That Apostle Eugene Ogu, General Overseer- Abundant Life Evangel, Rumuorosi, Psychiatric Road, Port Harcourt is popular, is stating the obvious and an understatement. That today, you may not find any other G.O. whose fame, flourish and reach is as widespread as his is again begging it. His success story with its concomitant sublimity evolved quite a series of lessons.
However, none of us in joining to celebrate this unique man of God (M.O.G) have had to take a serious recourse into the circumstances of his beginning and what that humble circumstance was able to stir up in him. Today, he is a celebrated success consequent upon a chequered background that could as well have diminished any one’s aspirations. Apostle Ogu’s success story with its concomitant sublime nature is a study that evokes quite a series of lessons to be learnt and appreciated, lessons for the individual and for the ministry, and more.
To start with, Apostle Ogu’s meteoric rise as surprising as it is to not a few, would have been truncated early in life if he had not kept his eyes on the sparrow.
To many, the early death of either of the parents has always meant the extinguishing of some aspirations or all aspirations. The death of his loving mother early in life did not deter him from forging ahead. Many of us, with less daring hearts would have either capitulated or given up hope in life. But no, the man whose name is Egwuatu (fearless man/soul) remained undaunted and rather rose from that vagaries of life and trudged on.
To the individual, this is one lesson good enough to ponder upon.
Hawking palm oil at a point in time in the Cameron and coming back to Nigeria to become an apprentice in a carpentry business were all stoppages, twists and turns in the rigorious binds and bends of a torturous life that prepared this amiable man of God for meeting with minds and souls of various orientation. But I can tell you he has made a good job of being a shepherd like Joseph in the bible who after having his dream, was sold to traders and later put in prison before becoming a prime minister in Egypt. Sometimes in leadership, the obstacles and steep inclines one wades through to become what he/she wants to become determines the depth of success.
Great achievements never come on a platter of gold. I wonder today how many Nigerians would have the patience, endurance and steadfastness this diligent man of God has?
At times, I try to picture myself in his shoes as he once told me he stopped his education in Primary 4.
For me, if my education had been called off in primary four, definitely, I would have been a strong contestant in one artisan business or the other in my local government that is, where I was able to rise to that level. It wouldn’t have been easy.
It is good to be steadfast, diligent and focused. It is good to believe in yourself.
A lot of us today do not believe in ourselves. It is either we are looking at Mr. C or Mr. D that we feel is witch-hunting us. We don’t realize that it is the goal we set out for ourselves in life that we should pursue and face. Failure to set such a goal automatically means failure to attain any goal at all. Remember, Ogu was in school, stopped half way due to his mother’s death. Then he was in Cameroon, it turned out flagrant misadventure. Later, an apprentice in a carpentry workshop in Owerri, it was another ill-fated effort, yet, he knew he had a purpose in life, he knew life had an open handedness to all those who strive, as it is said in local parlance “If is does not go was will go”.
As individual, Apostle Ogu is a strong study in repose. Read him, analyze him and you will behold an enigma of sorts.
To the ministry and those who run ministries, Apostle Ogu and his ministry are not a mere chance occurrence or a sudden impact.
Both waded through the steepy inclines of difficulty to be where they are today.
Note however, that behind every success story there is always a diligent driver behind the wheel.
Not a few men of God are ready today to pay the price. No sooner than some of them finishes from pastoral school than are seen running to go and establish on their own. In everything one does, especially things that grow, there is always a gestation period. From this period one treads through experiences that prepares one for the ultimate challenge and calling. Apostle Ogu painstakingly passed through this.
According to an account, he moved from the Deeper Life Bible Church where the call first came to the Redeem Bible School where the Lord directed him to go and study His word. And from here he moved on to the CPM strictly and diligently through the unction of the Holy Spirit as he is a man never to joke with God’s guidance.
Finally, ALEM Abundant Life Evangelical Mission was born. Another pertinent lesson here is that one should not lean only on his or her own understanding in things of the Lord. I want to believe that if Apostle Ogu had relied in his own thinking as man possibly he would not have been where he is today. I also want to believe that when there is the hand of God in a thing, the rise and growth is usually phenomenal. That is the case with Apostle Ogu and his ministry as the lesson here lives primarily in making sure that those who claim to hear from God should make sure they listen well and hear well before venturing out. The reason is because God’s errands are never realized through paved lawns and roads; they are always through rough terrains and thorn-filled gullies.
The waves and the tides must confront you. Your faith must be tested and proven. For, God chooses those He knows are bent and broken as these have the uncanny maliable resilience required to run the race of life.
All these traits from steadfastness in things of the Lord to maintaining and running a growing ministry even at the face of adversity and not forgetting his humanitarian mien no doubt were imbued and moulded in character and personality known today as Apostle Ogu and for this reason not only has he become a case study for those aspiring to serve God and humanity but also a good lesson to be learnt.
Another angle that is worth learning and studying from this humble man of God is his humanitarian passion. Apostle Ogu definitely epitomizes that character that has drawn from society both hard lesions in suffering, rejection, pain and agony and lessons of acceptance, appeal and charisma.
From the foregoing Apostle Ogu had breathed the fundamental principles of live and let live so has known that all fingers are not equal hence his humanitarian foundation, Arm of Hope foundation which has given and is still giving leverage and life-sustainance to indigents, widows, refugees and orphans.
His humanitarian efforts have seen several Jos, Plateau victims, Boko Haram refugees, burnt churches, accident victims, etc properly assisted and repositioned for newly improved lives both in health, career and business.
To say he is kind is limiting the word. Apostle Eugene Egwuatu Ogu is the suffering man’s delight. He has demonstrated this time and time again. Imagine journeying to the troubled northern flash points of bombings and anarchy to see to the resuscitation and empowering of victims to begin life afresh. All these at the risk of his life. Many would not dare venture to such environments not to risk their lives. ###
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