Mr. Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode
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Mr. Gamaliel O. Onosode, OFR
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was born in Sapele, Delta State on May 22, 1933. He attended Baptist School, Oginibo, Delta State between 1940 and 1946, and Government
College Ughelli between 1947 and 1952. He
graduated B.A (Hons) in Classics in 1957 from University
College (now University) of Ibadan. Between 1957 and 1960, he worked with the Commonwealth Development Corporation as a Management
trainee. An accomplished Management expert, he has held various management positions in reputable organizations
like Northern Nigeria investment Ltd, Nigerian Housing Development Society Ltd, Nigeria industrial Development
Bank and Financial holdings (Nigeria) Ltd.
After 10 years as Director, Onosode became Chairman/Managing Director
of NAL Merchant Bank Plc. He is also chaired many private and public sector businesses, including Dunlop Nigeria
Plc, (1984), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, (1977-1993), Presidential commission on Parastatals (1981), Nigeria LNG Working
committee on NLNG Ltd, (1985-1990), Niger Delta Environmental Survey (since 1995).
He was Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs and Director of Budget
(1983), and a former Pro-chancellor of University
of Uyo. He is an honorary fellow of the
Nigerian Academy of Letters and holds honorary doctorate degrees of The Obafemi Awolowo University (1990), University
of Benin (1995), and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (2003).
A Deacon of the Baptist Church, Onosode also holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary,
Ogbomosho (2002).
Mr. Onosode was recently appointed the Chairman of Vmobile, one
of Nigeria’s leading GSM phone providers.
He was interviewed by PINI JASON.
ON HIS STRONG MORAL AND
ETHICAL BACKBONE
Q.
Allow me to say that Gamaliel Onosode exemplifies a life lived in contentment. A young reporter would probably
assume that you resided in Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Lekki Peninsular; however, you have made downtown Surulere your home. Where do you derive
the moral force to stand always on principle?
A. Thank you. You are very kind in the observation you’ve just made. I must confess
that my life has been based, and by the grace of God, remains based on the foundation that my parents established
for their children -- that is to define our lives in terms of a fervent commitment to Christ and the values associated
with such a commitment. I can say that I am truly proud of my siblings; I give thanks to God for that. And happily,
these values are universal and eternal in their application. It does not matter whether you accept Christ as the
Son of God. Allow me to elaborate on some of these family, social, and ethical themes.
Now, if I become the richest man in the world, and have the largest heart, that does not predispose
me to having more than one wife. Biblical law on family life precludes that. Adultery, fornication, polygamy are
forbidden, because these are evidence of the fallen humanity.
Biblical law also stipulates that if I were slapped on one cheek, I would, as a matter of considerate
thought, turn the other cheek. Although my natural inclination would be to act in retaliation, Christ expects me
to exercise strong restraint. In the case where I act revengefully, I would be prolonging and protracting the period
over which the antithesis of peace prevails, and this is wrong. So, since there is benediction on those who work
for peace, and my Christian commitment does require that I should always work for peace, in my own interest and
the interest of those around me, it remains that I should always work towards that end.
Thirdly, in loving one’s neighbour as one’s self, this means that in every situation, one should
ask the question: if I were on the other side of this issue, how would I feel; how would I handle the situation?
In this way, our behaviour is constructively regulated.
So this is the kind of foundation on which my life is based. And this foundation, as you can see,
has very little to do with affluence or the externalities of life. So I can live contentedly in Surulere, and not
feel that I am losing out, because I don’t live on Picaddily Street, or Awolowo Road.
Q.
Not even for the status symbol?
A. But what is my status? I don’t think in those terms. I am just a human being, redeemed by the
blood of Jesus Christ. God has placed me, at different times, in different situations in which He expects me to
be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Every single individual, particularly in adulthood, has the
opportunity to exercise leadership; as a matter of fact, so do children. So it is not the cassock that makes the
priest, as they say…it is not where I live that is material. It is how I live my life that is the issue. Therefore I have lived along this Ogunlana-Adelabu axis since
1959, apart from a short break of four years when I lived in Victoria Island. I moved from this house to the house in Victoria Island, and back after four years to this same house! You will now realize that I am more of a grass roots
person contrary to whatever impression has been created by the media.
