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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Christian Centre for Mission, Family and Leadership Development (CEMFLED), has announced plans to take evangelism to Sahel region embodying Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Sudan, Chad and Eritrea.
CEMFLED Executive Director, Pastor Isaac Komolafe stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, at a conference entitled: ‘Bridging the Gap: Mission Agencies and Churches Collaboration.’
Komolafe projected that the Centre would raise at least 1 million disciples for Jesus Christ in the next 10 years, which is in line with the role played by the disciple, Andrew.
He said: “Act 1: 6 says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses all over the world. He did not limit it to a particular region.
“And that is why we are looking at the Sahel region which is a region where the poorest of the poor are there. When you talk about crisis you talk about Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad and northern part of Nigeria.
“We have seen that the only answer to the problem in those areas is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel that can change the hearts of men and that can bring transformation to the people.
“The government efforts have failed. But the gospel never fails. That is why we believe that the gospel is the answer of our problems.
“There is what we call a million Andrew. If you read the story of Andrew that brought Peter to Christ. So, we are looking for a million disciples in each of this nation that will bring their own brothers and sisters.
“When that happens, you will know that the whole nation has heard the gospel and they will be transformed. And we are looking at it within the next 10 years. A million Andrew in 10 years in each of this nation.
“Nigeria is part of the Sahel, that is if you look at the northern states. So, it is not about churches. If churches is the answer, the corruption we have in our nation we will not be having it.
“You know that on every street, you have one church or the other. But we are talking about discipleship. When discipleship is making somebody to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and practice it.
“So, when we have those believers that are disciples to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ that is the ultimate thing and it will make a whole lot of different.
“We have it in Nigeria. Many people will begin to follow it. The churches and the mission agencies need to collaborate to bring the gospel to the Sahel region which include the northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal Mauritania, Sudan, Chad and Eritrea so on. These are places that the gospel is so small.”
In his presentation entitled: ‘Identifying Resources, their Sources and How to Effectively Mobilise them for Effective Outcome,’ Dr Otive Igbuzor, said church leaders must live by example, focus on quality and sufficiently use the media.
Igbuzor added that “The first thing to know is that when God gives a vision, He makes provision. When God calls, He equips. So, it may seem difficult, but if God has called you for that purpose He will equip you.
“He will protect you. And He will make resources available for you to achieve the aim. Today, the focus of the programme is bridging the gap for churches and mission agencies.
“For churches, the mandate is dual; to minister to the spiritual needs and the physical needs of the people, just like the mission of Jesus Christ, as espouse in the Bible.
“For the mission, it is to satisfy the great commission. Every Christian is commanded to go into the world and preach the gospel in Mathew 28. So, it may seem difficult to the ordinary eye for those who are called but God will make provision.”
Also, Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, Rev Sabonyaro Adams, said insecurity would not hinder the evangelism of Jesus Christ.
Adams, who is also the Treasurer of CAN in Abuja, said: “I think this is a wake up call. The issue of mission and evangelism of the church. It is not about building cathedral and other luxury things but it is about reaching out to the people.
“So, I think for too long we have left our core mandate and we are pursuing none essentials. The essential thing is capturing people for the Lord.
“But the church today has deviated from the our core mandate, and I think meeting is convened at the right time.
“Insecurity cannot hinder the gospel. We have it in history that the blood of the martyr is the seed of the church. So, whenever the church is persecuted it thrives. It makes us solid.
“Jesus Christ was accused, He was prosecuted. We as followers we have to be prepared whenever prosecution comes.
“We are not of the world so we cannot expect the world accept us very easily. There is insecurity, but in spite of insecurity, the gospel will continue to be preached. God is not a human.
“He will find a way to settle the problem. We need more of this conference in the sense that our leaders need to be redirected.”
