…Reveals Why He Will Live Very Long
The opulent auditorium of the Royal House of Grace International headquarters (Graceland), Port Harcourt, was filled to capacity as worshippers took up all available seats in the pew on Palm Sunday, a day Christians all over the world commemorated the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
But the sitting constraint, no thanks to the ubiquitous observance of the Covid-19 protocols, was not a direct consequence of the Palm Sunday celebration, but an unavoidable crowding, following the Thanksgiving Service marking the birthday of the founder and International General Overseer of Royal House of Grace International Church, Apostle King David Zilly Aggrey who turned 59 on Sunday, March 21, 2021. That was the day slated for the Thanksgivingservice but as the Apostle explained, “We moved it to this Sunday, March 28, 2021 because a higher authority needed my presence in Benin City”.
True to expectations, the occasion lived to billing with dignitaries from all walks of life in attendance. The roll call includesguest speaker and General Overseer of Logos Ministries International Church, Bishop Yomi Isijola and top members of the Royal House of Grace International Church, notably, Her Excellency, First Lady of Bayelsa State, Mrs. Gloria Diri; wife of the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mrs. Magaret Alamiesiegha; the member representing Okolokuma/Opokuma Constituency in Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon Wisdom Fafe and the Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Investment, Hon. (Dr.) Jonathan Obuebite.
Others who graced the event were Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Rivers State, Senior Apostle (Dr.) Stanley Dimkpa; representative of the Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rivers State, Rev. (Dr.) Silas Jude Nwafor; Deputy President of International Network of Apostolic Ministries (INTERACT), Bishop Abos Willie; Chairman of INTERACT in Rivers State, Arch Bishop Eddy Ogbonda; an Advisory Board member of PFN, Bishop (Dr.) Victor Uzosike and popular televangelist and singer, Rev. Felix Akara.
Also present were the pioneer Secretary-General of PFN in Rivers State, Chief (Barr) Membere; Rev. (Mrs.) W.T. Iwo; Alabota Muriel Graham-Douglas; and a bosom friend of Apostle Zilly Aggrey, Mr. Kingsley Wali. The Old Boys Association of Government Comprehensive High School, Port Harcourt as well as Bishops and pastors of Royal House of Grace branches across Nigeria, traditional rulers, politicians and captains of industry among others, were also present to rejoice with the celebrant.
There was no dull moment with varieties of inspirational songs were delivered by a cream of some of the bests in the gospel music industry. They put up their best to honour the man whose ministry has impacted many lives.
Little wonder that the famed Prophetic Minstrels of Graceland International Church would specially choose Bob Dylan’s classic hit, ‘Forever Young’ to usher in the celebrant. The song kept the greater part of the congregation on their toes as the Apostle waved passionately in appreciation, acknowledging the song as one of his favourites.
As the revered Apostle mounted the pulpit amid spontaneous applause, he said he would continue to tell his story which, according to him, is no longer strange to his audiences.
He was born on the 21st day of March, 1962 in the city of Tema, Accra, Ghana. The last born in the family of four, Zilly’s parents were both illiterate but endowed with wisdom and the father could read and write very well.
“But the most significant thing that happened in my life took place in 1985, precisely on the 11th of September, 1985. I guess it was one o’clock in the afternoon, the Lord Jesus Christ stepped into my life and changed everything.
“He stepped into my life that great day of mine, which is more important than any other day. I became a new man and He baptized me with the Holy Spirit on the 8th of December, 1985 and I began to speak with other tongues”, narrated.
Zilly Aggrey got water baptism and went to Bible School and functioned as a Senior Prefect of Christ for All Nations Bible Institute in 1987. Hecame back to serve his boss and father, Rev W.T. Iwo, now Bishop Iwo, as his Associate Pastor before birthing his ministry (Royal House of Grace International Church) on 30th of October, 1992.
The celebrant announced to the congregation at the auditorium, that he hoped to live very long having served the body of Christ in different capacities, official and unofficial, even as he said he is still serving the church.
His words, “I hope to live very long because the scripture says so; I hope to live very long because that is what God wants for us – to enjoy long life. ‘With long life, will I satisfy you’.
