Interview: Major Friday Ayanam
Original Publication - JAC #32, August – September 2004
Fresh from ICO, Major Ayanam is a key leader in the Nigeria
Territory.
JAC: Major, please tell us about your conversion and
sanctification.
FA: I made an open declaration and accepted the Lord Jesus
Christ into my life on the 18th of August 1985. It was in a
Corps Cadet Camp during the long vacation holidays. The last
meeting has always been the highlight of the Camp where
appeals were made to either give up a sinful habit or declare
for full time officership. I was there when the power in the
Word of God arrested me. I left my seat with the intention of
going outside when I could not stand the heat of God's spirit.
Unknowingly, I ended up at the mercy seat in tears, asking God
to look upon me with mercy, because I have been pretending to
be what I was not. He did that and I felt the load and burden
of sin taken off me. I became very light, felt a sense joy
that has never been. I was happy all the way back home
rejoicing and praising God for an experience that I did not
know and nobody had ever told me that is what happened until
two years later. Through my ignorance, I started struggling to
live a Christian life. It was a time of rising and falling, an
experience that was very boring, but through constant reading
of the Bible and meditation and association with Christian
brethren who were heavenminded, God visited me on the evening
of 16th June 1999. I was with my wife in my room, The spirit
powerful presence was sensed. It was time for the fire of the
Holy spirit to 'burn up every trace of sin in order to bring
the light and glory in' I was sanctified and baptised in the
Holy Spirit. Praise God.
JAC: What are the strengths of The Salvation Army in Nigeria
(and what are the
challenges)?
FA: I would love to say the strengths are the desire to know
the living Christ in his total presence, the powerful
practical prayer life and the desire to serve God under a
difficult environment of bribery and corruption, rejecting the
corrupt delicacies place at our disposal in order to please
God. The challenges are : taking the gospel up north, the
HIV/AIDS pandemic, developing Women in leaderships, doubling
our membership, making soldiers disciples and being self
sufficient etc
JAC: Who are your heroes, and why?
FA: My heroes includes my Corps Officer - Major AE Akpaah (R),
A Corps Officer indeed with a difference. He made a big
difference in my life. His messages and practical influences
brought me up. He is a hero.
Late General Frederick Coutts : I was named after this great
man of God, and from all I gathered from people and books I
read about him, his humility, his practical influence upon
lives and his Christlike character etc. He is truly a hero, my
hero.
General Eva Burrows: She commissioned me as an Officer. My
first meeting with her was great and I was excited to see a
woman that was indeed a General of God's people. A woman with
a big heart for the Lord.
Colonel Margaret Hay : She, of-course made the impact lately.
However, meeting her for the first time was indeed meeting an
embodiment of great spiritual giant with the ability to turn
around a wimp and caused the dead, frustrated, tired and weird
soul to receive life again. She is a true hero.
Nelson Mandela : Talking about liberation for a people,
endurance under affliction and perseverance under frustrated
environment, here is a man who has lived for the common cause
of saving suffering humanity. He is my hero.
JAC: Who influences you?
FA: My Corps Officer as mentioned above. Samuel Brengle Books
on Holiness and Bill Hybels books on various topics.
JAC: What part does the West have in the future of The
Salvation Army?
FA: The truth that the gospel was first received from the West
and the Salvation Army actually came from the West, they
became the head. Spiritually they must continue the legacy.
The Bible reflect the problem the body has when the head is
sick. The Head must understand that it is the head. The part
the west has is to put her house in order, return to the
basics, and never forget the Mission God gave to the Salvation
Army. If the West is confused, they should call a solemn
assembly, seek the face of God, and God will return with his
healing and restoration.
JAC: What unites us The Salvation Army?
FA: Our common goal- Souls of Men. Our two-fold Mission is
unique and we must walk in the path He has marked for our
feet. No deviation.
JAC: Your warfare includes regular doses of the supernatural.
Can you give us some examples of God-glorifying miracles of
which you have been privileged to witness?
FA: I have witnessed sight restored to the blind, the lame
walking, a dead child restored back to life, an insane girl
becoming conscious, a paralysed man revived, a dumb man
speaking again to the glory of God. Our God is still in the
business of healing his people.
JAC: What are some of the positive effects of miracles in your
midst?
FA: The positive effects of miracles does a great deal of
good:
1. Brings many people to believe and trust God,
2. Reveals the awesomeness and reality of God in the midst of
his people,
3. Confirms my call to Officership - Isaiah 61:1-4 etc
4. Create an awareness of God's presence in men and women who
are available for
Him to use.
JAC: What part should the supernatural play in our warfare
around the world?
FA: The supernatural should play a leading role, particularly
in the Salvation Army where the Founders prophecy is
fulfilling in the 21st Century. Men holding (speaking and
preaching) the word of truth, but denying the power thereof.
Living the practical Christian life proves that God is a live
and working among his people. He must increase and I decrease.
JAC: If you could give one exhortation to readers worldwide,
what would it be?
FA: Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. He has
not and can never
change.
Thank you very much for this privilege!
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