He was a former police officer now preacher of the gospel. In this exclusive interview with JOY EMMANUEL, Apostle Newman Osuobeni speaks on his transition from the police force to becoming a preacher before he finally retired.
When and how did the call for ministry started?
I first started my ministry in Port Harcourt while serving in the police because I was still in the force when I received the call of God. When I received the call, within me, I perceived that God wanted me to do His work; so, l started praying in my house with my wife and children. That was in 2004. So, as God would have it, gradually the prayer band was growing until we finally left the prayer house at my house and went to an open place.
How were you able to cope with police duties and church work?
It was a big mystery with so many attacks in trying to cope. It was only the grace of God that enabled me. In Port Harcourt, there were so many attacks from the police and my colleagues. So a time came when the ministry started growing, a lot of jealousy and envies started coming from people and the police. They thought that by transferring me, the ministry would fall so they transferred me to Delta. I placed pastors at the ones I started in Port Harcourt before going to Delta. We have almost three branches in Port Harcourt plus the headquarters. So I started another one at Delta. Before establishing it, another petition came that instead of doing my police work, I was doing God’s work. So as a result of that, they transferred me again to Bayelsa. I came into Bayelsa in 2014. When I came there, I looked at myself and wondered how I would start again. So as God would have it, we got this present place. It was a small place before gradually it grew.
How were you able to gain the confidence of the society considering where you were coming from?
My police work was a big problem to me and it really affected the ministry. A policeman that is also running a ministry. How can you reconcile this? So it was a real problem. At that time, there were certain financial things I could not do because when you do as a pastor, they would tie it to ‘police method’, so it affected the ministry but grace was speaking. When God was using me for signs and wonders, it kept moving me and I was determined that I would retire in Bayelsa here whether transfer comes or not. Eventually, the battle became tense but God helped me. An Assistant Commissioner of Police happened to have a problem that was really affecting him. When he discovered that I am a pastor, we came in contact and God healed him so he backed me up and told me not to worry. He asked me how many years I had left and I said five. He said that I should not worry that I would spend that remaining five years here and he backed me up until I retired.
What is your mission statement? I mean what is your vision?
In the beginning, I found myself delivering people. I call for deliverance and in the process of doing it, I found myself at another level and I see things happening. Eventually, the gifts began to increase. By the grace of God, I’m operating in the office as an apostle, prophet and a deliverance minister.
What are some of the major pronounced miracles that have taken place in this church?
There are many but let me recall one. One happened in Port Harcourt. It was a very tough one because the man was a great herbalist but God used me to convert him at over 80 years. He became a member of the church and died at the age of 92. When we came to Bayelsa here, one of the miracles that God did concerns a young lady with her boy. The boy took ill and they took him to the hospital. Along the line, he died. Doctors told her to release the baby, but she backed her to the church. It wasn’t a service day but we were doing some prayers. At the time she came, she saw that I was less busy. So, she asked me to pray for the baby, saying she had a dream that I prayed for her baby and the baby came back to life. I asked her what was happening and she just brought out the baby and dropped the baby at the altar. I asked her if the baby was still alive and she pray if God will answer. I said this boy is dead and do you want to come and tempt me? People were even telling her to go away with the baby. At that process, something just said the baby is at the altar. Pray even if he didn’t wake up you have done your own. I said leave the baby. I asked for our miracle water. They brought it, then I told my pastors to come and then I prayed. As I prayed, I sprinkled the water. The baby started jerking. Everybody began to shout. I held the baby to my chest. At the end the baby came alive. He was about six years. That was one major miracle that made people to believe there is God here.
What is your view concerning deliverance. The Bible says that Jesus preached deliverance but today people conduct deliverance.
That is a problem with the body of Christ. But to me, as a pastor I look at it that understanding of doctrine and knowledge of the Word of God is very important. The Bible says God has delivered us from the power of darkness to his marvelous light. Jesus has done the deliverance. We all carry human spirit. We are delivered but our human spirit needs education. So, if we are delivered and if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Your colour doesn’t change. Your character doesn’t change. The Word of God will be the one that will now change you. So that is why the Bible says faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. As your faith is developing, deliverance has to take place in your human spirit. That brings the deliverance from your human spirit. When your human spirit is delivered, you have the free acces of enjoying the Holy Spirit. Why you see a lot of people not enjoying the Holy Spirit is because their spirits are still arguing with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people ask why doing deliverance. There is need. We know we are fighting a spiritual battle. Satan too is trying to possess the human spirit.
What can be done to foster unity in the church?
To me, the solution is the coming of Christ and I really believe that Jesus will come very soon. All the signs have been fulfilled. Recently I had a great revelation immediately after COVID 19. I told my church members that God took me in the realm of spirit and told me that four hours are remaining. He said I should address the church. He said when I look at your church, I discovered that your church is with white but blood is staining a lot of them. I told the church members that He told me to tell them to wash the blood away. Let their garment be white. When I woke up I became afraid and if you look from the time of Abraham down to the captivity of the children of God in Babylon, we have 14 generations and a generation is one hundred years. From that captivity to the birth of Jesus Christ is 14 generations. In fact, we have left three generations and now we are in the fourth one and the signs are completed and even the fourth one we are now almost two thousand four hundred and twenty years. From Jesus to now, we have spent almost two generations. All these COVID 19 are signs because anti-Christ wants to take over by force. It is our prayers that is constraining him. From now to 2030, let everybody make his or her way right. If COVID 19 can happen and you don’t believe the coming of Christ, then you are joking.
There is this Company and Allied Matters Act ( CAMA) 2020. What is your views about the act?
The federal government cannot fund the church because if they will fund the church, we will give them the yearly budget. Let them fund the church and then we will do whatever they want. They only feel that churches are making money. Of course, we ought to make money because it is heavenly gift, but if federal government wants to say tax, we would bring a yearly budget for them so that they would fund the church and we will do whatever they want, otherwise they would fail because it can never work. They want to tell me that even if I want to host a crusade, they would be the one to fund it? This is what COVID 19 is trying to bring to constrain the church. We will not accept that. Prayer will destroy all that they are thinking.
