METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA - Online Study Bible
METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA - Online Study Bible
METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA - Online Study Bible
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WORTHY IS THE LAMB<br />
<strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
<strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
DISCOVER TO RECOVER SEMINAR<br />
FOR ALL MINISTERS, LAY PRESIDENTS, STEWARDS, AND TREASURERS<br />
OF ALL LOCAL <strong>CHURCH</strong>ES, CIRCUITS AND DIOCESES<br />
AND<br />
ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR CONFERENCE<br />
AWARDEES<br />
Sir Jimmy Coker, KJW Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday Onuoha<br />
Lay President of Conference Connexional Secretary for Evangelism & Discipleship<br />
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
Secretary of Conference<br />
His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
Prelate<br />
1
Table of Content<br />
1. Title Page 1<br />
2. Table of Content 2<br />
3. Vision and Mission of the Church 3<br />
4. Programme of Event 5<br />
5. Introduction 6<br />
Part A Discover to Recover 9<br />
6. Key Note Remark on Discover to Recover 10<br />
His Eminence, Dr. S. Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
7. Challenges of Effective Communication System<br />
within Methodist Church Nigeria 12<br />
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
8. Codified System-A tool Towards the Actualization<br />
of our Vision and Mission 24<br />
Sir Jimmy Coker, KJW<br />
9. Evangelism and Church Growth 33<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday N. Onuoha<br />
10. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living a more<br />
Fulfilled Life - Bro. A. S. Ogamba, FCSM 42<br />
Part B Orientation Seminar 51<br />
11. Programme of Event for Awardees 52<br />
12. Understanding your Call as a Conference Awardee<br />
and Agent of Church Stability 53<br />
Sir Jimmy Coker, KJW, Lay President of Conference<br />
13. Ethics of Methodist Conference Awardees 60<br />
Most Rev. L. S. Ayo Ladigbolu (S)<br />
14. Vessel of Honour for Effective Evangelism 65<br />
Bro Emma Oha<br />
15. Functions of Conference Awardees 73<br />
Sir Col. Bola Ogunsanwo, Secretary of Council of Knight<br />
16. Appendix 1 Conference Bank Account 78<br />
17. Appendix 2 Church Statistics 80<br />
2
18. Appendix 3 2008/2010 Seed of Faith 83<br />
19. Appendix 4 2008/2010 Tithe of Tithes 85<br />
20. Appendix 5 Pensions and Widows Allowance 88<br />
21. Appendix 6 Names, Phone Numbers and<br />
Email Addresses of Conference Officers 91<br />
22. Appendix 7 Names of 2011 Awardees 95<br />
3
THE VISION AND MISSION<br />
THE <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
VISION<br />
To be one of the largest and spiritually vibrant<br />
Churches in Nigeria<br />
MISSION<br />
To consistently win more souls for Christ,<br />
Develop spiritually fulfilled members and<br />
Remain very active in serving humanity.<br />
4
9.00 a.m. - 10.00 am Registration<br />
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS<br />
10.00 a.m. - 10.20 a.m. Devotion by Host Bishop<br />
10.20 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. Introduction<br />
10.30 a.m. - 10.40 a.m. Prelate’s Short Remark<br />
10.40 a.m. - 10.50 a.m. Participants Departs to various Lecture Halls<br />
10.50 a.m. - 11.10 a.m. Key Note Remark on Discover to Recover<br />
His Eminence, Dr. S. Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria<br />
11.10 a.m. - 11.50 a.m. Challenges of Effective Communication System<br />
within Methodist Church Nigeria<br />
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
Secretary of Conference<br />
11.50 a.m. - 12.00 noon Short Break<br />
12.00 noon - 12.40 p.m. Codified System-A tool Towards the Actualization<br />
of our Vision and Mission<br />
Sir Jimmy N. Coker, KJW, Lay President of Conference<br />
12.40 p.m. - 1.20 p.m. Evangelism and Church Planting<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday N. Onuoha<br />
1.20 p.m. – 1.30 p.m. Short Break/Awardees Returns to main auditorium<br />
1.30 p.m. – 2.10 p.m. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living a more<br />
Fulfilled Life - Bro. A. S. Ogamba, FCSM<br />
2.10 p.m. – 2.40 p.m. Interactive Session (Questions and Answers)<br />
2.40 a.m. – 2.45 p.m. Vote of Thanks<br />
2.45 p.m. – 2.55 p.m. Closing Prayer/Benediction<br />
5
INTRODUCTION<br />
We are indeed grateful to the Almighty God who has made it possible for us<br />
to be alive in His vineyard of Methodist Church Nigeria. Our God has<br />
continually sustained us as a Church since the inception of the new<br />
dispensation of administration that began in November 2006.<br />
It is a known fact that the process of the repositioning of our great Church<br />
culminated in the acceptance of the 2006 constitution of Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria which was ratified at Uyo Conference of the Church.<br />
At that Conference, the emergence of a new leadership of the Church became<br />
a reality. Most Rev. Dr. Sunday Ola. Makinde and the Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Chibuzo<br />
Raphael Opoko were elected the Prelate and Secretary of Conference<br />
respectively, whilst Sir Remi Omotoso was the transitional bridge between<br />
the outgoing and the incoming leadership of the Church as the Lay President<br />
of Conference.<br />
His Eminence in different foray promised to continue to build and improve<br />
upon the foundation led by His predecessor by consolidating on the<br />
repositioning process and ensuring great passion and deep commitment in<br />
the Evangelism and Discipleship programmes of the Church. The Conference<br />
Connexional Secretary for Evangelism and Discipleship otherwise known in<br />
our everyday usage parlance as the “Bishop of Evangelism” the Rt. Rev. Dr.<br />
Sunday Ndukwe Onuoha began the coordination of the evangelism and<br />
discipleship programmes.<br />
In the year 2009, Sir Jimmy Nathaniel Coker was elected the Lay President of<br />
Conference, which also brought an added vigour, strength and greater<br />
dynamism in the administration of the Church.<br />
One of the greatest strategies among many was the introduction of the<br />
Discover to Recover Programme with an integrated programme of<br />
Orientation for Conference awardees preparatory to the award.<br />
Discover to Recover is a programme designed by this administration to<br />
ensure that our Church leaders and members are informed in order to be<br />
transformed. It is an opportunity not just for seminar for knowledge<br />
acquisition sake, but also to provide opportunity for an interactive learning<br />
exposure and experiences between the core leadership of the Church at the<br />
conference level at one hand and the leaders and members at the other<br />
levels of the Church at the other. Benny Hinn said that “the deeper you go<br />
into relationship with God, the higher you will be operating”. The bible<br />
records in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.<br />
6
The Ibos have a proverb – “Akarue, Egerue”. When you inform correctly,<br />
the people will listen correctly”. If you are not informed, you will be<br />
deformed said a jester. Discover to Recover is therefore designed to keep<br />
everyone informed of the happenstances in the Church. It offers opportunity<br />
for people to ask questions that would undoubtedly clarify some<br />
assumptions and misleading or distorted information they have received or<br />
continued to receive.<br />
What is Discover in the context of usage? To discover means to find out<br />
something not already known. It is to get hold to necessary information on<br />
what will assist you become librated, restored, transformed, reformed and<br />
redeemed. It is to gain more insight, acquire more skills and gain more<br />
knowledge on the pathway to recovery.<br />
To discover means to uncover or to explore. The Samaritan woman ran to<br />
call her neighbor to come and see a “man who told me everything I did” Cp.<br />
John 4:29. We discover through grasping information, by observation and by<br />
doing. A child raised up her hand to recite Psalm 23. Curiously, the Teacher<br />
asked the 4½ year old child to proceed and she mattered, “The Lord is my<br />
shepherd, that’s all I want”. This is not just discovery, it is also a revelation.<br />
To recover means to return to former sate of any status. David recovered all<br />
in 1Sam. 30. King Hezekiah was totally restored of his health when he cried<br />
out to the Lord God Almighty.<br />
Discover to Recover therefore is the ability to grasp information by<br />
observation, participation, digging or excavating.<br />
The programme has been designed to afford members and leaders the<br />
opportunity through an interactive and participatory session to gain more<br />
insight about the Church and what obtains in it.<br />
It is an opportunity for members to see the progress of work of God in the<br />
Church unless you are informed, you will not be reformed but you will be<br />
deformed.<br />
We have in this booklet lectures prepared for both the seminar for<br />
Conference awardees and the Seminar for Ministers and Stewards of the<br />
Church. There are eight topics altogether for both seminars.<br />
Each Lecturer has 40 minutes to present the paper, answer questions<br />
arising from the topic presented and possibly have a 5 minute relaxation<br />
before the next paper.<br />
7
Let me on behalf of the Prelate appreciate all the Resource persons who<br />
presented the papers. The Lord will reward you abundantly.<br />
In this booklet, information on Conference Bank Accounts, Church Statistics,<br />
analysis of 2008/2010 Seed of Faith, 2008/2010 Tithe of Tithes, pension and<br />
widows allowance, names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all<br />
Conference Officers and the names of all approved 2011 Conference<br />
Awardees have been clearly put to assist us in our operational links and<br />
network. This booklet therefore, is a great resource document.<br />
May God bless His Church and all of us as we make use of this resource<br />
booklet.<br />
Rt. Rev. C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
Secretary of Conference<br />
8
PART B<br />
DISCOVER TO RECOVER<br />
FOR ALL MINISTERS, LAY PRESIDENTS, STEWARDS, AND TREASURERS<br />
OF ALL LOCAL <strong>CHURCH</strong>ES, CIRCUITS AND DIOCESES<br />
9
KEY NOTE REMARKS ON DISCOVER TO RECOVER<br />
By<br />
His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I say: A Happy and<br />
Blessed New Year.<br />
We all know that we repositioned this Church in 2006 towards attainment<br />
of spirituality, evangelism and culture change. This repositioning reflected<br />
in the new Constitution which was approved in 2006. Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria is the first Denomination in Nigeria, a fact which nobody can dispute<br />
historically and academically. Our repositioning is set up in our Vision and<br />
Mission:<br />
Our Vision: To be one of the largest and spiritually vibrant<br />
Churches in Nigeria.<br />
Our Mission: To consistently win more souls for Christ, develop<br />
Spiritually fulfilled members and remain very active<br />
in serving humanity.<br />
Without culture change, spiritual and social rebirth, we cannot achieve much<br />
in our Vision and Mission. There is so much indiscipline which we need to<br />
cure in this Church. This Seminar is necessary for us to know our duties as<br />
Leaders in Methodist Church Nigeria, both lay and clergy.<br />
The only source of income in our Church is derived from the Local Churches.<br />
Unfortunately, this is where there is leakage and wastage of funds. This is<br />
where disobedience to Conference, Diocesans and Circuits’ directives are<br />
most pronounced. The Conference, Dioceses and Circuits exist by<br />
representation from Local Churches. If the Leaders of our Local Churches<br />
get it right, Methodist Church Nigeria will get it right as well. The Conference<br />
is the last port of call for all Methodist Church Nigeria Church workers at old<br />
age. Let us equip it now.<br />
It is imperative for our Local Church Officers and Circuit Officers to go for<br />
refresher courses on how to do their work at our Theological Colleges either<br />
for one week-end or we send the teachers to the Dioceses to give the desired<br />
training. Training and refresher courses, for our Lay Leaders, will eliminate<br />
honest mistakes and too know attitudes of some of our Leaders.<br />
There is a need for our Leaders to know what Conference stands for in our<br />
Connexional system. Conference pays Conference workers, maintains the<br />
Headquarters, the Theological Colleges and our Social Institutions.<br />
10
Conference pays the monthly pensions of our retired Ministers while she<br />
pays allowances to widows of our deceased Ministers. Conference pays<br />
annual levies to our National, Regional and International Ecumenical bodies.<br />
The only income generating project we have is the Wesley House building<br />
which is aging rapidly. We spend a lot of money to maintain it. We spend a<br />
lot of money to accommodate our workers who are in Lagos, Ibadan,<br />
Umuahia and Sagamu respectively.<br />
The Seminar ‘’Discover to Recover’’ is designed for you to know the<br />
expenses of the Conference, Dioceses and Circuits and how to use our<br />
Connexionalism to meet the expenses without grumbling. We are paying all<br />
workers on Diocesan basis. We are thinking on how we can pay our<br />
Archbishops and Bishops at Conference level first. If we succeed, we will try<br />
the payment of all our workers at Conference level. Meanwhile, the main<br />
source of income for meeting the enormous expenses of Conference are:<br />
1(a) Seed of Faith - =N=50.00 per week per member<br />
(b) 10% of the tithes we realize every Sunday<br />
2(a) For WUSTO – The various annual levy of individual members.<br />
(b) 10% of all collections including Harvest but without tithes.<br />
If our members are faithful to GOD and this exercise, Conference will not be<br />
solvent. All we need are faithful, selfless, dedicated and GOD-fearing lay and<br />
ordained Leaders who will be faithful in remitting to Conference the correct<br />
Seed of Faith (SOF), Tithe of Tithes, special Sunday collections and WUSTO<br />
collections. Unfortunately, some of our members are not faithful in this<br />
respect. They often forget that nothing is hidden from GOD and that He is a<br />
rewarder of whatever we do, good or bad.<br />
We have redesigned and published a new Journal to meet our modern<br />
challenges. Above all, My Brothers and My Sisters, if we are faithful servants<br />
of GOD and we believe that we shall give an account of our stewardship to<br />
GOD one day, our Church will achieve her Vision and Mission to the glory of<br />
GOD. I ask: Are you a faithful Steward or Minister?<br />
You are welcome to this Seminar. GOD bless you as you participate.<br />
With my Apostolic blessings.<br />
His Eminence, Dr. S. Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria<br />
11
CHALLENGES OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM<br />
WITHIN <strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
By<br />
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
1. PREAMBLE<br />
It has been discovered experientially and practically that effective<br />
communication is partially or non existent in Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria. Compliance to demands of conference occasioned by the<br />
collective decision of all stakeholders of the church have never<br />
received sixty percent rate. This percentage undoubtedly has been<br />
very generous. This is a great challenge to our church and calls for a<br />
radical holistic overhaul and change to enable us achieve our vision<br />
and mission as a church.<br />
Communication can not be effective if it is not a two-way approach<br />
that has the feed back loop as the connecting bridge.<br />
Communication is both giving and receiving information and utilising<br />
the information both given and received realistically to ensure the<br />
running of a smooth organisation such as our church. Any lack of it<br />
could only bring chaos, frustration and lack of progress.<br />
The preamble gone, I have been given a topic: “Challenges of effective<br />
communication system within Methodist Church Nigeria. No doubt<br />
there are challenges of effective communication systems in other<br />
spheres of human endeavours or organisations, which may not be<br />
different from the experiences in Methodist Church Nigeria. But the<br />
context of our paper or focus is our great church which came to Nigeria<br />
in 1842.<br />
There is no doubt a myriad of challenges exist in our communication<br />
system from the pulpit to the pew and from one local church, circuit,<br />
church group or organisation to another. These effective<br />
communication challenges no doubt have led to disunity, frustration,<br />
dissatisfaction, complacency, retardation of growth, migration of<br />
members to other denominations and more.<br />
2. INTRODUCTION<br />
2.1 There are many areas of challenge in a church that seeks genuine<br />
growth. We find ourselves encompassed with fast growing new<br />
generation churches whose seeming “modern” ways attract a large<br />
number of our younger and middle generation. Be that as it may, we<br />
12
must however appreciate our heritage as well as value the age in<br />
which we find ourselves and face the challenges squarely.<br />
2.2 The challenge of an effective communication system within a church<br />
such as ours is one we must address urgently as a church, for our<br />
continuing to ignore them will be more perilous to us as a church. We<br />
are already paying a very steep price by the fact that so many of our<br />
young people are disenchanted with the communicating skills of our<br />
preachers (lay and Clergy), causing them to migrate to other seemingly<br />
vibrant churches around us. As a church much depends on our ability<br />
IN ONE ACCORD to realize quickly our shortcomings and together<br />
seek for and apply solutions that will enable us bridge the gap of the<br />
identified shortcomings to ensure meaningful progressive advances.<br />
2.3 In this paper therefore we shall seek to discuss frankly the state of<br />
communication in our church, what the problems are and proffer<br />
probable solutions to these problems. This paper will not go into<br />
classical and academic issues of communication. However, it may seek<br />
a fresh approach to communication both within and outside our<br />
Church. It is our sincere hope that by the end of discussion God would<br />
have given us new direction to enable us discover, to recover by<br />
ensuring that an effective communication system is not just put in<br />
place but also practiced through our change in culture and attitude.<br />
3. DEFINITION OF TERMS.<br />
To proceed, we must define the operative words of the text of our<br />
paper such as Challenge, Effective and Communication.<br />
3.1 WHAT IS CHALLENGE?<br />
The word “challenge” in the context of this paper conveys such<br />
happenings in the church that negatively impact on us. Those<br />
communication needs that dare, confront, defy, test and try us as an<br />
organisation.<br />
3.2 EFFECTIVE.<br />
The word “Effective” connotes such other words as efficient, valuable,<br />
successful, useful, effectual, helpful etc. The word presupposes a<br />
communication that would be helpful and successful in our Church.<br />
3.3 WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?<br />
The web accessed via internet defines Communication as the sending<br />
and receiving of ideas, thoughts or feelings from one person to one or<br />
more persons in such a way that the person receiving it understands it<br />
in the same way that the sender wants him/her to understand. In the<br />
context of this paper, communication simply means the transmission<br />
13
or reception of a message from one person to another or group of<br />
persons to another.<br />
It may be from the Conference headquarters to the Dioceses or from<br />
the Secretary of Conference to the Bishop or any other individual.<br />
Everyone needs information for one reason or the other.<br />
Communication can be undertaken by oral, documented or electronic<br />
form from one person or group to another person or group. It may be<br />
within an organization or group of people, community or even family.<br />
The web also conveys that communication ensures the flow of<br />
information. It is the key in any relationship at any level, ranging from<br />
between married couples to between nation states. Communication no<br />
doubt makes a difference between success and failure, war and peace,<br />
and indeed life and death. It is inevitable, necessary and<br />
indispensable in life.<br />
The lack of effective communication can put the individual or group at<br />
a disadvantage and make life for either the individual or group almost<br />
impossible and frustrating. In light of the foregoing communication is<br />
vital to each living entity and any organization that underrates the<br />
importance of effective communication does so at its own peril.<br />
Communication, like every other aspect of human life and endeavour is<br />
dynamic, hi-tech and developing at a fast rate. We must buckle our<br />
shoes to keep up with the latest technological developments to<br />
position our church and ourselves to face the emerging challenges.<br />
Let us take a historic overview of the role communication has played<br />
in our Church. We will simultaneously examine the present day<br />
challenges and proffer solutions.<br />
4. THE REMEMBRANCER AND AFTER<br />
4.1 After Methodist Church Nigeria became an autonomous entity in 1962<br />
the challenge of ensuring that every methodist across the nation feels<br />
part and parcel of one national church seeing beyond the local society<br />
which each member belonged existed. Every Methodist needed to feel<br />
the presence of conference, to hear what conference had to say, and to<br />
have opportunity to respond on burning issues.<br />
I believe that these needs among other factors may have informed the<br />
birth of the Remembrancer magazine which served as the major<br />
organ of communication between the leaders and the led across the<br />
conference area. We do not as at present have a full history of this<br />
14
magazine, but it was evident it served some purpose during the regime<br />
and administration of Patriarch Bolaji Idowu of blessed memory.<br />
4.2 During the years of crisis while the Remembrancer remained possibly<br />
the main and consistent source of information, both sides of the<br />
conflict utilised the print and electronic media to further its cause. The<br />
newspapers were never short of interviews, articles and paid adverts.<br />
There were also other publications made by both sides seeking<br />
seemingly to discredit the other and defend its point of view. We<br />
cannot deny that this left the Church divided, weak and derided<br />
causing many to leave the Church as a result of the misinformation<br />
that characterised the crisis. Well publicised court cases also added<br />
fuel to fire, Methodist Church Nigeria became well publicised and<br />
popular, but for the wrong reasons.<br />
4.3 When Methodist people came back together in May 1990, the<br />
challenges of reconciliation were overwhelming, managing and<br />
clearing up misinformation became more difficult. Rebuilding the<br />
Church though a herculean task was one taken with the attention it<br />
deserved. While the Remembrancer gave way to Methodist News,<br />
the challenge of communication became even greater and merely<br />
publishing a quarterly magazine amounted to a drop in a bucket in the<br />
light of the demands of the ever inquisitive new generation. This paper<br />
therefore shall attempt to identify certain areas which need attention<br />
if we are to meet up with these demands and seek to discover how<br />
best to address these areas in a way that will produce results.<br />
5. THE CHALLENGES FOR THE NOW<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria is a nationwide church that runs a<br />
Connexional system. This implies among other things that we run a<br />
central church government in which power devolves from the<br />
centre to the constituent units. The downward side of this however<br />
is that decision making starts with ratification from the grassroots first<br />
and works its way up to the top. Members at the grassroots however<br />
feel the need to know what Conference is doing and to feel the impact<br />
of Conference which is the Central Government of the church and to<br />
which every member is obligated to contribute to financially every<br />
week through a Membership Dues known as Seed of Faith. The<br />
average Methodist member wants answers to two key questions: -<br />
Firstly, how is their money being spent, and Secondly, what does<br />
Conference hold in store for them.<br />
5.1 Our method and pace of evangelism has left large areas of the country<br />
either with a weak Methodist presence or no Methodist presence at all!<br />
15
The question that arises is, how can we make our presence more<br />
effective in these places? Our attitude to Media Evangelism stands to<br />
question here. Our Dioceses and circuits are located across the nation,<br />
have they discovered their pivotal role in information dissemination at<br />
the grassroots? Our members should not be in dark as to what is going<br />
on at the Circuit, Diocese, Archdiocese, and Conference as long as these<br />
various levels of Church Government play their roles as channels of<br />
communication down to the local level.<br />
5.2 The use of Media Evangelism is one of the areas in which we must have<br />
a rethink. We are not on the radio or television in many places, aside<br />