As far as God is concerned, if you have not clocked 120 years, it’s an untimely death. So, I hope to live very long”.
Another reason given by Apostle Aggrey for divine longevity was a recent encounter with the aged in the South East region of Nigeria. According to him, “I hope to live long because at the beginning of this month in Enugu State, in Nara, a boundary community between Ebonyi and Enugu State, a 99-year-old preacher laid hands on me. He has been preaching for 67 years and prayed for me.
“Last Sunday I had the privilege of being prayed for by Dr. Felix Omobode. He thought me at Bible School. When I was 25, he was 41. After Archbishop Benson Idahosa, he was the one that is senior to all the others.
“Again, yesterday, I had the privilege of being prayed for by a 92-year-old pastor whose church we went to open yesterday in the same month of March,”, he declared, adding that these events were clear signs he was tapping into old men that he would live very long.
Apostle Zilly Aggrey revealed that another reason he would live very long is because God wants him to reach the unreached.
“I also hope to reach the unreached with the unadulterated news of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he saves. He can save any sinner from the guttermost to the uttermost! I hope to raise and train more sound and vibrant pastors and plant healthy churches”, he said.
He urged the church to join him in prayers for God to meet some special needs.
“I have some needs that I want to mention to you and I want you to join me to believe God for those needs. Number one, I need more prayer support from the children of God. I will be glad if you can help me meet that need. Even if it is three minutes a day, its more than money.
“I need more wisdom to navigate through this evil world where you don’t know who loves you and who hates you. You don’t know who is recording your conversation to tell to a superior person to collect money. In your innocence, you are discussing with somebody and don’t know you are being recorded.
“I need more understanding of the scriptures because one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a preacher is to misinterpret scripture. It is damnable dangerous to say what the scripture are not saying with the scripture.
“I need more knowledge of so many things. I also need more high and extreme favour. The reason is that the higher your favour, the lesser your labour. Sometime your favour can come after you have finished laboring.
“A man by name President Mohammadu Buhari, current ruler of Nigerian nation labored to be president in 2003 but it didn’t work. 2007, it didn’t work and 2011 it didn’t work and he gave up. He surrendered but favour came upon him and he moved to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and others. They told him you have labored enough, come let us make you President and they made him President”, he preached.
Finally, the celebrant said he needed a healthy mind and healthy body to do the work of the ministry and to enjoy his family and friends.
His words, “You don’t know what it means to be healthy until after service today and you visit the hospitals. Take a trip to UPTH and go ward by ward. If we invite you for Thanksgiving, you will be the first person to come to church and do Thanksgiving. You don’t know what it means to lose health until you find the man who has too much money but don’t have health at all and all of his money cannot keep him healthy. You don’t know what it means to lose your legs that you have the legs but they can’t walk because somebody has to wheel you into bathroom and toilet. You don’t know what it means to have your right hand and right let and they are not working. You don’t know what it means for your two eyes cannot work again and somebody has to hold you.
“You hear sounds but can’t see colour. You don’t know what it means that you can’t eat what you want to eat. You go the restaurant and in the buffet and people are eating what they want to eat and because of either chronic ulcer, you subject yourself to milk and cracker. That’s my need and I want to be healthy. I’m healthy now but I want to remain healthy and I believe I will remain healthy.
“That’s why when I heard that young lady sing ‘Forever Young’, I know what it means to remain healthy. I believe I will remain healthy because the word of God says so. I wish above all thing that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as they soul prospereth. I want to remain healthy with my wife andfamily and friends. These are my needs and I need you to pray for me”.
The celebrant went on to explain why he didn’t ask for money, asking “Does it mean I don’t need money? Forget money matter. When you have favour, money comes”.
In his message at the event, Guest Speaker and General Overseer of Logos Ministries International Church, Bishop Yomi Isijola enjoined Christians to pray God to send them who he described as ‘a certain man’ as in the case of the biblical Joseph, to chart the course of their destiny.
He later presented a birthday gift and a symbolic N59,000 token to the celebrant and described Apostle Zilley Aggrey as a friend and brother whose church and his both carved a ‘wedding’ called ‘LOGOROYAL’.
Highlight of the event was the inauguration of Graceland Management Committee to pilot the affairs of the church.
