TopNews vol 7 | Page 2

TEST MONIES Rev 12:11 “An they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...” Rev 19:10 “... the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” OUR TESTIMONY M emories of our trying time came to my mind on my two year old daughter's first day in school. We were childless for three years as a result of miscarriages and still birth. Like every parents, we were looking forward to school runs, birthdays, graduations, etc. We believed and trusted God for our children and He gave us testimonies. Two months into our marriage, my wife got pregnant and like every other couple, we were looking forward to the birth of our baby. Five months into the pregnancy, we got a shocker when test revealed that there was no sign of foetal heart beat meaning that the baby in her womb was dead. We were asked to go for a confirmatory test which we did and still got the same result. My wife was immediately scheduled for an evacuation. We were devastated! My wife took in again and this time just when she was six months gone, the devil struck again and took our baby from us. It was also the same pattern as the first pregnancy. At this point, we knew something was wrong because we had done all the recommended tests which all came out negative, implying that there was nothing medically wrong with my wife. My wife took in again for the third time and I told myself that “this one I'll see to her birth”. I thought it was by my own strength since I was convinced that there was nothing wrong medically with us. I registered my wife in two of the best clinics in town and also registered her at the teaching hospital. I made sure we followed every detail of the pregnancy to the latter. During this trial period, we decided to open our home for MAP meetings and about the same time, Top alliance leader, Pastor Tony Odion approached us to become partners. With all this going on around us, we felt this was it and we had passed the six month threshold. At the eight month of the pregnancy, the devil struck again. This time, my wife started bleeding profusely one evening, she was quickly rushed to the hospital and was stabilized. We were told that the baby was still fine. The following day, I left the hospital where my wife was admitted at about 12pm to pick my mother-in-law at the park since we needed someone to be around during and after delivery of our baby. By the time I got back with my mother-in-law to the hospital, we were shown a dead baby. I couldn't believe it. I checked on my wife and she broke down in tears. She later told me that immediately I left for the park, she started having contractions but the nurse that was attached to her felt she was afraid since the pregnancy was still in the eight months. The contractions heightened causing her to have severe pain but she was told by the nurse on duty that it wasn't contraction. The nurse refused to check on her. Before anyone could realise what was happening, the baby's head dropped. Then, they had to wheel her to the theatre and by the time the doctor could help the baby out, we had lost the baby. This time around we became more devastated. We knew there was a stronghold monitoring and manipulating my wife's pregnancy. At this point in time, we knew it was only God that would make sure that our cradle would never remain empty. Rev Chris was told about our case and on meeting us, he declared that affliction shall never rise up again and he also started praying with us. We had no choice but to fire up our prayer lives. We became more committed in church, ministry, MAP meetings and new experience TV partnership. We also saw God fighting our battles for us both seen and unseen. In no time, my wife took in again but this time we had the assurance that we would come out victorious. We became more prayerful and held on to Psalm 128:3 that says “thy wife shall be a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Rev Chris also scheduled us for prayers and we broke bread with him every week. We also started attending Faith Clinic. On getting to the fourth month of the pregnancy, my wife called me while I was in Calabar that she had been told to go to the field the next day (my wife was working as a QAQC officer for an inspection company) This was strange to us because for a long time she had stopped going to the field and if it should happen, one would be given a week notice. I told her it was okay and that I would try and come back the next day. The next day, my wife left for the field but I still hadn't finish the job that I was executing in Calabar hence I couldn't return to Port Harcourt. That night, armed robbers came into our compound. They attacked our neighbour and almost raped his sister-in-law. They also entered our house but God had already made a way of escape for us. The robbers didn't touch any of our valuables despite leaving our two laptops on the table in the living room. All they took was my wife's jewellery and the food in the fridge. The following day, my wife's boss also told her that she could go back home. As my wife's pregnancy progressed, the devil felt it should throw a new line. The inspection company my wife was working with was bought over by another firm and they decided to down size their staff. My wife was among those affected, since she was pregnant. At first, we felt so bad but we consoled ourselves in the Lord that things should be improving in our lives and not regressing. Prior to this time, my wife had gone for an aptitude test and interview with another firm and was told that she passed and they would get back to her.