How churches get inspiration for their names, logos

Circumstances and situations often times determine the kind of name parents give to their children. And the question is: what’s in a name and how did people arrive at such names. To some names mean different things to different people but in the case of a church how did they arrive at such names and the logo they bear? Is everything by inspiration or what? CHRIS IREKAMBA and ISAAC TAIWO report.

‘We Derive Name From
The Word Of God’
(Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Presiding Pastor, House On The Rock)
Basically, House on the Rock is a Bible based-faith church with the name derived from the Word of God.According to Mathew 7:24-27, where the name of the church was derived, Jesus likened whosoever heareth His sayings and do them to those that build their houses on the rock, adding that the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

“And everyone that heareth these says of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

The two houses look fine from outside until they are properly tested by the above circumstances. The ‘Rock’ that stands for the solid foundation is our Lord Jesus Christ upon whom our salvation, faith, confidence and our journey to the Kingdom of God should be built.

Acts 4:12 tells us that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Philippians 2:9-11 says: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” I Corinthians 10:4 says: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

Twenty-three years ago, The House on the Rock was founded and has been a home to the impoverished. Everybody needs Christ and for those with broken homes, The Rock is their refuge. Concerning the Logo of the Church: Sun of Righteousness arising over His Church, while the darker green sitting on the Rock depicts green pastures. The centrality of everything is Christ, Who is the Rock and everything depends on Him. He is the Shepherd of the flock and on Him the flock feeds.

‘Ministry Is Not Mine, Therefore, I
Must Depend On God For Name, Logo’
(Pastor Julian Ejikeme Okechukwu, General Overseer, Christ Manifest Ministries, Lagos)
FIRST of all, we prayed and God, by revelation and as a theme for the job He wants us to do for Him, revealed to me the name that best suits the assignment He has for us. That was how the name Christ Manifest Ministries came about. What we do here is to project Christ as a Person and His ministry to the whole world.

Of course, you know that the name ‘Manifest’ has a dual meaning. First, it means revelation and two; it also means a list of names. For instance, if you are travelling by air, at the airport, there is a place, where you are expected to check-in. The list or names of people on board a particular aircraft is called a Manifest. The church is like a vehicle and the people that will go to heaven will go through it. I’m sure you must have come across the place, where the Bible talks of the Book of Life. The church is like a manifest of the Book of Life, because those that are in the Book of Life are members of the church. That is the true meaning Christ revealed and you know that for years now, Christ has been revealing Himself through our ministries because what we are really doing is teaching the mysteries of life. So, God in revealing Christ, has also revealed man to us.

About our logo, there you will find crown, the cross, and the flame on top of an open book, which is the Bible. These are all manifestations of the symbol of Christ’s ministry. By the cross, He granted us salvation and redemption. And when He was manifested, He came as a flame of fire. The Bible is the word of God made flesh. The ministry is not my own, I am not free to choose any name, so I need to find out from Him. Personally, I believe God has trained me to depend on Him for all things, which is why I think it is natural for me to depend on Him for the name of my ministry and logo, as well.

‘God Gave Me The Ministry’s
Name And Logo’
(Pastor David Olalekan, General Overseer,
Radiant Life Assembly (Faith House, Lagos)
WHEN God called me to start the church, it took me more than a year and a half to pray through. One day, God gave me the name with the logo.

He gave me a ministry that centres on the Bible. However, after the Lord had given me the name and the logo, I just did not start, but had to tell mature pastors in the faith to pray along with me before I registered the ministry. When every cloud was cleared, the ministry commenced on August 21, 2011 and for three weeks, it was only my wife and I that were holding services before other members joined us.

Concerning the logo, light radiates from the Bible. The two praying hands signify that the Ministry is a praying ministry. God has consistently been proving Himself in our midst as we pray and receive answers to our prayers. Anyone that calls, as long as the individual received a call from the Lord, He would lead him and provide for all his needs.

‘I Got Name Of The Church
By Inspiration’
(Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, Presiding Pastor, Zion City of the Lord Ministry/Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter)
GOD reveals His mind to His people through inspiration, visions and dreams. In my own case, I got the name of the church by inspiration. I was reading Isaiah chapter 60 and as I was getting to verse 14, the Lord put magnifying glass on my face and pointedly gave me the name of the church. The logo, which depicts what the church stands for also came by inspiration.

‘Our Logo Has A Bell With A
Sign Of The Blessed Holy Spirit
Also Came By Inspiration’
(Pastor Alfred Femi Ajifowope, General Overseer, Evangelical Christ Apostolic Church, Ago Okota, Lagos)
I AM from the conventional Christ Apostolic Church. I did not have the intention of establishing another church. However, as I was fasting and praying on the mountain, God showed me a church that I would pastor. I also saw the name of the small church. I then asked if it was that small church that was shown to me that I would pastor. The Lord told me to move forward in obedience and I did. The logo, which was also by inspiration has a bell with a sign of the Blessed Holy Spirit. Holy Bible, which is the Word of God is on top of the Cross that represents Jesus Christ.

‘When God Calls, He Shows
You What You Need’
(Dr. Shola Akinkuolie, General Overseer, The Overflowing Ministry, Ayobo, Lagos)
IT is the nature of God to give the name of the Ministry whenever He calls a minister. Back in the 80s, a verse was given to me, precisely in Luke 4:18. Anytime, I came across the verse, it was always making impact in my life. When I had the premonition that it was time to start the ministry, I started talking to God and the name of the church came like a flash. Since God would never call anyone into the ministry without taking the lead, He took the lead right from the beginning and deliverance began to take place in the lives of people in line with our mission to preach the gospel and set the captive free. About the logo, the two praying hands is a message that the church is a praying church. When God calls, He leads and shows what the person He has called needs and supplies.

‘God Gave Us Name In Consonance With Christ’s Three-fold Ministry’
(Rev. Albert Bezaleel Emiebor, General Overseer, Christ Wholesome Life International Ministry)
THE emphasis in the name of the Ministry is ‘wholesome.’ God gave us the name. This is in consonance with the three-fold ministry our Lord Jesus: preaching, teaching and healing. We are commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 to teach the converts to observe all things. We are mandated to teach the whole Word of God. Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father as He Himself told a disciple that anyone that sees Him has seen the father. We are to ensure that the Word of God is not adulterated and do not minimize the truth. We are to ensure wholeness of the word.

About the Logo. The interpretation of the Bible and the globe is that the only thing that can change the world is the Word of God. The rainbow is just the reminiscence of my tarrying before Him for 40 days when rainbow appeared. He also manifested.