Q.
You talked about making commitments. Of course, making commitments such as you point out is a conscious effort,
and not to be taken lightly...
A. Certainly. I made a conscious commitment quite early in life -- at the age of ten, actually --
to lead my present life. But of course, one has to understand that I was of tender age, still living under the
cozy atmosphere of home…
Q.
And you attended a Baptist primary school at the time?
A. That’s correct! At such a time, one had not really experienced the full blast of the factors
that tend to bring out the worst in people; the natural man is very much contained at that point. In later years,
yes -- there were occasions when I behaved contrary to the way that I should have…for which I was truly sorry,
and for which God has since forgiven me. But the Bible says, train a child the way he should go, and when he is
old, he will not depart from it, Proverbs 22 verse 6. That is both an admonition as well as a promise. So, it is
by the grace of God, therefore, that I have been true to that commitment. Even so, it is a continuing struggle.
I mean, don’t get me wrong; there is no day that the devil does not try to introduce things that seem attractive.
I just say, get thee behind me, Satan!
ON
MEDIOCRITY, INDISCIPLINE AND LAWLESSNESS
Q.
Something else about you impresses itself upon one, and that is the sense of order that clearly surrounds you.
I recall when you were chairman of Thisweek magazine, and you would admonish the editorial staff (this journalist
included) about an issue everyone in the newspaper business, in this country, takes for granted -- spelling errors.
I remember you threatening to call on us if, while you were reading the magazine, you ever discovered the word
“privilege” spelt with a ‘dg.’ Nowadays, all that remains is a sense of sloppiness in the way we do things in the
country. How do you feel when you see the disintegrating environment around us?
A. It upsets me, I confess! I spent a good part of my life editing other people’s work, editing
out ‘d’ from privilege; editing out all kinds of inelegances in the use of the language! So you can imagine the
dread in which I hold certain interviews. Some reporter might decide to produce a transcript of what he imagined
he heard, but clearly was not intended by me. A lack of pride in work prevents such an interviewer from making
sure that at least the words published are faithful, if not exact, to the interview. So, it is again, this question
of the pursuit of excellence. Before we began this conversation, I recounted how my teacher felt when I wrongly
pronounced s-e-r-v-e? There is no longer that sort of attention to detail...
This, of course, spills into
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Mr. Gamaliel Onosode at an Urhobo Historical Society Function
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every aspect of life in this country. Whenever I travel along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, I never become used
to seeing vehicles – Mercedes Benz’s, lorries or Tankers -- driving on the wrong side of the road. This is scandalous,
an outrage. On one occasion, I sighted Road Safety Corps officials and flagged down their car. Sir, I pointed out,
is it not your duty to ensure that those who use this highway comply with the Highway Code, and drive appropriately?
Oh yes, yes… was the reply. But the problem is that many of these drivers don’t understand English! Really, I said.
Are you saying there is no other way in which you can get these drivers to obey the rules to drive properly? The
reply, again, was that communication was impossible because the vast majority of the drivers do not understand
English.
I let them know that I was not impressed with their explanation, but strolled with them to their
car where I found it full of people. Who are these people, I asked? Oh, whenever we are on patrol, we are accompanied
by police officers drawn from different ethnic groups, they informed me. But I thought you said that a language
problem prevented you from proactively dealing with misuse of the highway? How is it that your patrol group is
comprised of people who speak at least one of the three major Nigerian languages in the country, and yet you claim
you cannot communicate with law-breaking drivers who speak these languages? But, of course, there was no response,
as you can imagine.
On another occasion, along that same highway, I parked my car and I observed a vehicle doing the
wrong thing, so I flagged down the lorry, and to my surprise, it stopped. I went across to the driver and said
-- look here, you’re breaking the law with your terrible, reckless driving. He was surprised at this, and I explained:
You were driving on the left side of the road! You are supposed to drive on your right, and overtake on the left.
O-oh? He was very contrite, and I advised him to tell his employer to re-educate other drivers on the appropriate
driving conduct. Clearly, a great deal of this substandard behaviour exists that we need not tolerate.
Q.
This points to a different issue that has come to dog this country – a non-capacity to enforce the rules.
