It was a day bathed in quiet grace and deep thanksgiving when the family of Da Evangelist Joel Wandara Gushi (JP) gathered beneath the familiar roof of COCIN Church, Narayi, in Kaduna, in early April 2026. The air itself seemed to carry a sense of sacred celebration—of time well spent, of vows faithfully kept, and of a life poured out in service.
When Professor Ibrahim Bulus, a devoted member of the Board of Trustees of Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF), went to be with the Lord in 2010, many might have quietly expected that his passing would mark a gentle withdrawal for his wife from the life of the fellowship they had both served so faithfully. Grief, after all, has a way of drawing the curtains inward. But Mrs. Martha Bulus was not one to retreat into the shadows.
As the year 2025 loosened its grip and gave way to the promise of another, the Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF), Kano Zone, gathered not merely to close a chapter but to listen—carefully and prayerfully—to what the season had revealed. Declining attendance over the months had raised concern, but it also offered a chance to pause at the threshold of renewal, to consider what the fellowship had been, and what it could yet become.
December 13, 2025, will remain indelibly engraved in the hearts of family and friends as a day of rare and radiant joy. On this memorable Saturday, the twin sons of Professor Patrick Dakum, National Coordinator of the Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF), were united in holy matrimony, marking a milestone of love, faith, and family. The celebration shimmered with even greater meaning as it coincided with the birthday of the grooms’ mother, Mrs. Sarah Dakum—transforming the moment into a triumphant triple celebration, alive with warmth, laughter, and profound spiritual significance.
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Headquarters Cathedral in Jos, Plateau State, was alive with excitement as Retji and Plangji exchanged vows with their beloved partners, Kangyang Pwajok and Pamela Pam. Friends, family, and distinguished guests gathered to witness the unions, setting the stage for a day brimming with elegance, emotion, and divine blessing.
At the heart of the ceremony was a deeply reflective sermon titled “Let your yes be yes and your no be no,” delivered by Rev. Agwom Azi Magaji, the guest preacher. With clarity and conviction, he called on all couples present to anchor their marriages in truth and integrity, reminding the congregation that the Kingdom of God is firmly established on honesty.
He urged the newlyweds to see marriage not as a contractual arrangement, but as a sacred covenant—one sustained by honesty, prayer, endurance, and forgiveness. “Be faithful in your words,” he charged, “so that your ‘yes’ remains true and your ‘no’ sincere.” Drawing from John 8:44, he described marriage as the greatest opportunity to live with integrity, cultivate deep intimacy, and honor God in daily life. Rev. Magaji further encouraged the couples to live as citizens of heaven, whose promises to one another require no oath, for true commitment flows from the heart and cannot rely on human strength alone, but grace.
He highlighted the essential pillars of a lasting marriage: prayer, endurance, and forgiveness. He reminded the couples never to take the family altar for granted;
emphasizing that prayer sustains and strengthens every union. He also spoke of the promise of endurance, encouraging them to remain steadfast through both celebrations and trials. And, he said, forgiveness is the lifeblood of love, enabling couples to grow, trust, and nurture each other. “A vow is more than words,” he remarked. Vows, he said are sacred promises of faithfulness through life’s joys and challenges. “It is a declaration of purpose, a commitment to remain faithful through life’s joys and challenges,” he reiterated.
The weddings drew an impressive gathering of guests from within Nigeria and across the globe, including dignitaries from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA, as well as representatives from South Sudan, Gambia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom. The presence of prominent Nigerian leaders—among them the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, former Governor Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye, and Rt. Honorable Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, a member of the National Assembly—lent notable grandeur to the celebration.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 was a day filled with heartfelt testimonies at the End-of-Year meeting of CCF Kaduna Zone, but none was as deeply moving as that of the Adamu family. With gratitude overflowing, they recounted the Lord’s gracious protection over their home. Truly, if not for God who stood by them, their story would have taken a very different turn. They recounted three remarkable deliverances, each arriving like milestones of grace, spaced four to five months apart.
In the quiet of the night, around 2:30 a.m., Istifanus Adamu awoke to use the restroom. He felt led by the Holy Spirit to switch on the light before stepping out of bed. The moment he did, he saw a snake beside them. He alerted his wife immediately, and together with their children, they searched carefully until, by God’s grace, they found and killed and removed the snake. All thanks to God for opening their eyes and shielding them from danger.
Their last daughter, Abigail, was on her way to a function and boarded a motorcycle. Along Isa Kaita Road, a vehicle struck them from behind, causing a severe crash. The rider sustained critical injuries, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he sadly did not survive.
Abigail was also taken to the hospital for examinations. To the glory of God, she sustained no fractures or major injuries. Her life was preserved.
Again, their 13-year-old son attempted to iron his clothes using a charcoal iron because there was no electricity. Out of inexperience, he tried to light it with petrol, and the fire flared up unexpectedly. Startled and alone, he tried using water, which only caused the fire to spread, affecting items in two rooms. By God’s mercy, he eventually remembered to use sand to put out the flames. His life was spared, and the house was preserved from greater destruction.
Indeed, the Lord has done far more for CCF Kaduna Zone than words can fully express. For these mighty deliverances, His name be praised now and forever. Amen.