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Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, has urged graduating students of the Methodist Theological Institute (MTI), Sagamu, Ogun State, to be agents of change to unite the church and bring sanity to the society that is in a very critical state.
He also inaugurated the institute’s rector’s lodge, three blocks of classrooms, an electricity transformer, and a solar light/inverter for the administrative block and refectory.
Speaking at the institute’s 2024 graduation, the head of the Methodist Church Nigeria, said the graduates have received the required training that would make them good ambassadors of Christianity and the church in society.
He added that the church institutions were doing their best to help train and equip student ministers to become effective in the 21st Century and to bring souls into God’s kingdom.
“As graduating students, let us arise and build. Our 2024 church theme describes how God led the people of Israel in the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, the capital city of the nation. As one of you, I find relevance in scripture, where Nehemiah who served a king as a cupbearer wanted his country, Israel, to reclaim her lost glories.
“Our theme informs us that we have roles to play in the local church where we are called to serve and the global community. Our roles include, but are not limited to, how we take on newer ways of building God’s church. As graduate students, you have been assured by God that, provided we would arise and build, God would prosper us. In our situation, to arise means having faith to believe in possibilities, and building implies taking steps to give action to our faith in Jesus Christ. This implies that, in 2024 and beyond, our new ministers must not relent in rebuilding all our broken walls,” he said.
He commended the rector and management for their creative way of meeting the needs of the institute and prayed that God would continue to be with them for their efforts in building the Church’s theological learning in the western region.
In his convocation lecture with the theme, “Step into the ministry, ready for kingdom business”, Bishop, Dr. Sunday Onuoha, identified some steps which include, total focus on God alone, giving all for the growth and development of the ministry, being willing to serve others, not after fame, not wanting to be like others, willing to grow spiritually, willingness to make their family God’s family, willingness to display Christian character and aware of all that is vanity.
The institute graduated the following categories of students; Certificate in Church Ministry, one; Diploma in Theology, one; undergraduate, 12; postgraduates/masters,20; totalling 34 graduating students.
In his remarks, the Rector of the institute, Very Rev. Dr. Raphael Idialu, commended the Prelate for his unflinching and steadfast support of the institute.
He lauded the Church management for their incredible support, advice, and timely encouragement throughout the academic session.