from the Lenten talks we partake in many places how many<br />
programmes do we have on the electronic media? What do we still<br />
need to do to push forward on this front?<br />
5.3 In the area of Print Media, what do we need to do to ensure that<br />
Methodist News comes out with greater frequency and with wider<br />
and more effective coverage? What can we still do in the area of<br />
Print Media to further ensure the flow of information both within our<br />
church and from our church to the outside world?<br />
5.4 The quality of the pulpit. This is a great challenge. Our<br />
communication has been more or less weak. Non enthusiastic and<br />
apathetic sermons are preached daily from our pulpits. Life changing<br />
and transforming sermons are absent from our pulpits. Some have<br />
used the pulpit to settle scores with either the ministers or members<br />
who disagree with us. Many of our preachers do not even study the<br />
bible neither do they open themselves to the leading of the Spirit.<br />
The consequence is that many of our productive and financial young<br />
members have taken flight to deserts with oases of living spring. Some<br />
of our messages are not contextualised. They are not made relevant to<br />
the needs and experiences of our members. Pastoral ministry is fast<br />
disappearing. Most times we ask members to pay this and that without<br />
ascertaining from them the state of their working environment, their<br />
business and even care for their families.<br />
Some times messages are ambiguous. Besides, you can not give what<br />
you do not have. If your life is not transformed, you can not become an<br />
agent of transformation. You got to be filled in other to fill others. It<br />
must be noted that effective communication cannot exist from the<br />
pulpit where the pew is more enlightened on the subject matter.<br />
Where this exists, there will be lack of effective communication.<br />
16
5.5 Hoarding of information. This is the greatest bane of the church.<br />
Information dissemination is very poor. There seems to be no system<br />
in place or made known to all and sundry. This is the essence of<br />
discover to recover programme of the church. Many at time letters<br />
sent retire either in the Archdiocesan, diocesan headquarters or in the<br />
circuit headquarters. Funds are spent to send letters only for the said<br />
letters to have individual offices or even inside bibles as their archive<br />
documents that are forgotten.<br />
Many at time leaders will attend conferences, Connexional councils,<br />
Diocesan and circuit councils without adequately passing on the<br />
information to the people at the area of their operation.<br />
Some deliberately withhold information, while some indulge in it due<br />
to laziness or lack of enthusiasm. This may be due various reasons that<br />
could be adduced to a seeming protest or lack of interest.<br />
Communication sometimes could be a complicated process as it deals<br />
with relationships, cultural imperatives, language demands, individual<br />
attitudes and the numerous meanings of various words that we use as<br />
well as environmental social variables such conflict with organisational<br />
goals, mission and core values. Some bring up their individual<br />
differences to bear upon organisational needs and matters.<br />
5.6 Lack of keeping abreast with Information and computer<br />
Technology (ICT). Decisions in various forays of church meetings<br />
have been made that each headquarters of our church from local to<br />
conference levels embrace ICT technology. Each needed to provide<br />
computers and printers and install modems for internet facilities<br />
where possible. Each minister is supposed to own a lap top as much as<br />
possible and be computer literate. Each minister of various categories<br />
was supposed to have created e-mails. But some of our diocesan and<br />
circuit headquarters do not have e-mails. This has resulted in huge<br />
expenditure profile of the cost of communications.<br />
The conference headquarters came up with the Lap Top ownership<br />
scheme where you supplied with a laptop and the payment spread<br />
over the year. This met with opposition by our own Methodist people,<br />
while two major denominations who got the idea from us have<br />
exploited this programme. The other part of arrangement of acquiring<br />
cheap modems can not go on due to the lack of adequate patronage.<br />
Where do we go from here?<br />
5.7 Lack of enthusiasm in cheap mobile communication. An average<br />
Methodist minister that uses mobile phones spend in a month an<br />
17
average of N5, 000.00. You may wish to begin to record the N50.00,<br />
N200.00, N400.00 and sometimes N750.00 or other denominations<br />
you frequently buy, you will discover that you will spend more than<br />
the stated N5, 000.00. The church came up with an aggressive cheap<br />
Glo Cug group to which many people are reluctant to embrace. You<br />
must discover to recover. Lets take for an example this scenario:-<br />
400 conference leaders (from Prelate, Archbishops, Bishops, Lay<br />
Presidents and other categories of officers) of the church who usually<br />
spend an average of N4000.00 monthly to make calls would spend a<br />
total sum of N1, 600,000.00 per month.<br />
If the same number acquire the Glo Cug Sim card, they would pay each<br />
N1,000.00 monthly and a total aggregate sum of N400,000.00<br />
monthly leaving a credit saving balance of N1,200,000.00 per<br />
month. You can imagine how much the church would gain per year of<br />
eleven months granted that the first month; the same individuals used<br />
the sum of N3, 000.00 each to acquire the Sim cards.<br />
The church from only the same people would have saved whopping<br />
sum of N13, 200,000.00. Indeed “my people are destroyed for lack of<br />
knowledge”. Discover to Recover is the essence of this seminar.<br />
It is imperative to state that due to hoarding of information many<br />
ministers have not heard of this cost effective form of communication<br />
started by the church. We are paying out from church related pockets<br />
millions of Naira every month on mobile network communication<br />
alone. Only some of the leaders know exactly why they do not want to<br />
encourage their ministers to embrace scheme. Some of our leaders<br />
have embraced it. Their family members are using the network and<br />
they are saving huge in comparison with their previous expenditure<br />
profile.<br />
Our chief executives have unlimited budget for communication as it is<br />
funded by the church. What about ministers of other categories who<br />
cannot afford the needed fund to call the members of their families?<br />
We must not perish after this seminar.<br />
6. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: Let me represent here<br />
what was culled from the internet as the barriers to effective<br />
communication.<br />
The choice of words or language which a sender uses (called<br />
'encoding the message') will influence the quality of communication.<br />
In the English language, there are about 500 basic words that are used<br />
18
everyday. These 500 words have over 10,000 different meanings.<br />
Because language is a symbolic representation of a phenomenon, room<br />
for interpretation and distortion of the meaning exists<br />
Misreading body language, tone, and other non-verbal forms of<br />
communication<br />
Ignoring non-verbal language, Selective hearing, Hesitation to be<br />
candid, Distrust, Value judgment, Power struggles, Unreliable<br />
transmission (due to noise or inconsistent sending)<br />
Defensiveness (a typical barrier in a work situation, especially when<br />
negative information or criticism is involved)<br />
Distorted perception (How we perceive communication is affected by<br />
experiences. Perception is also affected by the organizational<br />
relationship two people have. For example, communication from a<br />
superior may be perceived differently than from a subordinate or<br />
peer.)<br />
Guilt, Distortions from the past<br />
Stereotyping (assuming the other person has certain characteristics<br />
based on the group to which they belong without validating that they<br />
in fact have these characteristics)<br />
Cultural differences (Effective communication requires deciphering<br />
the basic values, motives, aspirations, and assumptions that operate<br />
across geographical lines. Given some dramatic differences across<br />
cultures, the opportunities for miscommunication in cross-cultural<br />
situations are enormous.)<br />
7. TIPS FOR EFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.<br />
This is for all who are involved in communicating information to one<br />
another or to group of people. Preachers of all categories would find<br />
these tips very useful. In the course of my search for credible<br />
contents for this paper, I encountered these communication tips while<br />
browsing the internet and decided to reproduce them here for your<br />
perusal and benefit.<br />
7.1 Be clear, focused, and brief. A good communicator knows what he is<br />
talking or writing about. Being clear about the topic being discussed is<br />
essential for effective communication. A vague discourse will bore the<br />
audience, and the net result is wasted effort and frustration for oneself.<br />
What you say should also be crisp and to the point. Digressing<br />
19
frequently will lose you your audience and will also give the<br />
impression that you are unsure of yourself, losing your credibility.<br />
7.2 Know your audience. What you say and how you say it should be<br />
tailored for the kind of audience you are addressing.<br />
7.3 Be sincere. Say something only if you genuinely feel it is important for<br />
you to say it.<br />
7.4 Be positive. If you are not convinced of the worth of your utterances,<br />
nobody will. The more passionate you are about something, the more<br />
your words will ring with the truth of your convictions.<br />
7.5 Reach out to your audience. Provide your listeners the chance to<br />
clarify doubts or to give feedbacks. Bridging the gap between yourself<br />
and your audience will help make you even better at communication in<br />
the future.<br />
8. MEETING THE CHALLENGES<br />
8.1 The challenges seem daunting, but at the same time we are People of<br />
Faith. We Methodists can confront and overcome. We have a role to<br />
play in ensuring that the Church moves forward. Let us contribute our<br />
quota in this era of repositioning to move our church forward in line<br />
with our Vision and Mission and to explore all areas of communication<br />
to the fullest to enable us take our rightful place in the Christian Fold.<br />
8.2 The church and her leaders at every level must seize every<br />
opportunity to ensure information is disseminated by all possible and<br />
available means, starting from the word of mouth, printed material,<br />
radio and television and, of course, the internet, which has now taken<br />
over as a major means of communication. With one click of a mouse,<br />
information made available on the net can be accessed anywhere in<br />
the world at any time.<br />
While Conference is working on a website, we must encourage local<br />
Churches, circuits and Dioceses that have the means to establish web<br />
sites thereby enabling anyone to access information about the Church<br />
anywhere at any time. We are aware that certain churches in Lagos<br />
such as Hoare's Memorial Methodist Cathedral Yaba, Lagos and Wesley<br />
cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos, have made moves in this direction.<br />
8.3 Every Diocese located in State Capitals should endeavour to sponsor a<br />
television or at least a radio programme on a regular basis, local<br />
churches can even do the same. This has a two way effect, firstly it<br />
publishes our message in every home in the state, and secondly, it<br />
20
keeps our members abreast with developments in their church. Special<br />
mention and commendation must be made to the Diocese of Uyo in<br />
this regard. The Diocese has maintained a programme, Methodist Half<br />
Hour, on air in Uyo for some time now. This has been an effective<br />
means of evangelism in Akwa Ibom State and has created a state-wide<br />
awareness of Methodism. Can we not follow this lead in this area? May<br />
I suggest that Dioceses in places like Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt<br />
can partner together to sponsor a programme on television in these<br />
cities.<br />
8.4 No matter how small a worshipping community is, it cannot ignore the<br />
role it can play in communication and information dissemination.<br />
While Dioceses can publish newsletters on quarterly basis, local<br />
churches can actually transform their bulletins to News bulletins and<br />
include spiritual materials that can edify the lives of members and<br />
non-members alike. One of the easiest means of passing the message<br />
of the Gospel around is through the printing and distribution of tracts;<br />
I dare say that even small local churches can sponsor this. It does not<br />
take a millionaire to print tracts! This is definitely one of our weak<br />
points and we must address it aggressively.<br />
8.5 A word must be said here about conference publications. The<br />
indebtedness has reached a sum in excess of N20, 000,000.00. This<br />
includes the recently circulated journal record of public worship.<br />
Failure to remit payments for conference publications over the years<br />
has adversely affected the consistency of these publications. Worse hit<br />
has been Methodist News. I appeal to all dioceses, circuits and local<br />
churches to ensure prompt remittance of all payments for all<br />
conference publications and to please forward all outstanding<br />
payments to put the Media and Communication Department in a better<br />
position to meet the daunting challenges of these present times.<br />
8.6 We must not be afraid of change, and this is what the whole process of<br />
repositioning is all about. If we are to actualise many of these high<br />
aspirations the church seeks to achieve in the area of Communication,<br />
we must be ready to change our outlook in many areas of our Church<br />
life. We must be ready to accept the challenges our present generation<br />
demands and take them on headlong. If we move by faith and not by<br />
sight we are bound to succeed.<br />
8.7 We must revaluate our curriculum in our training institutions to make<br />
them more robust to relate to the needs of our members where ever<br />
they find themselves. Our ministers must be exposed to attend<br />
seminars and collaborate with institutions abroad for sabbatical<br />
21
experiences for our lecturers. The current leadership of the Church<br />
instituted a partial scholarship programme where those studying their<br />
postgraduate and doctoral programmes receive the sum of N50,<br />
000.00 and N100, 000.00 respectively. As at date we have more than<br />
35 ministers who are currently in these two programmes both home<br />
and abroad since the inception of this programme a year ago.<br />
We need each circuit to contribute the N10, 000.00 per quarter to this<br />
fund to enable the administration continue and expand the scholarship<br />
programme. Indigent students have been sponsored by the church.<br />
Two other students who are doing medical studies have been given full<br />
scholarship by the church.<br />
8.8 SATELLITE BROADCASTING<br />
With the introduction of satellite television via DSTV, HI TV, MY TV,<br />
JOY TV, DARSAT, to mention a few, it now became possible to<br />
broadcast to the whole world once the right technology was applied.<br />
Many churches and faith based organizations took advantage of this<br />
and either brought up airtime on existing satellite broadcast networks<br />
or establish satellite station of their own or join existing networks.<br />
This has been done by several charismatic denominations in Nigeria as<br />
such as Deeper Life, Lords Chosen, Christ Embassy to mention but a<br />
few.<br />
If we want to reach the largest number with the message of Christ, if<br />
our Vision of being one of the largest and most spiritually vibrant<br />
churches in Nigeria is to become a reality and not just high sounding<br />
words, we must see ourselves going on satellite in the nearest future,<br />
and if this is to happen the groundwork is to start now. We can do it<br />
through the help of God! Nothing is impossible to him who believes!<br />
9. CONCLUSION: A NEW DAY?<br />
If Methodist Church Nigeria is to witness a new day, we must be ready<br />
to change our individual and corporate attitude to communication.<br />
Information must flow freely from the top and opinions from the<br />
grassroots. I am attaching names, phone numbers and e-mails of key<br />
officers of Conference for ease of contact. (Appendix 6 on page 95)<br />
While every Methodist is in a position to know what is going on in the<br />
Church, every Methodist must also ensure that he plays his or her role<br />
and contribute his quota in passing the message of Christ to all<br />
through contributing to publications and broadcasts. Each Methodist<br />
must be a Soul Winner. Webcasts and podcasts are also viable options.<br />
22
From the village market place to the cybercafés, the Methodist<br />
presence must be felt and message must be heard! Can we do this in<br />
our time? Yes! We Can! I SEE A TIME WHEN <strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
<strong>NIGERIA</strong> WOULD EXPAND BY MULTIPLICATION AND NOT BY<br />
DIVISION OF EXISTING CIRCUITS WHO JUST FOR THE SAKE OF<br />
CREATION OF DIOCESES COME TOGETHER AND APPLY FOR A<br />
DIOCESE. I SEE A TIME, AND IT IS NOW, WHEN <strong>METHODIST</strong><br />
PRESENCE WILL BE FELT IN ALL CRANIES AND CORNERS OF THIS<br />
NATION. YES! WE CAN. WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM<br />
THAT STRENGHTENS US. Amen.<br />
Thank you.<br />
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) C Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
Secretary of Conference<br />
23
CODIFIED SYSTEM – A TOOL FOR THE ACTUALIZATION OF<br />
OUR VISION AND MISSION<br />
By<br />
Sir Jimmy N. Coker, KJW<br />
The Vision and Mission of the Church<br />
The 40th / 5 th Biennial Conference 2006 of Methodist Church Nigeria held in<br />
the Diocese of Uyo adopted the Vision and Mission statements of the Church<br />
as follows:<br />
Vision<br />
To be one of the largest and spiritual vibrant Churches in Nigeria.<br />
Mission<br />
To consistently win more souls for Christ, develop spiritually fulfilled members<br />
and remain very active in serving humanity.<br />
The Concept of Codified System:<br />
Codified System involves the allocation of remittance codes to all Dioceses,<br />
Circuits, Local Churches and Preaching stations throughout the Conference<br />
Area. The System makes it possible to:<br />
i. Readily ascertain the source and purpose of every payment that is made<br />
into Conference bank Accounts across the country.<br />
ii. To identify Circuits, Local Churches and Preaching Stations throughout<br />
the Conference Area and thereafter the membership strength of the<br />
Church.<br />
Need for Codified System:<br />
The problem of reconciling remittance records held in some Dioceses with<br />
that of Conference Headquarters has remained unresolved over the years.<br />
We have traced the cause of the usual variances in the remittance records to<br />
the non-submission of remittance notifications / payment confirmations to<br />
Conference Headquarters as and when payment is made to Conference bank<br />
accounts by the remitting Dioceses. It follows that remittances that are not<br />
confirmed by the remitting Dioceses are categorized as unidentified<br />
remittances by the Accounts personnel of Conference Headquarters merely<br />
to balance the books, since such payments cannot be credited to any Diocese.<br />
It therefore becomes imperative to work a way out of this perennial<br />
problem, once and for all, as well as devicing the need of having the correct<br />
statistical data for all our Churches.<br />
24
Scheme take-off:<br />
In pursuance of a permanent solution to the problem, the Codified System of<br />
payment was conceived. Consequently, the Conference Connexional Council<br />
(CCC) at its meeting on Thursday, 17 th December, 2009 gave approval to the<br />
introduction of the Codified System. The scheme eventually took off<br />
effectively in February 2010.<br />
Allocation of Remittance Codes:<br />
As stated earlier, all Dioceses, Circuits, Local Churches and Preaching<br />
Stations have been allocated remittance codes.<br />
Types of remittance and their codes are as stated below:<br />
Remittance Code<br />
a. Seed of Faith S<br />
b. 10% of Tithes T<br />
c. WUSTO Payments<br />
i. 10% of other Collections )<br />
ii. WUSTO Levies ) W<br />
iii. Prelate’s Special WUSTO Appeal )<br />
d. Miscellaneous Income M<br />
(See Appendix)<br />
Composition of a complete Remittance Code - Example:<br />
Let us use Satellite Methodist Church, Satellite Town and Lagos as an<br />
illustration. Please, note the following important details:<br />
o The Local Church is in City Mission Circuit in the Diocese of Lagos<br />
Mainland.<br />
o Diocese of Lagos Mainland is allocated Code “D03” that is, Diocese<br />
No. 3 in the Conference Area (non-hierarchical)<br />
o City Mission Circuit is allocated Code “C3” that is, Circuit No. 3 in<br />
the Diocese of Lagos Mainland.<br />
o Satellite Methodist Church is allocated Code “LC4” that is, Local<br />
Church No. 4 in City Mission Circuit.<br />
o Let us assume that the Local Church intends to pay its Seed of Faith<br />
in the bank<br />
Now, let us assemble the full remittance Code for use in Satellite<br />
Methodist Church: D03 / C3 / LC4 / S<br />
25
Where:<br />
D03 is the Diocesan Code<br />
C3 is the Circuit Code, as Circuit No. 3 in the Diocese<br />
LC4 is the Local Church Code, as Church No. 4 in the Circuit<br />
S indicates that the payment is for Seed of Faith<br />
Need to fund Conference Headquarters adequately<br />
Conference Headquarters requires adequate funds for the following:<br />
Day to day running of Conference Headquarters as a corporate entity in<br />
Nigeria, with responsibilities nationally and internationally on behalf of<br />
the Church.<br />
Payment of emoluments of the staff of Conference Headquarters<br />
Running of Conference Theological Institutes and other Conference<br />
establishments including payment of their emoluments.<br />
Support for educational advancement of the clergy.<br />
Payment of Pension to retired Ministers as well as Widows’ Allowances.<br />
There is constitutional requirement for 20% budget provision for<br />
Evangelism and Discipleship, 5% for Welfare and 2% for Youth.<br />
Organizing Conferences, Conference Connexional Council and<br />
Committees of Conference meetings where far-reaching decisions are<br />
taken.<br />
Sustenance of Wesley University of Science of Technology, Ondo<br />
(WUSTO)<br />
Interactions with Ecumenical Bodies and other allied activities.<br />
Sources of Conference funds<br />
Background Information<br />
Prior to year 2000, Conference was funded through the payment of varied<br />
sums of assessment levied on each of the Dioceses throughout the<br />
Conference Area for the running of Conference Headquarters on yearly basis.<br />
During the era regrettably, most Dioceses were often in default which posed<br />
serious challenge to the work of Conference as a result of insufficiency of<br />
funds. It then became imperative that another mode of Conference funding<br />
had to be introduced to replace levies of assessment on Dioceses.<br />
26
Consequently, the concept of Conference membership fees, otherwise known<br />
as Seed of Faith came into being in January 2001 and has since then formed<br />
a major mode of Conference funding in place of assessment levies.<br />
a. Seed of Faith<br />
Section 410 (a) of Methodist Church Nigeria 2006 constitution listed<br />
Annual Membership fees (Seed of Faith) among other collectable funds in<br />
all its local churches and preaching stations in the Conference Area.<br />
Seed of Faith effectively commenced in January 2001 at the rate of N5.00<br />
per member per week and remained so till December 2002. Sequel to<br />
the decision at the 2002 Conference held at the Diocese of Ibadan, it was<br />
moved up to N10.00 per member per week with effect from January<br />
2003 and remained so till December 2008. Again, the 2008 Ilesa<br />
Conference gave approval to an increase from N10.00 to N20.00 per<br />
member per week with effect from January 2009. Lastly, the 2010<br />
Conference held at Methodist Theological Institute, Umuahia gave<br />
approval to another increase from N20.00 to N50.00 per member per<br />
week with effect from January 2011.<br />
b. 10% of Tithes<br />
Section 411 Sub-section I also went further to mandate Local Churches<br />
and Preaching Stations to remit at least 10% of Tithes collected and the<br />
entire Seed of Faith to the Conference Headquarters in accordance with<br />
procedure set down by the Conference Connexional Council from time to<br />
time.<br />
The slow pace of the Seed of Faith, in its second year of existence, to<br />
rapidly and sufficiently meet the financial obligations of Conference<br />
Headquarters, as expected, necessitated the decision of the 2002 Ibadan<br />
Conference in approving the 10% of Tithes remittance as the second<br />
Conference funding concept. The remittance took effect in January 2003<br />
and from that period till date.<br />
c. WUSTO levy / 10% of other offerings<br />
Collections in aid of the establishment of Wesley University of Science of<br />
Technology (WUSTO) took off in all our Churches in 2004. Levies<br />
ranging from N500 to N100,000 were stipulated for various categories of<br />
members. As in the case of Seed of Faith, the response in respect of<br />
WUSTO levies was adjudged slow and low to satisfy the yearning of the<br />
