By Anthony Iwuoma
Kindly share:
The maiden Thanksgiving Service of Acts of Restoration and Compassion Church, ARC Church, was held on Sunday , December 15, 2025. The joyous occasion marked a significant spiritual milestone in the life of the ministry, barely one month after its inauguration. More than a ceremonial gathering, the service stood as a profound declaration of God’s faithfulness, the power of obedience, and the emergence of a truly Church Without Borders, as the church prides itself.
From the early hours, the atmosphere radiated warmth, joy, and expectation. Members, first-time worshippers, and invited guests from diverse backgrounds assembled in unity, beautifully reflecting ARC Church’s defining vision, an inclusive fellowship committed to restoration, compassion, and the boundless love of Christ beyond physical, cultural, and denominational barriers.
The service commenced with an intense and spirit-lifting praise and worship session. Songs of thanksgiving and adoration were rendered with heartfelt passion, drawing the congregation into deep reverence and collective gratitude. Many worshippers responded with visible joy, and spontaneous expressions of praise, acknowledging God’s protection, provision, and grace upon the young but fast-growing ministry.
A major moment was the stirring testimony of Dr. Yolanda David, a Ghanaian lady married to a Nigerian, who narrated a history of family afflictions out of which God delivered her.
Sometime last year, she was in a coma for long, not even knowing that she was pregnant at the time. After everything failed, the doctor treating her out of necessity decided to run a pregnancy test on her, which proved positive. Despite the baby being diagnosed of having an unresponsive heartbeat, he still beat the odds and was born healthy. Dr. Yolanda, the amazing hand behind the popular Aunt Landa humanitarian outreaches, also survived her ordeal to God’s glory and has continued her exploits for the Kingdom, and providing succour for the less-privileged.
During her testimony, she offered powerful prophetic and declarative prayers for Lead Pastor, Rev. Paul Chikwem, ARC members, Nigeria and Nigerians, urging God to cleanse the seat of power, and enthrone whoever He desires for the good of the Nigerian citizens.
The testimony served as compelling evidence that ARC Church, though new in establishment, is already bearing tangible fruit and really impacting the lives of its members.
The thanksgiving exhortation, delivered by the Lead Pastor was both inspiring and visionary.
The man of God is uniquely known for his deep, expressive worship and heartfelt devotion to God, embodies a ministry marked by humility, compassion, and an uncommon passion for restoring lives through the power of Christ.
He is also exceptional for his deeply reverent worship, leads with a burning love for God, carrying a mandate of restoration, compassion, and authentic kingdom living.
Chikwem’s weekly ‘Your week is blessed’ online prayer programme and the monthly Papa’s Move Outreach has separated him from the crowd.
Apart Drawing from relevant Scriptures, Chikwem’s message on the healing of ten lepers out of which only one came back to thank Jesus, emphasised gratitude as a spiritual posture, compassion as a divine mandate, and restoration as the heartbeat of the gospel.
The congregation collectively committed the future of ARC Church into God’s hands, praying for unity, wisdom, spiritual depth, and accelerated growth.
The thanksgiving offering was given happily, reflecting the spirit of generosity, stewardship, and shared ownership already evident within the church family.
The service climaxed in joyful fellowship, as members and guests interacted freely in an atmosphere of love and acceptance, living out the essence of the ARC Church as a Church Without Borders. Many attendees described the service as refreshing, authentic, and deeply impactful, with several expressing a strong desire to identify with the church and its vision.
In conclusion, the maiden Thanksgiving Service of Acts of Restoration and Compassion Church (ARC Church) was a resounding success, spiritually enriching, orderly, and vision-driven. It affirmed that although the church is young in age, it is strong in purpose, clear in vision, and firmly rooted in Christ. The thanksgiving service marked the beginning of greater exploits, wider outreach, and deeper expressions of restoration and compassion, all to the glory of God.
