Pastor Agu Interview

PASTOR AGU IRUKU’S INTERVIEW with KEEPING THE FAITH MAGAZINE

KTF: You lead RCCG UK, Britain’s largest and fastest growing black Pentecostal church, to what do you attribute its amazing growth?

PAI: Such growth is by God’s grace and that really is not a religious cliché. Other factors have contributed to this expression of grace; the first is that the church is very aggressive in church planting. I strongly believe that the local church is a critical component to revival and so churches are encouraged to plant other churches. In addition to this, I believe that the focus on prayer and the youth has played a considerable role.

KTF: In your view, what have been some of RCCG’s key challenges and achievements since it was established here in the UK?

PAI: Initially there were challenges in terms of the fact that the earlier congregation of most RCCG church were predominantly African. As a result there were cultural barriers which had to be broken and are still being broken today. As the church grew, it became necessary to ensure that all the leaders possessed a sound theology.

Another challenge is the the fact that the first set of people who came to the UK believed they were in the UK for a short period and had plans of moving back to their home countries. This made it challenging to convince them to have a prayer burden for the UK. This has changed because people have begun to believe that UK is their home. As a result, they are now encouraged to be a part of their communities and participate in projects that are aimed at developing their local communities.

KFT: The Festival of Life(FOL) is one of RCCG’S Flagship events. How did it start and what spiritual impact is do you think its having on the spiritual life of the UK?

PAI: The FOL was birthed in London in 1996. It is a carry over from what is called the Holy Ghost night, a monthly program that is held in Nigeria and hosted by the General Overseer.I believe the Festival of Life is impacting the spiritual climate of our nation because of the uplifting testimonies of those whose lives have been touched by the event through the General Overseer’s gifts of the word of knowledge and the working of miracles.

KFT: When were you born? Have you got any brothers and sisters and where do you come from?

PAI: I was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1964. I am the eldest of five sibling, I have one brother and three sisters.

KFT: Did Christianity play any part in your life as you were growing up?

PAI: Yes it did, I was born into a Christian home, although not an evangelical one but one with strong and deep Christian roots in the Anglican church where I spent the earlier part of my life. I did not go to a Pentecostal church until much later in my life, when I gave my life to Christ and became born again.

KTF: When and why did you decide to become a Christian?

PAI: There are two people who were very instrumental in helping me make the decision to become a born again Christian, my late wife Ify who played a major role even before we got married.

The second person is Alero Otobo, a lovely lady who I call my spiritual big sister. I was working in an investment back then and she was one of the senior managers there. Her life was very inspirational. She was very kind, warm and thoughtful. She was exhibited Christian values and her example (as well as Ify’s encouraged me to go to a Pentecostal church for the first time. I clearly remember hearing a wonderful message from a dynamic pastor called Pastor Tony rapu.I kept attending the church which he pastored and I eventually gave my life to Christ in the church in 1991.

KFT: Is it true that you gave up your career as an investment banker to become a pastor? Why did you do so?

PAI: I worked as an Investment Banker but I did not give up my career to become a pastor. I actually left the bank to set up a law firm with two other colleagues.

After a little while, I was ordained as a Pastor in the RCCG, what you might call a lay preacher because I was still practicing law. A church (Jesus House) started in London and I was asked to come over and keep an eye on it for a little while. This was about fifteen years ago and I am still here. The law practice has obviously closed down and I am now doing something I love doing and I am grateful to God for the opportunity to do so.

KFT: You have not been without trials and tribulations. You sadly lost your wife in 2007. How did your faith help you to overcome your bereavement and as well as look after your children?

PAI: If it had not been for my faith, my life would have fallen apart when my late wife went to be with the Lord. Also, the foundations I had laid with regards to my faith helped me go through that period. People have been amazed at how I went through and came out of it but it really has been the grace of God. His grace is always available whenever anyone is faced with a trial or temptation.

KFT: Do you have any good news to share with Keep The Faith on the marriage front?

PAI: I am not sure what you mean by good news but I suspect it has to do with the fact that I have recently remarried. Well, I recently got married to a wonderful lady called Sola, who my children absolutely love to bits. I am really grateful that God made this possible for I knew I could not run a ministry this size, look after my two children and do all the many other things I am committed to doing without having a wife. I see my wife as a gift to me and the children and I hope we can be a gift to her as well.

KTF: Finally what special message would you like to share with the Keep The Faith readers?

PAI: I will start by using a phrase that has become a byword here at Jesus House: ’These are exciting times’. To the readers I want to say that no matter what you are going through, just hold on to God. As long as you keep your eyes on him, on Jesus and hold on to him, you will go through and come out stronger.

Things are being shaken all around us but we must not panic as it’s a part of God’s plan. It probably was necessary for this to happen because people are beginning to put their trust in so many things apart from God. This is a wonderful opportunity for the church to speak very boldly the message of Christ’s love in such hard times.