Church in its quest to meet the conditions precedent to obtaining<br />
provisional licence for the establishing of the University from the<br />
National Universities Commission. The Church therefore, at its 2006<br />
Uyo Conference took the following decisions:<br />
27
i. That 10% of other offerings from all Local Churches be remitted on<br />
regular basis to Conference in aid of WUSTO.<br />
ii. That the already established WUSTO levies should run for 10 years.<br />
The 10% of other offerings took off effectively in January 2007.<br />
d. Prelate’s Special Appeal (for WUSTO)<br />
In May 2009, His Eminence, the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria<br />
launched a Special Appeal for funds for the sustenance of WUSTO, in<br />
addition to existing levies and offerings indicated in © above.<br />
Importance of Seed of Faith and 10% of Tithes in Conference Funding<br />
We need to ask ourselves these questions: What is the impact of Seed of<br />
Faith and 10% of Tithes in the funding of Conference Headquarters? What<br />
position does Seed of Faith / 10% of Tithes occupy in satisfying the financial<br />
needs of Conference Headquarters? The answers of these questions are very<br />
simple.<br />
Every year, Seed of Faith and 10% of Tithes account for not less than 80% of<br />
the total income expectation of budget, while other sources of income, put<br />
together, hardly account for the remaining 20%.<br />
Merits of the Codified System:<br />
Delay in the payment of remittances to Banks has been reduced at the<br />
Local Church level. Under the Codified System, it has become<br />
mandatory for the Local Church to make payment of its remittance to<br />
Conference Account directly and send confirmation of payment to<br />
Diocese thereafter.<br />
To a great extent, it reduces the cost of remittance to the barest<br />
minimum with the opportunity provided by the on-Line banking.<br />
The promptness of remittance from the Local Church has had a positive<br />
impact on the availability of funds in Conference bank accounts at all<br />
times.<br />
Many ‘hidden’ Local Churches have been brought to the mainstream of<br />
the Church with the allocation of remittance code to every Local Church,<br />
even including the up-coming ones: the preaching stations.<br />
Codified System has now provided the opportunity to know the number<br />
of Local Churches / Preaching Stations abound in the Conference Area.<br />
There is optimism that our income expectation in Seed of Faith, 10% of<br />
Tithes and WUSTO will grow higher as the awareness and perfection of<br />
28
the Codified System will increase as we enter the second year of the<br />
scheme.<br />
Diocesan Responsibility:<br />
We wish to reiterate that the role of the Diocesan Headquarters in<br />
collating and summarising all payments made by the Local Churches,<br />
Circuit by Circuit, and despatching same to Conference Headquarters on<br />
monthly basis is still in force. This is the only means of cross checking<br />
the entries on the Bank’s statements by Conference Headquarters<br />
Accounts personnel.<br />
Furthermore this shall enable the Bishops to monitor and appraise the<br />
remittances of their various Local Churches and Circuits based on the<br />
initial target set for them.<br />
It has also been observed that a number of Dioceses that were hitherto<br />
forwarding their monthly remittance documentations to Conference<br />
Headquarters have stopped doing so since the emergence of the<br />
Codified System. Contrary to lay down policy of submission of<br />
documents to the Headquarters.<br />
Challenges encountered:<br />
We still have some Local Churches that have not complied with the<br />
requirement of the Codified System of payment. Representatives of<br />
some Local Churches making payment at the Banks are still in the habit<br />
of signing their names on deposit slips. This is very wrong. All that is<br />
required to be written at the column is the remittance code of the<br />
Local Church. This is the only way to verify the source and purpose of<br />
the payment when we receive Bank statement at Conference<br />
Headquarters.<br />
Similarly, some Local Churches do lump together different types of<br />
remittance on one deposit slip when paying to Bank. Each remittance<br />
type has its distinct Code for payment. Therefore, lumping of various<br />
payments on one Bank Deposit slip has fallen away with the<br />
introduction of the Codified System.<br />
The Dioceses too account for non-codification of some of the<br />
remittances in our books. Often times, remittances are delayed and in<br />
the process of releasing the arrears of remittance for payment through<br />
Bank, the Dioceses would simply bulk the remittances of different types<br />
(a practice that has been out-lawed) with a single cheque thereby<br />
rendering the Codified System ineffective.<br />
29
On the part of the Banks, there is inconsistency in capturing the<br />
remittance codes of the depositing Local Church into their system. We<br />
have observed over time that the Banks only display the remittance<br />
codes on the bank statement if cash deposits are made and ignore the<br />
codes whenever cheque deposits are involved. This partial compliance<br />
runs contrary to their assurance of total compliance with the modalities<br />
given by us at the inception of the system. We have taken the Banks up,<br />
one by one, and they have assured us of improvement.<br />
The importance of statistics and money in Church affairs:<br />
Statistics and Money have great relevance in the affairs of any organisation,<br />
the Church inclusive. No Budget or Planning process can be prepared<br />
without supportive Statistics to achieve the set goal: e.g.<br />
State of the Economy<br />
Number of workers in the payroll of the organisation.<br />
Number of Branches<br />
Membership strength<br />
Gender statistics<br />
Number of New Recruits / Resignations<br />
Number of Materials / Equipment needed.<br />
In Methodist Church Nigeria, the statistics that are most relevant to the<br />
planning processes at Conference Headquarters are Membership Statistic<br />
and Remittance Performance Statistics of Dioceses, Circuits and Local<br />
Churches. As for Membership statistics, we as a Church are yet to know how<br />
many Methodists we are in Nigeria. Up till today, we continue to receive<br />
complaints of over-estimation of Membership population from some<br />
Dioceses, even where figures used for the statistics by Conference<br />
Headquarters were culled from the Synods Agenda booklets of the agitating<br />
Dioceses.<br />
Membership Statistics:<br />
The essence of Membership Statistics can be derived from the Holy<br />
<strong>Bible</strong> in Mathew 14: 20-21 where the people that came for Jesus<br />
teachings were said to be about 5,000 men. The people were all fed with<br />
twelve baskets full of remnants.<br />
The birth of Jesus Christ was linked with the time of the first census in<br />
Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Augustus. In order to fulfil<br />
their civic obligation to the state, Joseph and Mary proceeded to<br />
Bethlehem, their birth place, for the census registration. While in<br />
Bethlehem Jesus was born in a manger (Luke 2: 1-7). It is therefore not<br />
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out of place for a big Christian body like ours to give Statistics (human<br />
or material) a proper attention as a valuable tool for development.<br />
Worship Journal:<br />
This journal is to enhance proper record keeping of statistics and financial<br />
returns which are ingredient of good stewardship and accountability. For<br />
the avoidance of doubt each page of the journal is to be used for one worship<br />
service only i.e. 8.00am service one page, 10.00am service one page and<br />
6.00pm service one page.<br />
Ministers are to ensure that accurate records are duly recorded and the<br />
journal kept within the custody of Church.<br />
Remittance Performance Statistics:<br />
It is very essential to have the statistics of the remittance of Seed of Faith,<br />
10% of Tithes and WUSTO from Dioceses from time to time with a view to<br />
measuring performance at a particular period in respect of the volume of<br />
financial support to the Conference Headquarters from each Diocese.<br />
Financial responsibilities of Conference Headquarters are enormous.<br />
(Please refer to “Why do we need to fund Conference Headquarters<br />
adequately” above) The greatest challenge to the work of Conference (God<br />
forbid) could be inadequate funding. It is therefore essential that Dioceses<br />
continue to perform their statutory role of funding the Conference<br />
adequately at all times, bearing in mind that Money is the answer for<br />
everything – (Ecclesiastes 10: 19b) and when all Methodist members<br />
perform their financial roles in the Church, we are God’s fellow workers; we<br />
are God’s field, God’s building. – (1 Cor. 3: 9).<br />
Apart from funding the Headquarters, it is also a biblical injunction to pay<br />
our Tithes as in:<br />
(1) Malachi 3: 10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may<br />
be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I<br />
will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much<br />
blessing that you will not have room enough for it”<br />
(2) Deut.: 14: 22 Be sure to set aside a Tenth of all that your fields produce<br />
each year.<br />
As well, it is biblical to pay Seed of Faith as in Ecclesiastes 11: vs 6 “Sow your<br />
Seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not<br />
know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally<br />
well.”<br />
Finally, in our financial obligations to the Church, we should:<br />
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i. Exhibit faithfulness with God as Abraham did ( Genesis 22: 16 – 18)<br />
ii. Have the Fear of God (Psalm 19: 9) and<br />
iii. We should be honest at all times (Phil. 4: 8, Acts 5: 4)<br />
My Fraternal greetings.<br />
Sir Jimmy N. Coker, KJW<br />
Lay President of Conference<br />
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EVANGELISM AND <strong>CHURCH</strong> GROWTH<br />
By<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha<br />
Introduction:<br />
Evangelism, sharing the goodness news about Jesus Christ the Saviour, is the<br />
key ingredient in planting new churches that will grow through consistent<br />
discipleship.<br />
This paper is not produced as a Wagnerian, Feeney, or John Apeh review of<br />
Church Growth and definitely not a summary of the composite exposures we<br />
have all had in the process of training or seminar for Evangelists. This is the<br />
era when consumerism and market forces have commandeered independent<br />
thinking, and subjected the church into another arena for the interaction of<br />
market forces from the subject under treatment to the generation of funds.<br />
This paper will be an attempt to advance our conversation as we pursue our<br />
aim of growth towards the vibrant and largest church in Nigeria still<br />
committed to the simple gospel of Christ and our proud Wesleyan heritage.<br />
What is Evangelism?<br />
Evangelism is preaching the Good News about Jesus Christ in the power of<br />
the Holy Spirit leaving the result to God.<br />
i. Evangelism is God’s business<br />
ii. We are participants in God’s work<br />
iii. We are privileged to be participants in God’s business<br />
In a simple language, one may describe it as taking advantage of<br />
opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Evangelism is<br />
not a method or a programme. Often, when the word “Evangelism” is<br />
mentioned, many people get mental pictures of putting up a tent, going door<br />
to door, moving from one street to the other, distributing tracts, waving a<br />
<strong>Bible</strong> on a street corner and so on. Some of these methods are valid and good<br />
ways to reach the unreached or those who need to hear the Good News<br />
about Christ, the Saviour.<br />
The Word ‘Evangelism’ does not appear in the <strong>Bible</strong> but the word<br />
‘Evangelist’ does. So, who is an Evangelist? In a simple definition, an<br />
Evangelist is a preacher of the gospel. In the scriptures, Jesus Christ gives a<br />
command to His disciples to “go into the world and preach the Gospel to<br />
every creature” Mark 16:15. This command given to the first century<br />
disciples and passed on to us as believers is “The called Great Commission”.<br />
It is also written in Matthew 28:18-20;<br />
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“…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the<br />
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching<br />
them to obey everything I have commanded you…”<br />
Hence, the primary task of an Evangelist is to share what he/she knows<br />
about Jesus Christ with others.<br />
Jesus’ instruction to all believers is to go and share the gospel with everyone.<br />
The work of an Evangelist therefore is for every Christian, who is expected to<br />
preach the gospel and as well make disciples for Christ. The responsibility of<br />
making disciples is indeed time intensive. It means investing oneself in the<br />
lives of others in order to help them understand how to follow after Jesus<br />
and obey his teachings. It is also our responsibility as Christians to bring the<br />
Good News of the loving and saving presence of God through Jesus Christ to<br />
our world.<br />
What is the purpose of Evangelism?<br />
Sharing what we know about Jesus Christ is for the purpose of leading<br />
people into a personal relationship with God. It is a way of building<br />
relationships between people and God. It is God’s greatest desire to spend<br />
the rest of eternity with man. This awesome truth that people must know,<br />
can only be communicated to them through faith sharing.<br />
Some methods of Evangelism<br />
There are many valid and effective ways to reach people with the Good News<br />
about Jesus Christ. The under listed methods though not exhaustive will<br />
provide a starting point for all believers and churches that desire to embark<br />
on an effective Evangelism:<br />
Using Personal Testimony<br />
Outreach/ Outdoor Evangelism<br />
Door to Door Evangelism – Soul Winning (One household at a time)<br />
Using gospel tracts for Personal Evangelism<br />
Revival and Crusade<br />
Free medical services<br />
Benevolence Ministries<br />
Prison Ministry<br />
Media<br />
Phone calls<br />
Letter writing<br />
Text Messages<br />
Evangelism – divine-human partnership Ministry.<br />
The <strong>Bible</strong> clearly indicates the importance of human participation in<br />
evangelization (Matt 28:19-20; Rom 10:1).<br />
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The doctrine of the Incarnation describes the mystery of God becoming flesh,<br />
taking on human form and experiencing life as a person (John 1:14). In the<br />
wisdom of God, which so often appears to us as mystery, God chose to<br />
experience humanity fully. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was both fully human<br />
and fully divine. In Christ, God experienced what it means to be human (2<br />
Cor 5:19). He felt joy, hardship, temptation, pain, anxiety, frustration and<br />
humiliation. Jesus Christ was also fully divine. In Jesus Christ, we see, though<br />
difficult to comprehend fully, perfect humanity and divinity. Jesus Christ was<br />
God/human.<br />
That should not surprise us, for God foreshadowed that plan in the life of<br />
Jesus Christ. God worked in the world through his own Son. Jesus, with his<br />
life and ministry, brought the presence of God from heaven to earth. The<br />
Incarnation reminds us that God is not a distant landlord, uninterested in the<br />
world. In Jesus Christ, God became a human player in human history. When<br />
we minister on behalf of Jesus Christ, we, through the power of the Holy<br />
Spirit, continue what God began in him (John 20:21).<br />
Where do we see evidence of this divine-human partnership in our ministry?<br />
Take a typical part of a pastor's ministry: hospital visitation. What happens<br />
when we go to the hospital and hold the hand of a sick church member, and<br />
he or she is comforted? Someone might say that the caring touch and<br />
compassion of another human being comforts the patient. An incarnational<br />
understanding of ministry, however, will not let us stop the explanation<br />
there. We believe that we mediate the presence of God. We don't understand<br />
how it takes place, but God's Holy Spirit comforts the patient through our<br />
presence (Matt 18:20), a divine-human encounter.<br />
Evangelism, being an aspect of ministry, demonstrates this divine-human<br />
character. Evangelism begins with, is sustained by and ultimately ends with<br />
God. We do not convert people. We do not "win" anyone to the Lord. We do<br />
not make Christians. God does. Therefore, evangelism is a divine task, though<br />
it has a human dimension. We are workers with God (1 Cor 3:9); God<br />
chooses to work through the gifts of people. We do not merely report events<br />
that took place two thousand years ago. We are recipients of the gospel and<br />
heralds of good news that is available now. We have experienced and we<br />
celebrate God's grace, and we long for others to join our celebration.<br />
Preaching is a divine-human endeavour. The Holy Spirit works with the<br />
preacher as sermons are prayed about, planned, composed and preached.<br />
The Holy Spirit also works in the lives of our hearers. Sunday after Sunday, a<br />
faith community gathers to encounter the presence of God. People come to<br />
35
church to sing the hymns, to pray the prayers, to read the Scriptures, to<br />
listen to the Word of God. They come to hear the choir sing, they come to<br />
hear us preach. More importantly, they come to meet God, to experience<br />
God's presence, to feel God's comfort, to offer to God a word of thanksgiving.<br />
The Role of Holy Spirit in Evangelism<br />
It has been said that Evangelism is preaching the gospel of Christ in the<br />
power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the result to God. What, then, is the role<br />
of the Holy Spirit in evangelism and preaching? The Holy Spirit works in the<br />
life of the preacher/Evangelist and in the lives of hearers. As a group of<br />
people gathers to hear the Word proclaimed, God is already working through<br />
His Spirit in their midst. In every gathering, there are probably those who<br />
have never responded in any way to the gospel. The illuminating power of<br />
the Holy Spirit enables such people to understand truth as it is proclaimed.<br />
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, calls people to Christ and effects regeneration.<br />
We recall Paul's words:<br />
For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."<br />
However, how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?<br />
Moreover, how are they to believe in one of whom they have never<br />
heard? In addition, how are they to hear without someone to proclaim<br />
him? (Rom 10:13-14)<br />
Church Planting/Growth<br />
Church planting is the result of effective Evangelism. Sharing the Good News<br />
about Jesus Christ as earlier noted is the key ingredient in Church Planting.<br />
When an individual begins to intentionally target a particular area with the<br />
message of the Gospel he or she will have to set in motion the same<br />
dynamics that was experienced by the first century church. Peoples’ lives<br />
will be transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit and there will be a<br />
need for ongoing <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>Study</strong>, teaching and encouragement among the new<br />
believers. An organizational structure will need to come into being for the<br />
benefit of the new believers and the surrounding community.<br />
Today, many church planting models that exist include taking members from<br />
an existing congregation and transferring them to a new location to plant<br />
another church. While this has proven successful in our church and some<br />
other denominations, it is not always desirable or the best church planting<br />
exercise. If our church must take the bull by the horn, the example of Paul,<br />
one of the greatest church planters of all time must be followed. This is one<br />
of the reasons for what are called the “Pastoral Epistles.”<br />
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Status Quo<br />
We love referencing others as our standard of Evangelism, and Church<br />
Growth efficiency without noticing that they are really “doing our own<br />
thing”. When these weepy references about great things happening at<br />
“Redeemed”, “Gospel Faith” or “CAC” are made, nobody is able to produce<br />
any style they apply which has not been in existence before them. Existing<br />
models were simply adapted to their unique circumstances, and consistently<br />
practiced without grumbling, since leadership in most of these places are<br />
basically autocratic. Their successes were based on lack of alternatives. In<br />
our own case, hardened members arrive clutching their worn out<br />
constitutions to Church Council meetings and refusing to adopt change. If<br />
members are poor, and cannot travel two buses to church, they start new 10member<br />
groups in their neighbourhoods. This principle is not “Redeemed”<br />
but adoption of our “Wesleyan” class meeting model to initiate the planting<br />
of a new church branch. How many Dioceses, Circuits, Churches have totally<br />
refused to outreach into more manageable and easy to reach locations?<br />
Some never do, until when they desire to become Dioceses, and must meet<br />
the minimum requirement of Circuits. Lack of Church Growth, may be<br />
symptomatic of fear of the future, and loss of influence. Every big fire started<br />
small - a flicker in an unseen corner. In the process of stagnating together,<br />
our minor bruises fester into incurable sores. When the tension builds, some<br />
are forced to leave and seek spiritual peace elsewhere. A church that<br />
multiplies its members through mainly family orientation and affiliation,<br />
suffers most in such a situation. There may be so much tension in some<br />
churches that the Minister arrives to inherit lack of enthusiasm so prevalent<br />
that his very Sunday messages are self censored.<br />
Growth and Spiritual Life<br />
There is a perception in certain quarters that spirituality must be exhibited<br />
in a particular way, and through certain prescribed programmes that<br />
inability to do that will automatically receive little co-operation. These<br />
proponents are usually dual members of our church and “x” or “2x” other<br />
churches. They may have been returnees from an “x” church. We are<br />
Methodists, and we cannot be more “Redeemed” than the “Redeemed” or<br />
“CAC” than the “CAC”. None of the two mentioned above, or others joining<br />
together with them can be more Methodist than we are!!! In the Eastern<br />
MCN, where morning and evening prayers are a long tradition with class<br />
registers marked at times, do they have complaints about poor attendance at<br />
Vigils, Prayer Meetings or defection to Mountains and the Lagos-Ibadan<br />
Expressways to pray? With very vibrant Youth Fellowships, it is obvious that<br />
the Churches are usually 60-70% Youths, and future of the church and<br />
leadership assured. The Women’s Fellowship is so exclusive that Induction<br />
37
services are special to those to be inducted. Youth drain from our churches is<br />
obviously a geographical issue. The societies that are thriving in other places<br />
are for adult men and women, and to host their monthly meetings beyond<br />
the purse of a typical youth or working class man.<br />
The Discipleship <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>Study</strong>, Daily Reflection and other materials being<br />
produced by the church to aid discipleship are high in quality, and we must<br />
continue to shy away from the exotic type of Christianity that comes and<br />
goes out of fashion every ten years. In fact, those who plead for this exotic<br />
Evangelical thrust are the ones so easily blown away by every wind of<br />
doctrine. You cannot sustain growth with such individuals as members.<br />
Growth and Social Action<br />
It was said that Methodists never arrived any where to preach the gospel<br />
empty-handed. They brought along schools, hospitals and orphanages.<br />
Theirs was holistic evangelism. In the midst of a mammon-possessed<br />
Christian age, some are busy devising ways we can join in the fray. Nobody<br />
remembers that the Methodist must give more than she receives. It is a type<br />
of evangelism that has worked before and is sustainable. Can it be replicated<br />
in this age?<br />
Types of Growth<br />
Another important question for us to answer here is - “Why is it so<br />
important to have a healthy reproducing church?” The answer to that<br />
question is double.<br />
First of all, that is what a truly biblical church is like. It is a growing and<br />
reproducing church.<br />
Second, a healthy church leads to three kinds of necessary dynamic growth.<br />
Quantitative growth – growth in the number of true disciples.<br />
Qualitative growth – growth in the quality of true disciples.<br />
Organic or infrastructural growth – the growth of healthy<br />
structures within the church energizing both the growth in<br />
number of conversions and the quality of those who are<br />
converted.<br />
Let us explain each of these three elements:<br />
1. Quantitative Growth – what does God’s Word say?<br />
i. This kind of growth is very predominant in the Acts of the<br />
Apostles.<br />
Acts 1:15 “a group numbering about a hundred and twenty”<br />
Acts 2:41 “about three thousand were added to their number<br />
that day.”<br />
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Acts 2:41 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who<br />
