The Publishing Department Director in collaboration with the affiliated Unions and Conferences of the West-Central Africa Division organized a congress in Nigeria at Babcock University, in Ogun State. This meeting that took place from July 17th to 28th, 2016 gathered at least 700 participants.
From the 17th to the 28th of July 2016, Pastor Abraham D. OBAYA, Director of the Publishing Mimistries Department of the Division held a meeting in Babcock University where many people gathered for training, improvement and nurturing. In fact, during the above mentioned period, three different events took place within the University. The first one dealt with the issue of Writers and Editors Council, from July 17-20, 2016; the second one, from the 21-25, concerned the Literature Evangelists' Congress and the last one, but not the least, focused on Publishing Academy from the 26th-28th. Participated in these councils, lecturers from various institutions of the Division, pastors, professionals and laity.
According to Pastor Obaya the main organizer, the first of the three publishing meetings was scheduled to ‘’discover and develop writers, authors and editors that will contribute their skills in writing books and articles for church publication, especially nurturing, subscription, and educational literature.’’ This event brought together people from all West-Central Africa Division who came to learn, discuss, and exchange their ideas in order to improve their skills to nurture the church and develop it preparing members for Christ. To succeed in their training, participants organized themselves with one objective: ‘’to keep the group together to fulfill the goals for which the meetings were organized’’. During the meeting, the following subthemes were discussed:
Develop and motivate indigenous writers and editors
Create a network of writers, authors, and editors
Scratch where it hurt
Propagate the gospel through the printed page…
The guest speakers were Pastors Wilmar Hirle and Stephen Apola, the General Conference Associate Publishing Ministries Directors, Dr. Benjamin Baker, Managing Editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, Dr. Tayo Ademola, Babcock University VC, Dr. Samuel Okere, and many others. Participated also, Pastor Gulliermo E.Biaggi and Elder Almir Marroni respectively, General Conference Vice President and Publishing Ministries Director.
The second meeting was the Literature Evangelist Congress. The participants were Literature Evangelists, Administrators from all Unions and Conferences in WAD, Publishing Ministries Directors and Pastors, and Publishing House Leaders as well. The objective of this Congress was to revive, encourage and support the LEs in their various fields of labor. To this, Pastor Gulliermo Biaggi charged them during the Sabbath message on three main points: (i). LEs are to fix their eyes on Christ. (ii). LEs are to be bold and courageous. (iii). They are to remain in Christ. Many people were honored during this meeting due to their efforts made for a work well done. Elder Almir Marroni in his commitment message urged the Literature Evangelists to ‘’keep knocking and serving God”. To bring this segment to an end, Elder Biaggi said the closing prayer.
On the issue of the Publishing Academy held from the 26th _ 28th of July 2016, one could also notice the same enthusiasm among the participants like the two previous Councils. The exercise was meant to develop and equip the current and future Publishing Leaders. It was also the first time that all PMDs at Unions and Conferences level were brought together for such a meeting.
The guests speakers on this subject were Elder G. Biaggi, Pastor A. Marroni, and Pastor A. Obaya.
As objective, this meeting is to “engage Publishing Ministries Directors in a course of study that lead to developing Professional PMDs. At the end of four years course, those who complete will be certified as trained and career Publishing Ministries Directors”, said Pastor Abraham Obaya. The leaders of these Ministries must dedicate themselves fully to their respective calling and make of it a career as the course requires.
For the success of the whole program, the organizers could only say, to God be the glory and more so, those who contributed to the success of the event were highly appreciated as well.
Pastor Obaya / Nestor BOLLET