With the deluge of new gospel artistes, new vibes, styles, and beats have been introduced into gospel music. In this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, ace gospel minister and General Overseer of Christ Gift Revival Ministry (OGRM), Evangelist Ojo Ade at the 12th anniversary of The Mantle Prayer Ministry, spoke about the new trend in gospel music and how some gospel artistes, in their bid to trend, and attract the younger generation, perform under the influence of drugs.
How would you describe The Mantle Prayer Ministry at 12?
I can see the hand of God moving. The ongoing 5000-sitting cathedral being built on the mountain is a wonder to many. Here, they are not money-conscious or driven by mundane things. God is at work here and the people who are coming here are being saved. We thank God for his servant here. Every year, I see the development that God is doing and I am very happy for this ministry. The set man of this ministry should not be tired. He should continue the good work and never lose focus. God, who is working with the ministry, is still at work.
Today, lots of people who are into gospel music seem to have prioritised money over God. What can you say to this?
On gospel music, I do tell people that gospel music is not the problem but the church. When we gave our lives to Christ in the 70s and our lives were not in order with God, nobody would listen to our songs.
It is also instructive that no gospel minister comes up without the influence of the church. It is the state of the church that determines the kind of artist we see today. I cannot blame the artistes for asking for money. The truth is that when a gospel minister goes and ministers in a church, and the congregants donate huge money to the church, and the artistes are there watching, what do you think their reaction would be? Now, inflation is at the top of the roof. I spent #50,000 to minister in a church in Ibadan and because I did not bill them, I was given #50,000, should I fight with them?
The truth is that the Church is not producing men and women who have genuine salvation but people who are just dramatising their gifts. You can’t give what you don’t ‘have. Someone who is not saved will not value the things of the spirit. You find some gospel musical singing about hell and they are drumming and dancing. They don’t know what they are saying. My songs are inspired by my preaching, counselling, prayers, and studying of the bible. I do not compose songs to please anyone or for commercial value. I am not just a singer but also a minister of God, using music as my channel.
Are you saying your generation failed to hand over the right gospel to the up-and-coming gospel artistes?
It is the church that fails. Individual churches are producing artistes. So, gospel artistes are not trained like apprentices. It is where they started. When we started, the qualification for being a worker was genuine salvation that was real and evident, but today, gospel artistes are now wearing earrings, I mean men wearing earrings and some of the source of their inspiration is drugs and they are called gospel singers? In those days, if your salvation was not real, you would not climb the pulpit, but not today, even now the pastor’s spiritual stand is doubtful. It is sad that any songs you want to sing and you do not put some madness into it, will not be accepted. I can’t imagine someone singing songs like Afo pe fo lohun… the way we used to sing it, it will not fly today but when a bit of madness is added, then it will become acceptable.
The songs we composed then were driven by the spirit of God, if the inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, it will not die. Some of the songs I sang 40 years ago are still in the market, and people are buying them because the word of God is everlasting and it will never be archaic. Songs that are sung to meet with the times will definitely go in no time with the times. Singing with some madness in it will never bring real genuine salvation, but sadly, that is what this generation wants to hear. So, I went for a programme to minister in songs and as I was ministering, someone was sleeping and they woke him up and he said that he was sleeping because I dulled his spirit; the response they gave him was that it was because he was a child of hell. I know that not everyone likes my genre of songs but those who like it still like it.
How do we go back to the old landmark?
Unless revival comes, things will not change. The church produced the gospel artistes and when revival comes to the church, the songs will go back to where it belongs. Many churches of today don’t even sing hymns. When revival comes, everything will change. Our calling is not for showmanship but to show Christ to the people. It’s not a money-making project. If you truly follow God, He has a plan for your prosperity. There is nothing you do for God that He will not reward you. The problem is that most gospel musicians and ministers of God are in a hurry. They can’t wait for God’s timing to be blessed; they want it now, which is against the principle and character of God. God is a God of time for all His purposes.
Nigeria’s economy is a bit challenging right now, what is your word of hope and succor?
God is angry with Nigeria and we are just blaming those in authority. I produced a record recently and I said that with the state of things in Nigeria now, even if Chief Obafemi Awolowo comes back; he will not do it well. Nobody comes to power and will not want to make things better. God is angry with Nigeria.
I sang a song many years ago saying, who will deliver if God does not in Nigeria? Is it the military or civilian administration, no one can do without God. Unless, we go back to God for him to give us rest on every side, until then nothing will change.
CEFA is more valued than the naira. There is no problem in any town that God does not know about. Let us go back to God. If we desire to come back to God, it will not take God much time to intervene in our situation as he did in the days in Samara when they needed help in the scripture.
Who are those troubling Nigeria? They include traditional rulers, politicians, and pastors who have replaced the call of God upon their lives for filthy lucre. It is not Tinubu. Those who have come before him, do we say they did not do well? God is using them as a cane to whip us to His own purpose. Let us return back to God, when we do, things will change. The church God would have used is sleeping.
