Pastor Lawani Rawlings is a resident pastor of Gospel Pillars International Church in Northern Cyprus. In this interview with Heraldnigeria.com, he revealed to us how his pastoral life started, how he is balancing his pastoral life with family life, he also addressed the issue of Christians being marginalized in some countries around the world.
HN: What is your name?
Pastor Rawlings: My name is Pastor Lawani Rawlings. I am Bini by tribe, Uhunmwonde local government, Benin City, Edo State. I am the first child from a family of seven.
HN: How did your ministry life start?
Pastor Rawlings: I can not talk about my ministerial life without talking about my personal life. I have been a Christian from birth, but actually got born again in 2008 in Nigeria, Edo state precisely.
There was a pastor that came around to preach the word of God in our area, from there she ministered to us and few weeks later she got me filled with the holy ghost and that was where the passion to serve God really came in.
As time went on, I saw myself affecting lives and that was where I joined Gospel Pillars International Church. I became an active leader there and was later ordained as a pastor.
HN: How many times have you wanted to quit ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: You know, they is no man that doesn’t get tempted, it is never easy as a Christian, if anyone tells you that it is so sweet and rosy that person is a deceiver. There were times I felt like giving up but Jesus never promised us that we will have it sweet all the time, even when Jesus prayed ”Lord if it is your will, let this cup pass from me” His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground Luke 22:24.
One thing I can really say is that all the challenges and trials that I faced, when I went through them, I became stronger and now I am able to encourage others going through same or similar things.
Christianity is all about practice. What I have to say to people is that, ”for you to be a winner you must have fought battle(s)”, so the scars we have in our hearts and body today are as a result of the battles we fought and we won.
HN: Who is your mentor?
Pastor Rawlings: That is a beautiful question. Dr. Isaiah Wealth is my mentor. I have gone to several Churches, listened to several pastors preach, but when I joined Gospel Pillars, I didn’t meet Dr. Isaiah Wealth until 2010, that’s two years when I joined the ministry before I met him one on one.
Before I met Dr. Isaiah Wealth, I was already listening to his messages which positively impacted my life. His teachings has really framed up my mind to become spiritually and physically tough. I owe all that I am today to Dr. Isaiah Wealth.
HN: Do you regret any of the ministry moves you’ve made?
Pastor Rawlings: I have no regrets on any ministry moves I have made so far.
HN: What’s been your “secret” to avoiding falling?
Pastor Rawlings: As Paul said, ”let him that thinks his stand, take heed lest he falls”. 1 Corinthians 10:12. I believe the greatest thing a man can have is a virtue and a fruit of the spirit called “humility”. Humility is not what the world sees it as, humility to God is submission to the word of God, admitting your faults, knowing your weaknesses and working on them.
We are not perfect because we all are working towards perfection, growing everyday, becoming like God which is the ultimate goal.
So, what has really been my secret to avoid falling is my total submission to God’s word and allowing his word to dwell in me.
HN: What’s been the biggest mistake you’ve made in ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: I will say that my greatest mistake has been working on my own, making decisions without consulting God.
There was a time I wanted to do a kind of business but did not really pray to God because I felt that the business ideas were good but ended up being duped which was a mistake.
So, there is no way we can trust God and He will lead us astray. Whenever I am to make a move I always consult God.
HN: What’s been your biggest joy in ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: I love this question. My greatest joy is the impacts that I have made in the lives of people, to see people who are struggling stand on their own, to see those without hope and now they are the ones giving hope to people, to see people making progress.
Even here in Cyprus, a lot people I see in Church that are members, leaders, I know how they where before when they came in, seeing them knowing more on the things of God give me happiness, these positive impacts in people’s lives has been my greatest joy.
HN: Knowing what you know now, what would you say to yourself when you first started ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: Firstly, I have to thank God for counting me worthy. God can never use someone that is useless, one without a future. There must be something about me that God saw that I didn’t even see in myself.
Lastly, one of the things I have always ask God is that at the end of my life all my efforts and sacrifices should not be a waste. I myself should make it to His kingdom and I am trusting God He will help me to finish well.
