Ezekiel
By Anthony Iwuoma
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Christian Pentecostal Mission, CPM, at the weekend rolled out the drums to celebrate its General Overseer, Rev. Dr. Mercy Ezekiel, as she marked her 75th birthday.
The programme commenced on Wednesday, July 2, and ended on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the international headquarters, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
The ceremony had all the trappings of glamour and grace. Present was a host of men and women of God, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Mommy Foluke, Bishop Frances Wale Oke, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and his wife, Evang. Kingsley Nwaorgu, Apostle Eugene Ogu, who ministered on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, and several others, including all leading ministers of CPM.
The programme featured drama presentation, word and choir ministration, and book presentation as well as a documentary on Rev. Dr. Mercy Ezekiel, among others.
Rev. John Eze, the Imo State Coordinator of CPM, described the celebrant as unique, exemplary, and selfless in all ramifications.
He said all that Rev. Mrs. Ezekiel cared about was God and the church, and recalled travelling a lot of times with her, but she would buy things for others but none for herself. So, not knowing what gift to give her, on this auspicious occasion, the church decided to play a fast one on her and planned not to give her any money because she would plow whatever money that is given to her into the church.
Eze noted that the church wanted to celebrate her while alive and not in death, adding that it was the event that marked the beginning of many great celebrations to come.
The amiable man of God announced the gift of a car to the CPM General Overseer, promising that a time would come when she would be presented with a jet. But for now, the church deemed it fit to present her with an SUV, Lexus LX 600, American spec, 2024 model, full function with all premium features in appreciation of her motherly love and care, and her commitment to the work of God.
Then Eze began to sing ‘na our mama bi dis, we no get anoda one’, the entire church erupted in rapturous joy, dancing and clapping. Seeing the expression of much love for her, Mommy Ezekiel wept.
When called up to speak, she began by singing her signature song, noting that the name of Jesus is higher than every other name. She appreciated everyone that came to honour, beginning from Bishop Wale Oke and his wife, Mrs Uma Ukpai, Daddy and Mommy Enoch Adeboye, Dr. Alex Otti, Abia State governor, who sent a representative; Mr Babajide Sanwaolu, the Lagos State governor, and wife, her family members, many of whom flew in from the US and Europe, the church Committee, Pentecostal Actio Team, PAT, the Women Fellowship, the entire church, etc. She prayed that God would also honour them as they did to her. She recalled the occasion her vehicle broke down in the middle road and the day Rev. Elias Uchechi told her that she would never buy a fairly used car again. According to her, she had argued with him, wondering where they would get the money for a ‘tear rubber’. However, it is all history today. She confessed that the church had made her smile and also cry at the same time, thanking the organising committee for not telling her about their plan, because, indeed, if she had been aware, she would have objected to it.
A major highlight of the grand finale of the ceremony was the presentation of her book, ‘God Helped Me.’ A rain of naira and foreign currencies poured in as people fell over one another to pick up copies of the book. Interestingly and characteristically, Mommy Ezekiel instructed that all proceeds of the book should be deployed to adding more hostels at the CPM Camp on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The entire church and guests were feted at the end of the event.
