Acknowledgment
Only the Divine Potter truly knows that the making of this book has cost me more than the monetary value of producing it. I have truly been in and out of the potter’s house for numerous times over just this subject of Anger. I had been in the crucible of God. This is the spiritual cost of this book for which I am eternally indebted to God.
In this journey of life, one of the greatest things that I have conclusively realized is that each one of us is a product of influences from people around us, whether directly or indirectly; and to this effect, my special thanks go…
To my one and only dear wife and best friend, Abolanle Ikebuwa, whom I fondly call “Chérie B,” who patiently stood by me for years until I started standing as the man of the house. The challenges we went through have tremendously consolidated our “Yes I do.”
My Darling!
Your continuous prayer for me is one of the reasons the family and ministry are intact today. Your labour of love will never be in vain but shall be mightily rewarded in Jesus name.
Of a truth, learning how to deal with our personal and collective challenges and pushing the devil out of our Garden (our own School Of Marriage), have all yielded great dividends. The marriage irritants have been transformed into pearls of invaluable price. And for me, learning to be more patient and becoming a better husband are all because of you. No other woman could have been better set for this transformation.
a I won’t forget those moments-the hugs, (like mother hugging her child) and the prayers of strength and appreciation you whispered to God for me over my shoulders. They always come prophetically at the right time whenever my thoughts of “Lord, help me” are locked up within me while trying to stand up to home responsibilities. Merci beacoup. There could be many virtuous wives, but you excel them all. Here I whisper the words you taught me in French: “Je t’aime ma Chérie“.
To our precious children, Daisy Amadi; Ifeanyi Ikebuwa; Oluwasegun Ikebuwa and Michael Ikebuwa, in whose lives also I have learnt to shout less, get angry, discipline and bless without hurting their spirits. Handling you all has no doubt made me a better father than I would have ever been if it was just one of you.
To my Mum, Mrs. Gladys Ikebuwa, the mother of seven and the grandmother of twenty three and three great grandchildren, who indirectly taught me some patience through her lifestyle. I witnessed many times her reconciliatory moves especially when Dad (late) vehemently refused to eat her food, not because her food wasn’t sweet but because of anger.
Whatever the problem, Mum (who didn’t know Jesus at the time) had always made sure her husband was won back to her side, even if she had to travel one mile to reach her uncle in order to help her beg her husband just to eat her food. Dad had always ended up surrendering to her endearing love and smiling at the end. Some people have said that “such women are scarce these days.” Well! Maybe this may do for a whole day’s debate next time.
Mum, thank you for holding forth in your marriage until Dad went home to be with the Lord in 1997, at a very ripe old age of 96. The dividends of your patience and incessant prayers are obvious upon all your children today.
To my spiritual fathers and mentors, whose lives and ministries have refined me in no small measure. (I have always declared in our church and several other places I had been to share God’s Word, that I am a man with two fathers and wonderful mentors who love me so much);
1. Pastor Taiwo Daniel Odukoya, Senior Pastor, The Fountain Of Life Church (with headquarter in Lagos). His exemplary life of humility and integrity as a Pastor and teacher together with his late wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya imparted in no small measure to the spiritual and well-being of my marriage and ministry. Their wealth of wisdom keeps me searching the Bible so I could finish well in my marriage and ministry.
In all transparency, you have taught us how to maintain FOCUS IN CHRIST, and confirmed your teachings that “MINISTRY IS PEOPLE” Our School Of Marriage today in church and on the internet no doubt is simply the result of imparted grace through father-to-son fellowship; thank you Dad for always being there for us. Thanks to my Mum, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, of the blessed memory. How could I forget your touch in my marriage, your beautiful smiles, the ‘high-five’ and the ‘Reboshkeh!’
2. Dr. John Esuga Akpami, General Overseer, Global Revival Gospel ministries, a.k.a Christian Teaching Centre, (with headquarter in Zaria), who led me to Christ in the Medical Clinic of Yaba College Of Technology, when he was a Youth Corps member in 1981.
Brother John, As he was fondly called in the 80s, really taught me through his exemplary lifestyle of holiness, prayers and studying the Word, how easy it was for a Christian to make Jesus transparent enough for others to see. Dad! Thank you for injecting in me the appropriate dosage of God’s Word which brought salvation into my soul.
You will get to read one of the life transforming experiences I had with him during my ‘baby years’ as you read along.”
Other spiritual mentors, I have also had at a great distance: Kenneth E. Hagin and Derek Prince whom I never met physically, but whose books and tapes have tremendously added to the building up of my spiritual life and ministry. I remember, shortly few months after I had given my life to Christ; I spent about 90% of my Bursary Award (students called it Udoji Award in those days) to purchase a lot of Christian books. The books and messages on cassettes that were introduced to me by Dr. John were mostly from the late Kenneth E. Hagin. Dr. John gladly got them for me from Decross Bookshop at Onipanu, Lagos state. This was the genesis of the anointing of God burning in my palms and feet.
To all my Administrative staff in Grace Finishers Assembly, Ihuoma Ikebuwa, Bunmi Owoyele and Victoria Akanji: I say thank you for your assignments/work done in the church office towards the completion of this book. You have all been a wonderful team. I won’t forget to appreciate Brother George Epebife’s little editing done to the cover.
To all members of our church, Grace Finishers’ Assembly, including all the pastors, deacons, deaconesses, HODs and church office staff, for allowing me to lead you all in order for me to practice ministry. Your availability has made my growth and God’s ministry under my care very interesting. You are all wonderful gifts in diversity for my life and ministry. Thank you for all your prayers. I have also grown as a pastor from pastoring some tough sheep too.
To Pastor Oyekanmi Olatoye for taking the time to edit this book out of his busy schedule as a News Editor with Silverbird Television (STV). He took the onerous task of not overlooking this book word to word. Thank you for the thorough job well done.
To all those who offered their prayers and words of wisdom– (this medium is too small to mention everybody)-Pastor Mrs Yemisi Akindolie; Pastor Sam Iruobe and Deaconess Atinuke Iruobe; Dr. Mrs Ibiba Enogwe; Mr and Mrs Yemi Koyejo; Sola Challenger; Bunmi Olayinka; Pastor Gregory Ikebuwa; etc; in order for our marriage to solidly stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. A great deal of thanks to you all.
To all my Facebook and BB friends globally, (some of who I have physically met), all your questions, chats, comments and telephone calls/counseling have also culminated in the writing of this book. Thanks so much for your friendship, and or the mutual and lasting benefits it holds. How the world has become so internet-configured to the extent that I have plenty of you as my e-sons and daughters amazes me. I am jus simply on God’s assignment and the whole world belongs to Him.
To Uchay Joel Chima, my brother in Christ, the great Artist, who beautifully painted my whole thoughts on the cover of this book, viewing “anger as a raging sea“. Thank God for connecting with you again through the Facebook since we parted many years ago in The Fountain Of Life Church, Ilupeju, in Lagos Nigeria. This is surely one of the benefits of relationships that I’ll never forget. That you could find the time to do this for me (at no charge at all), while very busy like a travelling apostle capturing the whole world in colourful canvas, truly amazes me. Thanks so much and may the Lord reward you, my brother!
And lastly, to you my reader, I thank you for having this book in your possession either by purchase-sowing into this compendium of revelation, as a gift or by way of borrowing it. I strongly believe that you will no doubt pass on to others all your benefits from this book.
You are all highly appreciated by me. God bless you all in the name of Jesus.
Christopher Ikebuwa
God’s Handiwork