were being saved.”<br />
Acts 4:4 “But many who heard the message believed, and the<br />
number of men grew to about five thousand.”<br />
Acts 6:1 “In those days when the number of disciples was<br />
increasing (multiplying).”<br />
Acts 6:7 “The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased<br />
(multiplied) rapidly.”<br />
Acts 9:31 “the church…grew in numbers, living in the fear of the<br />
Lord.”<br />
Acts 16:5 “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and<br />
grew daily in numbers.”<br />
ii. This kind of growth continues to be mentioned in Paul’s<br />
letters.<br />
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every<br />
way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the<br />
whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which<br />
it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the<br />
body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephes. 4:15-16<br />
(ESV)<br />
2. Qualitative Growth – what does God’s Word say?<br />
i “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and<br />
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. In addition,<br />
awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were<br />
being done through the apostles. Moreover, all who believed<br />
were together and had all things in common. In addition, they<br />
were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing<br />
the proceeds to all, as any had need. Moreover, day by day,<br />
attending the temple together and breaking bread in their<br />
homes, they received their food with glad and generous<br />
hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And<br />
the Lord added to their number day by day those who were<br />
being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)<br />
ii. Then there is all the teaching found in the Epistles on the quality<br />
of life of new believers and its importance.<br />
3. Organic or Infrastructural Growth – what does God’s Word say?<br />
Organic growth must accompany quantitative growth as seen in<br />
the early Church’s amazing growth.<br />
“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a<br />
complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their<br />
widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Moreover, the<br />
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twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not<br />
right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.<br />
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,<br />
full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But<br />
we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."<br />
Moreover, what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose<br />
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and<br />
Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a<br />
proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed<br />
and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to<br />
increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,<br />
and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:1-7<br />
(ESV)<br />
i. There is the need for specialized ministries<br />
ii. Each should be encouraged to grow his/her potentials<br />
iii. The church must be proactive and willing to manage human diverse<br />
opinions.<br />
iv. Every local community must employ a strategy that works.<br />
Conclusion<br />
Let us say Statistics is the only method for evaluating growth, and<br />
Evangelism the vehicle for its achievement. What do you do with a Minister<br />
who has been so greatly empowered to evangelize, and yet oversees a<br />
diminishing church only appealing to the few remaining rich members in<br />
order to pay his assessment promptly? There lies the dilemma. It would<br />
seem as if performance is mainly measured by the ability to pay Assessment,<br />
WUSTO, and Seed of Faith etc. Is there a place in our system for a Minister<br />
whose excellence is purely drawing people to God and discipling them into<br />
strong Methodist Christians? Can the Church afford Resident Evangelists in<br />
Dioceses who are not attached to any church, and are known to be very<br />
skilled in Evangelism and Church Planting? Do we expect all Ministers to be<br />
equally endowed, since they all attended the same Seminaries? What set<br />
John apart from his brother Charles Wesley? Have we seen the zeal of the<br />
Whitfields, Dwight Moodys, Spurgeons, and Billy Grahams etc? Did any of<br />
them desire to become Bishops or were they just satisfied doing that which<br />
sets them apart from other mortals? When you set a benchmark on success,<br />
expect everybody to gravitate towards it. However, when men are called to a<br />
duty, equipped for it, and encouraged, wonders are bound to happen. To<br />
become instruments for Evangelism and Church growth becomes a holy<br />
desire.<br />
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Practical Reflection<br />
1. Raise ministers who are ready to step out.<br />
2. Identify Lay Leaders who are ready and encourage those who are not<br />
willing.<br />
3. The Church is a kingdom business and the managers must be profit<br />
oriented.<br />
4. The existing Churches must have moral transformational influence.<br />
5. All the Churches must offer hope to the hopeless world: Develop<br />
ministries.<br />
6. What can we offer to the society?<br />
7. How can we be relevant in a changing world?<br />
8. The Church is a place of prayer.<br />
9. How do we sustain the Churches?<br />
10. Avoid conflicting and contradictory messages.<br />
11. Are we ready and willing for a change?<br />
12. Gospel for the poor – Good News to the poor.<br />
13. Think big and start small.<br />
14. Where are those willing to take risk for the sake of the gospel?<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday Onuoha<br />
Bishop of Evangelism<br />
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HOW TO STOP WORRYING<br />
AND START LIVING A MORE FULFILLED LIFE<br />
By<br />
Adindu Steve Ogamba<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria has discovered that the peace, health and<br />
wellbeing of her members have direct consequence on the spiritual and<br />
numerical growth of the Church. This is because only the mind that is at<br />
peace can exercise true worship and contribute meaningfully to the growth<br />
of the church. That is why Christ said in John 14: 27, peace I leave with<br />
you, my peace I give to you. Peace of mind is consequential to any thing one<br />
wants to achieve in life. Therefore for Methodist Church Nigeria to achieve<br />
her mandate of repositioning the Church, it has become imperative that<br />
members have to be adequately equipped. That is why the theme discover to<br />
recover is most suited at this particular time. I have therefore chosen a sub<br />
theme that addresses one of the challenges.<br />
How to stop worrying and start living a more fulfilled life<br />
Matthew 6: 25-31, Luke 12: 22-31. Therefore I say to you do not worry<br />
about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink or about your<br />
body what you shall put on.................... Which of you by worrying can add one<br />
cubit to his span of life..........<br />
What is worry?<br />
To keep thinking about a problem or something bad that might happen so<br />
that you cannot relax or feel happy. You can’t sleep, eat, your nerves shaken<br />
and confidence gone. Most times the problems or the bad things we think<br />
about are just imaginations, illusions they do not happen. Even the ones that<br />
happen we do not possess the capacity to change or alter them. The<br />
emotions of worry, hatred and envy are driven by primeval vigour and the<br />
dynamic energy of the jungle. Such emotions are so violent that they tend to<br />
drive out of our minds all peaceful, happy thoughts and emotions.<br />
What causes worry and stress?<br />
Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise<br />
and forget. We are here on earth with few more decades to live but we loose<br />
many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that in a year’s time will<br />
be forgotten. We worry over so many things, when thunder comes we worry<br />
that we would be killed by lightening. When hard times come we worry that<br />
we won’t have enough to eat. We worry about marriage, children, our wives,<br />
our career, virtually everything under the sun. Let us examine the record and<br />
ask ourselves; what are the chances that what we are worrying about will<br />
42
ever occur. Obviously circumstances alone do not make us happy or<br />
unhappy.<br />
It is the way we react to circumstances that determines our feelings. Jesus<br />
said that the kingdom of heaven is within us. That is where the kingdom of<br />
hell is too. We can all endure disaster and tragedy and triumph, we have<br />
surprisingly stronger inner resources that will see us through if we make use<br />
of them. We are stronger than we think. I conceive that a great part of<br />
miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have<br />
made of the values of things and by giving too much to their whistles.<br />
What worry may do to you<br />
Fear causes worry. Worry makes you tense and nervous and affects the<br />
nerves of your stomach and actually changes the gastric juices of your<br />
stomach from normal to abnormal and often leads to stomach ulcers. You do<br />
not get stomach ulcers from what you eat; you get it from what is eating you.<br />
Fear, worry, hatred, supreme selfishness and inability to adjust ourselves to<br />
the world of realities are largely the cause of stomach illnesses and stomach<br />
ulcers.<br />
Most of our hospital beds are occupied by people with nervous problems. Yet<br />
when these nerves are studies under high power microscope under post<br />
mortem conditions, the nerves in most cases are very healthy. Most of these<br />
nervous troubles are caused not by physical deterioration of the nervous but<br />
by emotions of futility, frustration, anxiety, worry and fear.<br />
Seventy percent of all patents who come to physicians could cure themselves<br />
if they only get rid of their fears and worries. This does not mean that the<br />
illnesses are imaginary. The illnesses are real and sometimes very serious. I<br />
mean such sicknesses as stomach ulcers, toothache, heart disturbances,<br />
insomnia, some headaches, and some types of paralysis.<br />
Worry can put you on a wheel chair for life with rheumatism and arthritis.<br />
Dr Russell L Cecil, a world recognised authority on arthritis has listed four of<br />
the commonest conditions that bring on arthritis;<br />
Marital ship wreck<br />
Financial disaster and grief<br />
Loneliness and worry<br />
Long-cherished resentment<br />
These four conditions are far from being the only causes but are the most<br />
common.<br />
43
Worry, fear, nagging etc can cause tooth decay by upsetting the calcium<br />
balance in the body. Any person who didn’t stop worrying is inviting all the<br />
diseases mentioned because they are cousins and first cousins.<br />
Few things can age and sour a woman and destroy her looks as quickly as<br />
worry. Worry curdles the expression. It makes us clench our jaws and lines<br />
our faces with wrinkles. It forms a permanent scowl. It can turn the hair gray<br />
and in some cases make it fall off. It can ruin the complexion and bring on all<br />
kinds of skin rashes, eruption and pimples.<br />
Business men who do not know how to fight worry die young. During the<br />
last stock market tumult in Nigeria about three years ago, when the stock<br />
market went down, a man worried himself into diabetes. When the stock<br />
went down, the sugar in his blood and urine went up. The Lord will forgive<br />
us our sins but the nervous system hardly does.<br />
Those who know how to keep the peace of their inner selves in the mist of<br />
tumult of the modern day city are immune from nervous diseases. Can you<br />
keep the peace of your inner self in the mist of tumult? Most of us are<br />
stronger than we realise. We have inner resources that we have probably<br />
never tapped. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable<br />
ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. If one advances<br />
confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavours to live the life he<br />
has imagined, he will meet success unexpected in common hours.<br />
Matthew 5 ;44-48 I say to you love your enemies and bless those you<br />
curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who<br />
spitefully use you and persecute you.<br />
When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us; power over<br />
our sleep, over our appetite, over our blood pressure, our health and<br />
happiness. Whenever we see our enemies our heart skips and cortisol,<br />
epinephrine and norepinephrine hormones are produced which makes us<br />
susceptible to all forms of diseases. Our enemies would dance with joy if they<br />
know how much they are troubling us, lacerating us, and getting even with<br />
us. Our hatred is not hurting them at all but our hatred is turning our own<br />
days and nights into a hellish turmoil.<br />
When Jesus said, Love your enemies he was not only teaching sound ethics<br />
but also teaching twenty first century medicine. When he said forgive<br />
seventy times seven, Jesus was telling me and you how to keep from high<br />
blood pressure, heart trouble, stomach ulcers, and many other ailments.<br />
When Jesus said love your enemies he was also telling us how to improve<br />
our looks. Some people’s faces have been wrinkled and hardened by hatred<br />
44
and disfigured by resentment. All the cosmetic Christendom won’t improve<br />
their looks half so much as would a heart full of forgiveness, tenderness, and<br />
love.<br />
Hatred destroys our ability to enjoy even our food. The bible puts it this way,<br />
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred<br />
therewith”. Wouldn’t our enemies rub their hands with glee if they knew<br />
that our hatred for them was exhausting us, making us tired and nervous,<br />
ruining our looks, giving us heart trouble and probably shortening our lives.<br />
Even if we can’t love our enemies, let us at least love ourselves. Let us love<br />
ourselves so much that we won’t permit our enemies to control our<br />
happiness, our health and our looks.<br />
What makes you tired? Worry<br />
I am deeply convinced that our peace of mind and the joy we get out of living<br />
depends not on where we are or what we have, or who we are, but solely<br />
upon our mental attitude. Nothing can give you peace but yourself.<br />
Here is an outstanding and significant fact, mental work alone can’t make<br />
you tired. This sounds absurd. Scientists have found out that blood passing<br />
through the brain when it is active shows no fatigue at all. If you look from<br />
the veins of a day labourer while he is working you will find it full of fatigue<br />
toxins and fatigue products. If you take a drop of blood from a mental worker<br />
it would show no fatigue toxins whatsoever at the end of the day. The brain<br />
can work as well as swiftly at the end of eight hours or twelve hours of effort<br />
as at the beginning. The brain is tireless.<br />
Psychiatrists say that most of our fatigues are derived from our mental and<br />
emotional attitudes. In fact exhaustion of purely physical origin is rare. Dr<br />
A.A Bills says that Hundred percent of the fatigue of sedentary worker in<br />
good health is due to psychological factors that is emotional factors.<br />
Emotional factors as boredom, resentment, a feeling of not been appreciated,<br />
hurry, anxiety, worry are what exhausts the sitting worker. These make him<br />
susceptible to cold, reduce his output, and send him home.<br />
We get tired and stressed because our emotions produce nervous tensions in<br />
the body. Worry, tension, and emotional upsets are three of the biggest<br />
causes of fatigue. The answer to the nervous fatigue is to relax while doing<br />
your job. Tension is a habit, relaxation is a habit. Bad habits can be broken<br />
and good ones formed. At the end of the days work if you are tired not<br />
because of the work you have done but because of the way you did it.<br />
An executive came back from work one evening utterly exhausted. She was<br />
fatigued and had a headache so much that she wanted to go to bed without<br />
dinner. Suddenly the telephone rang; it was her boy friend an invitation for a<br />
party. Immediately her eyes sparkled and spirit soared. She rushed put on<br />
45
her clothes and dashed out for the party and danced till 3am and returned<br />
home. She was not the slightest bit exhausted. The question is, was she<br />
actually tired at the end of her work day? The answer is that she was tired.<br />
She was tired because she was bored with her work and perhaps bored with<br />
life. It is a well known fact that your emotional attitude usually has far more<br />
to do with producing fatigue than physical exertion.<br />
Experiment was conducted on some students who were given tasks that they<br />
have little interest in. The students felt tired and sleepy, complained of<br />
headaches and eyestrain, felt irritable. In some cases even their stomach was<br />
upset. Were all these imagination, the answer is no. Metabolism tests<br />
conducted on students showed that the blood of the body and the<br />
consumption of oxygen actually decrease when a person is bored and the<br />
whole metabolism picks up immediately as soon as he begins to feel interest<br />
and pleasure in the work.<br />
The lesson to be learnt is that our fatigue is caused not by work but by<br />
worry, frustration, and resentment. If you tend to act as if you are interested<br />
in your job, it will tend to decrease your fatigue, tensions and worries.<br />
Ways to conquer Worry<br />
A man is what he thinks all day long. I know with conviction that the greatest<br />
problem you and I have is choosing the right thoughts. If we can choose the<br />
right thought, we will be highroad to solving all our problems. Our life is<br />
what our thought makes it. If we think happy thoughts we will be happy. If<br />
we think miserable thoughts we will be miserable. If we think fearful<br />
thoughts we will be fearful. If we think sickly thoughts we will be sickly. If we<br />
think failure we shall surely fail. If we wallow in self pity, everyone will avoid<br />
us and shun us.<br />
Men and women can banish worry, fear and various kinds of illnesses and<br />
transform their lives by changing their thought pattern. There is nothing<br />
wrong with your body or your mind. It is not the situations you have met<br />
that have thrown you; it is what you make out of these situations. As a man<br />
thinketh in his heart so he is. Our peace of mind and the joy we get out of<br />
living depends not on where we are or what we have or who we are, but<br />
solely on our mental attitude. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.<br />
If your cheerfulness is lost, sit up cheerfully act and speak as if cheerfulness<br />
is already there. It is physically impossible to remain depressed while you<br />
are acting out the symptoms of being radiantly happy. Let a man radically<br />
alter his thoughts and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it<br />
will affect in the material conditions of his life. Men do not attract that which<br />
they want but that which they are.<br />
46
All that a man achieves is the direct result of his own thoughts. A man can<br />
only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts and can only remain<br />
weak, abject and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts. According to<br />
The book of Genesis, God gave man dominion over the whole earth. This by<br />
implication is dominion over thoughts, dominion over fears, over my mind,<br />
over our spirit. The wonderful thing is that we can attain this dominion to an<br />
astonishing degree, any time we want to, by merely controlling our actions<br />
which in turn controls our reactions.<br />
The habit of looking on the best side of every event is worth more than<br />
millions a year. You are something new in this world. Never before since the<br />
beginning of time is anybody exactly like you and never again throughout all<br />
ages to come will there ever be anybody exactly like you again. Try to think<br />
everyday how you can please someone. It is the individual who is not<br />
interested in his fellow man that has the greatest difficulties in life and<br />
provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individual that<br />
human failures spring. I have found out that happiness is contagious, by<br />
giving we receive and by helping others and giving out love we can conquer<br />
worry, sorrow, self pity and feel like a new person. Doing good to others is<br />
not a duty. It is joy for it increases your own health and happiness. When you<br />
are good to others you are best to yourself. Thinking about others will not<br />
only keep you from worrying about your self but will make you have a lot of<br />
friends. What people want is little attention as human beings.<br />
If you want to live a longer, healthier life then you need to develop the habit<br />
of looking at the best side of every event – it's now a fact thanks to a study<br />
from the two American Universities. Researchers followed and studied 1500<br />
people for 7-years. All 1500 were in good health when the study started.<br />
Researchers followed how they aged by measuring such things as weight<br />
loss, walking speed, exhaustion and the strength of their grip.<br />
What exactly did they discover? They found that people with the habit of<br />
looking on the best side of every event were significantly less likely to show<br />
signs of aging; they were less likely to become frail and were more likely to<br />
be stronger and healthier than those who look on the negative side of every<br />
event. If you have a doom and gloom attitude you're actually killing yourself<br />
and at the very least – you're negative attitude is just making you weaker.<br />
Researchers found that positive thinking and attitude, improved a person’s<br />
health because it made it more likely that they would succeed in life. So not<br />
only will a positive attitude help you be healthy and live longer – but it also<br />
increases the likelihood that you will succeed. (Hebrews 11:1 Faith is<br />
substance of things hoped for evidence of things not seen)<br />
47
Let us fill our minds with thoughts of peace, courage, health, and hope for<br />
our life is what our thought makes it.<br />
Instead of worrying about ingratitude let us expect it. Let us remember that<br />
Jesus cured ten lepers but only one thanked him. Let us know that one of the<br />
ways to find happiness is not to expect gratitude but to give for the joy of<br />
giving. Count your blessings not your troubles. Let us not imitate others, let<br />
us find ourselves and be ourselves for envy is ignorance and imitation is<br />
suicide.<br />
The Christian religion is an inspiring, health giving activity. Jesus said “I<br />
came that ye might have life and have it more abundantly”. He preached<br />
a kind of religion that gives hope and happiness. He talked more about fear<br />
than he talked about sin. The wrong type of fear is a sin. Sin against your<br />
health, sin against richer, fuller, happier, courageous life that Jesus<br />
commanded ‘<br />
This is the day the Lord has made we should be glad and rejoice in it”.<br />
Religion is not only urging us to live righteous life to avoid hell fires in the<br />
next world but also to avoid hell fires of stomach ulcer, angina pectoris,<br />
nervous breakdown, and insanity.<br />
Today Psychiatry is teaching what Jesus taught, why? Because psychiatrists<br />
discovered that prayer and strong religious faith will banish the worries and<br />
anxieties, the strains of fear that cause insanity. Today many Psychiatrists<br />
are becoming modern Evangelists.<br />
Today on the average, someone commits suicide every thirty five minutes.<br />
On the average someone goes insane every hundred and twenty seconds.<br />
Most of these suicides and tragedies of insanity could have been prevented if<br />
these people had only had the solace and peace that are found in religion and<br />
prayer.<br />
Methodist Hymn 538 says;<br />
What a friend we have in Jesus<br />
All our sins and grief to bear<br />
What a privilege to carry<br />
Everything to God in prayer<br />
Oh, what peace we often forfeit<br />
Oh, what needless pain we bear<br />
All because we do not carry<br />
Everything to God in prayer<br />
Many experts believe that prayer uplifts and calms the nerves and inhibits<br />
cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine – hormones that flow out of the<br />
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adrenal glands in response to stress. These flight or fight chemicals released<br />
overtime can compromise the immune system, upping the odds of<br />
developing a number of illnesses. Experts feel that the immune system is<br />
nourished by sense of peace. Therefore something such as prayer that<br />
provides comfort and peace would influence the propensity to get a disease<br />
or how you recover from illness.<br />
Recent scientific investigation shows that prayer can be used as a therapy<br />
successfully like medication. People who pray are less likely to get sick and<br />
more likely to recover from illness and are better able to cope with illnesses<br />
than those who don’t pray. I am interested in what religion does for me. It<br />
brings me spiritual values. It gives me a new zest for life, more life, richer,<br />
more satisfying life. It gives me faith, hope and courage. It banishes tension,<br />
anxieties, fears and worries. It gives purpose to life and direction and vastly<br />
improves happiness. It gives an outstanding health. It helps to create an oasis<br />