A. Well, I am not so sure about that. I think it is the unwillingness, rather than the lack of capacity
to execute the law. The capacity is there, I believe. After all, think of the capacity that is invested in collecting
unlawful tolls along our highways! The same capacity could have been better utilized to ensure that those who drive
along our highways behave properly.
Q.
This unwillingness pervades our society. Why are we so unwilling to do the right thing?
A. That is a very difficult question! We are unwilling, because we see that deviant behaviour pays
materially. So there is an incentive for living an undisciplined life. But that is where law enforcement and leading
by example should come in. Those two things come hand in hand. At all levels, we must encourage our leaders to
guide by example. The second thing is that commitment on their part should involve ensuring that the law enforcement
agents do their work. Any perceived failure to perform should be visited with disciplinary action, and this practice
must be sustained and not on a selective basis! So if people find that it does not pay to be dishonest, they become
cautious about being dishonest. On our highways illegal tolls are collected in broad daylight with no one batting
an eye!!!
POLITICAL
INEPTITUDE
Q. The civil society has been dis-empowered, disfranchised, and intimidated by the political elite;
therefore it cannot accomplish anything. And of course there are the fault lines of ethnicity and religion that
make it impossible for the people to form the critical mass to effect change.
A. You use the word, ‘political elite.’ By political elite you mean those who, for the time being,
determine the fate of political action. But you will find that society is endowed with people who are better equipped
than, perhaps, the vast majority of those who form what you call the political elite. However, they have chosen
to be spectators. Even so, I think this is one step in the right direction that we have achieved since 1998-99.
One is not likely to find, today, any minister of religion proclaiming from his pulpit, the wisdom of fine Christians
staying away from participation in partisan politics. On the contrary, you will find those urging this group to
participate, to discharge their civic responsibility, to participate actively, if God is calling them in that direction!
This is a great step forward! In other words we are making progress. A time will come when more of the segment
of the political elite that is made up of people who share my conviction will form a critical mass – it is happening
already -- and they will take over, and transform the tone of society.
THE PROMISE OF NIGERIA
Q. Prof Richard Joseph who lectured here and later went to work for the Ford Foundation and Jimmy
Carter, and who is a leading expert on Nigeria, once said that Nigeria has not aspired to use the enormous manpower
it has, especially those that have acquired experiences in World Bank, IMF, ADB and so on. And I say to myself,
that we have people like you here. Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu tried twice to become Minister of Finance, it didn’t work.
So is it not a question of the nation
being unable to create the environment that can make it possible for people with the expertise to
come and serve her?
A. That is why, if you recall, earlier in this conversation, I couldn’t find myself agreeing with
you when you used the expression, “lack of capacity”. I said no, it is not the shortage of the capacity, but rather
the unwillingness to utilize the capacity that we have. Today, and this is not a recent phenomenon, we have shunted
aside the capacity that is available to us -- within the country and in the Diaspora. In Nigeria, executive capacity
has not been utilized to its optimum level. I think I read in some newspaper yesterday, that we have a battalion
of inexperienced advisers in the public service, whereas within the civil service we have people, who over the
years have been trained and have acquired knowledge and experience that are not being put to use!
LEADERSHIP,
ETHNICITY AND NATIONALISM
Q.
People tend to think that the cause of our national dis-aggregation is because of centrifugal ethnic forces…
A. (Cuts in) Sorry, I must interrupt you! Do you know why I do not accept that? If you constituted
my town, Oginibo, which is only a village in Ughelli -- Ughelli is only one of 22 clans in Urhoboland -- if you
constituted my village into a state or into a local government area, there will be issues enough to pull it apart!
For instance, the sinking of a borehole; people might fight over whether that borehole should be on Onosode Drive
or across the street somewhere else! Now, how many times have you caught yourself arguing with yourself? Something
in you says turn right, another says, no, turn left; something else says, stand where you are! Now, if you can
have that kind of conflict within you as an individual, do you think we will ever arrive at a situation when an
ethnic nationality like, perhaps, the Edos meet, and just because they are all Edos, all agree and say, lets turn
right! That’s unrealistic!
Q.
