Why Insecurity Persists In Africa – American Bishop Glessman

Bishop Marcus Glessman

The insecurity, which is intensifying across swaths of Africa, including particularly in conflict zones such as North Eastern part of Nigeria, Sudan and Somalia, has been described as human-based problem which can easily be tackled.

This was the position of Bishop Marcus Glessman, Founder of Restoration Grace Fellowship International (ROGFI), Alabama, USA. Bishop Glessman was in Lagos, Nigeria last weekend to perform bishopric consecration of Bishop Oluwafemi Emmanuel Olorunbe Iroh and ordination of Apostle Funmilayo Iroh, both of the Christ Unity Ministry, Oke- Afa, Isolo, Lagos.

In an exclusive interview with P.M. EXPRESS to comment on issue of national importance to Nigeria and the rest of Africa, Bishop Glessman commiserated with the people and government of Nigeria on the spate of attacks from Boko Haram, a Nigeria-based militant Islamist group.

Boko Haram is a jihadist terrorist organization based in north eastern Nigeria, also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. The group has caused havoc in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria through a campaign of bombings and attacks.

To Bishop Glessman, though some of the incidents might have political colouration, he would rather proffer spiritual solutions to the lingering problem of insecurity that has claimed many lives and rendered many homeless.

According to Glessman, irrespective of religious beliefs, one thing that is common is that “we must love one another. How can the world knows us if we are truly worshipping God? It is by the way we love our neighbours more than ourselves. I believe that as we work in love, we work in peace, we work in gentleness and we work in self control. If these are done, things will begin to change for the continent gradually.

“I’m quite sure that this problem of insecurity can be put under check if truly we do what God stands for irrespective of the religious we practice.

“This is a big task for all of us. This is a task between different faiths, a task between different cultures that we have not been practising what our God stands for, if we do, we won’t allow evil befall any of our neighbours.

“If I can love my enemy, he or she may not respond the same way, but I should continue. For example, Jesus Christ on the way to the Cross, he suffered mockery, beating and all sort of accusations, but he remained silent. He did not bring any accusation to his enemy. I will want everyone in Nigeria and indeed all over Africa to know that lack of love for one another breeds this violence and other terrorist attacks.

L-R Cameroonian Bishop Mbamba Aristides, President, Restoration of Grace Fellowship Internationaln (ROGFI), American Bishop Marcus Glessman, President of ROGFI and Kenyan Bishop Julius Agani (Vice President, ROGFI) at the ordination of Bishop Iroh and Apostle Funmilayo Iroh in Lagos last weekend.

Bishop Glessman has some words of advice to Christians in Nigeria, he said: “We heard a lot of news about the incidents of attacks, but I want the Church to unite itself regardless the denominations. My advice is that the Church should rise with no more envy, with no more strife and with no more jealousy, but continues to love one another. If this is done, the climate of violence and insecurity will begin to change gradually.”

Meanwhile, Bishop Glessman described Nigeria as a country full of great people with rich potentials. He said he came to the country for the purpose of the bishopric consecration of Bishop Iroh because the Nigerian clergyman was a man of honour with good characters which he respected the most.

“I am someone that has interest in investing in people and I see in Bishop Iroh that he possesses this quality.

“For those who seek elevation such as the Bishopric office bestowed on Bishop Iroh, I want to enjoin them to wait on the Lord, work very hard, be diligent and be servants of people. God is the one who gives posts and honour to people,” the American said.

Bishop Glessman is also the Project President of ROGFI’s Children Angels of God Primary Academy and States High School in Kangaware, Nairobi, Kenya.

With headquarters in the USA, the ROGFI has churches in Kenya, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and a branch in Nigeria.