By: Ike Philip Abiagom & Oby Edward
General Overseer of Truth Foundation Healing Temple
For those in need of solution to their respective life issues, Prophet, Bishop(Dr) Godswill Umunna, popularly known as Prophet, the Spiritual Director of Truth Foundation Healing Temple, TFHT, is the vessel through which the answers lie. As one of the most sought-after preachers globally, Prophet Umunna, as he is also referred to in some quarters, is a staunch believer, whose forte is repentance, family reconciliation, deliverance and miracles. But beyond this, the Ibusa native in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, is also passionate about touching lives either through his Healing Temple Foundation or even during his ministrations where thousands throng in from all over seeking answers to their problems. In this interview with Newsbreeze Crew at his office in Ibusa, he bares it all- his childhood, journey to ministry, the three-fold consecration to his calling, the foundation, plans for expansion, mentorship and even word for his detractors
So Prophet, what has been happening. Seeing the crowd, all struggling to see you, when do you create time for yourself?
It’s a lot. I don’t know the last time I closed my eyes to sleep like two hours- there is no night I sleep like 2 hours. Out of emotions and sympathy, I will be seeing people after the service, counselling, holding meetings. Even the time of Jesus, he did not do it like this because the Bible said sometimes he would disappear. But my own is too much. I used to be too emotional about people’s problem is one of my biggest problem. I am the kind of person that does not like to withstand someone’s tears.
What efforts are you making to reduce the workload. Are you mentoring people to ease that burden?
Yes we do. We are having sons of the prophet programme now. The work is too much for one person. I cannot be in 10 places at a time. It’s a big challenge. We need a lot of ministers who can help. So, we are training some people already.
In spite of the hours or days that people spend, waiting to see you, they remain undaunted, probably because they are getting results. But they are getting results?
Why won’t they get results? When you keep yourself and you are honest to what you are doing, the power of God is available. Do you know the level of people that come here- if they are not getting what they are coming for, you won’t be seeing them.
So as a person, how do you feel that people are thronging here to come and see you?
When they are coming, what comes to my mind is ‘you have to keep maintaining what you are doing that made people to me coming here’. I don’t feel proud or arrogant about it. I just say ‘oh Lord, who am I? I give You all Glory. Give me grace to always be faithful and not to disappoint You. Because so many Men of God started very well with principle but at a time, they fell. I am always conscious of it that I don’t want to make mistakes of other prophets.
Other than God, what will you attribute the rapid rise of Truth Foundation Healing Temple to?
I don’t think there’s anything else to attribute the growth of Truth Foundation Healing Temple to, other than God, because it’s more than human comprehension. Even me, I cannot believe it. I know that when I was small, I used to see a lot of crowd that I am talking to-hundreds that I could not see their faces, but I didn’t know it would come this far. There’s no time you will come here and not see people from all over.
So, how have you overcome the temptation?
It’s not easy but with determination leads to success and the grace of God. Saint Paul said three times I prayed to God to take away the torn of my flesh but instead of God taking it away, He said ‘my grace is sufficient’. So, the consciousness that these three vows are attached to my destiny, that if I break any of them, I might have problem, is always ringing in my subconscious. Some ladies are coming but I can’t joke with this grace. That is why I am still keeping to this grace.
You don’t place adverts yet your ministry is still growing in leaps and bounds. What do you attribute this growth to?
It’s just the Grace of God that God wants to do this work through this person. We have no signboard. We are not even powerful in the media. Yet if you come here, you see thousands of people from across the globe every time. We have bought a lot of lands so we can expand, still, you can’t pass. We can’t do any big programme here. It’s the grace and anointing of God but you maintain it with sacrifice. I am a man of sacrifice. I fast a lot and I have a lot of things I do personally. Seeing the level of work God has given to me, I go to Him as a baby and tell him that I didn’t pray for this kind of ministry so He should not allow me to make a mistake. Also, the things I preach, I try to do them. I have never asked anybody in Truth Foundation Healing Temple to pay money. I have never ask people to pay money to see me. Of course, with the way people gather to see me, if I put my consultation fee at N10 million people will pay. But I will never because, freely I receive, freely I will give. I believe that God still works, but some don’t keep the principles.
So, how would you explain the miracles that are witnessed here regularly?
I don’t think there is anything I would attribute it to except God. Because it’s more than human comprehension. Even me, I can’t believe it. A lawyer from Canada brought a Tesla of over one hundred million. I was praying during Open Heavens and I prophesied that he was going to have a breakthrough. I mentioned his name, I didn’t know him before and it happened. So, I don’t know how God does His miracles, I just prophesy. Sometimes I hear the voice clearly and sometimes it’s like me watching television. If you come to me one-on-one, I can just ask you to open your hands and I will start telling you things about you. Ask some governors, past and present senators, etc, who have come to see me here, they will tell you.
With all these miracles, which is the most memorable?
The lame working and the blind seeing happens almost all the time but it’s that of young boys surrendering their charms, giving their lives to Christ. Many youths come here and I usually tell them that you cannot be a Christian and have charms on your body. The Yahoo boys answer altar call, submitting the rings that they were using to charm people. Even many native doctors submitting their charms. To me, the salvation of souls, people coming back to Jesus Christ is what stands out for me.
What do you say to those who doubt the authenticity of your miracles, especially those who make negative comments on social media?
Initially, it was not easy because you know I have siblings and family members who see these things. People are talking about one person, and you have not come close. Well, they can’t really understand what we are doing here because the Bible says that a carnal mind cannot understand the things of the Holy Spirit. You must be a spiritual person to understand Bishop (Dr)Godswill Umunna. You cannot go to the club and from there make videos of people falling and you cannot understand why people fall on the ground. They did the same to our Lord Jesus Christ. People said He was using the power of Beelzebub to do miracles. People also criticised all the prophets of old. But it’s like my own is getting too much. One thing that gives me joy though is that upon all the things they are saying about me, multitudes still come here and people who love what is happening here are more than those against me. We even have more people coming from outside . My response is, God bless them. One day, the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to know who I am and what I represent.
What would be your advice to any young man who wants to succeed in the ministry?
He must first be sure he has the calling; because so many people today are pastors without the call. They would have been better in business or other areas. So far you are not called to be a pastor or minister, you would not do well, no matter how you pray. Also, you have to have financial discipline. You must be disciplined with women also. Anointing is attractive. So far you have the grace, women will be coming even more. You know women like men with authority. If you are not disciplined with women, you will end up shamefully. But if you are careful with women and money, you will go far in ministry. Pride is another factor. These are the three things that destroy men of God; you will see married women who will ask you to have children for them and their husbands will not know. If you are careful with women, money and you take pride away, you will go far if you have the call.
How do you unwind after such hectic schedules?
My big problem now is that I can’t go out alone. I can’t walk the streets alone. There is nothing like enjoyment, except praying to God and people testifying about what God is doing for them through me. I don’t know when last I ate good food because I fast every day. There’s no enjoyment. If you come to my house, you will see the vehicles that people brought. Where do I go? What gives me joy is seeing the miracles that God is doing and people giving their lives to Christ.