The assumption there, for some people, is that perhaps, if we had a charismatic leader he or she could weld all
of these disparate ethnic groups together.
A. Ah! If you had a charismatic leader, he/she could weld 2000 tribes together! Just as if you had
a charismatic leader, he/she could also weld that village quarreling over a borehole together! So the quality of
the individual or the individuals who manage our affairs is the real issue! Therefore how do we ensure that over
time we produce more of that kind of person? That is why learning how to optimize what we have, the institutions
we have, in order to achieve what we do not yet have, should constitute a major concern.
Q.
There is an irony that has emerged in the last decade or so, which is, that almost all the nationalists of yesterday
are the ethnic champions of today. Did they mislead the country or did they not in the first place, understood the complexities of the country?
A. There is a little book of fiction, The Count of Monte Cristo, that we read at school; there
is a passage in which the old man, Faria, says: “You could learn the facts, indeed. But to learn is not to know. To understand the meaning and to
use it in guiding your life, that cannot be done in three years or in many years. It is the work of a lifetime,
everyday until the sun sets upon my life. I shall still be learning, still drawing nearer to that perfect understanding,
which may, perhaps, be granted to us in heaven”
Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, says: “Now we know in part, but then we shall know in full.”
In other words, why should it surprise you or anyone else that our leaders of yesterday couldn’t possibly have
had complete understanding and knowledge of the environment. That is what makes us human. And that is why it is
only the genius that sticks to his first thoughts. The generality of human beings have to modify their thoughts
as they access more information and develop a better capability of analyzing the information at their disposal
in order to come to a conclusion as to how best to respond or react to a given situation.
Now, there used to be a country called USSR. Where is it today? It has broken up because certain
things happened, and it became evident that it could not be held together by force. A National conference, Sovereign
or otherwise, far from threatening the unity of the country, will provide a firmer basis for a lasting unity. I
don’t see why, as a Nigerian, I would prefer to be a citizen of a much smaller country, if I can make what we are
now a happier place for all of us. But if we more or less agree that this country can never be a happier place
unless we do something more fundamental, why shouldn’t we say so?
2007
AND THE SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Q. There is ‘an alternative Conference’ being planned by people who disagree with the manner in
which the ‘government’s conference’ was planned. A ‘proper National Conference,’ in their estimation, has to be
ethnic based. Now is such a Conference whose outcome is not likely to be codified into law, not an exercise in
futility?
A. You should put that question to the conveners. My view is that God can speak literally through
animals and plants - “ a burning bush” - let alone through human beings! So, let all human beings speak! Regardless
of whether you are participating in the conference being organized by (PRONACO) as opposed to the Dialogue organized
by the presidency, ideas are bound to be brought up. At the end it will be evident which ideas coincide with those
of the people.
Q. There are certain public officers who Nigerians felt were of dubious character, but who are still
warming up for 2007…
A. (Cuts in). That is to be regretted, unless there is evidence that they have, in the mean time,
genuinely repented. The Bible said: let him that stole, steal no more. If you stole yesterday, and you no longer
steal, you can make reparations.
THE
ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
Q.
If you asked Nigerians to locate the origin of our problems, they are quite likely to mention very many things,
the most popular being the military. But often we forget the religious bodies, and whether, indeed, they have been
up to par in bringing about positive change in our society.
A. I accept the popular response about the military. Yes. They destroyed discipline, whereas they
should have been the purveyors of discipline at its best. Management science is actually an extraction from the
way the military organized their affairs traditionally. So it is a terrible shame that the military took over in
this country and undermined discipline. The military affected every aspect of our life. The Bible says to pray
for the Kings and rulers, and so a military ruler comes to church and you feel it’s your duty to pray for him.
However, it is one thing to pray for Kings and Princes so that they may govern well, and another to unwillingly
pray for someone in power, in whom there is little or no confidence. And one’s prayers may give the impression
that one is in confirmation with whatever such a leader stands for and is doing without that being the case. So
the Church itself fell victim to the negative impact of military incursion into political governance.
But having said that, the Church ought to have seen itself as the voice of prophesy, as the instrument
that God established as the bulwark of truth, and been more inclined to follow the example of the First Century
Church,
which held the view that we must obey God, rather than men. Fear not. This entreaty presents itself
several times in the scriptures. A lack of courage has given the Church less impact in the workings of things.
