Rev. Andy Economides and Jana Stetinova (Soteria Trust Team) was around September 2016 till October 2016, where Rev. Andy taught us at Wednesday bible studies and Sunday services at the Soteria Church. Young people are drawn to Christ with his teachings and we are so much encouraged to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He said so many Christians believe in God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Bible, but we are to believe in the God of Trinity i.e God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We are to fellowship with the Holy Spirit as He will empower us to do that which God has ordained us to do. Jesus said to His disciples in Act chapter 1 verse 8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. During the last visitation many young people were also baptised in water by Rev. Andy.
Rev. Andreas Economides preached and taught the word of God at morning assemblies at the Soteria Business School and other secondary schools like Baptist Secondary School, Ibadan Boy's High school, and so on and churches in Ibadan during the team's last visitation. He teaches young people the way of God and the love of Christ towards them. He has led many young people to Christ and has continue to disciple them to mature in Christ where he gave out up to 1000 copies of his book titled 'True' so they could grow in Christ.
We are so blessed to fellowship with the Soteria Team.
The Saviour of the World
The day that changed the world
Two thousand years ago something wonderful happened that would affect the world forever. It was a day that changed the world. Indeed, it was a day that changed history. It was the day God’s Son died. God so loved the world the he gave up his one and only Son to be crucified on the cross so that whoever believes in Jesus today may live abundantly – in this life and in eternity. Since the day Christ died 2000 years ago until today – and for ever – the cross has never lost its power and effect to forgive, bless, empower and grant eternal life through faith. Jesus Christ took away our sins and sorrows. His death brings us peace with God.
It is important to say that the blood of Jesus is not first and foremost for us; it is for God. Today God looks upon the finished work of his Son and is satisfied that, for everyone who repents, receives and believes, sin has been paid for.
Millions of people through the centuries have discovered this abundant life and peace with God by responding with faith to the old message. These disciples and followers of Christ have become new creations. The new has come and the old has gone and the world is different and better place. The church celebrates the day on which Jesus died as ‘Good Friday’. The only reason that it was a ‘good Friday’ was that three days later Jesus rose from the dead – on the day we now call ‘Easter Day’.
Jesus Christ’s act of love was willingly to lay down his life for humanity for all time. We begin our examination of the events that took place by starting at the Garden of Gethsemane the evening before he was crucified. Gethsemane was on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem, one of Jesus’ favourite places.
Overwhelmed with sorrow
Jesus expressed to his dear friends, who had been with him from the beginning of his teaching ministry, his deep distress and trouble. Hid heart was overwhelmed with sorrow, almost to the point of death. He asked help from his disciples; he needed their friendship, now more than ever. Jesus fell to the ground. He could not help it, because he knew the abuse, suffering, and evil that was to come. He prayed to his heavenly Father, asking that if possible God might take the cup of suffering away from him. But he would rather do God’s will, whatever the cost, and therefore acknowledged that he would drink the deadly cup (Mark 14:32-36). While Jesus was talking to his sleepy disciples, Judas the betrayer approached, bringing others with him to arrest Jesus
Betrayed With a Kiss
Judas was aware that people knew Jesus well enough by sight but felt that in the dim light of the garden they might need a definite indication of who they were to arrest. He chose the most terrible of signs – a kiss. It was customary to greet a rabbi with a kiss; it was a sign of respect and affection for a well-loved teacher. When Judas says, ‘The one I kiss is the man,’ he uses the world philein, which is the ordinary word for a kiss. But when it is written that he kissed Jesus, the words used are Kata Philein. The word Kata indicates intensity. Kata Philein means to kiss as a lover kisses his beloved. The sign of betrayal was not a mere from of kiss of respectful greeting. It was a lover’s kiss. Jesus was betrayed by one of his chosen and closest friends (Mark 14:43-46).
The arresting mob came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders – the three sections of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council. They marched Jesus away to the high priest. The disciples’ nerve cracked. They could not face it. They were afraid that they too would share the fate being prepared for Jesus. The all left him and ran away. But throughout all this Jesus displays serenity, for the struggle in the garden is over, and now there is the peace of a man who knows that he is following the will of God.
Extracted from True, a book written by Rev, Andy Economides to disciple Christians.
