How Prophetess Funmilola Lucas celebrated her birthday in a special way

By Nehru Odeh

Bishop Obafemi and Prophetess Funmilola Lucas are a couple with a difference. Not only are they the brains behind the Gospel of Fire Ministries International, they have proved over the years that their mandate is not just spreading the Word of God but also empowering the less privileged including the widows and the aged.

And every year, it has always been a life-changing experience as hundreds of worshippers throng Ilara, Epe, Lagos for the anniversary celebration and Empowerment Programme of Mountain of Miracle, Ori-Oke Iyanu tagged “From Story to Glory”. And the unique thing about it is that every year, the programme is always an improvement on the previous one.

This year’s, which was the fifth edition and held on October 25 was no different, as Prophetess Lucas, the visionary and founder of Dominion of Zuriel (DOZ) also used that occasion to celebrate her birthday by empowering the downtrodden in the society.

It was indeed a celebration with a difference. It was a day filled with joy, gratitude, and life-changing testimonies. It was also a day of festivity, of music and of dance as the legendary musician Sunny Ade and his band serenade guests and worshippers with scintillating music and his magical dance steps.

Still, a very significant thing about the event themed “Empowered to Empowered” was that over 5,000 less privileged in the society including widows and the aged went home with various kinds of gifts in cash and kind. The gifts included equipment such as sewing machine, pepper grinding machine, dryers, food packs, bags of rice, noodles, clothing and relief materials, to mention just a few. There was also a medical outreach where people got free medical attention.

In her speech, Prophetess Lucas described the anniversary not just as a personal milestone, but as a celebration of purpose and divine impact.

“The idea of founding the Dominion of Zuriel (DOZ) Love Foundation was divinely inspired. It is a charitable, non-profit, and non-religious organisation established as an arm of Gospel of Fire Ministries International to empower widows, assist the motherless, support the girl child, care for the elderly, and give hope to the hopeless,” she said, emphasizing that the initiative was born out of a passion to “give back to society and be a blessing to our community and the world at large.”

In his welcome address, His Royal Majesty, Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara, commended Prophetess Lucas and her husband, Bishop Obafemi Lucas, for their unwavering dedication to community development and empowerment through faith-based initiatives.

He noted that their efforts had “brought tangible change and restored dignity to many families who had lost hope,” describing the foundation as a model for faith-driven social transformation.

While Dr Yomi Soleye, the Guest Speaker, who couldn’t hide her joy and sense of appreciation, commended the couple for the double celebration. “Today’s gathering is not just a ceremony. It’s a divine testimony of God’s mercy and faithfulness. We are here to rejoice, to give thanks and to witness another move of God through the act of empowerment,” she enthused.

Soleye also enjoined the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to be faithful to what God had given them, adding that their increase will surely come. She also urged to receive their blessings with a sense of integrity.

“Empowerment without integrity is like a house built on sand. As you, beneficiaries, rise today, let your foundation be godliness and honesty. Be diligent. Be disciplined and trustworthy in all you do. When God lifts you, remain humble. When you prosper, remember to lift others. It is written, ‘Let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good works…’ Let your life be an example of Christ’s love over any business, trade or skill you pursue. And do it as unto the Lord,” she said.

Soleye then expressed her appreciation to Prophetess Lucas for the good works she is doing empowering the less privileged with the support of her husband, Bishop Lucas.

”I must appreciate and celebrate Prophetess Funmilayo Lucas for her obedience to her calling, her vision and her compassion for the people of God. Empowerment is a true art of ministry. It is love in motion. He that has pity upon the poor lend unto the Lord. My dear prophetess your labour of love shall never be forgotten. The same God who multiplies the seed sown will multiply your impacts and enlarge your coast. ,” she maintained.

Bishop Lucas, for his part, said the empowerment programme was not organized to impress anybody and that the cash and material gifts they were going to give the beneficiaries were not from him.

“Today is another day that the Lord has made again. What we are doing here today is never to impress anybody. We brought nothing to this world and we are going to depart with nothing. To the glory of God, since the inception of the ministries we have been passionate about helping others. And I want you to underline this: I have never seen any religion that is greater than the act of kindness.

“What we are giving to people today does not belong to me. We have a cash of about 100 million naira to share out we have those equipment that those who are very kind have given to us. We are just middlemen,” he noted.

The beneficiaries could not hide their joy and appreciation as some of them shed tears of joy as they stepped forward, one after the other, to receive their cash and material gifts, While King Sunny Ade lit up the atmosphere of the hall with his evergreen music.

One Olubunmi Onaolapo who came all the way from Odolayera, Ogun State, to participate in the empowerment programme prayed that God will continue to empower the Bishop and the prophetess and that the source of their blessings will never run dry.

While Jacob Daniel, who lives at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, said what the couple is doing is to help others and not for any personal benefits or to get more members. “They are just using it to help people. To make people feel better,” he said.

Naomi Ilya, who said she was a new member of the ministry and came from Awoyaya, Lagos, was also thankful. “We thank God. She (the Prophetess) did well. She tried her best. Look out all these people collecting gifts. Though we haven’t collected ours, we don’t care. We are church members. We would get ours. If even we don’t get ours and these people get something, it’s okay,” she noted.

Segun Ladipo, a prophet in charge of a church said he came with his members “to partake in the three- day prayer programme – From Story to Glory – which also goes alongside the empowerment programme that the ministry does to help the less privileged, considering the high poverty level in the country.

“We appreciate them. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless them and reward those that are supporting them financially, physically, materially in all ramifications,”Ladipo said.

Gabriel Adeleye, a member of the Celestial Church of Christ, said he came from Jakande Estate, in Lagos, to participate in the programme and seek the face of God.

“I think they are trying their best to elevate people and to help the less privileged so that they can have something they can use to fend for themselves. And if people can do what they are doing now to help people, I think the poverty will reduce because they are trying a lot,” he said.

It was a day filled with testimonies and celebrations.And as the beneficiaries started their return journey back home, they could not hide their joy and sense of gratitude, as they look forward to the next empowerment programme, which will take place next year at the same venue filled with great expectations.