion, and service inside the Catholic Church.  

Obareze Oparah: My father was a catechist. Every morning, six o’clock [we would attend] Mass. We all grew up in that kind of environment. 

Richie Ferreira: Eventually, Obie met his wife, Blessing and broke away from Catholicism.

Obareze Oparah: My wife was instrumental to my living in the Catholic Church. Actually, I met her in a higher institution where I was posted to go and lecture or teach. I had to follow her to the Pentecostal Church where she was worshiping. 

Richie Ferreira: Obie’s interest in the Pentecostal Church developed, and he became a pastor. 

Obareze Oparah: I was like assisting the big pastor. I’ve been preaching for decades. I’ve been on the pulpit, I’ve been on the street. I’ve been on [the street] corners telling people, Jesus is God. I like serving God, and I liked doing the work of God.

Richie Ferreira: Wanting to pursue higher education, Obie and his family moved from Nigeria to the United States. And it was there he would be introduced to something that would change the course of his life.

Obareze Oparah: My wife worked in a facility next to, coincidentally, next to the facility where a member of this Church was working, too. So she just walked in there too, “How are you people doing here? And that’s how Brother Glenn invited her. “Oh, we are having a Bible study.” “Can you come in?” 

Glenn Bagro: During that time, we [were having a] Household Evangelical Mission in my place. And I asked my Sister Blessing if she’s available. When she saw that on TV that the program is the [Care for Humanity] link up in Africa, she approached me. “Hey, Brother Glenn, can I call my husband? He is a pastor in our church.”

Obareze Oparah: I was in the van waiting for her. So she just ran out. “Oh, they’re doing Bible study. Do you want to join?” “Come and join. They seem to be nice people.”  So I came and we joined for that day. I asked so many questions. The ministers here, they are well-trained. So I became curious. So the next week, I told my wife, I want to go back there and ask them more questions. I asked them so many difficult questions, but I’m happy they were able to clear some of the doubts. But I still have to learn more.

Richie Ferreira: He quickly realized that the Church Of Christ was truly different.

Obareze Oparah: I realized that the main break away, or difference between most other denominational religions and the Church Of Christ is the issue of Jesus Christ being God. The issue of Trinity–God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit is a hard pill to swallow. Yeah, bitter pill to swallow. He is Jesus Christ. He is not God. And I saw a couple verses in the Bible that really described Him as Son of God and not God. So I say, “Yeah, I want to know more about this Church.”

Richie Ferreira: Over time, Obie learned more and more about the truth and accepted it.

Obareze Oparah: It wasn’t easy in the first place. But as I continued coming and hearing the word, it began to sink. 

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BAPTISM IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Richie Ferreira: After embracing and believing in the teachings he had learned. Obie, together with others, arrived on the day of their baptism. The baptism was held in the local congregation of Montclair, Ecclesiastical District of Orange County, California, and was officiated by Supervising Minister Brother Hanzl De Dios. Obie shared with me how he felt after his baptism. 

Obareze Oparah: Spiritually more energized. That excitement, whatever you want to call it, was there. 

Brother Hanzl De Dios: For a person to be converted to another religion more so a person who preaches in his former religion is something that is truly special. It shows that our Almighty God does not discriminate against anyone. We could learn also as members of the Church Of Christ that we should not be intimidated in sharing our faith, even to those people who are preachers.

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BAPTISM IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Richie Ferreira: Now inside the Church Of Christ. Obie, along with others, continues to grow in faith and service to God.

Obareze Oparah: Age is not a factor when it comes to doing the work of God. That doesn’t mean that I cannot share my faith or I cannot tell people about Jesus Christ. That has been part of me. More prayers, more prayers. Prayer can move mountains. Prayer changes things. 

Richie Ferreira: Richie Ferreira for Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.

Brother Sean Adam: All praises be to God and congratulations to those newly baptized. We want to know what’s your inspiring story of faith. How did you come to learn about the Church Of Christ? Tell us in the comments. Well, that does it for this episode of INC News World. Tune in every weekend for new episodes of INC News World on INC TV and our YouTube channel. I’m Brother Sean Adam. Thank you for joining us. Stay safe and we’ll see you next time. God bless. 

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