Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt
Sanctuary of Praise International Church on Sunday, July 26, 2026 marked its 10th anniversary with an overflow gathering of members, friends, traditional rulers, associates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The anniversary celebration with theme, “Prophecies Made, Prophecy Fulfilled,” featured testimonies of healings, deliverances, cultural displays by youths, teenagers and women, and the cutting of the anniversary cake.
Speaking at the event, Founder and Lead Pastor, Pastor Success Ekperechi Uju, said they were celebrating a decade of God’s faithfulness and grace.
He expressed gratitude for what God has done in the church and in his community, Omuanwa in Ikwerre LGA.
“I am overwhelmed with what God is doing here in Sanctuary of Praise International Church. I never believed when I heard about my calling as a Minister of the gospel, that I will speak, heaven will answer. But He assured me and that is why the 10th anniversary is titled ‘Prophecy Made, Prophecy Fulfilled,’” he said.
Pastor Uju said the mandate given to him at the inception of the ministry remains unchanged. “The mission and vision before setting up this commission, by the special grace of God, came with a mandate which is ‘To Lose The Captive And Make Men Great’ by the word and that is what God has been doing since inception,” he stated.
He urged fellow ministers to remain faithful to their calling. “If they are called by God, let them maintain the calling. But if they are not called, let them hands off. If God called them and they decided to deviate, they are doing themselves more harm than good. We are believing God with His power and with His mercy, this commission will not deviate,” he said.
On the state of the nation, the cleric advised Nigerians to be patient amid economic hardship. “Everybody should be patient, all these things we are seeing, it will come and it will go. Nigeria will be another China in the world when that time comes,” Pastor Uju said.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to lead with the fear of God, warning that “as many that is walking against the will of God in Nigeria, they will be dying without anybody touching them.”
Giving a brief about the church, Deacon Raymond Uchendu and Miss Victory Uju said Sanctuary of Praise International Church was founded in 2016 through “a divine mandate given by God Almighty to His servant, Pastor Success Ekperechi Uju and his wife, Pst Mrs. Lucy Uju.”
They explained that the mandate rooted in the scripture (Isaiah 61:1) and that since inception, “God has used the church as a vessel of deliverance, healing, salvation, restoration, and supernatural breakthroughs.
They noted the church has expanded it’s vision with the establishment of a ministerial institution to train pastors, evangelists and workers for kingdom service.
“This institution stands as a testimony of God’s faithfulness and a platform for developing spiritual leaders who will carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to nations and generations yet unborn,” Miss Uju stated.
President of the Deacons Board, Deaconess Ruth Welenya, said they are celebrating 10 years of uninterrupted service and God’s faithfulness in the church, recounting the testimonies, miracles and achievements recorded in a period 10 years.
“I am a living testimony of what God is doing here. When I came here there was no way for me but God made ways health wise, financially, and others.”
She added that the church started in one room with a 25-litre jerrican as pulpit and “in 10 years time, this is where God has brought us to,” Deaconess Welenya said.
Deacon Kelechi Ihiemere, Nneji Wokemgbe and Augusta Uzomdu also testified to miracles. “So many came here with different critical health, spiritual and foundational challenges and when they came in contact with the altar here, there must be a change. We have seen people come in on wheelchairs but leaving the Church walking,” Mrs. Uzomdu said.
Kingsley Nyemezu, President of the Intellectual Club Rivers State, congratulated Pastor Uju and the church. “The last time we came here was for the 5th anniversary, today is 10th and we have witnessed lots of transformations and achievements,” he said, and advised the church to remain steadfast.
