The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Atlanta (God's Embassy Smyrna) celebrated the 46th wedding anniversary of Presiding Bishop Dr. Mike Okonkwo and his wife Dr. Peace Okonkwo during a worship service in Atlanta. The event featured an all-star praise session, the cutting of an anniversary cake, and a sermon delivered by Bishop Okonkwo. Drawing from 2 Samuel 19:1-7, Romans 4:25, Matthew 22:29, and 1 Corinthians 6, he recounted the biblical story of Mephiboseth, the lame son of Jonathan, whom King David blessed out of loyalty to their covenant. He used the narrative to illustrate how believers receive God's unmerited mercy through being "born again" and the necessity of continuous mind renewal in the Christian life.
Bishop Okonkwo emphasized that every believer holds value in God's plan and urged the congregation to recognize their identity in Christ. He warned that many believers remain unaware of their spiritual identity and are vulnerable to the devil's schemes due to a lack of biblical knowledge. Citing Matthew 22:29 and 1 Corinthians 6, he stated, "most believers are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and advised the faithful to strengthen themselves through church attendance, Bible studies, and personal scripture study. He encouraged attendees to "be still, calm and to know that God is God," affirming that believers are not ordinary and have been called to glory.
The service was attended by former Super Eagles players Paul Okoku and Samson Siasia, who is a member of TREM Atlanta with his family. Okoku expressed gratitude for the bishop's ministry, while Siasia said he was glad to be present for the sermon. Longtime parishioners Mrs. Tilda Dike and Deaconess Bisi Olaoye shared how the message deepened their commitment to serving God. Dike said the sermon brought her a new understanding of God's love amid her grief over her mother's passing, while Olaoye spoke of the peace she now feels.
Bishop Okonkwo preaches that believers are not ordinary and have divine purpose, yet frames this identity as accessible only through strict adherence to biblical knowledge he controls. His sermon promises peace and victory while positioning spiritual vulnerability as a consequence of personal failure to study. The presence of high-profile attendees like Samson Siasia lends public visibility to a message that equates faith with doctrinal compliance. For followers, the implication is clear: assurance comes not from personal experience but from submission to prescribed religious instruction.
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