LAST Saturday, I preached on “The Ronaldo Sermon” and what a response I got! I was so touched by the avalanche of letters from you my readers, expressing how deeply you were touched and how it is “Holy Spirit-inspired.” For those who didn’t read it, this is an excerpt from the sermon:
“Just like Portugal depended so much on Ronaldo, Nigeria has depended for too long on oil as the main driver of our economy. Now that our Ronaldo is wounded and is off the field, let us wake up and play to our strength as a team to score for Nigeria. There are other players and other resources that we can count on to revive our ailing economy.
Chances are if Ronaldo had not been sidelined by injury and stretchered out of the field of play like a dead man, Portugal might not have been victorious. Sometimes, something needs to die or give way for others to live a fruitful life.”
By the way, today, July 23, is my birthday. I give thanks and praises to God for bringing me this far in good health and the riches of His glory. As part of my birthday celebrations, I bring you the letters you wrote, commending my sermon. I couldn’t have wished for a better birthday gift. Another person whose birthday is today was killed dastardly while on an early morning evangelism called “Morning Cry.” Her name is Eunice Olawale Elisha. I opened the “fifth seal” of the Book of Revelations 6:9-10 and “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: “And they cried with a loud voice saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on earth?” Among the martyrs, I saw Eunice Olawale Elisha, the martyr of Abuja clothed in white like the others and “it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” May her soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord whom she served with every pint of her shed blood.
These are some of your letters, starting with a letter from the famous Roman Catholic priest, Friar Mbaka:
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God bless you marvellously Mike. I am indescribably grateful to the Almighty God for blessing us with your sagacity and inspired reflection on “Ronaldo Sermon.” Ride on Mike. Remain irrefutably favoured and miraculously blessed beyond measures in Jesus’ name. Friar Mbaka, Enugu.
Mike, you just wrote my mind. I watched the game and at the end of the game, I was trying to meditate and analyse it. On reading your ‘Ronaldo Sermon’, I told my husband: “I have never been touched by anything like this in a newspaper.” It is just the spirit of God that spoke through you. I was so mad when Ronaldo was deliberately injured and he had to be carried out of the field. I was praying that God will not allow this wickedness to triumph. I screamed when Portugal scored that goal and eventually won. It is a great lesson. We give God the glory. I am a grandmother. Mrs. Rose Olatinuwa, Ibadan. 08035030002
Your piece on “Ronaldo Sermon” is so dear to me. It is a masterpiece to be kept and cherished. What a sermon! There is no other way to conclude the victory of Portugal with the lesson to be learnt. Another lesson is that the Portuguese rallied together with one desire and that was to win. And they won. What is our collective desire in our country? I don’t know. I wish you can do a piece on that. 08159364382
Thank you Mike for your Saturday sermon titled “The Ronaldo Sermon.” It was thought-provoking. Charles, Aba 08089595577
You are wonderfully and brilliantly made. Your article on “The Ronaldo Sermon” is REAL and it is the REALITY of LIFE. In year 2001, there was an edition of “Every day with Jesus” captioned “The Reality.” Reality is an unpleasant truth. More grease to your pen and brain. Femi Ogundele, Port Harcourt, 08033102696
Thank you for that piece. May you and all Nigerians live long to reap the fruits of your superb write-up. Albert, Oshodi, 08086199764
Thank you for your inspirational message on “The Ronaldo Sermon.” This beautiful piece is not only for Nigeria as a nation in dire need for survival but for Nigerians in diverse need to make ends meet daily. Nnenna, Umuahia, 08037992637
You are a good Bible journalist who means well but sorry that was a wasted prayer and sermon because we have leaders who travel the world and see good things but can’t replicate here. Eze Akoma, 07069427765
My big brother, you have said it all: Whoever has ear, let them hear. You always make me happy on Saturdays. May your pen never get dry. Celestine Ameze, 09059348066
Your creativity with the pen is just like the creativity of Okocha on the pitch. Every patriot will certainly agree that “something needs to die or give way” for Nigeria as a nation to blossom. Dele Ogundele, Lagos, 08069763605
As I read your Ronaldo Sermon, tears dropped from my eyes. Indeed, what a sermon! Very rich. God bless you. There is still hope for Nigeria. Oracle Sam, 08109316794
Ronaldo Sermon is very apt, touching and commendable. Keep it up. Barr. Sam Ojoeke, 08039522967
Thanks for your instructive sermon. It makes direct meaning to all aspects of our life. Eric Ugbor, Umuahia, 08038912959
I don’t know what pushed me into buying that paper on Saturday but on reading your column, I thank God I did. It is a sermon for a lifetime. God bless Nigeria. Moses Idoko, Jos, 07039047107
A good sermon from a wise man. Hope our President read it. Thanks, Pastor Mike. Sunrise, Kaduna, 08033921246
The Ronaldo Sermon is a lesson to all to always put trust in God who fetches water with the basket to humble the bucket. I totally agree with you. Barrister Anyaoha, Owerri, 08035384626
I doff my cap for Ronaldo Sermon concerning our dear nation. May God continue to bless and enlarge your coast in Jesus name. Oyebanji Samuel, 09096637382