Apostle Numbere Dies In Lagos

The founder and International Director of Greater Evangelism World Crusade Apostle Godfrey D. Numbere reputed as one of the pioneers of grassroots evangelism in Old Rivers State is dead.
Apostle Numbere is said to have died Wednesday afternoon in Lagos, where he was flown to, enroute Germany for check-up occasioned by suspected complications arising from a recent cancer surgery he had in India.
The news of the demise of the former Zonal Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-South zone filtered into Port Harcourt yesterday evening and spread like wild-fire across the branches of the Greater Evangelism Churches in the Rivers State capital and beyond, sending shock waves to the teeming faithful of the Church.
At about 8.00 pm Wednesday, when The Tide visited the Borikiri branch of the Church at No. 9, Rex Lawson Street, the members were seen discussing the sad news in hushed voices, with folded arms.
An elder of the Church who spoke on the condition of anonymity lamented, “Our Daddy (Apostle Numbere) is dead, he died this afternoon. He was diagnosed of cancer and had a successful surgery sometime ago and was recuperating before we got the sad news, suddenly,. Infact, we the women of the Church were billed to converge this Sunday to pray for his speedy recovery”.
One of the pastors of the Church at the Borikiri branch, who does not want his name in print confirmed the development to The Tide yesterday morning when our correspondent met him few metres from the Church gate.
Also yesterday, when our correspondent visited the centre of the Church’s periodic combined services at 35, Elechi Beach, Mile 1 Diobu, the members wore somber look as they discussed the development.
The host pastor, Pastor Dr. J.A.C. Iyagba was said to be unavailable and his mobile line could not go through when The Tide Correspondent called him at 2.30 pm but one of his Pastors who does not want his name in print confirmed the death of the Church’s founder/international director.
“The International Director is dead! He died yesterday. All Kalabari brethren of the Church were billed to converge here (35, Elechi Beach) for an Intercessory prayer session for him at 3pm today. Text messages were sent to that effect.
Following his sudden death, we received another text message cancelling the prayer meeting. Sunday is the Church’s Healing Service at our world Headquarters at Rukpokwu, it is there that announcement will be made on the death of the Director”, he said.
The Church Administrative Headquarters at Isiokpo Street, D’Line, Port Harcourt that is usually a beehive of activities was a shadow of itself when The Tide visited at about 3.45pm. from the look on the faces of the workers, it was clear an Iroko has fallen, as one of them told The Tide, “The Lord had called our Director home …”
The last known major public outing of the renowned clergyman, Christian leader, Church planter, miracle worker and unrepentant preacher of salvation, holiness and heaven was the commemoration of his 45th Spiritual birthday on September.14 in Port Harcourt.

Justus Unye-Awaji

Late Apostle Numbere