It's Been 20 Years of God's Goodness

This year, Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, President of International Church Growth Ministries clocks two decades in the ministry. In this interview, conducted on the 15th July, 2008, he reflects on the journey so far and says, God has been good to him. Read the excerpts.

Can you give us some details about yourself?
I am Dr. Francis Bola Akin John. I was born in 1964 to a wealthy cocoa farmer in Ondo town in the present Ondo State of Nigeria . We are eighteen children in our family and I happened to be the thirteenth child. My mother was the fifth wife and the youngest among my father's wives. I lost my father when I was just six years old and that robbed me of fatherly care like good education, clothing, food etc. but I thank God for the kind of mother he gave me for she laboured and struggled to see that all of us become good children, this she did by denying herself so many good things of life that some of her mates were after.

Can you tell us in detail how you acquired the knowledge, wisdom and understanding with which you have become a blessing to so many people today?

I attribute all that I am today to the mercy of God. like I said, my father's death robbed me of quality education. I am not ashamed to tell the general public that the best education I received from the appreciated effort of my mother is just primary school certificate. When I came to Lagos after I gave my life to Christ and I discovered God's purpose for my life, I started training myself. Before this time, my brother had earlier enrolled me in a commercial school, where I learnt typing and shorthand. Later, I went to learn photography. It was in 1984 precisely that God told me to go and improve my education. I therefore registered for Exam Success Correspondence College , in which I passed all the six subjects registered. By 1986, I started attending The Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible School at Ebute Meta campus. I graduated in 1988 and became part time minister at the Holiness Assembly. I later attended Faith Christian Theological Seminary in 1989 where I obtained B. A in Theology. I furthered my Theological training at Triune Biblical University. I later went for my Master and Doctor of Philosophy at Faith Theological Seminary, Ota-Lagos. I had equally attended some courses on Church Growth Church Health and Church Consultancy in Europe . That has been the journey so far

Tell us about your conversion.
If there is anything I will ever be grateful to God for, it is the salvation of my soul from sin, Satan and the wicked power of this world. I came from a polygamous and idol worshiping family. I got converted in 1982, while I was living with my brother, a member of Deeper Life Bible Church . I followed him to a Bible Study programme on 18th of January, 1982. Pastor W F. Kumuyi was the preacher, and as he preached, the word of God hit me like thunderbolt and my life was so transformed that my sinner friends and neighbours were the ones testifying of my changed life.

How did you to discover and start Church Growth Ministries?
After my conversion, I had great appetite for the word of God. The Bible and other Christian literature books. One day, I went to the house of one Pastor Solomon where I found a pamphlet of David Yungi Cho on Church Growth. I read it and I was blessed. I later wrote to him to send me more, which he did. What I discovered in those journals took me to my knees in prayer. As I was praying one day, I heard the voice of God which clearly spoke to me "be ready, you are going to do Church Growth in Nigerian.

At that time, I did not really understand the message but I kept serving God. Later, I wanted to start Church Growth in my church then as part of church programme but I met so many obstacles from the leadership of the church. In July 1994, I was praying and heard the voice of God spoke to me 'what I told you about Church Growth go and start now. That was how it started.

What about your marriage?
I think one of the best things that God had done for me is that he gave me my "own wife". One of the interesting thing about my marriage is that God spoke to my wife first before he later spoke to me. I was in the company of pastors when one of them told me that God was leading a sister to me. I went to pray about it until I had conviction that the sister was meant for me. I got married to my wife, Rev. Mrs. Kemi Akin John on 1st December, 1990 and by the mercy of God we have three kids- Blessing, Festus and Faith.

What are those challenges that you met when you started the ministry?
Challenges are part of life. One who determined to do much for God must be ready to face challenges? At the initial stage of my ministry, I was faced with the challenge of "unbelievers" among Christian leaders, many of them did not believe in me. But today, many now believe.

Another challenge was financial challenge, problem of money. I had a very big vision but the provision was not there. But today, we give God the glory.

What does International Church Growth Ministries stands for?
Respondent: International Church Growth Ministries is an encompassing growth ministries. Our vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. We equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. We equally have the teaching arm of the ministry, the 'International Centre For Church Health' for pastors and church leaders.

It has been 20 years of ministry. How has it been?
Respondent: I never knew I would get to this stage. My initial plan was to do it for few years and Jesus would come. But as I realise that God wants to do great things through me, I step up my preparation - studying, learning and growing. I had to really work on myself and focus on the vision. And God has been there for me. I return all the glory to Him alone. It has been an interesting journey, full of ups and downs. The ministry started small but thank God for where it is today.

Why do you want to celebrate the 20 years in a unique way?
Respondent: First and foremost, I want to show gratitude to God for taking me thus far. Then I want to look back at lessons I've learnt and put them down in a book for others to learn from. Really, that's my unique way of celebrating it, not in eating and drinking but in providing information that others can learn from. I believe that is the best way for me to celebrate it. I call the book '101 Ministry Lessons'. I hope every young and senior minister will avail themselves of copies, because it is a gold mine of wisdom that have the capacity to console, counsel and comfort you in every situation in ministry.

Can you tell us your values?
Respondent: I value integrity, relationship, honesty, focus hardwork, commitment and knowledge, generosity, simplicity and growth.

What is your counsel to the upcoming generation of today's ministers?
Respondent: I counsel them to focus on God the author and finisher of our faith. I counsel them to maintain high discipline. For today's ministry requires a lot of discipline for success to emerge.

I counsel them to beware of associations that are nothing but contamination. I counsel them to keep learning. For today's learners are tomorrow's leaders. I counsel them to be patient with God, with themselves and others. May God bless them (Amen).