Evangelist of Unconventional Kind

His ways appear unconventional. He is not in agreement with many of the present-day churches, just as he has fallen out with the orthodox churches where he was born into. But even in the face of these contradictions, he professes the Christian faith.

A power systems engineer by training, Mr. Enwelu Hananayah, prides himself as an independent evangelist doing the work of God in his own little way.

Self-effacing and very clear headed on where he is going, non-believers to his approach to the worship of God, often find his methods confounding. Director of Trumpet Sounding Ministries based in Minna, Niger State, Hananayah declares bluntly in a recent interview with THISLIFE that his ministry does not have members and does not seek any. Again, he says the ministry does not endorse any religion or church where people could worship.

A prolific writer and voracious reader, Enwelu churns out tracts based on the teachings of the Bible, which he distributes free to people to learn more about God.

In one of his numerous tracts for instance, he contends that it is wrong for some Christian sects to celebrate Christmas on December 25 every year. He said : "because Christ has emerged as the Saviour of the world after the fall of Adam, many Christians, especially those who claim they believe in him have reasoned that the birthday of Christ should be remembered, to help keep his coming into the world afresh... yearly. This is a very good idea! But is this celebration ancient or modern? What is the origin of Christmas celebration? Why is it that crime and loss of life are high in the during Christmas," Hananayah queries in one of his tracts. He contended that it was wrong for people to celebrate the birthday of Christ since they do not know his actual date of birth. According to him, since the issue of Christ is Biblical, believers must follow Biblical injunction. He backs his position with Deuteronomy 4: 1-4: "Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possessions of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

He said that God has completed his word in the Bible adding, that "Bible students also know that Christ was not born in Roman's December (God's tenth month in the year)".

Another grouse Hananayah has with the Churches is that Saturday should be the holy day of obligation and not Sunday. He also frowns at the attitude of worshippers on Sundays.

"People believe that the Bible is for the clergy". Attitudes of Church members are questionable. No righteousness! People dress indecently too. On some Sundays, the church's hall would be a place for fashion exhibition. Moral behaviuor is very low.

After these discoveries, l became convinced that something was wrong with the Roman Catholic Church and the leadership. Church members are religious really, but carnal nature is on the throne of their hearts. To be a Christian entails many things to many people. Whenever someone asks me if I am a Christian, l will ask for what he/or she means. This is because many Christians are both anti-Bible (they don't want deeper truth) and anti-God (they believe that Jesus Christ is always Father Christmas). The book of Revelation does not use the term Christianity to designate a true religion. Revelation employs remnant or saints to refer to those who are obeying God. Saints are those who obey God's Commandments, hold to the testimony of Jesus and are faithful to him", he said, quoting Rev. 12:17, 14:12.

"If your question regards the above, kindly include me. A believer is not one who loves choir practice and dancing. A believer is not one who is lawless and hypocrite. A believer in the Lord is any person whose heart is pure towards God and toward his neighbours. He obeys God's commands and lives by faith. To love is to obey and also serve", Hananayah stresseds.

Adding that as I study the Bible I always ask the Lord (Yahweh) for understanding. Now, my knowledge has exponentially been increased".

He advises Christians to rely on the Bible to unlock the inner secrets of knowing God truthfully. "My Bible became everything to me. Yes, God's Spirit is ever present. The more I read my bible, the more new truths are seen and discovered. I became very much interested. Indeed, the Bible is not simply a book. It is a package of treasure of good things from the Creator. It is the best book on earth. Look at your Bible, its messages have survived more than 3400 years, the longest surviving book on earth. I encourage every one to obtain a copy and read God's word the evangelist said.

Another area of the Bible he harps on is prophecy. Hananayah said that "The prophecy, which Paul was talking about, is not the so called babbling and the human imagination of the false prophets of today. Paul was talking about the prophecies God had already given in the Bible. There are five different kinds of Bible prophecies such as Local, Messianic Judaic, The day of the Lord and Apocalyptic. Apocalyptic prophecies are found only in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

"I feel sad to inform you that the entire Christendom does not know nor does it understand the content of these two books correctly. The two books outline in chronological order, the end-time plan of God from the days of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 605 BC through the establishment of the Kingdom of God soon. Again, the Book of Revelation reveals the endtime events in their order. Since many church/ Religious leaders of our generation do not know these things, I wonder what they know and what they are telling people.

"If Paul revealed this then, how much less now there are no apostles? Apostles were not the sources of truth, God is the source. Today, things are worse. Money is reigning. Truth has been battered. Still, what is truth remains truth any way. Neither church nor religion is the source of divine truth. Truth is there before it was discovered. It will remain truth whether it is discovered or not. There is no organisation that knows all the truth. Any organization, which claims that, is in darkness", the evangelist further stressed.

Asked about his unconventional methods of Christianity, he says that: "Yahweh Almighty, as he was called by the Hebrews of old changed my idea of approach to religion. For anything to be unconventional, there must be different things. This thing must be unique. The gospel I preach is not something that man or a group of Church leaders made up. It is ordained by God. This gospel is the power of God onto salvation of them who believe. When I was separated from Roman Catholic Church and others. I did not attend any Bible College. These are institutions of men. Men have varieties of views and changing opinions. When you please them, they will assure you of peace. When you displease them, they will declare war. Looking at all these, I asked 'whom will I follow?' Ten different men have ten thousand conflicting views. While everyone exalts his position, he will condemn others. I was in a dilemma. I remembered that my Bible was there. The Bible has the answers to all my questions without any conflict or doubt. I was assured. I was convinced...

He delves further into the reason for his methods: "Christianity today is not the Christianity of the apostles. Far from it! Our religious leaders are telling lies and deceiving their followers...and our nation. Their followers are even beating drums for them. Do they truly love God and one another? Do they administer true justice and care for the widows and the fatherless? No! Like priests like their followers...None is having the fear and love for God...

"My understanding of the Bible and its message is unconventional! You think it should!. I do not preach prosperity without repentance and fear of God, I do not ask people for money for the work of God, I do not ask for contribution and offering or donation. Tithing is even obsolete. Yes, Christ has abolished the levitical priesthood systems and tithing nailed to the cross. Tithing today and since after the cross is an issue of faith. Be led by the Spirit. If your faith is 5 per cent, offer it. If it is 10 per cent, 13per cent, 33 per cent, 55 per cent, remain there. It must be an issue of faith and not issue of love or law. Yes, tithing is not found in the Ten Commandments. Tithing belonged to the law of Moses. It has been nailed to the cross", he tells Thislife.

Hananiya says the Bible teaches that God's covenant is conditional and not otherwise. "I teach about righteousness through faith in Christ. Faith is going, being and doing what God asks or demands. Obey him and live or the other way, disobey and die. Are these not unconventional? Indeed, my message and my preaching were not with the wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, or in money but on God's power. My part is simply to sow seed and the Lord will reap the harvest. I am a pencil in the Lord's hand. In fact, Yahweh, the Lord God, Christ is responsible for my position", Hananayah maintains.

"Since after the fall of man, religions have been invented. They are seven namely, Atheism, Heathenism, Mysticism, Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, and Protestantism. These seven religious systems have defied correction. They have all gone astray. If you want to protect your church, tell me who will not do the same to his? Out of these religions of men, which is the right one? Who will accept a false religion? Why belong to a false religion? Contrary to peoples' views, Revelation 13:1 affirms that the entire seven religions are blasphemous meaning anti-God or anti-Christ. Do we really love God and our neighbours? People have believed or regarded their religion or Church as Gods irrespective of what it teaches. The Bible enjoins us to prove all things", he declares.