HN: Would your spouse say that you’ve placed her above your ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: Laughs…. There are times that emotional part of us as human would come in. There is a pastoral side of you, a fatherly part of you, a husband and a lover part of you. So, wisdom is needed to know when to switch to being a lover because your wife is very important to you. If there is no peace in your home as a pastor, how can you pastor well?.
It is the wisdom of God that has been helping. There were times we were having some issues, but what makes me happy is the fact that she understands spiritual things and ministry.
She is my help-mate and has been very supportive. Since her arrival to Cyprus, she has really helped in handling vital issues and areas in my life and I thank God for that.
HN: What’s your strategy for consistent Bible reading and prayer?
Pastor Rawlings: I will say my consistence in Bible reading is due to motivation, my love for God. I want to know God more and understand Him more.
HN: How have you kept intentional evangelism in your life?
Pastor Rawlings: If a Church is just existing and people are not being impacted, souls are not won for Christ, then it’s not a Church but a meeting.
So, my life from what I have understood according to Jesus exemplary leadership is…… Jesus’ life was evangelism and preaching.
Before I became a pastor, I was a christian. In other words, my lifestyle is doing things deliberately, helping people to impact their lives.
Most of the Church members today are from my school departments where I obtained my BSc in Nursing and some I had business transactions with along the line.
HN: What book other than the Bible has most influenced your life?
Pastor Rawlings: My mentor, Dr Isaiah Wealth, I have read lots of his books. Some of the books are; Serving the Lord, Last Assignment, Fresh Fire.
I have read other books from great authors too, some of these books are; Ablaze for God, Divine revelation of hell, Final quest and these books have impacted my life positively.
HN: What’s your plan for maximizing the rest of your ministry?
Pastor Rawlings: Affecting people’s lives positively with everything that I have is one of the ways of maximizing the rest of my ministerial life.
The story of a rich fool was told in the Bible. He had so much money but couldn’t affect people meaningfully. A man’s life is not about what he has but how much people he affects positively with what he has, that is why I studied Nursing and now Masters in Public Health.
My reason for becoming a Public Health Nurse is not far-fetched. Some Nations will not accept you as a missionary pastor but as a Public Health Nurse. Being a Public Health Nurse that is a pastor will help to give not just medical aids and treatments but to also to give them the word of Christ by sharing the word of God with them.
I want to build an orphanage home and help the less privileged.
HN: Apart from pastoral life, what else do you do?
Pastor Rawlings: I am into foreign exchange here in Cyprus. I am the CEO of Frago Global International, located in Nigeria, we deal on all kinds of perfumes. I am also trying to start up estate and traveling agency here in Cyprus.
HN: Christians today are been marginalised in some countries due to their belief in Christ, what do you have to say to these Christians?
Pastor Rawlings: I will say to them to hold on to their faith, they did not become Christians because of what people will do to them or what people will say. They became Christians because they encountered God, that should still be the reason while they are there.
I want to encourage them that they should hold on, Jesus said that. ”he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved”. I will say to them not to give up, not to be intimidated, keep on and trust God. We as Christians in other parts of the world will keep praying for them.
We are not only called to believe in the name of Jesus but also called to suffer for His sake. The Christianity we are enjoying today is built on the blood of Christ.
I want them to know that there is a crown of glory Christ has kept for them. They shouldn’t worry but hold on and wait till the end.
HN: Would you do it all again?
Pastor Rawlings: I will do everything I have done since I have known Christ all again.
HN: What Advise do you have for someone who wants to follow your footsteps?
Pastor Rawlings: I want them to know that it is not an easy road. They will face persecutions, betrayal and when they do,they are preparing for the task ahead.
On a final note, they need to be submissive to authorities, loyal to people that God has placed in their life, people who see good in them and are eager to bring out the best in them.
We invite everyone to visit Isaiah Wealth Ministries on YouTube, Facebook and Gospel Pillars Church.
Visit our website: www.gospelpillars.org
You can stay in touch with me via Facebook: Nurse Rawl.