Pastor Francis Enyinna Ogbonna runs the Nigeria branch of the fast-rising Pentecostal Christian ministry, Church on The Rock International. Raised in the church from birth, the youthful former journalist received his call to ministry providing pastoral care to young generation believers. In a recent conversation with this news medium, Pastor Ogbonna revealed to us his journey from reporting news to winning lives for God, his views and hopes for the church and fellow men of God and, most importantly, his pursuit of gospel music, which he says is reaching for the heart of God and restoring lives via music. He has launched into the public consciousness with a novel soundtrack titled ‘Siriri Werere’. It is the latest talk-about gospel song. Enjoy…
Tell us about your journey from journalism to the Christian ministry; how did it materialize really?
What happened was that while I was faithfully serving at the pastoral level in my other church, ‘Church on the Rock International’, Brazil (which was started by my lead pastor, who happened to be my older brother) was looking to set up its first branch in Africa. Both my lead pastor and I were convinced about the need for me to be involved in that new project so I resigned from where I was to serve as the resident pastor of the first branch of COTRIL in Africa.
You are barely three years in the Christian ministry, when did you develop the idea of releasing a song album
Music has always been a part of me. I would say it is one of the many talents God gave me, but I didn’t reckon I had that gift until I got into the university and had the opportunity to sing in a choir. I realized as I was given the opportunity to lead or solo songs that people received me well. So, after school I tried my hands on writing songs and saw I could actually write songs that were appealing. So, I continued. Most of the songs should have been released years ago if I had my way, but let’s just say now the time aligns with God’s time and like the saying goes ‘God’s time is the best’.
Your debut track, is it purely gospel music or it has a bit of secularism?
It is gospel, but like one of my friends noted, it is not hard-core gospel. ‘Siriri Werere’ is the title and it’s a song everyone can relate to. If you have at one point or the other in your life experienced God’s goodness then you would not have problems understanding the message of the song. It is indeed a thanksgiving song. More so, it was rendered in pidgin English and also danceable.
As a young generation preacher, what would be your reaction to debates about the church preaching more of prosperity than salvation?
I like to use this analogy when answering questions like this. God is like a big elephant and pastors are like blind folded men asked to touch the elephant and from their touch describe who God is. The man who touches the tusk sees God like a longhorn, the one who touches the tail sees God like a long thin rope and the one who touches the belly sees it as a large drum etc. In actual sense they are all correct from their standpoints, but God is all of that and more. God is prosperity, He is salvation and holiness and righteousness and so on and so forth. It takes one who is willing to look at Him holistically to really reveal who God really is to His people.
Would you like to share with us the uniqueness of your ministry, and is it also affiliated to any popular Pentecostal church?
Church on the Rock International is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic and multi-faceted ministry. We have a mandate to build champions and, in the process, transform lives. At COTRIL, love is the base upon which everything is built. Here there are no stones in sight. Like our master, Jesus, everyone can come as they are, but of course we have an assurance from the Lord that they will never return home the same way they came.
What is your view about tithing and offering, is there a clear difference between the two?
Those who understand the theology of tithing know that tithing as a doctrine started in Genesis 14, long before the law of Moses was instituted. Even Jesus didn’t scrap it with his statement in Matthew 23:23. Some even claim the reason they kick against it is because it wasn’t practiced by people in the New Testament. But I would like to ask these same people, which one of them can today sell their lands and give to the church to feed the poor like the custom was back then? Anyway, like the Bible says; whatever we do “let every man be persuaded in his mind”(Romans 14:5-12).
Please, introduce yourself in full and tell us if your ministry is youth based only.
My name is Francis Enyinna Ogbonna, popularly known as ‘I am PF’. I am a Pastor, a singer and songwriter. The ministry caters for persons of every age, tribe and vocation.
What would you say is the role of music in church service because the popular belief is that music in the church is meant only to keep alive the worship spirit of the congregation?
Music is a vehicle, through which you convey both tangible and intangible matters. Through music you transport spirits, messages of wisdom, hope, faith, deliverance and knowledge. So, its effects transcend the four walls of the church. Music is for every season, place and person.
What is the title of your track?
The title of the song is ‘Siriri Werere’. It simply means ‘smoothly’.
What in your view are some of the best qualities a church leader should have, especially with a new generation ministry as yours?
Church leaders should be God-fearing, humble, empathetic and given to charity, studious, honest, visionary, accommodating and tolerant.
Leading a ministry is more about winning and restoring souls; if you had to choose one way of getting God’s messages stuck into your congregation, what would it be?
Jesus taught people using physical happenings and analogies people could relate to. So, using everyday stories and drawing parallels from daily experiences of people is the way to go.
As a journalist, how did you find yourself as an active pastor running a Ministry?
Ministry for me started long before I became a journalist. I became aware of my calling into the Christian Ministry while I was an undergraduate at the Imo State University, Owerri. Even as a practitioner, I was still involved in the Church at the pastoral level.