of peace amidst the whirling sands of life.<br />
Faith is one of the forces by which men live and absence of it is collapse. A<br />
mere man can easily be defeated but a man alive with the power of God<br />
within him is invincible. We and God have business together; in opening<br />
ourselves to his influence, our deepest destiny is fulfilled. Prayer is the most<br />
powerful form of energy one can generate. Prayer is a source of luminous<br />
self generating energy. In prayer human beings seek to augment their<br />
infinite energy by addressing themselves to finite source of all energy.<br />
Lord make me an instrument of thy peace;<br />
Where there is hatred, let me show love.<br />
Where there is injury, pardon<br />
Where there is doubt, faith<br />
Where there is despair, hope<br />
Where there is darkness, hope<br />
God grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled but to console<br />
To be understood as to understand<br />
To be loved as to love<br />
For it is in giving that we receive<br />
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned<br />
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life<br />
I will conclude with this story of a woman who had known little in life except<br />
sickness, sorrow and tragedy. Her first husband died shortly after her<br />
marriage. Her second husband deserted her and eloped with a married<br />
woman. She had one son and was forced to give him up when he was four<br />
years old because of poverty, and illness. She lost track of him and never saw<br />
him till thirty one years later. The dramatic turning point in her life occurred<br />
49
one day. Walking down town one day she slipped and fell and was<br />
unconscious. Her spine was so injured that the doctor expected her to die. If<br />
by miracle she lived that she will never be able to work again. Lying on what<br />
was supposed to be her death bed one day opened her bible and was led by<br />
divine guidance to read from saint Matthew’s Gospel: and behold they<br />
brought to him a man sick of palsy lying on a bed and Jesus ....... said unto the<br />
sick of the palsy; son be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.............Arise,<br />
take up thy bed and go unto thy house. He arose and departed to his house.<br />
These words of Jesus produced within her such strength, such a faith, and<br />
such a surge of healing power that she immediately got out of her bed and<br />
worked.<br />
Amen<br />
Adindu Steve Ogamba, FCSN, FICCON, CChem, MIPAN<br />
Consultant Analytical Chemist and General Manager<br />
Fugro Nigeria Limited<br />
50
PART B<br />
ORIENTATION FOR AWARDEES<br />
FOR ALL AWARDEES AND THEIR SPOUSES<br />
51
9.00 a.m. - 10.00 am Title Page<br />
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS<br />
10.00 a.m. - 10.20 a.m. Table of Content<br />
10.20 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. Vision and Mission of the Church<br />
10.30 a.m. - 10.40 a.m. Introduction<br />
10.40 a.m. - 10.50 a.m. Participants Departs to various Lecture Halls<br />
10.50 a.m. - 11.10 a.m. Understanding your Call as a Conference<br />
Awardee and Agent of Church Stability<br />
Sir Jimmy N. Coker, KJW, Lay President of Conference<br />
11.10 a.m. - 11.50 a.m. Ethics of Methodist Conference awardees<br />
Most Rev. L. A. Ayo Ladigbolu<br />
11.50 a.m. - 12.00 noon Short Break<br />
12.00 noon - 12.40 p.m. Vessel of Honour for Effective Evangelism<br />
Bro. Emma Oha<br />
12.40 p.m. - 1.20 p.m. Functions of Conference Awardees<br />
Sir Col. Bola Ogunsanwo, Secretary of Council of<br />
Knights<br />
1.20 p.m. – 1.30 p.m. Short Break / Awardees Returns to main auditorium<br />
1.30 p.m. – 2.10 p.m. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living a more<br />
Fulfilled Life - Bro. A. S. Ogamba, FCSM<br />
2.10 p.m. – 2.40 p.m. Interactive Session (Questions and Answers)<br />
2.40 a.m. – 2.45 p.m. Vote of Thanks<br />
2.45 p.m. – 2.55 p.m. Closing Prayer/Benediction<br />
52
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CALL AS A CONFERENCE AWARDEE AND<br />
AN AGENT OF <strong>CHURCH</strong> STABILITY<br />
By<br />
Sir Jimmy N. Coker, Lay President of Conference<br />
1. PREAMBLE<br />
Grace and peace from God the Father be upon you all in Jesus<br />
precious name. On behalf of His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola.<br />
Makinde GPJ, CON, Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, I warmly<br />
welcome you all to this maiden Orientation Seminar for<br />
Methodist Conference Awardees and their spouses. As part of<br />
our repositioned programme is to ensure that our Leaders at all<br />
levels of leadership are adequately informed and knowledgeable<br />
of their various offices or calling. This Seminar is therefore to<br />
equip and prepare you for the services expected of you after<br />
your investiture, when you must have assumed a new status<br />
within the Church of God.<br />
Every enterprise has its goals. Christ the Saviour preached the<br />
good news healed the sick and educated the people and He has<br />
set these for His bride the Church. The Church of our day must<br />
accomplish these goals. Conference Awardees of the Church<br />
must support the Church to succeed resoundingly in Preaching,<br />
Teaching and Educating. The success must be of such magnitude<br />
so that people can say we have never seen any thing like this<br />
from our previous Awardees.<br />
2. YOUR CALL<br />
To be called is to be set apart after your investiture and given the<br />
privilege and responsibilities in the body of Christ. It is a call to<br />
divine service, stewardship, responsibility, leadership and<br />
giving by the grace of God and leading of the Holy Spirit. It is<br />
not a social title or retirement benefit.<br />
Remember that whoever is called or chosen by God is called for a<br />
certain purpose. God said in John 15:16 that “He is the one who<br />
has chosen you”. Although you may have done some things in the<br />
past for the Church, God has call you at this time because of the<br />
potential He has seen in you that you can develop His Church. I<br />
will expatiate further as we go on. Some of you may think you<br />
have been called because of your money, do not forget that the<br />
money you have has been given to you by God as Paul wrote in 1<br />
Cor. 4:7. Both riches and honour come from the Lord and<br />
53
whatever we give is out of what the Lord has given us. (I Chron.<br />
29:12a, 14b).<br />
A story was told of how a young man visited and worshipped in<br />
his Local Church and the Priest called for donations to complete<br />
the Local Church building. The young man in his zeal for the<br />
work of God pledged to roof a certain portion of the Church. As<br />
he got home that Sunday, his people gathered to insist that he<br />
must go back to withdraw the offer he made. The next Sunday<br />
this young man in question went back to the Church to say he<br />
wanted to speak on the donation he made earlier. When he got<br />
up to speak his people assumed he was going to do as they had<br />
requested but he announced that he was going to roof the whole<br />
Church and not a portion as he had announced previously,<br />
hereby confirming what Paul said in I Cor. 4:10 that we are fools<br />
for Christ’s sake.<br />
Taking you back to the purpose why God called you. Ensure that<br />
you understand this purpose because if you do, God will equip<br />
you to achieve it. If you complain that you do not have money,<br />
God will give it to you, because He does not expect you to give<br />
what you do not have. The problem is that when God has given<br />
us the money we become very stingy even towards the Church.<br />
Can’t we borrow a leaf from David who said he will not offer to<br />
the Lord that which has cost him nothing (1 Sam. 24:24). To<br />
further appreciate and understand your call, it may be necessary<br />
to know the origin of Methodist Church Nigeria Conference<br />
Awards.<br />
3. CONFERENCE MERIT AWARDS<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria the oldest denomination in Nigeria<br />
since 1842 introduced the conferment of various Conference<br />
Awards on its members during the 31 st Annual Conference of<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria held at Port Harcourt Civic Centre<br />
from the 6 th – 16 th April 1992. That Conference approved four<br />
categories of awards namely, Knight of John Wesley KJW; Knight<br />
of Charles Wesley KCW, Officer of the Order of Wesley OOW and<br />
Member of the Order of Wesley MOW. These awards are for<br />
persons that have distinguished themselves in the service of God<br />
and humanity especially in the field of Evangelism. However,<br />
Knight of Charles Wesley is reserved for those that have made<br />
tremendous contribution towards the promotion of musical<br />
work in the Church and society. The introduction of John and<br />
54
Charles Wesley Awards was also another bold step taken by<br />
the Church to immortalize the name of our revered founder<br />
Rev. John Wesley and his brother Charles the great hymn<br />
composer. The first batch of awards was given in 1993 and<br />
there after the Service of Investiture has been arranged to hold<br />
once in every two years on Arch Diocesan basis. Each Diocese is<br />
expected to nominate a maximum of two persons for Knight of<br />
John Wesley, one for Knight of Charles Wesley, two each for<br />
Officer and Member of the Order of Wesleys respectively. Male<br />
Knights are to be addressed with the title ‘Sir’ while female<br />
Knights are to be addressed with the title ‘Dame’ while the wives<br />
of Knights are addressed as Ladies. Other awardees could be<br />
referred to as Elders<br />
4. QUALITIES OF A CONFERENCE AWARDEE<br />
This is what I may term as the twelve (12) Golden Rules for<br />
Awardees.<br />
i. A Conference Awardee must be a Communicant (Full<br />
member)<br />
ii. Must accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour<br />
iii. Must be a Husband of one wife. Tim 3:2b<br />
iv. Must be blameless in conduct, of sound unquestionable<br />
spiritual and moral disposition and character ( 1 Tim. 5:7)<br />
v. Must be a cheerful giver, donating in cash and in kind for the<br />
progress and promotion of the work of God. ( Titus 1:8 and<br />
Rom 12:13).<br />
vi. Must show leadership qualities and play leadership role in<br />
the life of the Church.<br />
vii. Must not be member of any secret or unquestionable society.<br />
viii. Must be a soldier of Jesus Christ, a true and ardent defender<br />
of the word of God and Methodist Church Nigeria in<br />
particular.<br />
ix. Must not be given to wine 1 Tim. 3:3.<br />
x. Must at all times support God’s servants and those in need<br />
Matt. 10:41.<br />
xi. Must speak the truth and promote peace and harmony<br />
(John 8:32)<br />
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xii. Must have contributed to the promotion of musical work or<br />
musical excellence for Knights of Charles Wesley.<br />
5. SOME THINGS A GOOD AWARDEE MUST DO<br />
a ATTEND ALL DIOCESAN FUNCTIONS<br />
Do not be too busy that you cannot see your Bishop or<br />
Priest from time to time and also ensure that nothing takes<br />
you away from your Local Church Council meetings,<br />
Circuit Quarterly meetings, Synods and other major<br />
Diocesan Services or functions.<br />
b ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
People often claim to be too busy that they will not expect<br />
any position or responsibility in the Church they forget<br />
that God owns the life we live. The story was told of a<br />
woman who on her own offered to be washing Church<br />
vestment including choir robes. One weekend she refused<br />
to wash the vestment as she use to do. That same day she<br />
had an accident and died. Some people said she would<br />
have died long age but for the services she rendered to the<br />
Church.<br />
c LEARN TO GIVE WITHOUT GRUDGING<br />
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7) while in Acts 20:35<br />
we are told that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”.<br />
You are also to inspire and motivate people to give<br />
cheerfully.<br />
d BE MORE SERIOUS WITH PAYMENT OF YOUR TITHES,<br />
SEED OF FAITH AND WUSTO LEVY<br />
It has been discovered that some Awardees do not<br />
effectively pay their Tithes and Seed of Faiths not to<br />
mention the WUSTO levies. Remember the Lord’s<br />
Commandment Mal. 3:10 that we should bring all the<br />
Tithes into God’s house so that He will open the windows<br />
of Heaven and pour out His blessings.<br />
e YOU MUST WITNESS FOR CHRIST AT ALL TIMES<br />
It is the duty of every Christian to witness. In Matt. 28:19-<br />
20 Christ gave the Great Commission. We must not be<br />
afraid or ashamed to witness for Christ. (Psalm 119:46;<br />
Acts 18:9b). It is our responsibility that Christ must be<br />
exalted in all things, glorified in all places, known by all<br />
56
men and acceptable to everyone, irrespective of colour,<br />
race or nationality, the name of Christ must be honoured<br />
all over. This is the sacred responsibility committed to our<br />
charge, it is a mission that must be fulfilled, and the<br />
consequences of doing otherwise can be terrible; let us<br />
therefore bow our will to His will even as we are accorded<br />
this special status.<br />
f IMAGE /INFORMATION AGENT OF THE <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
If you are in Government or public service you must at all<br />
times communicate with the Bishop on policy trust of the<br />
government and how the Church can always benefit. You<br />
are also to act as the image maker of the Church within<br />
your environment.<br />
6. A CONFERENCE AWARDEE AS AN AGENT OF <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
STABILITY<br />
Awardees must be good bridge builder and not a destroyer. The<br />
scripture is the spiritual sword of God and this is represented by<br />
the <strong>Bible</strong> given to each Awardee during the Investiture service.<br />
The <strong>Bible</strong> is not to decorate your shelves but to use it to terrorize<br />
the kingdom of darkness within the Church and society at large.<br />
There is power in the word of God. Jesus overcame Satan with<br />
the word of God at the beginning of His ministry on earth Matt<br />
4:1-10. The word of God as the spiritual sword should be rooted<br />
in the heart of every Awardee and by so doing you can be<br />
successful in this noble call to serve God and humanity as an<br />
agent of stability and peace. God’s word is a thorough equipping<br />
tool providing doctrines, reproof, correction and instruction so<br />
that every one may be equipped for every good work Col. 3:16.<br />
God’s word will keep you away from sin and give you life and<br />
light Psalm 119:130. Do not involve yourselves in acts that<br />
causes disunity in the Church for you shall be attracting God’s<br />
wrath. Awardees are not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly<br />
nor stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers but<br />
his delight is in the law of the Lord Psalm 1:1-2.<br />
One great thing about most of our Conference Awardees have is<br />
their leadership asset. No doubt many of you are very successful<br />
in your various vocations and are therefore expected to use your<br />
wealth of leadership experience and knowledge to unite the<br />
Church and not to scatter or destabilize the gathering of God’s<br />
people. Awardees are leaders that should lead people to Jesus<br />
57
Christ and not to Satan. For united in Christ the Church shall<br />
firmly stand but divided due to selfish reasons the Church shall<br />
fail to grow and positively influence the world. My worthy<br />
Awardees, you are being challenged to know the word of God in<br />
your head, store it in your heart and sow it among yourselves<br />
and hereby influence your environment and the Church of God.<br />
Good Awardees are to serve as agents of reconciliation and<br />
peace to the Church whenever there is dispute or<br />
disagreement. Christ, the Prince of Peace must be seen in the<br />
lives of Awardees daily.<br />
7. WORD FOR WIVES OF AWARDEES<br />
It is worth of note, that this is the first time wives of Methodist<br />
Awardees are so publicly recognized alongside their husbands.<br />
As earlier stated above wives of Knights shall be addressed as<br />
Ladies after the investiture of the husband and this title calls for<br />
extra responsibility. The essence of bringing our wives to this<br />
seminar is to give them the much desired sense of belonging<br />
and thereby energized them as catalyst that will accelerate<br />
the active participation of their husbands in the activities of<br />
the Church.<br />
It has always been said that the woman is like the neck that<br />
turns the head to the direction it goes consciously or<br />
unconsciously. When your husband the head is elevated to this<br />
new status in the Church of God, your role as the neck of that<br />
head is very important. Your husband’s honour is also your<br />
promotion from God and calls for duty on a higher level. You<br />
must give wise and godly counsels to your husband and also<br />
support him towards any good cause as well as inspire him to<br />
devote more time and resources for God’s work. You must<br />
ensure that your home is very conducive where he must have<br />
rest of mind to attain his ideal and keep to his vows Proverbs<br />
31:11.<br />
You as Wives of Conference Awardees must be fervent in prayer<br />
and constantly reading and understanding the <strong>Bible</strong> through<br />
attendance to <strong>Bible</strong> Class, House Fellowship; Sunday school and<br />
Sunday Services. Spiritual knowledge will make you excel in<br />
home making as you can bring up your children in the fear of the<br />
Lord. Praying mothers produce children who become great<br />
in the Church and things of God. Samuel was the son of<br />
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praying Hannah. No success is complete without Christ as the<br />
Church is a composition of the home unit.<br />
Wives must personally commit their lives to Christ, for the<br />
greatest achievement as a Christian mother is to bring up<br />
children who are devoted to the Church and God and this you<br />
can do through Jesus Christ who is your Life, Strength and<br />
Wisdom.<br />
8. CONCLUSION<br />
Award is all about selfless service which requires your<br />
willingness to serve and obey Christ. In turn it enables you to be<br />
useful and useable servant to God. The cost is enormous but the<br />
gain unquantifiable. Your investiture will mark the beginning<br />
of a new chapter in your life as you become more focused in<br />
your Christian race.<br />
Ask God to give you the grace to make yourself available for use<br />
as a vessel of honour, fighting the evil forces against the Church<br />
and its members. When you achieve this your Christian life will<br />
become exemplary and the joy of the Lord will be your portion.<br />
Remember that you are doing the work of your Creator, the<br />
righteous Judge and great Rewarder. Be rest assured that your<br />
labour will not go unrewarded. Therefore “whatsoever you do<br />
in words and in deeds do them not as unto men but as unto the<br />
Lord”. Col. 3:23. May God grant you His grace to keep this charge<br />
as we sing MHB 578 stanzas 1 and 2<br />
1. A charge to keep I have,<br />
A God is glorify,<br />
A never dying soul to save,<br />
And fit it for the sky.<br />
2. To serve the present age,<br />
My calling to fulfill<br />
O may it all my powers engage<br />
To do my Master’s will<br />
My fraternal greetings.<br />
SIR JIMMY N. COKER, AMP, KJW<br />
Lay President of Conference<br />
59
First Words<br />
ETHICS OF <strong>METHODIST</strong> CONFERENCE AWARDEES<br />
I said to the boastful,<br />
Do not deal boastfully;’<br />
And to the wicked,<br />
Do not lift up your horn<br />
Do not lift up your horn on high;<br />
Do not speak with a stiff neck.<br />
By<br />
Most Rev. L. S. Ayo Ladigbolu<br />
For exaltation comes neither from the east<br />
Nor from the west nor from the south<br />
But God is the Judge;<br />
He puts down one<br />
And exalts another<br />
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;<br />
He brings low and lifts up<br />
He raises the poor from the dust<br />
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap<br />
To set them among the princes<br />
And make them inherit the throne of glory<br />
The Lord lifts up the humble,<br />
He casts the wicked down to the ground<br />
A man’s pride will bring him low<br />
But the humble in spirit will retain honour<br />
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me;<br />
And where I am there My servant will be also.<br />
If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour<br />
(Psalm 75:4-7; I Sam. 2:7-8; Psalm 147:6; Daniel 2:20-21;Prov. 29:23;<br />
John 12:26)<br />
The scriptures make it clear that honour, promotion, and recognition<br />
come from God. The Lord knows how to handle and humiliate the<br />
proud. He also knows how to bestow honour on the humble. He is the<br />
One who is capable of lifting the beggar from the ash heap and set<br />
them among the princes.<br />
60
Our Saviour Jesus Christ also makes it clear that honour can be a<br />
reward for faithful services rendered to God. Those who openly or<br />
secretly honour God are sure to receive honour in return. From the<br />
foregoing, we can conclude that the decision of Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria to establish a system of rewarding excellence, devotion,<br />
sacrificial and selfless service, exemplary leadership, fidelity to the<br />
faith once delivered to the saints, and unreserved commitment to the<br />
utilization of gifts and talents for the promotion of the Kingdom—is<br />
in conformity with the teachings and admonition of the Word of God.<br />
How it All Began<br />
This author carried the burden of a Methodist Merit Award. He<br />
prayed and talked about the need for Methodist Church Nigeria to<br />
have a system of recognition and appreciation for its devoted and<br />
faithful members serving the Lord in various capacities in the<br />
congregations all over the Conference Area. The matter was tabled<br />
for discussion at the Conference level in 1990. The GPC (now CCC)<br />
appointed late Archbishop J.N. Dimoji to head an exploratory<br />
committee on the matter. Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu was appointed as<br />
Secretary of the Committee. Following recommendations from the<br />
Committee, Conference decided to adopt an Appraisal and Merit<br />
Committee as one of its statutory working committees.<br />
It should be noted that prior to this time (1990-1992) both the<br />
Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican<br />
Communion had introduced a single tier system of honorary awards<br />
for their distinguished members with uniforms/regalia to match for<br />
each denominational awardees.<br />
The first Protestant/Evangelical Church in Nigeria since 1842<br />
decided not to adopt the mono-type kind of merit award practised by<br />
her Catholic and Anglican sister denominations, but a system that is<br />
multi-dimensional and at the same time creative.. Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria adopted three categories of merit awards with the highest<br />
being the Knighthood. This flexibility has made it possible to<br />
recognise excellence at three levels. It also provides wholesome<br />
challenge for the DIGNITARIES in other categories to aspire to reach<br />
the next level.<br />
61
Categories of Awards<br />
The approved categories are:<br />
(i) Member of the Order of the Wesleys (M.O.W.)<br />
(ii) Officer of the Order of the Wesleys (O.O.W.)<br />
(iii) Knight of John Wesley (KJW)<br />
(iv) Knight of Charles Wesley (KCW) for excellence in music and<br />
liturgical matters<br />
(v) Award for the Best Diocese<br />
(vi) Methodist Peace Prize (For public individuals or organisations)<br />
that represents the best in holistic Christian/ Wesleyan ideals of<br />
probity, accountability, diligence, leadership, selfless service,<br />
unique contributions to society, innovations in service delivery,<br />
and general socio-ethical responsibility<br />
This award category has been less publicised, and it has been sparingly<br />
given. So also is the Prize for the Best Diocese in the Conference Area.<br />
In all award categories (i-iv), the Dioceses have the authority to screen<br />
and nominate recipients, subject to the approval of the Archdiocesan<br />
Councils and final endorsement by Conference<br />
To accord the awards the appropriate recognition, Conference<br />
resolved that they be presented every other year at a Special Service<br />
presided over by the Prelate. The service is to include presentation of<br />
the (printed) Citations of the Awardees, as well as the presentation of<br />
certificates and medals of honour to all awardees in all categories.<br />
Knights of John and Charles Wesley are to be adorned with special<br />
regalia designed for their offices<br />
In order to maximise their contributions of ideas and expertise to the<br />
growth and development of the Church, an annual forum has been<br />
created for the topmost category of dignitaries called the Council of<br />
Knights.<br />
Qualifications of a Conference Merit Awardee<br />
1. He or she must be a devoted and committed member of the<br />
Church (See membership qualifications in the Constitution<br />
2. He or she must be a person of sound, unquestionable spiritual<br />
and moral disposition and character<br />
3. A lover of peace, who is also an instrument for achieving peace<br />
62
4. Must have been a Church planter, and instrumental in founding<br />
new Methodist churches, or in effecting church expansion<br />
5. Must have shown leadership qualities and play sterling<br />
leadership roles in the life of the church<br />
6. A cheerful giver who donates generously in cash and kind for the<br />
