The God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) is purely a Christian Organisation founded by God through the instrumentality of the Saint Gideon M. Urhobo who also was her first President. It was in Lagos about four decades ago the GKS was organised.

She has no connection whatsoever with the Watchtower Society, whose members call themselves Jehovah’s witnesses, or with any other religious body, Her headquarter is in Salem City, Warri, in the Midwestern State of Nigeria, and she has many branches in this country and abroad.

The mantle of leadership fell on Brother E. T. Otomewo  after the Saint left us in the flesh for Zion on February 25, 1952. He has proved to be a man of great merits, and under his leadership the GKS has made tremendous strides spiritually, materially and otherwise. The credit for this he has never ascribed to himself but to God Who, by His grace, is using him as a vessel of honour.

And whatever opinion anyone holds, the high standard of morals, discipline, forthrightness and devotion to truth for which the GKS is well known are evidences of God’s spiritual blessings upon His Church.

THE LORD’S MINISTRY

The Lord’s Ministry of the G.K.S. is made up of men and women and children from various tribes who have fully devoted their lives to the Lord’s Kingdom Service. And they live a communal life after the pattern of the early disciples of Jesus Christ. – Act 2:44, 45; 4:32-37

OBJECTS
The objects of the Organisation are:

1. To declare God’s Kingdom of Righteousness on Earth and to express this doctrine in every conceivable way and form, with the bounds of law, order and human decency and to do so at any time or place, to the best of our knowledge and understanding of Bible interpretations and symbolism.
2. To vindicate, admonish, preach and impart to mankind irrespective of colour, creed or caste the wholesome idea of service, fear, adoration and reverence to God Almighty the Maker of Man, the Author of Life and Destiny, and the Great Ruler and Architect of the Universe; and for this purpose always to organise meetings and gatherings in any corner of the street, road, house or premises in any township, village or locality without harm, violence or damage to any person or property, and without infringement of any laws or regulations of any constituted authority.
3. To excite the interest of Africans and all peoples of the earth to the study of the Holy Bible, the Christian Ethics and Theology, and to promote all means and measures conductive to the propagation of this knowledge for the eventual peace and realization of harmony and tranquility among all peoples of the human race in accordance with scriptural ideology.
4. To formulate plans and schemes capable of giving effect to the objects of the God’s Kingdom Society, and by dint of experiment and experience to arouse the interest of mankind toward the ultimate attainment of God’s Kingdom of Righteousness on Earth.

DOCTRINES

All over the world, people know that doctrines form the very quintessence of all Christian beliefs and principles. Where the doctrines are untrue the organisation that promulgates them, no matter how long it has existed or how wide it has grown, is also false. It was St. Paul who said: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed…” – Galatians 1:8, 9 See also Isaiah 8:20

The Society therefore holds strictly to the truth of the Bible in regard to the Fatherhood of God, the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth, the Sonship of Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and men, and the everlasting Kingdom of God which is the only hope of suffering humanity. On these fundamental revelations other teachings are based.

POPULATION

The GKS has a large following in the country and abroad but she does not strictly keep membership roll.

Much as the number of adherents can show the extent to which an organisation has grown, it does not connote its spiritual quality. If a million people worship in a magnificent cathedral with golden pews, and flamboyant decorations including images of angels and saints, and the saving truth of Christ is absent their services will not go beyond the ceiling of the building. Whereas if only two or three people worship God in a hut built with bamboos but in TRUTH, their services, like the sacrifice of Abel, will reach heaven or receive God’s approval. – Matthew 7:13, 14, 20; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Matt. 18: 20, etc.

LEVEL OF CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES

The GKS believes in peaceful co-existence of all religious bodies – true or false – until God in His own time and according to His purpose will put an end to all iniquities and falsehood. Jesus Christ said, “Let both (wheat and tares) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers (angels), Gather ye together first the tares (the wicked – children of the evil one, satan), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (God’s organisation).” – Matthew 13:30, 37-43

But the policy of the GKS is that of non-compromise with falsehood or evil; that is, she does not believe in compromising the right doctrines of Jesus Christ with unbiblical pharisaical doctrines of nominal Christianity. (Matthew 16:5-12; Luke 12:1) St. Paul also stated that there is no communion between truth and error, or light and darkness. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). On this scriptural ground the GKS does not practise inter-faith or inter-denominationalism which she believes is nothing but religious hypocrisy and a union of contraries.

CO-OPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT

The GKS firmly believes that human governments, imperfect though they are, are allowed by God to rule over the affairs of men until God’s Kingdom, which men of goodwill everywhere including kings, queens, heads of state, governors, prime ministers as well as the masses have been praying for, will take over the control of the whole world as purposed by God Almighty. – Matthew 6:9, 10

The GKS therefore encourages her adherents to be loyal and law-abiding citizens and to contribute towards Government development and other healthy projects and so forth, provided nothing inconsistent with the principles of Christianity is done. She believes in the payment of tax without which no government can meet the social and other good demands of the nation. For this reason she does not only urge her members through announcements in church assemblies to pay tax every year but has on several occasions given financial help to some and even to non-members, to pay. All these are being done in compliance with Christ’s injunction of rendering “… unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s…” (Matthew 22:21) But the GKS, on scriptural grounds, is strongly opposed to any idea of giving to Caesar the things that are God’s.

For enough, it is on record that during the nation’s hour of need consequent upon the crises which culminated in a bloody conflict, the GKS contributed towards rehabilitation and reconciliation activities spearheaded by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria.

SCHOLARSHIP

The GKS is not opposed to college or university education but she has always warned against the dangers in accepting vain and atheistic philosophies which abound in institutions of higher learning of the world and which are injurious to spiritual development. The organisation has therefore trained many including some clever, deserving children of the poor but faithful members; and even now several others are still enjoying this privilege.

FUNDS

The GKS derives her funds mainly from tithes and offerings as well as donations by members and well-wishers in accordance with the Scriptures. She has also a scheme for some economic projects with a view to providing employment opportunities to members and non-members alike, and getting more money to meet the heavy financial commitments of the church in furtherance of the gospel and for other charitable uses in aid of the poor and needy.

It is from such funds the GKS is able to publish her tracts most of which are given out free of charge or on donation basis. The circulation of her fortnightly periodical – “God’s Kingdom Advocate” – has risen to 75,000, yet it is also free of charge. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in the people’s eyes.

It is a matter for gratitude to God that the GKS, despite the machinations and malicious misrepresentations of her detractors, is making progress.

On the whole the God’s Kingdom Society is quite an interesting and militant Christian organisation that deserves to be encouraged by all men of goodwill and the Government.