A popular cleric, Bishop Irabor Wisdom Robinson says that, on the basis of what his colleague in ministry, Dr Chris Okafor has done to impact lives and expand the kingdom of God here on earth, a special day known as the “World Dr Chris Okafor Day” be dedicated to celebrate him, especially on occasions when he marks his birthdays.
The month of April every year is usually a busy one for light-skinned celebrity cleric, Chris Okafor, founder and senior pastor of Lagos-based Grace Nation Church International as family, friends and well-wishers all over the world roll out the red carpet to thank God for using him to impact their lives in many different ways.
Bishop Irabor, the General Overseer of Answers Assembly, Warri, Delta State is just one of many who has decided to go beyond the normal felicitations to pen a tribute he has dubbed, “Eight Birthday Notes To The Generational Prophet.”
Bishop Irabor’s tribute essentially congratulates Dr Chris Okafor, the one he calls the “Generational Prophet” on the occasion of his birthday and thanks God for giving the world a gift that has proven to be so beneficial to humanity.
He then goes on to list outstanding blessings he has received from Dr Okafor who he refers to as the most unassuming personality he has had to work with in his life and ministry.
“Happy Birthday to the man who is completely different from everything his enemies told you about him. My relationship with you made me know that, you can become a bad person relating with the person people think is good for you, you can also become a good person relating with the person people think is not good for you. I found God relating with you, Dr Chris Okafor,” Bishop Irabor began.
“Happy birthday to the man whose financial gift to me, in two separate cheques, cleared the first year school fees of both my daughters in private universities. The school fees for both was in the region of four point three million naira (N4.3million). You made me not to feel the pain of paying the first year for both of them. Apart from you and Pastor David Ibiyeomie, no mentor or senior man has ever done anything for me.
“Happy birthday to the man who taught me how to be a father and a friend with my assistant pastors. I came for training with your pastors, and I saw how you bonded with them as a friend and a brother to them, yet they honour and respect you as a father. Only few men can combine these two aspects with a balance. I saw them respect your authority and still confess their secret battles to you for you to help them overcome. Where I came from, you don’t tell anyone your secret battles as a pastor, you will become a public ridicule.
“Happy birthday to the man who I followed a few weeks ago to see a mentor who came from Abuja for a programme in Lagos, and in my presence you wrote a cheque of twenty million naira as a prophet offering to that mentor. Most people don’t know you even have more access to fathers in our family tree, than most of us that were raised in that family.
“Happy Birthday to the man who practically lives a life of fasting and prayers daily. I came to do a three day training programme, and you made me too, to fast and pray with you and the pastors for all three days. At a point, I said to myself, how I wish people know you personally and privately. You are a Christian to the core. I pray for my friends. May you not first meet the enemies of your helper before meeting your helper.
“Happy birthday to the most quietly blessed man I have ever seen. Your cathedral is about 25,000-seater, with a crowd of people gathered inside every week, and many surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ every service day. You don’t talk about it.
“The headquarters has so many buildings, offices and event centres. You don’t talk about it. Your Lekki branch is over 50 plots of land. You don’t brag about it. You have over 400 branches home and abroad. You don’t brag about it. It was in your house last year, when I came for dinner with you, that I saw a brand new Rolls Royce and a brand new bullet-proof Land Cruiser jeep, that you have never talked about openly. Let’s not talk about your business investments in several sectors of life. The few that I know of. You are blessed, yet very quiet and humble.
“Thank you for always allowing me to stay for free, in your ministry’s 5-Star hotel, any time I visit Lagos. I still stayed there last month for free for five days. You saved me so much, sir.
“Happy birthday to a prophet who is a balanced teacher and a good preacher. I remember joining your service after one of the training programmes I came for. From the beginning to the end, there was no prophecy. I told you after the service, “We know you as a prophet. Why will you do a service and there is no prophecy?” You said to me, “To have a balanced church, you must know how to combine the word, prayers and prophecies. So that nothing is lacking. Today is a teaching and prayer service. If I call for prophetic service, you won’t know this is the man that just finished teaching.”
“Happy birthday to the man who bought a massive duplex for his Resident Pastor, few minutes drive to his own house in the same estate he lives. They both live in the same estate in Lagos. According to you, “this man left all to follow me. If I don’t do this for him, it means unbelievers who do it in the secular world are better than me.”
“On my last visit to Lagos, the private driver attached to me showed me the house on our way to see him at home. To confirm what the pastor himself already told me.
“Thank you for being there for me and several others. I sincerely and genuinely love you. You are my brother for life. Happy birthday, sir,” he added.