Even so, the Lord of the harvest will come in due course, looking beyond all these matters.
PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC SECTOR REFLECTIONS
Q.
A few years ago you resigned from the Board of a bank, because a single individual had assumed both the posts of
Chairman and Managing Director. Can you explain why that was so offensive to you?
A. It was offensive to me on the grounds that it was a prescription for indiscipline. Checks and
balances are accepted by informed opinion, and these are of great necessity in the conduct of human affairs; there
must be checks and balances within any organization. Now, when a consolidation of the type you mention is in patent
disregard of the rules and regulations that govern such positioning, then there is reason to argue its inappropriateness.
It was a prescription for disaster. And, I might add, the disaster did indeed manifest.
Q.
Do you always insist on some level of corporate governance in the companies you associate with?
A. It is on record that under my chairmanship, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, endorsed and applied a code
of conduct for its directors, years before this procedure was adopted and enforced by the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
It was a voluntary act on our part. This is why I occasionally seem despairing of the situation in our country.
But, no! I have great hope in the future of this country. Good laws are the extraction of values that are universal
and eternal in their capacity to endure. In other words, if one’s orientation is based on such values, one voluntarily
complies with what the law demands. I say this because, as a result of my own orientation, corporate governance
has never been a problem for me. I work with the situation corporate governance requires, making even greater demands
should the occasion demand it. Thus, I insist that in a boardroom, I represent the interest of the company by promoting
and fighting for the interest of the company.
This means that I work to promote the interests of the entire group of shareholders, not solely
that of the shareholder, or group of shareholders, who nominated me. In other words the spirit of the finest codified corporate governance is etched
in my heart.
Q.
With your experience of the possibilities in the private sector, what would you say this means for the country
in terms of our ability to lift ourselves out from where we are today?
A. This is a major question. What we need as respectable human beings is very little compared to
what people tend to desire. I shall take the two of us as an example; here we are – you, wearing a suit, I, wearing
a suit. The shirt you have on, though very trendy, is simply to cover up your body. That’s all! So it is, in my
case. And this is the basic requirement that clothing is meant to meet -- to cover up the body and to
keep the body warm or cool, as the case might be. Thus, it matters very little how many pairs of shoes I have in
my wardrobe, because as long as I have on a pair of shoes, I am fine. There will be no real difference between me who has only one pair of shoes, and the other guy who
has 24 pairs of shoes in his wardrobe.
Now, if the spirit enshrining this ideal is allowed to progress from the micro-situation, such as
this example that I have given, to the macro - the larger society - it enthrones a spirit of commitment to rendering
service, as opposed to being served. In other words, no matter how high and exalted one might be -- whether as
a director, permanent secretary, governor, President or chairman of this and that -- one realizes that one’s position
is entrusted to him/her by God. This might be through votes, in an elective office, or by appointment; in order
to give one the opportunity to help others meet their particular needs. The quality of lives may be enhanced within
the limits permitted in the short run by available resources.
Q.
With the pervasive nature of corruption, however, things are not very different in the corporate world than in
the public sector. Do you agree?
A. (Cuts in). Quite true…I have always said that!
Q.
Nevertheless, you will also agree that in the private sector, there are what we might call “pockets of excellence.”
Are there ways in which we may cultivate such vital areas in the public sector?
A. Let’s just examine the private sector for a moment. The private sector, by definition, is made
up of discrete units of enterprises. In each discrete unit, you have a fairly compact type of organization where
the application of the “stick and carrot” is easier.
In the public sector, we are dealing with, by definition, much larger units-- at least, in terms
of human beings that constitute any given level of governance. As the Managing Director of a company, I can, without
anybody raising eyebrows, be both accuser and judge. But this type of situation will not work, and should not be
tolerated in the public sector. It makes the transplanting of excellence, unit for unit, difficult. In the private
sector, the M.D of a company is unlikely to get a telephone call in which he or she is fired! Procedures of hierarchical
nature are treated far more democratically, and with more finesse. In government business, however, someone outside
the hierarchy of one unit can simply fire an employer in a different unit over the phone! So the degree of discipline
built into the public sector is generally weaker than in the private sector. Matters within organizational units
in the public sector require a disciplined and well-defined approach than presently exists.
