NO DIVORCE NO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: A Chat With The ECWA General Secretary

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in Nigeria. With a membership base of more than six million, it is arguable the largest Evangelical church in Nigeria and perhaps even in Africa. Recently, the QreatifDave blog had the opportunity of chatting with its erudite General Secretary, the man running the day-to-day affairs of the Church, Reverend Professor Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, at the Church’s headquarters in Jos. He allowed us a glimpse into his personal life, the Church’s position on divorce, same-sex marriage, the proposed amnesty to the insurgent Boko Haram and much more. Below are excerpts.   

The ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop

  

Q: Who is Rev. Prof. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop?  

A: I am the current General Secretary of ECWA.

Q: Can you please tell us a little about your childhood? What was it like?

A: I was the third child of ten children and was just an ordinary child who grew up in the village. 

Q: As a child, who, or what, had the greatest influence on you?

A: My dad and mom had a lot of influence on me, though it was not evident at the time as I was quite stubborn

Q: How did you come to know the Lord? When did you accept Christ as your Lord and personal saviour?

A: My class one teacher in Primary School read and shared John 3:16 and invited those who wanted to accepted Jesus Christ.  I did, and this was in 1963. 

Q: At the beginning of your career as an ECWA Pastor did you ever think you would one day be the General Secretary of ECWA?

A: Not even close.  In fact, being an LO was not even in my mind.  I just wanted to be an ordinary pastor who preached the word of God. 

Q: Can you tell us a little about your family? How did you meet your wife? When and where did you get married?  

A: I am married to Yelwa and we have four children; two boys and two girls.  I have three grandchildren from my two daughters who are married.  I met my wife in Kaduna as she was going to Secondary School and I was heading to the Bible College.

Q: How many children have you? What do they do now?

A: Four children, two boys, two daughters. Zigwai is a lab scientist, Babangida is an architect, Kauna is a student at the Polytechnic, Abrak is studying at the University of Texas, USA. 

Q: What exactly is the role of the General Secretary in the administration of the ECWA Church?

A: He is the chief administrator.

Q: Does the attainment of high office such as your own come with challenges to your faith and convictions as a Christian?

A: Of course, there are challenges/demands that come with the office.  I deal with 80 DCCs [District Church Council, the equivalent of a Diocese] and many leaders in these DCCs, departments, institutions and units.  I also have to deal with external organizations and governments.  Sometimes, I do not get enough time to study and pray as I need to do. 

Q: How do you balance your commitments to the administration of one of the largest Christian denominations in Nigeria with your obligations to your family?

A: This is quite tricky and difficult. One thing I do is that I do not take my office problems to the house.  When I leave the office, I leave office problems till the next day.  I try to be 100% husband and father.

Q: How would you rate Christians holding public office in Nigeria? Do you think they are any better than non-Christians counterparts? 

A: Unfortunately, Christians have not done better in this aspect. I wish that Christian leaders would stand out in the public arena as Esther and Daniel of old did. 

Q: What is the lowest point in your life? How did God bring you through it?

A: I do not know if I want to call it the lowest point but the most challenging time in my life.  In 2007, I felt that my assignment as a Provost was completed and I felt that I did not want to be idle.  The Seminary wanted me but I thought I was done and needed to move on.  ECWA approved my leave of absence for me to get refreshed and that was really good for me.

Rev. Prof. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop

Q: What is the highest point in your life?  

     A: I would say that I have had many high points in my life: getting a PhD, becoming a full-time professor of theology and ethics, presenting a keynote address at the Evangelical Theological Society in the USA, and writing my first major book which was published in the USA. 

Q: What is ECWA’s stance on divorce and same-sex marriage?  

A: NO DIVORCE AND NO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. 

Q: The security situation in the North has deteriorated drastically since 2009. The church has borne the brunt of this upheaval. How badly is the ECWA church affected by the security situation in the North?

A: ECWA has lost many churches and property. Many church buildings have been completely destroyed.  We have lost our members and some of our pastors have been murdered. One of our pastor’s grave was even desecrated! The devastation of our churches in the North is beyond description. 

Q: Considering the fact that it is increasing becoming clear that the government (through its security agents) cannot, on its own, provide security to all the people in the North (especially Christians and their churches), what should Christians do in the face of the deadly attacks we suffer every day? Shall we turn the other cheek or, “sell our cloaks and buy swords”?

A: The Church has always been under attack.  The Church must never compromise its position of love to the enemy.  However, we must resist the enemy using the power of persuasion at our disposal.  There is nothing as powerful as the pen and resistance against evil and evil structures.  Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. did not use weapons to fight but they accomplished what many with weapons have not been able to do. 

Q: What is ECWA’s position on the Federal Government’s proposed amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents?   

A: The ECWA Church strongly feels that the Federal Government’s proposal on amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents is a serious mistake that has severe consequences.  Boko Haram has strong philosophical and religious ideologies that contradict the constitution of Nigeria. They have also employed evil means to accomplish their missions which has resulted in the death of thousands leaving behind widows, orphans, destruction of life and property. The Federal Government should prosecute those who deliberately violate our constitution.