…launch nationwide midnight prayer, say killings must not push Nigeria into anarchy
By Gloria Ikibah
The Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has revived a warning he first issued fifteen years ago, cautioning that the wave of attacks on churches and the slaughter of worshippers could push Nigeria into full-blown anarchy if not urgently confronted. 
Bishop Oyedepo who stated this while addressing worshippers during the 4th Pre-Shiloh Encounter Service on Sunday, spoke with a mixture of grief, urgency and prophetic fire as he reacted to the recent church invasions that left several Christians dead and others kidnapped.
“Developments in the past two weeks, particularly in Nigeria, are worrisome to say the least. The need for a prompt response in prayers to stop the killings once and for all. You can’t trade people’s lives for your comfort. All the innocent blood shared is speaking vengeance…all the perpetrators will pay with their lives,” he said.
Oyedepo, visibly emotional at intervals, reminded worshippers of his bond with the country.
“No one is more Nigerian than myself. We all have our ancestral grounds. We all know power passes power, no power passes the power of God.”
He then issued a direct call for Christians to take spiritual responsibility, unveiling a coordinated midnight prayer exercise across the country.
“We are going out on a midnight raid (prayers). Every member of this church should be awake one hour before violence descends to anarchy in Nigeria… you mean a church was invaded during worship, and people were killed and abducted and nothing happened? The God of justice is rising.”
Pointing to scripture, he added:
“When God steps in, the pride of men is cut. Every arrogance will be cut down. Nigeria will never descend into chaos. I want them to hear these hard things because they are coming from the burning spirit of a prophet.”
To reinforce his message, Oyedepo quoted Psalm 85:8.
“When God speaks it is accompanied with peace… ‘I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints. He will not let them return to folly.’ I’ve been shouting this for 15 years; he (God) has prompted me to speak again.”
The bishop condemned the spread of killings, kidnappings and terror attacks nationwide, urging believers to seek divine justice.
“We shall be calling for justice against those responsible for acts of violence. We are raiding the camp of the wicked; let’s all partake in the midnight prayer. All winners anoint your houses. Every attack against the church shall be met with divine justice. Don’t politicise human life; it’s immoral. Let’s join our hands and our hearts together and pray that prayer, one hour only 12am–1am.”