progress and promotion of the work of God.<br />
7. A soldier of Jesus Christ and a true and ardent defender of the<br />
work God and the Church, and Methodist Church Nigeria in<br />
particular<br />
8. Must have contributed to the promotion of musical work and<br />
excellence in the development of liturgy and Church music<br />
Roles (General)<br />
The following roles have been assigned to all Awardees by the Church:<br />
1. To promote in every way possible the positive image of the<br />
Church both locally and globally<br />
2. To be in the vanguard of the outreach programmes of the Church<br />
3. They are automatically members of Synod in their Dioceses<br />
4. They are to have a Forum which will facilitate their interaction<br />
with the Administration for consultations to promote the<br />
programmes of the Church (This is currently applicable to the<br />
Knights)<br />
5. To contribute to the Endowment programmes and projects of<br />
the Church at all levels<br />
6. To be present as a matter of duty at Merit Award services in<br />
their Archdioceses whenever such services are held<br />
Roles (Ceremonial)<br />
Conference Awardees of all categories are to be present at all<br />
Conference services taking place in their areas. The Knights are to<br />
appear in their regalia<br />
The qualifications, roles and responsibilities of Conference Awardees<br />
should not be limited to what we have outlined in this short<br />
discussion. The needs, opportunities, and challenges of our dynamic<br />
and ever-changing world should lead us to discover fresh and new<br />
ways of serving the Lord. We can also learn from the experiences of<br />
other churches to fine-tune our own system in such ways that we as<br />
Methodists can more proactively and progressively match forward<br />
from honour to greater honour, and from glory to higher glories as<br />
pacesetter since 1842.<br />
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Final Words<br />
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you<br />
should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, and that<br />
whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.<br />
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s<br />
building<br />
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the<br />
power may be of God and not of us<br />
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own<br />
understanding<br />
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path<br />
…And which of you having a servant ploughing or tending sheep, will say<br />
to him when he has come from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to<br />
eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper,<br />
and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and<br />
afterward you will eat and drink’?<br />
Does he thank the servant because he did the things that were<br />
commanded him? I think not<br />
So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are<br />
commanded to do, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done<br />
what is our duty to do.<br />
(John 15:16; I Cor 3:9; 2Cor. 4:7; Proverbs 3:5-7; Luke 17:7-10)<br />
Most Rev. L. S. Ayo Ladigbolu<br />
Retired Archbishop of Ilesa<br />
64
VESSELS OF HONOUR FOR EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM<br />
By<br />
Evangelist Emmanuel O. Oha<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this<br />
seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, let everyone who<br />
names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.<br />
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and<br />
silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for<br />
dishonour.<br />
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the later, he will be a<br />
vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master,<br />
prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:19-21) NKJV.<br />
From other translations of the bible, we gain more insight into the<br />
meaning of the word “Vessels of Honour”.<br />
From the Good News <strong>Bible</strong> the word Vessels of Honour is translated as<br />
“used for special purposes”.<br />
“If anyone makes himself clean from all those evil<br />
things, “he will be used for special purposes”,<br />
because he is dedicated and useful to his Master,<br />
ready to be used for every good deed”.<br />
Life Application <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> puts it this way:<br />
“If you keep yourself pure, you will be “a special<br />
utensil for honour use” your life will be clean, and<br />
you will be ready for the Master to use you for every<br />
good work”<br />
Also Parents Resource <strong>Bible</strong> explained it thus:<br />
“If you stay away from sin, you will be like “One of<br />
these dishes made of purest gold”, the very best in<br />
the house so that Christ Himself can use you fro his<br />
highest purposes”.<br />
And Revised Standard Version translates it as;<br />
“If anyone purifies himself from what is ignoble,<br />
then he will be “a vessel for noble use” consecrated<br />
65
and useful to the master of the house, read for any<br />
good work”.<br />
In all the translations, we observed that God desires that anyone:<br />
Who purifies himself,<br />
Who stay away from sin,<br />
Who makes himself clean from all evil things, and in effect stay<br />
closely to God by keeping himself pure could be used for Christ<br />
noblest purposes.<br />
The Christian is greatly prized as God’s choice possession. He belongs<br />
to God at a very special cost, the blood of Christ. He serves Christ<br />
because he belongs to Him and he had purifies himself from evil.<br />
The bible is filled with examples of how God loves to use imperfect,<br />
ordinary people to do extraordinary things in spite of their<br />
weaknesses. The duty of the person is to stay away from sin and to<br />
stay close to God.<br />
Paul urged Timothy to be the kind of person Christ could use for his<br />
nobles purposes. In this seminar, we are encouraged not to settle for<br />
less than God’s highest and best.<br />
Every genuine believer is a vessel of honour, expensive utensils, and<br />
instrument for honourable uses.<br />
In the context of this paper every noble vessel is expected to win<br />
souls for the God. We are expected to populate the kingdom to God<br />
and to depopulate hell.<br />
EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM<br />
Evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel of the crucified and<br />
risen Christ, the only redeemer of men, according to the scriptures,<br />
with the purpose of persuading condemned and lost sinners to put<br />
their trust in God by receiving and accepting Christ as saviour though<br />
the power of the Holy Spirit…”<br />
Effective<br />
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary international Student’s 7 th<br />
Edition defines effective as “Producing the result that is wanted or<br />
intended, or producing a successful result”.<br />
66
Evangelism<br />
Greek ‘euangelion’ which means “good news”. Evangelism itself is the<br />
proclamation of the historical, biblical, Christ as saviour and Lord,<br />
with a view to persuading people to come to Him personally and so<br />
be reconciled to God (Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization<br />
1974).<br />
Evangelize<br />
“To evangelize is to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy<br />
Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to<br />
accept Him as their saviour, and serve Him as their king in the<br />
fellowship of His church” (Archbishops’ committee 1981).<br />
“To evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for<br />
our sins and was raised from the dead according to the scriptures,<br />
and that as reigning Lord, He now offers the forgiveness of sins and<br />
the liberating gift of the spirit to all who repent and believe”<br />
(Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization 1974).<br />
Also to evangelize mean’s further declaring the good news thereby<br />
leading sinners into righteousness, rescuing the perishing, turning<br />
sinners to saints, snatching people from hell fire and bringing the lost<br />
to Christ.<br />
In this orientation,<br />
God will sanctify, set someone apart, make him or her ready for an<br />
honourable purpose in Jesus Name.<br />
He will satisfy the thirsty ones with holiness in Jesus Name.<br />
PURPOSE<br />
The purpose of this lecture is to turn every awardee, steward, and<br />
every Methodist into soul winners club. As the second coming of<br />
Christ draws near, there is the need for every Christian irrespective of<br />
rank to develop passion for lost souls and be willing to evangelize at<br />
home, at work, at play, and in-transit.<br />
OBJECTIVE<br />
To understand what effective Evangelism is and how it usually<br />
develops.<br />
To transform the participant into an effective soul winner aimed<br />
at fulfilling the great commission as the main business of the<br />
church.<br />
67
To develop a sense of urgency as God’s people to reach the lost<br />
that will lead them to a lifestyle of prayer and daily witness in<br />
the light of Christ’s second coming.<br />
ROLE FUNCTIONS OF A VESSEL OF HONOUR<br />
Accepting Assignment<br />
Every vessel of honour is shaped for serving God. God told<br />
Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb, I know you; before<br />
you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to<br />
Nations” (Jeremiah 1:5) NKJV<br />
You are placed on this planet for a special assignment. God has<br />
formed very creature on this planet with a special area of<br />
expertise. Each of us was uniquely designed and shaped to do<br />
something significant. You are saved to serve. You are not and<br />
observer in the Methodist organogram. You are in the church to<br />
make specific contributions towards evangelism in the following<br />
areas either through direct involvement or sponsorship:<br />
Mass crusades<br />
Tele-evangelism<br />
Film evangelism<br />
Radio evangelism<br />
Literature evangelism (tracts etc)<br />
Cassette evangelism<br />
Prison evangelism<br />
Sports evangelism<br />
Personal evangelism<br />
Medical outreach evangelism<br />
Bus/train evangelism<br />
Special events evangelism – luncheons<br />
Open air evangelism (markets etc)<br />
Web/internet evangelism<br />
Other Areas Include:<br />
<strong>Bible</strong> translations<br />
<strong>Bible</strong> distributions<br />
Sponsorship of missionaries etc.<br />
You weren’t created just to consume resources, to eat, breathe, and<br />
take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life.<br />
You were made to add more souls to God’s kingdom.<br />
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God wants you to accept your assignment out of joy and deep<br />
gratitude for what he has done for us.<br />
Using God’s Investment In Your Life For Effective<br />
Evangelism<br />
Vessels of honour are expected to use God’s deposit in their lives<br />
for evangelism.<br />
“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you do with yourself is<br />
your gift o God” (Danish Proverb).<br />
Methodist people are not inferior to others; the problem is the wiling<br />
heart to respond to the need of the church. It was when I began<br />
accepting opportunities to speak that I saw the results, received<br />
confirmation from others, and realized that God has gifted me to do<br />
this. Until you are actually involved in serving, you are not going to<br />
know what you are good at.<br />
Methodist faithfuls should re-visit the fellowship of professionals in<br />
order to mentor for successor ship. These fellowships include:<br />
Old Boys and girls of Renown Institute<br />
Methodist Lawyers Fellowship<br />
Methodist Health-Care Workers Fellowship<br />
Fellowship of Methodist Engineers Fellowship<br />
Methodist Accountantship.<br />
Methodist Business Men’s Fellowship<br />
Annual Conference of Methodist Medical Doctors.<br />
Annual Conference of Methodist Nurses etc.<br />
The Aims Include<br />
To declare Christ for all and all for Christ throughout the<br />
conference areas of Methodist church Nigeria.<br />
To raise both financial and human resources for church planting,<br />
nurturing and infrastructural development in the rural areas.<br />
To facilitate health care services in the rural communities<br />
thereby using this medium to win souls! “For when a soul is saved<br />
in the village a missionary is born”.<br />
To face the task of empowering the youths to face the challenges<br />
and vicissitudes of youthful living, particularly in the moral,<br />
social, intellectual and spiritual spheres. “For when you save a<br />
youth, you save a generation”.<br />
To provoke operation win a professional colleague in the<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria.<br />
Understanding our Challenge of the Contemporary Church<br />
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How do you see your world, country and states?<br />
How relevant is your church to your society today?<br />
What is your role in evangelizing the world of today?<br />
Let us look at global challenges.<br />
Table I<br />
Table II<br />
10 Most Populous Countries<br />
2008 2050<br />
1. China – 1.330B<br />
2. India – 1.148B<br />
3. USA – 303M<br />
4. Indonesia – 245M<br />
5. Brazil – 192M<br />
6. Pakistan – 167M<br />
7. Bangladesh – 153M<br />
8. Nigeria – 146M<br />
9. Russia – 141M<br />
10 Japan – 127M<br />
Major Religions of the World<br />
70<br />
1. India – 1.628B<br />
2. China – 1.437B<br />
3. USA – 420M<br />
4. Nigeria – 299M<br />
5. Pakistan – 295M<br />
6. Indonesia – 285M<br />
7. Brazil – 260M<br />
8. Bangladesh – 231M<br />
9. D. R. Congo – 183M<br />
10. Ethiopia – 145M<br />
Christianity: 2.1 billion<br />
Islam: 1.5 billion<br />
Secular/Non-religious/None-religious/<br />
Agnostic/Atheist 1.1 billion: 1.1billion<br />
Hinduism: 900million<br />
Chinese Trad. Religioons 394million<br />
Buddhism: 376million<br />
Primal-indigenous: 300milliion
Table III<br />
Nigeria Population<br />
Population 146 million<br />
Christianity: 49% = 71,540,000<br />
Our challenge: To bring Jesus to everyone in Nigeria<br />
Are you convinced?<br />
Are you willing to sharpen history?<br />
Are you ready to invest both human and financial resources?<br />
PROTECTING YOUR <strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
“In this age Satan uses the world’s ideals, morality,<br />
philosophies, psychology, desires, government, culture,<br />
education, science, art, medicine, music, economic systems,<br />
entertainment, fashions, mass media, religious, sports,<br />
agriculture etc to oppose God and His people, His world and<br />
righteous standards” (1 John 2:15-16).<br />
It is your job to protect the church from the sinister forces of the<br />
devil. Nothing is more valuable to God than his church. It is your<br />
responsibility to stand firm in line with Paul’s statement in 2<br />
Corinthians 10:4-5 which states as thus:<br />
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty<br />
in God for pulling down strong holds, casting down<br />
arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against<br />
the knowledge of God, brining every though into captivity<br />
to the obedience of Christ”.<br />
The church is in a spiritual struggle against Satan and sin. The spirit<br />
with which the church is filled, is like a warrior wielding the living<br />
word of God, delivering people from Satan’s dominion and<br />
conquering every power of this dark world (Eph. 6:10-15)<br />
Multitudes are in the depths of darkness and have to be reached.<br />
They must be brought up to the light of the gospel. The greatest work<br />
on earth is to preach the good news and the greatest need in the world<br />
is the need for the gospel.<br />
71
Understanding Youth of Today<br />
Every vessel of honour needs to invest his/her resources on the lives<br />
of our future leaders – youth.<br />
You need to understand young persons need:<br />
We must first listen to them.<br />
They need to discover their identity – their purpose.<br />
To be loved<br />
To be given the opportunity and freedom to discover who they<br />
are.<br />
While there may be same general trends, each young person is<br />
unique and deserves individual attention.<br />
Youth need a guide, a coach, a mentor whom they can trust to<br />
help them develop the discipline, skills and character to meet the<br />
challenges of life.<br />
Your resources are needed to develop a system where the older<br />
youth can mentor younger ones.<br />
SUMMARY<br />
Brethren, it is not possible to put on this paper all that constitute the<br />
role functions of the vessel of honour as it relates to effective<br />
evangelism. However, let us resolve to be involved physically by<br />
either going as an individual or as part of a mission team.<br />
Give sacrificially to the department of evangelism, agencies,<br />
missionaries and infrastructural projects towards church planting<br />
in the rural communities.<br />
Pray for global-church efforts, missionaries and missions to the<br />
unreached.<br />
Be men and women of good character and integrity.<br />
Practice holiness and holy living and encourage others to grow in<br />
Christ through our exemplary lives.<br />
Be consistent in prayer and worship.<br />
Systematically study the scriptures through adult Sunday school,<br />
mid-week service and family devotions.<br />
May the peace of God be with you all!<br />
Thanks for listening.<br />
Evangelist Emmanuel O. Oha<br />
Diocesan Lay President of the Diocese of Agbani<br />
72
FUNCTIONS OF CONFERENCE AWARDEES<br />
BY<br />
SIR COL. BOLA OGUNSANWO<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
1. In defining who a Conference Awardee (CA) is, this Paper has decided<br />
to look into the standard Programme of Service of Investiture of CA.<br />
The Service is referred to as “Recognition of Service and Award of<br />
Merit”. Part of the Declaration of Purpose of the Service says:<br />
“These persons have been found worthy both in<br />
character and Christian discipline. They have put<br />
to use their God given talents, time and resources<br />
to promote God’s work in their various<br />
Communities, Churches and the Nation at large”.<br />
2. An item of the Programme is called “Presentation of Recipients” –<br />
where the awardees are presented to the Prelate, Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria (MCN) by the Secretary of Conference. Part of the Presentation<br />
reads thus:<br />
“In accordance with the decision of Conference<br />
that members and friends of MCN who had<br />
distinguished in faith and work of the Church<br />
should be recognized and honoured, these persons<br />
have been chosen from the Conference Area and<br />
particularly the Archdiocese of …………. to be so<br />
honoured at this Service. This is in recognition of<br />
their selfless services to God and humanity<br />
through MCN”.<br />
3. The Declaration of Purpose and the Presentation statement in<br />
paragraphs 1 and 2 summarized the definition and qualities of a CA as<br />
someone who has given selfless service to God and humanity in<br />
character, Christian discipline and promotion of God’s work through<br />
the use of the person’s God given talents, time and resources.<br />
4. After the Presentation, the Prelate would direct that the Awardees be<br />
examined by a minister of the Episcopal rank. The examination<br />
consists of a set of 4 questions as follows:<br />
a. Have you given time and thought to consider the significance of<br />
this award and the greater responsibility the honour attracts?<br />
73
. Have you resolved to keep your life untarnished and undefiled as<br />
long as you live, by daily and constant study of the scriptures<br />
and prayers and by surrendering your life completely to God?<br />
c. Will you from this moment and forever order your life and<br />
general bearings to be example to God’s children in your<br />
community, local Church and the world?<br />
d. Will you continue to lead and serve God’s people with your life,<br />
talents, time and resources to the end of your life?<br />
5. The answers of a CA and yours in a few hours time to these questions<br />
are “I have”, “I do so resolve” and “I will”. Let us at this point ponder at<br />
the questions and answers. The following must strike us as the import<br />
of the examination.<br />
a. An MCN CA is a role model as a child of God in every area of life<br />
(1Tim 4:12b, 1Pet 5:2-4).<br />
b. The Song of an awardee from the day of investiture till the end of<br />
his/her life should be:<br />
“I surrender all<br />
I surrender all<br />
All to Thee my blessed Saviour<br />
I surrender all”<br />
c. A CA must be a student of the <strong>Bible</strong> and strong in prayer.<br />
d. There is no retirement for a CA in using his/her talents, time and<br />
resources for God. It is until “death do us part”.<br />
6. It is the aim of this Paper to draw the functions of a CA from the<br />
Purpose, Presentation and Examination.<br />
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CONFERENCE AWARDEE<br />
7. Submission to Christ in Word and Deed. A CA is committed to the<br />
task of obedient submission to Christ in word and deed. He/She must<br />
be in the vanguard of surpassing others in all acts that promote<br />
Christian ideals and the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the<br />
land. Section 17c of the 2006 Constitution of the Church gave “regular<br />
attendance at and observance of the means of Grace provided by the<br />
Church” as one of the criteria for the membership of the Church. If it<br />
and “constancy, faithfulness and single mindedness in the fellowship of<br />
the Church” are criteria for membership, they become stronger criteria<br />
for membership of the privileged class of CA. It means that a CA must<br />
be in the forefront of attendance of <strong>Bible</strong> <strong>Study</strong>, Prayer meeting,<br />
74
Crusade, Convention etc and at times ought to function as a conductor<br />
and/or leader.<br />
8. Example to Believers. It is imperative for a CA to be an example to<br />
the believers in every area of life. A CA cannot be two faced i.e. be one<br />
thing in the Church and another thing outside. In any case examination<br />
in para 2c has said it all – “an example in the community, local Church<br />
and the world”. A Biblical personality that fits this function is Philip<br />
one of the 7 laymen chosen by the brethren on the advice of the<br />
Apostles to help in administration. The <strong>Bible</strong> recorded that Philip who<br />
later became an Evangelist had 4 daughters who were virgins and who<br />
prophesied (Acts 21:9). Philip, it was, who led the Ethiopian senior<br />
government official to Christ (Acts 8:30-37). Philip is an example to all<br />
CA. He functioned as a good father, a layman who had completely<br />
submitted to Christ in word and deed (Acts 6:35).<br />
9. Defender of the Faith. A CA must function as a bold defender of the<br />
faith in his/her loyal service to the Church and the cause of Christ’s<br />
kingdom. The main weapon for a defender of the faith is the word of<br />
God. The function of a CA as defender of the faith has a strong link with<br />
his/her function of submission to Christ, the Captain of all defenders of<br />
the faith. Our hymn MHB 821 asks all soldiers of the Cross to stand up<br />
for Jesus who leads his army from victory to victory till every foe is<br />
vanquished. A good example of a defender of the faith is Stephen who<br />
was martyred in defence of the faith.<br />
10. Bridge-Builder and Ambassador of Peace. A CA must function as a<br />
bridge-builder and ambassador of peace among all arms of the Church.<br />
He/She must collaborate with Ministers and elected Lay Officers in all<br />
tasks of reconciliation, peace and concord both in his area of residence<br />
as well as throughout the entire Conference Area. The Prelate<br />
Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Sunday Ola Makinde CON<br />
GPJ once said that if conference award had been in existence the crisis<br />
the Church went through would not have happened. He is of the<br />
opinion that CA, as bridge-builders and ambassador of peace, would<br />
have stepped in. All CA must seek peace and pursue it” (1Pet 3:11b).<br />
11. Performance of Task. A CA must be available to the Church for the<br />
performance of any task at all levels of the Church and at International<br />
levels. Such tasks may or may not be related to his/her exalted<br />
position. After all, at the Covenant Service on the first Sunday of the<br />
year all CA did bind themselves with Christ in the following words<br />
“Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are<br />
difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable<br />
75
to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary<br />
to both”. Our Lord had set an example by washing the feet of His<br />
disciples.<br />
12. Christian Charity and Philanthropy. A CA is a model of Christian<br />
charity and philanthropy. He/She must be a generous supporter of<br />
Church programmes and an untiring initiator. He/She should be a<br />
promoter of developmental and evangelistic ideals and projects. This<br />
is the most difficult function of a CA. Now that he/she had been made<br />
known to the Conference as a model of Christian charity and<br />
philanthropy, another level of operation has been opened i.e. the<br />
Conference level. Before the conference award, a CA had mostly been<br />
operating at Local, Circuit, Diocesan and Archdiocesan levels<br />
supporting developmental and evangelistic ideals and projects<br />
receiving various Diocesan awards. He/She must be ready to do the<br />
same at Conference level now that his/her Diocese had considered<br />
him/her worthy of a conference award. For instance, if the awardee<br />
had been supporting WUSTO and paying the levies of a Circuit or<br />
Diocesan Officer, he/she must be ready to move up to the CA levy level.<br />