Q.
You have talked of the discipline of the individual. I wish to mention the particular case of the Director-General
of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC who is demonstrating that, in spite of
the weaknesses of the public sector, a determined individual can make a difference.
A. Yes! That is absolutely correct! A society is defined by the summation of the character of the
individuals who comprise it. And that is why in Political Science, it is said that people get the government they
deserve. If at the polls, one votes for idiots, fine. One, in that case, should not complain about the government
delivered to him or her, because one ensured its position. If we do not put a leader in power by our votes -- he
or she got there in spite of our votes -- we can then resort to the action of the people of the Ukraine. One does
not just sit down in one’s house grumbling. No! We should all come out peacefully and say: No! We will not have
this perversion of justice. We did not vote this way.
ON
HIS EXPERIENCES IN PARTISAN POLITICS
Q.
In 1998, you participated in partisan politics by joining the United Nigerian Congress Party, UNCP under Gen Abacha’s
Transition Programme. However, many were somewhat disturbed by your involvement. What was the conviction behind
this decision?
A. You see the Pharisees had the same view of Jesus Christ. I do not compare myself with Jesus,
but am required to try to be like Him. The people of His (Jesus’) time complained: ah, this man eats with sinners
and publicans, and He says He is the Son of God? Well, I have always said that most people around me are slightly
smarter and cleverer than I am. But at my level of capability and understanding, I do not know how to clean the
inside of a house from the outside. The only way I know how to clean up a house is to go right in. Now, when I
come out of that house, you might find a great deal of dust on my shoes and the helm of my gown might just be stained.
But the house would be cleaner for it. In other words, you cannot effect change by staying out of the workings
of things. You can make a contribution towards the actual cleaning or changing of society, only by active involvement.
Q.
The UNCP disqualified you at the time on the grounds that you have not made “enormous contributions” to deserve
the Presidential ticket. What did that teach you about recruitment of leadership through the Nigerian political
process?
A. Again, this is part of a point I made in a recent interview; that when two or three political
parties present candidates, drums are beaten and claims are made about an elective democratic arrangement. People
then go out to vote. Unfortunately, their choice is limited to the candidates presented by the parties with no
assurance that these represent the possible best that society may offer. So quality is already, if you like, constrained.
This is why society must insist on the possible best of what we have, and seek to influence matters to that end
-- without the use of violence. So over time, hope is kept alive, and there is positive change. Now this change
might be imperceptible to begin with, but over time one can say, yes, things are very much improved.
RELIGION
AND NATION BUILDING
Q.
There has been a proliferation of the kind of church that appears to worship other things than God. The gospel
that is preached these days is about instant miracles, prosperity and the like.
A. I agree with you. But thank God every one of us has direct access to the Bible and the spirit
of God, the Holy Spirit who interprets the scripture for us. I can catch my church doing something or failing to
do some thing that is not quite in line with my expectation based on my understanding of the scripture. Thank God
we are not going to be judged as a group, but as individuals.
Q. There is an interesting aspect of this problem, which Evangelist Selwyn Hughes pointed out, and
that is the conscious effort not to admit sin for what it is, but a resorting to euphemisms; adultery is now referred
to as extra-marital affair, fornication is pre-marital sex. People seem to be in denial of sin.
A. You may recall that in the earlier part of this conversation I referred to adultery and fornication
when I was talking about family values. But thank God all is not lost. There are people who will call a spade a
spade, and still use the words, adultery and fornication! The denial and euphemisms, I’m afraid, will remain until
Jesus returns. This earth will never become heaven until Jesus returns and winds up history. But it is important
that we insist on recognizing things for what they are, and in doing so allow our own lives to present this truth.
We talked earlier about leadership by example. So whether it is in the church or outside the church, the challenge
is the same! And it is no use being a Christian only when you are in a place called “the church.” A Christian must
take Christ with him everywhere, and if the market place is where one lives out their normal life, then that is
where God demands that one should demonstrate the Christian life!
OPTIMISM AND A POSITIVE