One on One with Ojonugwa

We are letting out some behind the scenes of Pastor D.O Michael

The ups the downs and the beautiful

This is meant to bless and inspire you

Remember to drop a comment😊💪

Exclusive interview with Pastor D. O Michael

Good evening sir, thanks for making out time to meet with us, so you tell us about you??

D.O Michael: Okay, I am David Ojochide Michael, Lead pastor, Hour of Endowment, a graduate of Mass communication from the Kogi State University, Ayingba
   I'm from a family of 9 children, 3 girls, 6 boys and I am number 8, like the biblical Joseph😄

Ojonugwa: Smiles** Okay sir, so can you let us into your childhood, what was growing up like for you???

D, O Michael: The early part of growing up for me was in the village, I grew up among my brethren, and even at that younger stage, I had divine encounters .which I couldn't understand because of my spiritual status at the time. It was fun back then growing up among and with my brethren. The basis of life was thought me there. I learnt a great lot.

Ojonugwa: Wow, Amazing God, so, you left the village at quite a young age what was it like? The change of environment, leaving home, family and friends??

D. O Michael: Leaving the village for me was a miracle. I don't  know what exactly happened to me, I was moved by a gentle force from within me from my room that particular day to my frontage, there I stood looking up to the sky saying, "Lord, please, take me out of this village." And to be sincere, I didn't know was  going on but when I was done saying that, I knew I came back to my senses but, since I didn't understand spiritual things, I just left it like that. So, 2 or 3 weeks after that day, to cut the story short, my aunt from Ajaokuta came to one of my aunt's house in another village to take her daughter along with her in order to stay with her but according to her, the lady said, " she was too big to go and stay with somebody." So, she in her disappointed state came to my own village to say hi to my mummy before returning, it was at that point she asked if there's anyone available for her. They called me from the field where I was playing football. She finally asked if I would like to follow her, and of course, I said yes, not knowing that there was a force working based on those words spoken by me, as enabled by the Spirit. That was how I found myself at Ajaokuta.
Leaving the village environment, hmm! It wasn't at first hurting because I thought I was leaving for just some few weeks to return. It was after some months that I realized, this journey was a serious one. It was at that point I started crying. I really missed the life back at home with my friends and family. Finally, I accepted my fate and adjusted to the new environment. The change of environment wasn't easy but now I count that it was worth it, and thus far the Lord has helped us.

Ojonugwa: Interesting.., Educationally, how did you cope, I mean, from the village, coming to town, and all??

D,O Michael: if I were to continue in the village, I was to move to jss2 the next session, but here, I was demoted to primary 5, I was reluctant and complained at the beginning but when classes started, I was not sure if I had ever come across what was being taught, I decided to just calm down and learn afresh
   I failed my common entrancejexami at into the staff comprehensive secondary school, I was later enrolled into a different school where I did pretty well...
I eventually transferred back to my first choice school few weeks to the term examination and guess what? I failed again, I couldn't cover-up the term work load
I got confused at some point cause I couldn't even communicate properly in English language, with that I could make only few friends
Joining the FCS was one of my biggest blessings as God blessed me with the gift of Good friends

Ojonugwa: okay sir, so when was your major turning point, when did it all start??

D,O Michael: Okay, so I was born into a Christian home, I've spent all my life going to church, but at some point, I knew there was more to this church going, ring the service in church once in the village, I remember stepping out for the altar call, not being able.to explain fully the force that was pulling me out
   Coming to Ajaokuta, getting more enlightenment, at age 18, I rededicated my life to Christ.
The major turning point was when a pastor Rev. Phoenix visited the church we fellowshipped with and said "if God speaks to you, even just mentioning your name, you will never remain the same again"
It became my prayer point as I wanted my life changed, as I continued in prayer, this day at home, I heard my name,nit sounded so strange, so I was scared and I took off cause it sounded like what the scripture will describe as the sound of many waters
That was the begining of my encounters

Ojonugwa: okay sir, so how was Hour of Endowment born??

