Archbishop Goddowell O. Avwomakpa: The man with burden for lost souls

Archbishop Goddowell O. Avwomakpa is the Founder/General Overseer of Christ’s Missionaries Crusaders Church. He was born in 1947 at Oginibo in Ughelli South L.G.A. of Delta State, Nigeria, into a Christian family of Avwomakpa Majomi. He was a soldier in the Nigerian Army in 1967, but was called to capture souls for Christ. Here are the very words of this great God’s general of Urhoboland:

“Briefly, in 1967, that was the beginning of the Nigerian civil war, I was a soldier then, while at night in the war front, I had a vision. It was a call from God and the voice said three times, Can you do My work in this place? And I answered, Yes. My response and reaction to this vision led to my voluntary resignation from the Army which became possible through my commandant, whom I found favour in his sight after narrating the vision to him through the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“God began to work in me as I found myself getting out of all unrighteousness and embracing the truth, fear and love of God which led me to become a peacemaker instead of a fighter.”

That same year God led him to the Ukori Preaching Society, of which he was the secretary after one month. In 1968 the Ukori Preaching Society, which he belonged to, merged with the Anglican Adam Preaching Society under the leadership of Evangelist Cornelius Adam Igbudu. I believe it was with the flame of this man’s evangelistic candle that he lit his own candle. I mean Igbudu’s burden for lost souls was dropped in his heart and it drove him to do missionary work.

Avwomakpa carried out his first missionary work at Iyokiri and it was when they returned from Iyokiri that they were called Christ’s missionaries by the A.A.P.S. There were some challenges he faced in the course of his missionary works, but God saw him through. God used one Madam Christiana Popo, who received divine healing through his prayer, to provide the first place of worship.

Avwomakpa is a popular Urhobo cleric and television gospel preacher whose programme airs weekly on Delta Rainbow Television. He said, “The closer you are to God, the smaller your problem.” He is married to Victoria Avwomakpa and they are blessed with nine children.

There are two things I really like about this great man of God: one, he is heavenly conscious and earthly useful in the sense that he is actively involved in both religion and politics, and God has been using him in both areas to effect a change and to affect lives positively; and two, he is the man with burden for lost souls,

…and is involved mainly in evangelism in rural areas, through open-air crusades and revival services. God through him has turned many from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son Christ. Many communities have renounced their idols and turned to God through his ministry. Amongst such communities are the Ojobo community in the interior riverine area and Umuche-Onuabor community in interior Kwale where the traditional ruler (the Okpala) was installed by the [arch] bishop in the name of the Lord instead of their traditional idol worship because he gave his life to Christ and renounced their idols. He was also the chief priest.

At the Consecration of God-dowell Avwomakpa as Archbishop of Christ Missionaries Crusaders Church, Warri:

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (right) with Prof. G. G. Darah.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (right) with Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Nicholas Mutu.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) with Bishop God-dowell Avwomakpa.