Bakare said this during the 14th anniversary celebration of the Foursquare Gospel Church, in Abuja on Sunday, October 23, 2016.

The minister added that the current economic hardship is an opportunity for the church to apply biblical financial principles that produce results.

He also said the church is not yet living up to its responsibility of delivering nations and bringing them into God’s will.

Bakare added that the church can influence government policies through strategic positioning of its people who will implement kingdom principles.

According to him, “ I am convinced that the recession currently being experienced in Nigeria is an opportunity for the Church.

“Therefore, I declare to you that the Scripture is about to be fulfilled in your hearing as God is stirring up the church to take responsibility for the destiny of Nigeria.

“That is why we are gathered here today to talk about the church and economic recession.

“ If the church is also reeling from the impact of the recession, we must admit to ourselves that this is against the Scriptural pattern.

“ It is the best of times to take the tenets of the faith beyond the four walls of the church building to the marketplace and the policy roundtable.”

Tunde Bakare also called on Nigerians to have faith in President Muhammadu Buhari,adding that there is no gain, without pain.