D.O Michael: From the friends I made in FCS, few if us came together as the anointed vessels
In one of our meetings where I got to the venue earlier, just sitting there, I heard clearly, "moment of refreshing", I didn't know what it meant but I kept it at heart.
Days after, I couldn't sleep, I had to ask the Lord, what He was saying exactly, and that was when He said.., "Hour of Endowment"
He said gather youths together for me, and I will por myself on them, I will raise an army and generals from amongst them.

Ojonugwa: okay, so did you face challenges at the begining and do you still face them now?

D.O Michael: We faced so many challenges that at a point we thought of stepping down
You know them,youth gathering were not rampant as they are now, it was very difficult  for parents to release their wards and children
Some other people tried to talk us out if the will of God.
At some point I wanted to stop the whole thing but God's grace through a friend helped us move on, we held meetings with amazing testimonies which served as a source of encouragement to us..

Ojonugwa: Now sir what places can you say Hour of Endowment has impacted as a ministry

D. O Michael: With the help of God, Hour of Endowment has impacted so many places in Kogi state and beyond including some campuses, from Ajaokuta, we have the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, the Kogi State University, Ayingba, outside the state, we have the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, suleja in Niger state and Akure in Ondo state, these places have felt the impact of HOE at some point

Ojonugwa: God has indeed been faithful
What do you have to tell us sir, about your Ministers, do you feel the impact on them, can you boldly say they have grown spiritually and even character wise...

D. O Michael: **smiles** thank you so much for that question
You see, like I always tell my ministers, "HOE is a training ground and no man can rise to reign who has not been trained" cause you see, training precedes reigning
You know if something is not beneficial to people, they'll go and never return, cause nobody wants to waste their time
We've had cases where parents testify about both the spiritual life and the character of their children,hence they keep letting them come back
God is training leaders here, not just followers
In HOE, God is doing much more than we know

Ojonugwa: okay sir, now, how do you handle people who tube come a long way together leaving the ministry, sometimes with no serious explainations, what has it taught you generally??

D. O Michael: *smiles* the thing is, there are different categories of followers
Some who follow you simply because they like you and
Some others who follow because they are called by God to follow you
Men leaving the ministry is not much of a surprise cause it is just playing out in the physical but has already happened in the realm of the supernatural, so it's not new
So many have left and others will still leave
What the experience has taught me now, as a person
You can begin with some persons and not go very far with them cause some people are with you for only a season.
Another thing is God is still screening men
And finally, do not struggle to keep those who are not meant to stay.

Ojonugwa: I have learnt a lot so far just listening to you sir, rounding up now,
If it is not ministry, what else would you do??

D. O Michael: laughs**
Oh how I love football, I would probably venture into professional football
Also being a graduate of mass communication, journalism is also something I like to do

Ojonugwa:smiles** okay, so can you tell us few things about your self, which you think thepublic does not know about??

D. O Michael: Well, I am not very much if the secretive type, but what people don't know much about is my spiritual encounters, spiritual dealings with God, I don't talk much about them cause I believe they are for personal consumption
But then, here are a few others
I said this earlier, I'm from a family of 9 children and I'm the 8
I did my primary school twice, like I finished and started again
Started my secondary school in the village, continued after I left and yes!
I am not married and I am NOT searching

Ojonugwa: Not married and not searching..., We see😄😄
On a final note sir what would be your advice to someone going through this who has the Cal of God and is facing so many challenges and might be thinking of giving up???

D. O Michael: Okay, I would always say this that "if life is free from challenges, it will be boring"
Nothing happens without challenges
I would let you know that if you don't like challenges, you don't want to be changed, cause after these challenges comes your victory and there is joy in victory
You shouldnt give up on God's calling because you're facing challenges,
Challenges though are meant to be stumbling blocks but if properly handled will be stepping Stones to our victory

Ojonugwa: Wow thank you so much for your time tonight, thanks for letting us into a bit of your privacy..., We see how we can turn our failures, disappointments and any form of challenges into a victory story
Thank you so much sir, you are indeed a gift to this generation, we do not take this for granted.

D. O Michael: You are welcome, thanks so much for having me

Ojonugwa: Alright readers, I trust you were blessed by this and have learnt something new today, until next time, bye for now......