Of course extra financial demands would be placed on him/her and<br />
he/she is expected to willingly meet such demands within his/her<br />
resources. Age does not come in. it is the opinion of this Paper that it<br />
should be the older the more willing it should be. After all, our Lord<br />
enjoins us not to store up our resources on earth but in heaven and by<br />
all calculations the elderly ones are most likely to reach heaven first.<br />
13. Accommodating Ecumenical Ventures. A CA is not to function only<br />
as champion of the cause of Methodism in Nigeria but must be<br />
sufficiently open-minded to accommodate ecumenical ventures and<br />
inter-Church activities so as to promote better understanding and<br />
Christian unity (Jn 17:21).<br />
14. Adviser. A CA must function as a ready adviser to Ministerial and Lay<br />
Leaders of the Church on all matters relating to the progress of the<br />
Church and the expansion of Christ’s Kingdom.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
15. The earlier paragraphs of this paper (1-4) showed that a CA had been<br />
carrying out these functions before being singled out for the award.<br />
The award is so competitive because only 7 people can be selected in a<br />
Diocese. The award (especially, KJW, OOW and MOW) is in recognition<br />
of the awardee’s selfless and outstanding service and an<br />
encouragement for more on a higher scale. It is not to be looked at as a<br />
“retirement benefit”.<br />
76
16. When demands are made on an awardee’s time and/or resources, the<br />
statement “Ha, ha! am I the only one?” must not be uttered by him/her.<br />
Such a statement is ungracious, ingratitude to God, the giver of all good<br />
things and a negation of the promise made before God and all<br />
witnesses of the awardees’ investiture that he/she would continue to<br />
lead and serve God’s people with his/her life talents, time and<br />
resources to the end of his/her life.<br />
17. Permit me to use this opportunity and my position as the National<br />
Secretary of the Council of Knights of John Wesley and Charles Wesley<br />
to address a touchy issue on segregation and discriminatory attitude<br />
to the Orders of the Wesleys. I make bold to say that all awardees are<br />
the same. What we have is precedence and not superiority and/or<br />
class distinction. If this is true, then “why the Council of Knights and<br />
not Council of CA?” This question must have been at the back of the<br />
mind of the Prelate, when in an address to the 10 th Annual Conference<br />
of the Council which was held at MTI Umuahia 22 nd -24 th October, 2010<br />
wrote as follows: “Wait a minute, what are you doing to interact in<br />
your Diocese with other awardees of the Church i.e. Officers of the<br />
Order of the Wesleys (OOW) and Members of the Order of the Wesleys<br />
(MOW)? Your interaction with them on Diocesan level will promote<br />
love, harmony and sense of belonging”. The Council unanimously<br />
accepted the suggestion and decided that an Association of Conference<br />
Awardees must be established at all Dioceses. The beauty of this<br />
occurred at the burial ceremony of an OOW at Ago-Iwoye on Saturday<br />
12 th February 2011. All Conference Awardees present (Knights and<br />
Order) at the burial service came out, surrounded the casket, sang<br />
MHB 913 and read an oration. It is expected that the various Chapters<br />
of the Council would report on the progress made on the<br />
establishment of the Associations which must hold regular meetings<br />
after her inauguration by the various Bishops.<br />
18. Thank you and God bless the Association of Conference Awardees at<br />
all the 59 Dioceses in the Conference Area and Trinity Church Council.<br />
Sir Col. Bola Ogunsanwo, KJW<br />
National Secretary, Methodist Council of Knights<br />
77
APPENDIX 1<br />
CONFERENCE BANK ACCOUNTS<br />
S/N Conference<br />
Fund<br />
Bank Account Name Account No.<br />
1. Seed of Faith Afribank Nigeria Plc I, Methodist Church 0281173464613<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos Nigeria<br />
0231020001605<br />
Union Bank of Nigeria Methodist Church<br />
Plc, Tinubu Branch, Nigeria<br />
Lagos<br />
302010015988<br />
First Bank of Nigeria<br />
Plc, Marina Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
2. 10% of Tithes Afribank Nigeria Plc,<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos<br />
Union Bank of Nigeria<br />
Plc, Tinubu Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
First Bank of Nigeria<br />
Plc, Marina Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
3. WUSTO Union Bank of Nigeria<br />
Plc, Tinubu Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
First Bank of Nigeria<br />
Plc, Marina Branch,<br />
4. Crosses &<br />
Lagos<br />
Afribank Nigeria Plc,<br />
Medals<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos<br />
5. Communications Afribank Nigeria Plc,<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos<br />
6. Education<br />
Guaranty Trust Bank<br />
Plc, Marina Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
Zenith Bank Plc, Lagos<br />
Central Branch, Lagos<br />
Island, Lagos.<br />
Afribank Nigeria Plc,<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos<br />
78<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
MCN WUSTO Fund<br />
MCN WUSTO Fund<br />
MCN Crosses and<br />
Medals<br />
MCN News<br />
MCN Publications<br />
MCN Education Fund<br />
MCN Cliff College<br />
0281173464613<br />
0231020001605<br />
2302010015988<br />
0231020016129<br />
2302010537353<br />
0281173464648<br />
0281172687511<br />
2167918303111<br />
6012611608<br />
0281173464516
S/N Conference Fund Bank Account Name Account No.<br />
7. Scholarship Afribank Nigeria Plc, Prelate’s Scholarship 0281173464591<br />
Scheme<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos Scheme<br />
8. Jos Crisis<br />
Afribank Nigeria Plc II,<br />
Computer Laptops Marina Branch, Lagos Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
0281173860616<br />
9. MCN Prelate’s Access Bank Plc, 30 Methodist Church 015010003512<br />
House<br />
King George 5 Road<br />
Onikan Branch, Lagos<br />
Nigeria<br />
10. MCN GLO – CUG<br />
Project<br />
11. Directorate of<br />
Evangelism &<br />
Discipleship<br />
12. World Methodist<br />
Council (WMC)<br />
Fidelity Bank Plc,<br />
Adeyemo Alakija,<br />
Victoria Island, Lagos<br />
Wema Bank Plc, Mokola<br />
Branch, Ibadan<br />
Guaranty Trust Bank<br />
Plc, Marina Branch,<br />
Lagos<br />
79<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
Methodist Evangelical<br />
Movement<br />
Methodist Church<br />
Nigeria<br />
08241010008570<br />
0311031990012<br />
2167918303110<br />
13. Housing Scheme Afribank Nigeria Plc,<br />
Marina Branch, Lagos<br />
MCN Housing Scheme 0281175342612<br />
14. Miscellaneous Afribank Nigeria Plc, Methodist Church 0281173464613<br />
Income e.g. Lay Marina Branch, Lagos Nigeria<br />
Preacher’s Sunday,<br />
0231020001605<br />
Literature Sunday, Union Bank of Nigeria Methodist Church<br />
Conference Harvest Plc, Tinubu Branch, Nigeria<br />
Sunday;<br />
Conference Medical<br />
Lagos<br />
2302010015988<br />
Sunday, Law & First Bank of Nigeria Methodist Church<br />
Polity Sunday, Plc, Marina Branch, Nigeria<br />
Social Services<br />
Sunday; Conference<br />
Delegates<br />
registration;<br />
Conference -<br />
Organized Special<br />
Services collections<br />
Lagos<br />
15. Tailoring Factory Zenith Bank Plc, MCN Tailoring Factory 6019203031<br />
Limited<br />
Herbert Macaulay<br />
Branch, Lagos.<br />
Limited
Appendix 2<br />
TOTAL NUMBER OF CIRCUITS & LOCAL <strong>CHURCH</strong>ES OF DIOCESES AND POPULATION<br />
S/NO ARCHDIOCESE/DIOCESE CIRCUIT<br />
80<br />
LOCAL<br />
<strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
TOTAL<br />
POPULATION<br />
1 TRINITY <strong>CHURCH</strong> COUNCIL 3 21 6,699<br />
LAGOS ARCHDIOCESE<br />
2 LAGOS 10 39 5,100<br />
3 LAGOS MAINLAND 7 31 8,050<br />
4 IKORODU 11 42 6,382<br />
5 BADAGRY 5 43 7,400<br />
6 LAGOS WEST 5 18 3,395<br />
7 LAGOS CENTRAL 4 18 3,781<br />
TOTAL 45 212 34,108<br />
RIYE DIOCESE<br />
8 EGBA YEWA 11 95 7,943<br />
9 REMO 9 25 5,960<br />
10 IJEBU 7 38 3,906<br />
11 REMO CENTRAL 5 16 4,655<br />
TOTAL 32 174 22,464<br />
IBADAN ARCHDIOCESE<br />
12 IBADAN 9 66 4,944<br />
13 OGBOMOSO 6 72 6,746<br />
14 AGODI 5 44 3,756<br />
15 ELEKURO 7 32 3,576<br />
TOTAL 27 214 19,022<br />
ILESA ARCHDIOCESE<br />
16 ILESA 16 57 8,036<br />
17 IFAKI 9 29 4,327<br />
18 IGBOBINI 7 20 5,585<br />
19 KWARA 12 31 2,911<br />
20 OWO 8 28 2,872<br />
21 EDO DELTA 5 19 1,569<br />
22 OSOGBO 6 25 3,645<br />
23 AYEDUN 8 18 3,507<br />
TOTAL 71 227 32,452
CIRCUIT<br />
81<br />
LOCAL<br />
<strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
TOTAL<br />
POPULATION<br />
24<br />
KADUNA ARCHDIOCESE<br />
KADUNA 12 43 7,711<br />
25 OTUKPO 10 94 6,820<br />
26 IGEDE 13 162 22,339<br />
27 JOS 9 27 5,014<br />
28 KANO 5 16 2,249<br />
29 APA 12 111 6,600<br />
30 ENONE 13 123 13,102<br />
31 MAKURDI 5 20 5,151<br />
TOTAL<br />
ABUJA ARCHDIOCESE<br />
79 596 68,986<br />
32 ABUJA 10 47 4,301<br />
57 NYANYA 4 24 4,355<br />
TOTAL<br />
CALABAR ARCHDIOCESE<br />
14 71 8,656<br />
33 CALABAR 5 39 5,495<br />
34 ORON 11 70 6,784<br />
35 IKONO 13 65 12,056<br />
36 UYO 10 22 5,853<br />
61 OYUBIA 5 45 3,233<br />
62 ADADIA 8 8 4,860<br />
63 EKET 6 13 4,017<br />
TOTAL<br />
IKOT EKPENE<br />
ARCHDIOCESE<br />
58 262 42,298<br />
37 IKOT EKPENE 13 40 13,757<br />
38 PORT HARCOURT 10 61 9,997<br />
39 IKOT ABASI 17 102 7,863<br />
40 BORI 10 75 12,940<br />
41 ESSIEN UDIM 6 34 7,429<br />
42 MBIASO 9 35 7,208<br />
58 D / LINE 4 20 3,027<br />
64 NKEK ABAK 7 20 3,923<br />
66,144<br />
TOTAL 76 387
CIRCUIT<br />
82<br />
LOCAL<br />
<strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
TOTAL<br />
POPULATION<br />
ENUGU ARCHDIOCESE<br />
43 ENUGU 12 42 16,749<br />
44 ABAKALIKI 18 180 30,662<br />
45 ONITSHA 7 45 6,590<br />
46 AGBANI 19 75 11,092<br />
TOTAL 56 342 65,093<br />
OKIGWE ARCHDIOCESE<br />
47 OKIGWE 15 59 11,650<br />
48 ISIUKWUATO 12 36 6,306<br />
49 NNEOCHI 10 34 10,814<br />
50 IHUBE 6 24 5,460<br />
TOTAL 43 153 34,230<br />
UMUAHIA ARCHDIOCESE<br />
51 UMUAHIA 6 32 8,206<br />
52 OWERRI 11 38 5,403<br />
53 ABA 14 46 15,826<br />
54 NDORO 9 30 6,446<br />
55 UZUAKOLI 9 42 6,963<br />
56 ITEM 4 21 3,082<br />
59 UMUAHIA WEST 4 23 4,830<br />
60 UMUAHIA EAST 5 40 4,556<br />
TOTAL 62 272 55,312<br />
GRAND TOTAL 563 2,910 455,464
S/N<br />
ARCHDIOCESE<br />
/ DIOCESE<br />
2008 –<br />
Adult<br />
population used<br />
Total<br />
Expected<br />
@ Actual<br />
#10<br />
per week<br />
Appendix 3<br />
<strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
SEED OF FAITH SUMMARY<br />
2008 - 2010<br />
2009 - Adult<br />
population used<br />
Total<br />
Expected @ Actual<br />
#20<br />
per week<br />
83<br />
2010<br />
(PROVISIONAL)<br />
- Total<br />
population used<br />
Total<br />
Expected<br />
@ Actual<br />
#20<br />
per week<br />
=N= =N= % =N= =N= % =N= =N= %<br />
1<br />
TRINITY<br />
<strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
COUNCIL 2,080,000 2,571,405 124 4,493,844 3,813,365 85 6,966,960 4,294,947 62<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
LAGOS<br />
2 LAGOS<br />
LAGOS<br />
2,600,000 2,972,328 114 3,326,964 3,462,341 104 5,304,000 3,573,031 67<br />
3 MAINLAND 5,460,000 6,654,042 122 7,494,240 8,328,420 111 8,372,000 5,746,113 69<br />
4 IKORODU 3,120,000 3,824,177 123 3,795,996 4,767,088 126 6,637,280 4,810,730 72<br />
5 BADAGRY 1,040,000 1,363,000 131 3,335,280 2,358,450 71 7,696,000 1,980,225 26<br />
6 LAGOS WEST<br />
LAGOS<br />
1,560,000 2,540,997 163 2,006,160 3,221,201 161 3,530,800 3,134,020 89<br />
7 CENTRAL - - 0 0 0 0 3,932,240 2,929,556 0<br />
TOTAL 13,780,000 17,354,544 126 19,958,640 22,137,500 111 35,472,320 22,173,675 63<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
RIYE<br />
8 EGBA YEWA 2,600,000 1,715,240 66 4,793,364 2,004,568 42 8,260,720 1,864,225 23<br />
9 REMO 3,120,000 2,142,215 69 4,119,444 1,812,575 44 6,198,400 2,248,110 36<br />
10 IJEBU<br />
REMO<br />
1,560,000 1,026,837 66 2,237,040 1,267,126 57 4,062,240 1,270,921 31<br />
11 CENTRAL - - 0 2,452,320 1,108,470 45 4,841,200 1,368,930 28<br />
TOTAL 7,280,000 4,884,292 67 13,602,168 6,192,739 46 23,362,560 6,752,186 29<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
IBADAN<br />
12 IBADAN 2,600,000 2,047,327 79 2,918,244 2,876,520 99 5,141,760 2,779,368 54<br />
13 OGBOMOSO 2,600,000 1,113,560 43 4,118,400 1,241,275 30 7,015,840 1,091,740 16<br />
14 AGODI 1,560,000 1,319,253 85 2,610,396 2,705,380 104 3,906,240 2,241,286 57<br />
15 ELEKURO 1,560,000 1,046,295 67 2,714,400 956,565 35 3,709,040 1,106,295 30<br />
TOTAL 8,320,000 5,526,435 66 12,361,440 7,779,740 63 19,772,880 7,218,689 37<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
ILESA<br />
16 ILESA 3,120,000 1,460,902 47 5,182,320 1,844,776 36 8,357,440 2,118,850 25<br />
17 IFAKI 3,120,000 1,531,305 49 4,434,564 1,838,660 41 4,500,080 1,064,810 24<br />
18 IGBOBINI 1,560,000 891,838 57 3,754,404 1,478,881 39 5,808,400 1,322,120 23<br />
19 KWARA 1,040,000 422,405 41 1,799,196 570,740 32 3,027,440 711,178 23<br />
20 OWO 1,560,000 627,560 40 1,780,476 825,230 46 2,986,880 727,620 24<br />
21 EDO DELTA 1,040,000 995,975 96 970,320 1,131,420 117 1,631,760 1,227,315 75<br />
22 OSOGBO 1,040,000 486,600 47 1,713,924 495,725 29 3,790,800 802,974 21<br />
23 AYEDUN - - 0 0 0 0 3,647,280 888,035 24<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
12,480,000 6,416,585 51 19,635,204.00 8,185,432.00 42 33,750,080.00 8,862,902.00 26<br />
KADUNA =N= =N= % =N= =N= % =N= =N= %<br />
24 KADUNA 2,080,000.00 2,004,505.00 96 4,374,240 2,224,085 51 8,019,440 2,671,250 33<br />
25 OTUKPO 6,240,000.00 2,824,011.00 45 4,185,996 3,040,559 73 7,092,800 2,592,415 37<br />
26 IGEDE 5,200,000.00 2,337,785.00 45 12,708,804 3,242,905 26 23,232,560 3,721,625 16<br />
27 JOS 1,560,000.00 755,765.00 48 2,808,000 1,029,256 37 5,214,560 990,759 19<br />
28 KANO 1,040,000.00 671,287.00 65 1,309,356 834,860 64 2,338,960 882,054 38<br />
29 APA 3,640,000.00 1,353,605.00 37 3,671,196 1,397,592 38 6,864,000 1,734,200 25<br />
30 ENONE 2,600,000.00 1,134,210.00 44 7,206,156 1,825,675 25 13,626,080 3,387,585 25<br />
31 MAKURDI 0 0 0 3,375,840 1,616,999 48 5,357,040 1,540,474 29<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE<br />
22,360,000.00 11,081,168.00 50 39,639,588.00 15,211,931.00 38 71,745,440.00 17,520,362.00 24<br />
32 OF ABUJA 2,600,000.00 5,254,548.00 202 4,539,600 7,297,343 161 9,002,240 7,350,374 82<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
CALABAR<br />
33 CALABAR 2,080,000.00 2,122,783.00 102 3,146,004 2,859,735 91 5,714,800 2,420,465 42<br />
34 ORON 2,600,000.00 2,287,238.00 88 5,260,320 3,516,800 67 10,417,680 3,498,395 34<br />
35 IKONO 2,600,000.00 2,298,247.00 88 4,089,276 2,865,009 70 12,538,240 2,614,005 21
36 UYO 4,420,000.00 2,563,995.00 58 5,667,996 3,640,040 64 15,319,200 3,491,040 23<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
IKOT EKPENE<br />
11,700,000.00 9,272,263.00 79 18,163,596.00 12,881,584.00 71 43,989,920.00 12,023,905.00 27<br />
37 IKOT EKPENE<br />
PORT<br />
3,640,000.00 3,232,215.00 89 11,224,716 5,032,961 45 18,387,200 5,270,090 29<br />
38 HARCOURT 2,340,000.00 5,082,110.00 217 8,085,996 5,787,798 72 13,544,960 7,946,304 59<br />
39 IKOT ABASI 2,600,000.00 1,761,130.00 68 4,379,436 1,747,710 40 8,177,520 2,291,155 28<br />
40 BORI 3,120,000.00 1,158,423.00 37 7,360,080 2,171,925 30 13,457,600 2,944,403 22<br />
41 ESSIEN UDIM 1,560,000.00 1,382,080.00 89 3,234,396 1,297,550 40 7,726,160 1,555,615 20<br />
42 MBIASO 1,560,000.00 1,610,915.00 103 4,219,284 1,416,545 34 7,496,320 1,650,540 22<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
ENUGU<br />
14,820,000.00 14,226,873.00 96 38,503,908.00 17,454,489.00 45 68,789,760.00 21,658,107.00 31<br />
43 ENUGU 3,120,000.00 1,755,365.00 56 8,859,756 1,331,940 15 17,408,960 5,206,972 30<br />
44 ABAKALIKI 5,200,000.00 1,547,256.00 30 18,442,320 1,748,459 9 31,888,480 2,657,870 8<br />
45 ONITSHA 2,080,000.00 1,227,950.00 59 4,694,556 2,418,851 52 6,853,600 2,901,760 42<br />
46 AGBANI 2,080,000.00 1,171,876.00 56 6,875,436 1,328,103 19 11,535,680 1,055,672 9<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
12,480,000.00 5,702,447.00 46 38,872,068.00 6,827,353.00 18 67,686,720.00 11,822,274.00 17<br />
OKIGWE =N= =N= % =N= =N= % =N= =N= %<br />
47 OKIGWE 5,200,000.00 1,680,710.00 32 7,207,200 2,156,640 30 12,116,000 1,885,280 16<br />
48 ISUIKWUATO 2,080,000.00 601,490.00 29 4,446,000 729,387 16 6,558,240 522,660 8<br />
49 NNEOCHI<br />
OKIGWE<br />
3,120,000.00 963,710.00 31 7,597,200 1,472,518 19 11,246,560 1,649,650 15<br />
50 NORTH 0 0 0 3,551,604 572,610 16 5,678,400 897,400 16<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
UMUAHIA<br />
10,400,000.00 3,245,910.00 31 22,802,004.00 4,931,155.00 22 35,599,200.00 4,954,990.00 14<br />
51 UMUAHIA 4,680,000.00 7,327,345.00 157 11,008,404 7,387,360 67 18,295,680 6,802,732 37<br />
52 OWERRI 1,560,000.00 1,679,780.00 108 3,380,004 2,096,110 62 5,619,120 2,021,640 36<br />
53 ABA 3,640,000.00 3,988,645.00 110 9,286,164 5,672,055 61 16,459,040 4,456,410 27<br />
54 NDORO 2,080,000.00 820,720.00 39 4,475,124 1,398,695 31 6,703,840 1,174,881 18<br />
55 UZUAKOLI 3,120,000.00 1,289,600.00 41 4,775,676 1,665,029 35 7,241,520 1,626,288 22<br />
56 ITEM 1,560,000.00 459,800.00 29 1,950,000 558,125 29 3,205,280 568,495 18<br />
TOTAL<br />
MTI, UMUAHIA<br />
MTI<br />
16,640,000.00 15,565,890.00 94 34,875,372.00 18,777,374.00 54 57,524,480.00 16,650,446.00 29<br />
57 Chaplaincy<br />
GRAND<br />
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 478,790 0<br />
TOTAL<br />
134,940,000.00 101,102,360.00 75 267,447,432.00 131,490,005.00 49 473,662,560.00 141,761,647.00 30<br />
84
Appendix 4<br />
<strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
TITHE OF TITHES SUMMARY<br />
2008 - 2010<br />
S/N<br />
ARCHDIOCESE/<br />
DIOCESE 2008 2009 2010 (PROVISIONAL)<br />
Actual Actual Expected Actual %<br />
=N= =N= =N= =N=<br />
1<br />
TRINITY<br />
<strong>CHURCH</strong><br />
COUNCIL<br />
3,696,834 4,721,886 5,672,262 4,886,152 86<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
LAGOS<br />
2 LAGOS<br />
LAGOS<br />
3 MAINLAND<br />
4 IKORODU<br />
5 BADAGRY<br />
4,026,562<br />
10,205,236<br />
4,008,990<br />
361,413<br />
4,426,429 5,311,715 3,476,244 65<br />
12,151,829 9,915,892 9,150,093 92<br />
4,047,412 4,856,898 5,117,915 105<br />
1,072,060 1,286,472 1,544,013 120<br />
6 LAGOS WEST<br />
LAGOS<br />
3,292,355 3,732,206 4,482,247 4,041,727 90<br />
7 CENTRAL - - 4,666,302 3,338,891 72<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
RIYE<br />
8 EGBA YEWA<br />
9 REMO<br />
10 IJEBU<br />
21,894,556<br />
2,257,687<br />
2,994,247<br />
827,250<br />
11 REMO CENTRAL -<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
IBADAN<br />
12 IBADAN<br />
13 OGBOMOSO<br />
14 AGODI<br />
15 ELEKURO<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
ILESA<br />
6,079,184<br />
2,786,334<br />
1,036,470<br />
1,411,065<br />
740,620<br />
5,974,489<br />
25,429,936 30,519,526 26,668,883 87<br />
2,661,165 3,193,398 2,476,919 78<br />
2,119,480 2,543,376 2,128,503 84<br />
754,778 905,734 720,431 80<br />
1,309,390 1,571,268 1,598,975 102<br />
6,844,813 8,213,776 6,924,828 84<br />
3,084,718 3,701,662 2,957,559 80<br />
1,043,945 1,252,734 1,019,597 81<br />
1,720,966 2,065,159 1,474,772 71<br />
778,435 934,122 885,589 95<br />
6,628,064 7,953,677 6,337,517<br />
85<br />
80
16 ILESA<br />
17 IFAKI<br />
18 IGBOBINI<br />
19 KWARA<br />
20 OWO<br />
21 EDO DELTA<br />
1,555,203<br />
964,470<br />
763,850<br />
465,259<br />
644,020<br />
1,141,188<br />
1,801,590 2,161,908 1,887,715 87<br />
1,315,640 868,322 952,995 110<br />
1,069,394 1,207,376 1,045,205 87<br />
508,445 610,134 731,690 120<br />
699,675 839,611 676,265 81<br />
1,316,073 1,579,288 1,271,929 81<br />
22 OSOGBO<br />
720,768 771,465 925,758 1,061,483 115<br />
23 AYEDUN - - 710,446 652,525 92<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
KADUNA<br />
24 KADUNA<br />
25 OTUKPO<br />
26 IGEDE<br />
27 JOS<br />
28 KANO<br />
29 APA<br />
30 ENONE<br />
6,254,758<br />
1,739,460<br />
1,626,107<br />
904,050<br />
227,014<br />
464,254<br />
452,910<br />
290,199<br />
31 MAKURDI -<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE<br />
32 OF ABUJA<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
CALABAR<br />
33 CALABAR<br />
34 ORON<br />
35 IKONO<br />
36 UYO<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
IKOT EKPENE<br />
37 IKOT EKPENE<br />
PORT<br />
38 HARCOURT<br />
5,703,994<br />
6,251,814<br />
1,622,853<br />
1,524,777<br />
595,035<br />
354,000<br />
4,096,665<br />
1,030,170<br />
6,430,520<br />
7,482,282 8,902,843 8,279,807 93<br />
2,662,320 3,194,784 2,768,108 87<br />
1,234,061 1,520,962 1,532,478 101<br />
1,085,375 1,302,450 1,515,776 116<br />
716,459 859,751 654,229 76<br />
558,680 670,416 831,228 124<br />
472,842 567,410 302,865 53<br />
352,360 422,832 656,285 155<br />
1,216,679 1,460,015 1,135,734 78<br />
8,298,776 9,998,620 9,396,703 94<br />
7,099,786 8,519,743 9,489,597 111<br />
1,964,809 2,357,771 2,420,180 103<br />
1,891,335 2,269,602 2,135,180 94<br />
577,787 693,344 853,007 123<br />
563,300 675,960 869,040 129<br />
4,997,231 5,996,677 6,277,407 105<br />
1,628,365 1,954,038 1,473,693 75<br />
7,591,144 9,109,373 9,357,978 103<br />
86
39 IKOT ABASI<br />
1,092,967<br />
1,004,335 1,205,202 1,105,385 92<br />
40 BORI<br />
445,640 2,095,099 2,514,119 2,803,357 112<br />
41 ESSIEN UDIM 641,000 510,870 613,044 571,610 93<br />
42 MBIASO<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
ENUGU<br />
43 ENUGU<br />
44 ABAKALIKI<br />
45 ONITSHA<br />
46 AGBANI<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
OKIGWE<br />
47 OKIGWE<br />
48 ISUIKWUATO<br />
341,980<br />
9,982,277<br />
2,733,383<br />
1,170,150<br />
1,920,186<br />
1,099,389<br />
6,923,108<br />
1,052,440<br />
451,879<br />
49 NNEOCHI<br />
OKIGWE<br />
499,550<br />
50 NORTH -<br />
TOTAL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF<br />
UMUAHIA<br />
51 UMUAHIA<br />
52 OWERRI<br />
53 ABA<br />
54 NDORO<br />
55 UZUAKOLI<br />
56 ITEM<br />
2,003,869<br />
4,613,298<br />
1,343,334<br />
4,237,800<br />
487,380<br />
970,530<br />
199,685<br />
389,620 467,544 549,525 118<br />
13,219,433 15,863,320.00 15861,548.00 100<br />
2,232,935 2,679,522 4,712,970 176<br />
1,383,351 1,490,053 1,917,287 129<br />
2,439,178 2,927,014 2,812,253 96<br />
1,106,031 1,327,237 984,684 74<br />
7,161,495 8,423,826 10,427,194 124<br />
1,423,240 1,708,104 1,377,208 81<br />
583,188 699,826 373,739 53<br />
841,921 1,010,305 1,375,295 136<br />
316,800 380,160 552,410 145<br />
3,165,149 3,798,395.00 3,678,652.00 97<br />
5,226,393 6,271,672 5,215,785 83<br />
1,642,670 1,852,206 1,707,297 92<br />
5,661,018 6,793,222 5,099,551 75<br />
762,039 914,447 732,780 80<br />
1,151,026 1,381,231 1,073,323 78<br />
205,320 246,384 257,180 104<br />
TOTAL<br />
MTI, UMUAHIA<br />
11,852,027 14,648,466 17,459,162.00 14,085,916.00 81<br />
57 MTI Chaplaincy - - 0 522,280<br />
GRAND TOTAL<br />
90,713,575<br />
109,697,317 131,321,827 122,836,484 94<br />
87
Appendix 5<br />
<strong>METHODIST</strong> <strong>CHURCH</strong> <strong>NIGERIA</strong><br />
2010 PENSIONS AND WIDOWS PAYMENTS<br />
S/N Archdiocese/ Diocese Jan. / Dec. 2010<br />
N<br />
1 Trinity Church Council 180,000<br />
Lagos Archdiocese<br />
2 Lagos 955,512<br />
3 Lagos Mainland 1,265,298<br />
4 Ikorodu 1,631,646<br />
5 Badagry 328,767<br />
6 Lagos West 967,500<br />
7 Lagos Central 75,000<br />
Total 5,223,723<br />
RIYE Archdiocese<br />
8 Egba Yewa 1,267,875<br />
9 Remo 1,025,751<br />
10 Ijebu 895,875<br />
11 Remo Central 496,398<br />
Total 3,685,899<br />
Ibadan Archdiocese<br />
12 Ibadan 1,173,516<br />
13 Ogbomoso 722,250<br />
14 Agodi 1,338,012<br />
15 Elekuro 1,318,770<br />
Total 4,552,548<br />
Ilesa Archdiocese<br />
16 Ilesa 1,542,684<br />
17 Ifaki 3,947,982<br />
18 Igbobini 334,512<br />
19 Kwara 262,512<br />
20 Owo 90,000<br />
21 Edo Delta 0<br />
22 Osogbo 315,000<br />
23 Ayedun 96,261<br />
Total 6,588,951<br />
Kaduna Archdiocese<br />
24 Kaduna 234,000<br />
25 Otukpo 737,622<br />
88
26 Igede 667,512<br />
27 Jos 0<br />
28 Kano 0<br />
29 Apa 745,524<br />
30 Enone 157,500<br />
31 Makurdi 75,000<br />
Total 2,617,158<br />
32 Abuja Archdiocese 247,500<br />
S/N Archdiocese/ Diocese Jan. / Dec. 2010<br />
N<br />
Calabar Archdiocese<br />
33 Calabar 110,250<br />
34 Oron 1,599,657<br />
35 Ikono 406,512<br />
36 Uyo 156,000<br />
Total 2,272,419<br />
Ikot Ekpene Archdiocese<br />
37 Ikot Ekpene 1,859,657<br />
38 Port Harcourt 933,261<br />
39 Ikot Abasi 663,183<br />
40 Bori 337,500<br />
41 Essien Udim 0<br />
42 Mbiaso 39,375<br />
Total 3,832,976<br />
Enugu Archdiocese<br />
43 Enugu 468,000<br />
44 Abakaliki 195,000<br />
45 Onitsha 0<br />
46 Agbani 162,000<br />
Total 825,000<br />
Okigwe Archdiocese<br />
47 Okigwe 1,125,792<br />
48 Isuikwuato 672,246<br />
49 Nneochi 282,024<br />
50 Ihube 0<br />
Total 2,080,062<br />
Umuahia Archdiocese<br />
51 Umuahia 2,334,470<br />
52 Owerri 1,005,000<br />
89
53 Aba 808,524<br />
54 Ndoro 721,512<br />
55 Uzuakoli 1,144,512<br />
56 Item 789,375<br />
Total 6,803,393<br />
57 Youth Work 270,000<br />
58 Episcopal Members 7,565,163<br />
Grand Total 46,744,792<br />
90
Appendix 6<br />
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF CONFERENCE OFFICERS<br />
1. Conference Treasurers<br />
Mr. A. A. Adesanya<br />
08023050480<br />
Mrs. Adetutu O. Osindero<br />
tutbuks@yahoo.com<br />
08023233035,<br />
01-8513627<br />
Mr. Onwuka Orji<br />
rubiesconsult2005@yahoo.co.uk<br />
08033007839, 08094840514<br />
2. Technical Advisers<br />
Engr. Okechukwu Ogala<br />
okeyogala@galconengineering.com<br />
08034120868<br />
Architect I. I. Etteh<br />
eiietteh@yahoo.com<br />
08022900093<br />
Sir Marshal Chima Orji, KJW<br />
shallchi@yahoo.com<br />
08060315973<br />
3. Property Advisers<br />
Sir Adebonojo Badejo, KJW<br />
bonajobadejo@yahoo.com<br />
01-4819893, 01-7740200<br />
Hon (Chief) Dosu Fatokun<br />
oladosu@hyperia.com<br />
01- 4819893, 08033332184<br />
Bro. Deola Olufon<br />
deolaolufon@hotmail.com<br />
08023024911<br />
Arc. Akin Osho<br />
akinfunmbiosho@yahoo.com<br />
08033044607<br />
91<br />
4. Legal Advisers<br />
Hon. Justice Ekerete Akpan Ebienye<br />
ekeresemae@yahoo.com<br />
08033567064, 08057558976<br />
Sir Francis Foluso Aremu<br />
foluaremuco@yahoo.com<br />
08067529696<br />
Bro. Kayode Adeluola<br />
kayodeadeluola@yahoo.com<br />
01-8937650, 080-30725177<br />
5. Medical Adviser<br />
Dr. Funmilayo Fashoro<br />
tfash2000@gmail.com<br />
08023093391<br />
Dr. J. B. Puddicombe<br />
sirdepuddy@yahoo.com<br />
08023008118<br />
6. Strategic Planning Officer<br />
Sir Benjamin B. Oshadiya<br />
08022901213<br />
7. Adviser on Conference Investments<br />
Sir Kehinde Smith, KJW<br />
xmith@aol.com<br />
08024444400<br />
Bro Ladi Smith<br />
ladi.smith@siao-ng.com<br />
08034748092<br />
8. Registered Trustees<br />
His Eminence, Dr. S. Ola. Makinde, GPJ, CON<br />
prelatemakinde@yahoo.com<br />
01-2711998, 08053697000<br />
His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Mbang, CON<br />
08023058801, 08032291037<br />
Most Rev. M. U. Ogo
08037469180<br />
Most Rev. L. Ayo Ladigbolu<br />
apewolad2002@yahoo.com<br />
08034075414<br />
Most Rev. M. K. Stephen<br />
kehindestephen@yahoo.com<br />
08023006885<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. C. Raphael Opoko, TFG<br />
Bishcropoko2010@hotmail.com<br />
socmethodistlagos@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702563, 08053697007<br />
Sir Remi Omotoso<br />
remiomotoso@yahoo.com<br />
01-8151471, 08035251415<br />
Dame Helen Olufolake Adewusi<br />
01-8934026<br />
Evangelist Helen Adoga<br />
07038188352<br />
Sir Sunday U. Akpan<br />
08022906588<br />
Sir Chief Jimmy N. Coker, KJW<br />
jimmynathcoker@yahoo.com<br />
084-788025,<br />
08053697001, 08033395404<br />
Sir Prof. Tunde Adeniran, KJW<br />
stagevictory@yahoo.com<br />
08060856403<br />
Most Rev. Dr. J. Oche Job<br />
josephochejob@yahoo.com<br />
08058452323, 07062123015<br />
Ezinne Felicia Orjison<br />
08058452323, 07062123015<br />
9. Fellowships<br />
Prince Dr. Sam E. Ejiofor<br />
National President, Men’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
ohamadikeigbonine@yahoo.com<br />
08052516661<br />
Mrs. E. A. Makinde<br />
92<br />
National President, Women’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
prelatemakinde@yahoo.com<br />
08037021165<br />
Mr. Chimaobi Reginald Ekemedo<br />
National President Youth’s<br />
Fellowship<br />
cekemedo@yahoo.com<br />
08063828091<br />
10. Wesley University of Science and<br />
Technology<br />
Prof. ‘Tola Badejo<br />
Vice Chancellor<br />
Wesley University Science<br />
Technology, Ondo (WUSTO)<br />
mbadejo@yahoo.com,<br />
wustondo_vc@yahoo.com<br />
08038251321, 08088636900<br />
The Rev. Oluwatosin Godwin Soniran<br />
Chaplain, WUSTO<br />
revsoniran(2008)@yahoo.com<br />
08060685482<br />
11. Bookshop<br />
Sir Ndukwe Ajala<br />
ndy@soulmateltd.com<br />
08023239997<br />
Rev. Iyabo Buko<br />
Executive Director<br />
jotobuko@@yahoo.com<br />
08023040274<br />
12. Tailoring Factory<br />
Sir Gabriel A. Legunsen<br />
Chairman, MCN Tailoring Factory<br />
adelarin@yahoo.co.uk<br />
08023226180, 01-8183152<br />
Very Rev. Samson Okere<br />
Manager<br />
mcntailoring@yahoo.com<br />
01-8792439
13. Coordinators of Fellowships<br />
Very Rev. Engr. (Dr.) D. A. Moradeyo<br />
Conference Men’s Work Coordinator<br />
revmoradeyo@yahoo.com<br />
08055623833<br />
Very Rev. Opeyemi Awe<br />
Conference Youth Work Coordinator<br />
mailyouth@gmail.com<br />
14. Heads of Theological Institutions<br />
Very Rev. S. Olu Owoseni<br />
Sub-Dean, Immanuel College of<br />
Theology<br />
owosenisam@yahoo.com<br />
08033846822, 08088131026<br />
Very Rev. J. O. Adeogun<br />
Rector, Methodist Theological<br />
Institute<br />
Sagamu<br />
adeolajua@yahoo.co.uk<br />
08055847075<br />
Very Rev. S. E. U. Ngwu<br />
Rector, M.T.I. Umuahia<br />
ngwuseu2006@yahoo.com<br />
08066580116<br />
Very Rev. John Ali Shettima Chibok<br />
The Principal<br />
Methodist Theological College,<br />
Zonkwa<br />
veryrevjohnshettima@yahoo.com<br />
Very Rev. Innocent Ekeke<br />
Project Director, Leprosy Centre<br />
01-2711998<br />
15. Conference Headquarters Officials<br />
Rt. Rev. Dr. Sunday N. Onuoha<br />
Connexional Secretary for<br />
Evangelism and Discipleship<br />
evangelizingthegospel@yahoo.com<br />
sundayvisionafrica@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702714, 08053697020<br />
93<br />
Very Rev. Dr. S. Ola. Onadipe<br />
Director of Administration<br />
Adm_methodist.ha@post.com<br />
revsolaonadipe@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702564, 08053698261<br />
Mr O. A. Onaselu<br />
Director of Finance<br />
dofmcn@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702565, 08053697021<br />
Very Rev. Edoka Amuta<br />
Prelate’s Chaplain<br />
revedoka@yahoo.com<br />
08077223910, 08038554529<br />
Very Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde<br />
Deputy Director, Evangelism and<br />
Discipleship<br />
evangelizingthegospel@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702714, 08027656533<br />
Very Rev. Ken Egbochue<br />
Deputy Director, Administration<br />
revken2005@yahoo.com<br />
08028124665, 08053697022<br />
The Rev. Ebenezer A. Oluwatoba<br />
Administrative Officer I<br />
adegboyen@yahoo.com<br />
08053697031, 08034004883<br />
Rev. Ranti Thompson<br />
Administrative Officer II<br />
rantithompson@yahoo.com<br />
08053697038, 08056265979<br />
Very Rev. P.O Olukunga<br />
Education Secretary<br />
mcneducationdepartment@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702713, 08034739941<br />
Very Rev. D. K. Olufemi<br />
Legal Secretary<br />
askthelegalsecretary@yahoo.com<br />
01-4622053, 08053697025
Very Rev. C. M. Eziuku<br />
Estate Officer I<br />
mcchizuky@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702715, 080350348046<br />
The rev. Leonard C. Agiriga<br />
Estate Officer II<br />
revagrig@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702715, 08039353037<br />
The Rev. Busuyi Agunbiade<br />
Protocol Officer<br />
agunbiadebusuyi@yahoo.com<br />
08035477439, 08053697080<br />
The Rev. Taiwo Ogunfile<br />
Head Communication Department<br />
revotg@hotmail.com,<br />
taiwoogunfile@yahoo.com<br />
08035541965, 08053698304<br />
Deaconess Anietie Akpan<br />
Women’s Work Coordinator<br />
anieteakpan@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702566, 08053697034<br />
Deaconess Ibironke Oworu<br />
Health Secretary<br />
ibiyemioworu@yahoo.com<br />
94<br />
01-2702566, 08037228248<br />
The Rev M. I. Iganga<br />
Fund Accountant<br />
michaeliganga@yahoo.com<br />
01-2702565, 08053697028<br />
The Rev. Akin Akinbode<br />
Evangelism Officer<br />
rvakinbode1@yahoo.com<br />
08053697029<br />
Rev. Oladapo Daramola<br />
Media& Public Relation Officer<br />
ddaramola@yahoo.com<br />
08053698286, 08024145369<br />
Mr. Joshua A. Aduroja<br />
Income Monitoring Coordinator<br />
joshuaaduroja@yahoo.com<br />
08023165910, 08053697032<br />
Mr. Oluwaseun Ogedengbe<br />
Insurance/Pension Officer<br />
seunoged@yahoo.com<br />
08023028894, 08053697036
Appendix 7<br />
LIST OF NOMINEES FOR 2011 HONORIFIC AWARDS<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. ELDER OLUDARE AKINTOMIDE - DIOCESE OF BADAGRY<br />
2. BARR. EBENEZER MAUTIN OGABI - DIOCESE OF BADAGRY<br />
3. LATE CHIEF M. O. ONAFOWOKAN (POST-HUMOUS)-DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
4. ELDER OTUNBA AYODELE ELESHO - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
5. PRINCE MICHAEL ADEDEJI ADEWOLE - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
6. LATE MAMA MABEL OYE WILLIAMS (POST-HUMOUS)-DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
7. ENGR. ABIMBOLA SYLVESTER CARZIM- DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
8. BRO. FESTUS OLUMUYIWA COKER - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
9. BRO. HON. DOSU FATOKUN - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
10. BRO. CHARLES A. TORTON - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
11. BRO EMMANUEL AFOLABI AKINTAN - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
12. MR. TIMOTHY ADEREMI OLUKOGA - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
13. SIS. OBAFUNMILAYO OLUWAYEMISI JOHNSON-DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
14. BRIG.-GEN. MOBOLAJI OLUFUNSO JOHNSON RTD.-DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
15. OTUNBA BOLAJI OLUGBENGA ONABADEJO- DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
16. MR. AKINSOLA LAWANSON - DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
17. BRO. JOHN OLUSEGUN AKINDELE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
18. BRO. JOHNSON OMONIYI - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
19. BRO TOKUNBO MACAULAY - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
1. BRO. SAMUEL ADEAGBO AREMU - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
2. BRO. BABATUNE. O. OSINOWO - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
1. SIS. BENAS M. KONIGBAGBE - DIOCESE OF BADAGRY<br />
2. BRO. OLANIYI AWOBONA - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
3. SIS (CHIEF) ABIGAIL OLANIYIBO OREMOSU- DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
4. BRO ADESEMOORE AFOLABI BADEJO - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
5. ENGR. OLADIMEJI OSINOWO - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
6. BRO. KAYODE EPOYUN - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
7. BRO. ABIODUN ABIMBOLA BAIYEWU - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
8. MR. DAVID CLEGG - DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
9. MR. WUSU HODONU OLUYINKA - DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
10. BRO. AREGBESOLA AKINOLA - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
11. BRO AKINSANYA EMMANUEL - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
12. EVANG. INNOCENT ANYAELE OKORIE - DIOCESE OF TOGO<br />
95
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
1. SIS OLUSEYE YETUNDE ADESINA - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
2. MRS. OLUFUNKE OLUYEMISI JAIYEOLA - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
3. JOSHUA OKUNLADE AJALA - DIOCESE OF IKORODU<br />
4. BRO. SAMUEL TOLA AYODELE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
5. SIS COMFORT TAIWO ODUNEWU - DIOCESE OF LAGOS<br />
6. SIS JOSEPHINE IYABOWALE OLOTEWO - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
7. SIS VICTORIA OLUFUNKE OGUNTUASE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS CENTRAL<br />
8. MR. JOSIAH AKINGUNSADE AKINMUSIRE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS MAINLAND<br />
9. SIS ADEGOKE FLORENCE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
10. PROF. GABRIEL OGUNLEYE - DIOCESE OF LAGOS WEST<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF ILESA<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES - DIOCESE<br />
20. ENGR. GABRIEL AYODELE OWOLABI - AYEDUN<br />
21. DR. KAYODE LAWRENCE OBEMBE - AYEDUN<br />
22. ENGR. AYO OJO - AYEDUN<br />
23. BRO. IDAHOSA SOLOMON ERO - EDO-DELTA<br />
24. BRO. NSA OKIN EYO NSA - EDO-DELTA<br />
25. CHIEF ABIGAIL OLUBUMMO OWOEYE - IFAKI<br />
26. BARR. SOLOMON OLANREWAJU DADA - IFAKI<br />
27. PRINCESS CATHERINE OLADUNNI ODU - IGBOBINI<br />
28. MR. FADENI OLADAPO SEIDEMI - IGBOBINI<br />
29. BRO. AKINDELE OLOYEDE JACKSON - IGBOBINI<br />
30. CHIEF MICHAEL ADE OJO - ILESA<br />
31. EZEKIEL OLAYINKA OLATUNJI - ILESA<br />
32. BRO ADEBAYO AYODEJI - ILESA<br />
33. PROF. CLAUDIUS OMOLEYE DARAMOLA - KWARA<br />
34. SURV. AMOS BOSEDE OLAKUNBI OJO - KWARA<br />
35. DR. JACOB SUNDAY OPAKUNLE - OSOGBO<br />
36. CHIEF TIMOTHY AGBOOLA ADEBAYO - OSOGBO<br />
37. CHIEF SAMUEL AYODELE ADETUYI - OWO<br />
38. CHIEF PIUS OLUWOLE AKINYELURE - OWO<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
1. CHIEF ROBERT AKINOLA AROWOYELE - IGBOBINI<br />
2. DR. MICHAEL BABATOPE ADEGBOYE - ILESA<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
1. HON. JULIUS AKINYEDE AWODUMILA - AYEDUN<br />
2. SAMUEL OLAJIDE ANIFOWOSE - AYEDUN<br />
3. SAMUEL OLOWONEBI IJIMAKINWA - EDO-DELTA<br />
4. ENGR. SIMEON UGWALASI OKPARA - EDO-DELTA<br />
5. BRO. RUFUS ALABA ADELUSI - IFAKI<br />
96
6. CHIEF DEBORAH TINUOLA AINA - IFAKI<br />
7. CHIEF MAKINDE THEOPHILUS ADETAYO - IGBOBINI<br />
8. CHIEF ARTHUR AKINLOOSE OWOGBO - IGBOBINI<br />
9. HON. MOSES OLA GBOTOSO - ILESA<br />
10. HON. GABRIEL AJIBADE ASOMUYIDE - ILESA<br />
11. MR. ALLI EMMANUEL ADEKUNLE - KWARA<br />
12. MRS. SARAH MALOMO OJUOKAIYE - KWARA<br />
13. CHIEF OYEWOLE AMOS IDOWU - OSOGBO<br />
14. ENGR. AKINYEMI ISAAC FARINRE - OSOGBO<br />
15. HON. OLA JONES JEJELOLA - OWO<br />
16. CHIEF JOHN OLUSOLA OGUNLEYE - OWO<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
1. BRO. ISREAL ADEBAMIGBE ANIFOWOSE - AYEDUN<br />
2. EBU SUNDAY ONWUBUIFEOHA - EDO-DELTA<br />
3. ARIOMERIBI JOHN OMERU - EDO-DELTA<br />
4. MRS JANET OLUFUNKE AKINBO - IGBOBINI<br />
5. AYADI ELIAS ADELEYE - IGBOBINI<br />
6. JAMES ABIODUN AJELABI - ILESA<br />
7. EVANG.(MRS.) SASEUN ADEBOWALE OLABISI - ILESHA<br />
8. BRO. ALBERT ADEBAYO AWODELE - OSOGBO<br />
9. CHIEF (MRS) RACHAEL OLADOYIN ADUN - OWO<br />
10. ENGR. MATTHEW KARIGIDI - OWO<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF IBADAN<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. CHIEF GABRIEL OLABAMIJI ADEAGBO - AGODI<br />
2. DR. OLUMUYIWA AKINLOLU OKE - AGODI<br />
3. ENGR. DAVID OLADIMEJI ISHOLA - AGODI<br />
4. ENGR. ABIOLA DAVID OLANREWAJU - ELEKURO<br />
5. HON. JUSTICE SAMUEL ADELEKE FALADE(RTD)- ELEKURO<br />
6. BRO. CHRISTOPHER OLADELE BOLADE - OGBOMOSO<br />
7. MOSES ADEYEMI OLANIYAN - OGBOMOSO<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
1. BRO. SAMUEL TAIWO EGBEWUMI - ELEKURO<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
1. CHIEF(MRS) SERIKI MARGARET TOLAPE - AGODI<br />
2. CHIEF RICHARD OLALERE OMOTOSHO - ELEKURO<br />
3. ENGR. OLUSOLA BABATUNDE MORENIKEJI - ELEKURO<br />
4. BRO. EZEKIEL AFOLABI ADEBUKOLA - OGBOMOSO<br />
5. HON.EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AKANBI - OGBOMOSO<br />
97
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
1. MRS. OLAROTIMI OLUFUNMILAYO OLUKEMI - AGODI<br />
2. CHIEF ADEROJU SOLOMON TAIWO - ELEKURO<br />
3. SAMSON ADEWUYI ADEPOJU - ELEKURO<br />
4. BRO. GEORGE ADETUNJI ADISA - OGBOMOSO<br />
5. BRO. SAMUEL OYEBANJI OGUNSOLA - OGBOMOSO<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF UMUAHIA<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
6. ELDER CYRIL NDUBUEZE AZUBUIKE - ABA<br />
7. ELDER CHIEF SUNDAY ONYEMA NMEREOLA - ABA<br />
8. BRO. NWEKE UMEZURIKE - ITEM<br />
9. ELDER ONOH GEORGE EKE ONOH - ITEM<br />
10. ELDER E. A. NKULO - NDORO<br />
11. CHIEF HON. O.A ONYEKWERE - NDORO<br />
12. CHIEF MICAH ONYEBUCHI - UMUAHIA<br />
13. BARRISTER NGOZI EBELE CHIKWENDU - UMUAHIA<br />
14. CHIEF(HON) ABEL CHIKWENDU OKOROAFOR - UMUAHIA<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
1. ELDER FRIDAY NKEMKA EHILEGBU - NDORO<br />
2. VERY REV. JOHNSON OGBONNAYA IRONKWE OKOCHA-UMUAHIA<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
3. ELDER CHARLES OGBONNAYA OGBUAGU - ABA<br />
4. UDEALA JOSEPH NWANKWO JAMES - ITEM<br />
5. ELDER IGWE EMMANUEL AGBAEZE - ITEM<br />
6. ELDER SYLVANUS MADU - NDORO<br />
7. ELDER JOSHUA KAMEN NGADI - NDORO<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
8. EVANG. MICHAEL NJOKU - ABA<br />
9. HRH JERRY AKPALA IGWE - ITEM<br />
10. SIS UGO EKE - ITEM<br />
11. SIS UGO EKE - ITEM<br />
12. CHIEF NATHANIEL OGBONNA OKORO - NDORO<br />
13. CHIEF OSUAGWU CHRISTIAN UGWUNNABUNWA- UMUAHIA<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF ABUJA<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. AMBASSADOR ADEREMI OLAGOKE ESAN - ABUJA<br />
2. BRO. CHIGOZIEM BOB OGUBUIKEH - ABUJA<br />
3. CHIEF OLASUNKANMI J.SHOBOWALE - ABUJA<br />
4. ARC. CHINEDUM. E EKEH CHINEDUM. E EKEH - ABUJA<br />
98
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
5. BARR. ETEFIA SAMMY UDO - ABUJA<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
6. MARTHA OKON EFFIOK - ABUJA<br />
7. BABALOLA S. BABATUNDE - ABUJA<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
8. CHIEF OLAIYA TITUS ADEREMI - ABUJA<br />
9. Mr. Ejikemeuwa Matthew Onuegbu - Abuja<br />
10. DAVID OCHOLA - ABUJA<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF OKIGWE<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. EMMANUEL ONYEBUCHI JONAH NKEM - ISUIKWATO<br />
2. MRS. CHRISTIANA ISIAKU RUFUS OBI - ISUIKWATO<br />
3. MRS. GLADYS IKE - NNEOCHI<br />
4. ELDER ABEL NWACHUKWU IROESOGBUSI - OKIGWE<br />
5. ELDER IHEANYICHUKWU P. OKEUGIRI - OKIGWE<br />
6. MR. IKE ONYECHERE - IHUBE<br />
7. MR. MONDAY UZODINMA UDEOGU - IHUBE<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
8. MR. AMANDU NDIFEKWEN CHIGBO - ISUIKWATO<br />
9. ELDER DR. CHIEF ABEL NWANKWO OOW JP - OKIGWE<br />
10. EZINNE REGINNA NNOROM - OKIGWE<br />
11. CHIEF ANUSIONWU OKORO - IHUBE<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
12. MR. MBA HUMPHREY JEREMIAH - ISUIKWATO<br />
13. MR CHIGBU IKWULAGU - ISUIKWATO<br />
14. ARC. SUNDAY NWOSU OKORO - NNEOCHI<br />
15. ELDER CHUKWUNENYE NDUKWE - NNEOCHI<br />
16. ELDER ERIC UKAGHA EKEBUISI - OKIGWE<br />
17. LATE EVANG. BENJAMIN M. AZUBUIKE (POST-HUMOUS)-OKIGWE<br />
18. HON. IROHAM ONYEAKAGBUSI AKABUEZE - OKIGWE<br />
19. HRH EZE JOSEPH OKAFOR OKORIE - IHUBE<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
20. STEVE OBINECHE OMEOGA - ISUIKWATO<br />
21. MR. ONYEBUCHI UKAGHA - ISUIKWATO<br />
22. ELDER CHUKWU DIKE NWANKWO - NNEOCHI<br />
23. HRH EZE EMMANUEL CHUKWUNYERE OHIA - NNEOCHI<br />
24. HRH ELDER EZE IHEUKWUMERE N.MADU - OKIGWE<br />
25. ELDER ALEXANDER OBISIKE ABIA - IHUBE<br />
26. BRO. GODSON CHUKWUNONYEREM OHANEZIM- IHUBE<br />
99
ARCHDIOCESE OF ENUGU<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. DR. ONYEBUCHI AZUBUIKE ANARIO - ABAKALIKI<br />
2. OKECHUKWU STANLEY UGBA - ABAKALIKI<br />
3. HRH ABEL OGBONAYA NWOBODO - AGBANI<br />
4. BARR. DAVID OGBODO - AGBANI<br />
5. AMAGU DAVID NGENE - ENUGU<br />
6. BRO. JAMES O. UCHE - ONITSHA<br />
7. BRO. MURPHY MADUBUIKE - ONITSHA<br />
8. CHUKWU EMMANUEL ODIONYENAKA - ONITSHA<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
9. ENYI JOHNSON ITUMA - ABAKALIKI<br />
10. BRO. OSMOND NWEKE IGWE - ABAKALIKI<br />
11. CHIEF DENNIS OBIAKOR ANYA - ENUGU<br />
12. CHIEF KENNETH NNAMANI OKENWA - ENUGU/KANO<br />
13. DENNIS IHEANYICHUKWU UGWA - ENUGU<br />
14. ELDER SHEDRACK EBERE SUNDAY EDEH - ONITSHA<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
15. EZE ABEL OGBUZURU - ABAKALIKI<br />
16. EZINNE ODEH GRACE NWAKAEGO - ABAKALIKI<br />
17. MRS UCHENNA NEBIEN UJAH - AGBANI<br />
18. HON. MICHAEL NWATU OKO - AGBANI<br />
19. EZINNE PATIENCE NGENE - ENUGU<br />
20. EGBULIWE NZEDIEGWU - ENUGU<br />
21. MR. OBASIKWE NGOZI UBA - ONITSHA<br />
TRINITY COUNCIL<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY<br />
1. MAJOR ABAYOMI WILLIAMS (RTD) - TINUBU<br />
2. PROF. ABA OMOTUNDE SAGOE - TINUBU<br />
3. ENGR. SAMUEL BABASHOLA FRAZER - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
4. JOSEPH ABIODUN OTOKI - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY<br />
5. ADESEGUN OLUMUYIWA AJANAKU - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY<br />
6. BRO. PETER AKINBOLA OSUNBUNMI - TINUBU<br />
100
7. OYENOLA FOLAGBADE MATTHEW - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
8. MR. MARAIYESA JACOB OLADLE - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY<br />
9. MRS.OLUTOYE OLUWAKEMI ESTHER NIKE - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
10. OTUEKONG BASSEY TOM UDOH - TRINITY<br />
COUNCIL<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF CALABAR<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
1. ELDER ALDERTON EWA EWA - CALABAR<br />
2. PROF. EDET OKON NKPOSONG - CALABAR<br />
3. BRO. EFFAH PHILLIP AKPAN – - IKONO<br />
4. MR. EDEM J. ATTAI - IKONO<br />
5. ELDER(MRS) CHRISTIANA O NWUP - IKONO<br />
6. MRS. GRACE AWANA - ORON<br />
7. DR. EDET JONAH ATTIH ORON<br />
8. CHIEF OKON EDET ESSANG ORON<br />
9. OBONG ENOCH ENO UDOFIA - UYO<br />
10. ELDER A. OLOWOKERE ANWANA UYO<br />
11. ELDER EDEM EKPENYONG UDOH UYO<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
12. ELDER OKON BENSON SHOWELL - ORON<br />
13. ELDER NANA TOMMY ETUK - UYO<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
14. MRS. BISI OLUFEMI UYA - CALABAR<br />
15. CHIEF KAISI ODOKWO - CALABAR<br />
16. ELDER(MRS.) GRACE N. OKONNA - IKONO<br />
17. ELDER OKON UDOFIA - IKONO<br />
18. ELDER E. OLU ONONOKPO - ORON<br />
19. ELDER GEORGE TOM AKPAN - UYO<br />
20. ELDER ENGR. BASSEY UDOFIA ITON - UYO<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
21. MRS. ARIT SUNDAY UDO - CALABAR<br />
22. ELDER NNANA ISAIAH - CALABAR<br />
23. OBONG JOSHUA U AKANG - IKONO<br />
24. ELDER MONDAY A. UKPONG - IKONO<br />
25. ELDER(MRS) ALICE OKON ANTEH - ORON<br />
26. ELDER(MRS) ARIT E INYANG - ORON<br />
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27. DIST. ELDER JOSEPH JOB UDOMBAT - UYO<br />
28. ELDER ETEKAMBA U. UMOREN - UYO<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF IKOT EKPENE<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. ELDER MANILA KOKI - BORI<br />
2. ELDER CHIEF ABEL TORUE ABALUBU - BORI<br />
3. HRH MENE CHARLES BANABIP SAMSON WIKINA-EMA- BORI<br />
4. ELDER UDO AKA EKANEM - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
5. ELDER(ENGR.) JOSEPH UDOM AKPABIO - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
6. ELDER UDO KIERAN AKPAN - IKOT ABASI<br />
7. ELDER(DR) INI HANSON AKPABIO - IKOT ABASI<br />
8. MR. DAVID EKANEM ESSIEN - IKOT EKPENE<br />
9. SIR NDARAKE E. EKANEM - IKOT EKPENE<br />
10. ENGR. OKURE S. OKURE - IKOT EKPENE<br />
11. ELDER FRANCIS BEN UMOEKA - MBIASO<br />
12. BARR.FRIDAY ESSIET EKPETY - MBIASO<br />
13. CHIEF JOHN O. AIKU - PORT-<br />
HARCOURT<br />
14. ELDER (DR.) UZOUKWU NELSON UWAGA - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
15. ELDER BANDELE TOLULOPE WICKLIFFE - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
16. ELDER ISAAC IKECHUKWU UNAKWE - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
17. ELDER PRECIOUS KPOOBARI EREBA - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
18. HON. GODWIN BAATEE BAZARI - BORI<br />
19. ELDER CHIEF ROBINSON NDONAKE NKWAGHA - BORI<br />
20. ELDER(ENGR.) SUNDAY UDO AKPAN - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
21. ELDER SUNDAAY AKPAN UMOREN - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
22. ELDER(MRS.) EDITH ENO ETTETE - IKOT ABASI<br />
23. ELDER SUNDAY JONATHAN UKONSEK - IKOT ABASI<br />
24. DR. IFIOK EMMANUEL EKAEBE - IKOT EKPENE<br />
25. ELDER MICHAEL EKPENYONG ODONG - MBIASO<br />
26. MRS. ASIMMA EFFIONG UDOH - MBIASO<br />
27. BRO. DUMBOR EREBA - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
28. ELDER CHUKWUMA OKORONKWO OKEREKE - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
102
29. ELDER MRS EDNA OKPO - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
30. ELDER(HON) SUYIEKEKERE INOKON - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
31. MRS. ABIGAIL GEORGE BROWN - ESSIEM UDIM<br />
32. ELDER MARCUS EDWIN ENENE - IKOT ABASI<br />
33. DOMINIC UDO - IKOT EKPENE<br />
34. ELIJAH AKPAN ESSIEN - IKOT EKPENE<br />
35. MR. EFFIONG PHILLIP UDOUSORO - IKOT EKPENE<br />
36. ELDER DR. VICTOR OKON EBONG - IKOT EKPENE<br />
37. DR. EMMANUEL J. AKPAN - IKOT EKPENE<br />
38. CHIEF UDIONG AKPAN UMOREN - MBIASO<br />
39. ENGR. CHARLES AKPAN USUA - MBIASO<br />
40. ELDER BASSEY OKON ESUA - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
41. ELDER (DR.) SUNDAY OGECHUKWU DIKE - PORT<br />
HARCOURT<br />
ARCHDIOCESE OF KADUNA<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. BRO. OGBOLE ISEGBE - IGEDE<br />
2. MR. JOHN OGWUCHE - KADUNA<br />
3. ENGR. EBENEZER ADEBAYO SOETAN - KADUNA<br />
4. PROF. FRANK CHARLES CAREW - KANO<br />
5. BARR. (MRS) MARY ABOUNU - MAKURDI<br />
6. HON. JOHN NGBEDE - MAKURDI<br />
7. BRO. STEPHEN A. ECHE - OTUKPO<br />
8. MRS EIMONYE ROSEMARY ORI - OTUKPO<br />
9. MR. ELIJAH EKA UNEGBE - OTUKPO<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
10. CHIMEZIE CHUKWU IJIOMA - KANO<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
11. MR. MICHAEL ABIODUN OLANREWAJU - KADUNA<br />
12. DR. OLATUNDE FEMI-OJO - KANO<br />
13. ELDER ELISHA ONYENEKEYA UCHEIBE - KANO<br />
14. MR. CLETUS SULLEMAN OKO - OTURKPO<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
15. MRS JULIANAH EKENMA IKEANYI - KANO<br />
16. MRS. OLUREMI NKEIRU BOSAH - KANO<br />
103
ARCHDIOCESE OF RIYE<br />
KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)<br />
NAMES DIOCESE<br />
1. BRO. OLANIYI ADEJUMO OLATIDOYE - EGBAYEWA<br />
2. BRO SUNDAY BAYEWU OLADIPO - EGBAYEWA<br />
3. HON. JUSTICE OLUKAYODE SOMOLU - EGBA-YEWA<br />
4. CHIEF MRS. TITI AJANAKU - EGBA-YEWA<br />
5. CHIEF SAMUEL OLUGBEMI OGUNGBE - IJEBU<br />
6. PRINCE (DR.) SAYO SOYEWO - IJEBU<br />
7. OLORI ADEFOLARANMI OLUDAYO ADESANYA - REMO<br />
8. DR. TUMINU ADEGBOLA FAKOYA - REMO<br />
9. KEITH PHILLIPS (REMO) - MCB CONFERENCE U.K<br />
10. BRO. MICHAEL OLUSEGUN SONAYA - REMO<br />
11. OBA MICHAEL ADENIYI SONARIWO<br />
(AKARIGBO OF REMOLAND) - REMO<br />
12. HON BABTUNDE OLAJUBU RUNSEWE - REMO CENTRAL<br />
13. PRINCE RICHARD ADEYEMI SHITU - REMO CENTRAL<br />
14. BRO. MACAULAY ADEBISI LEGUSEN - REMO CENTRAL<br />
15. BRO. CLAUDIUS OLAKUNLE BALL - LAGOS<br />
KNIGHT OF CHARLES WESLEY (KCW)<br />
16. BRO. SESAN OLABIRAN - REMO<br />
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (OOW)<br />
17. SIS BYKOTA EBUN JOHNSON - EGBAYEWA<br />
18. CHIEF ALBERT DUROJAIYE ASIPA - EGBAYEWA<br />
19. DR. TAIWO EDUN - IJEBU<br />
20. CHIEF ABAYOMI AWODIPE - REMO<br />
21. PRINCE JOSEPH OLUSEGUN SODIYA - REMO<br />
22. PRINCESS GRACE BISIOLA OLUWOLE - REMO CENTRAL<br />
23. BRO. EMMANUEL ADEOYE SOBANDE - REMO CENTRAL<br />
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF WESLEY (MOW)<br />
24. CHIEF OLUSOJI JOHN IDOWU - EGBAYEWA<br />
25. BRO SUNDAY DAVID KOJEKU - EGBAYEWA<br />
26. CHIEF (MRS) PATIENCE OLUWAGBEMINIYI OLIWO, JP- REMO<br />
27. SIS. WINIFRED AMIKE OKELANA - REMO<br />
28. GRACE OLATUNDE GISANRIN ADEBAYO - REMO CENTRAL<br />
29. BRO. AMOS OYEDOKUN (SEXTON) - REMO CENTRAL<br />
30. BRO. FELIX ADEMOLU ASHAYE - REMO CENTRAL<br />
104