NIGREIAN CHUCH REORGANISED TO FLY: Leaders and Laity counselled to unite. Story by Prof. Dayo Alao
The North Western Nigeria Union Mission has been reorganized into Western Nigerian Union Conference. The reorganisation that was witnessed by church leaders around the world and enthusiastic members including the General Conference Vice President, Pastor/Dr. Benjamin Schoun, the General Conference Associate Treasurer, Elder George Egwuakhe, the WAD President, Pastor/Dr. Gilbert Wari and the WAD Executive Secretary, Pastor/Dr. Onaolapo Ajibade during the inaugural constituency session of the Union at Akure, Ondo State capital.
In his admonition to the leadership of the new union conference, Pastor Schoun said the reorganisation is not a way of creating jobs for qualified workers, but a conviction to make the church what Jesus Christ expects the end time church to be.
According to the vice president of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, the church is not just a building used for public Christian worship or a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines, but the church should be a place for the oppressed to gain freedom, the hopeless to restore hope, and a place for transformation of lives, and character formation.
He appealed to church officers to be one in their aspirations and desires in their evangelistic plans and in presenting the church in good image, while soliciting the support of church members in stewardship and other developmental programmes of the church.
The newly elected President of the Union Conference, Pastor/Dr. Oyeleke Alabi Owolabi said at the beginning of the administration in 2010, the Lord gave the leadership of the church the vision of setting a five point agenda for measuring the level of performance. The five-point agenda are:
Revival and reformation of every member and clergy through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that will lead to primitive Godliness.
To enhance the effectiveness of the ministry through intentional and effective collaboration between the clergy and the laity.
To build a systematic and purposeful evangelistic programme through intentional small group model that will result in doubling, tripling and quadrupling our membership by the year 2015.
To encourage our members in faithful stewardship lifestyle that will lead to self-support status by the year 2013.
To have enough resources that will lead to territorial restructuring.
The President said “With every sense of humility, fulfillment and gratitude, I am happy to announce to you that God has achieved everything in the 5-point agenda and many more within the last three years”.
He said the union has been able to achieve the followings:
1. It has successfully inaugurated 12 conferences and two administrative units. This has not only reduced the area coverage but has also encouraged more effective evangelism at the grassroots.
2. It has inauguration of Lay pastors institute to make the ministry all inclusive. (The institute has completed three out of the four scheduled semesters). This we hope will enhance the collaboration of the clergy and the laity for the effectiveness of the ministry.
3. The progress made so far in evangelism outreach can be traced to the boost given to the small group model as of today, every field, district, local church understand that the small group is the best method for now.
4. The administration has experienced unprecedented financial breakthrough through intensive promotion and faithfulness of members. Statistics shows that self-support has increased from 165.30% in the year 2010 to 207.5% in the year 2013, liquidity increased from 58.36% to 114.63%, working capital from 71.49% to 290.20% while within the same period the wage factor increased from N47, 000.00 to N80, 000.00.
5. The above mentioned achievements can be easily traced to the zeal with which the church leaders and members embraced the 777 prayer, daily bible reading and other spiritual programs.
He observed that the constituency meeting in Akure is for an epoch making inauguration of the WESTERN NIGERIA UNION CONFERENCE adding that by December 11th – 14th, God willing the Northern Nigeria Union Conference will be inaugurated at Jengre, Plateau State.
The President observed that “the success so far is based on the unprecedented collaboration with my counterpart in the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference, Pastor Bassey Udoh. This experience has given me hop that the creation of the Northern Nigeria Union Conference will further strengthen the unity of the church in Nigeria”.
In appreciation, Pastor Owolabi recognized and expressed gratitude for the tremendous support the administration has enjoyed from the General Conference Administration, Division leadership, fellow officers Pastor (Dr.) Ernest Okei Okonkwo, the executive secretary and Elder Marcus Muse Dangana, the treasurer, union Directors, and office workers for their indefatigable support in the course of their duties.
He also commended the effort of the field generals that are made up of the conference presidents, their fellow officers, directors and workers for the uncompromising dedication and priceless support for God’s work in their various fields.
Pastor Owolabi who observed that a tree does not make a forest said there is little or nothing the clergy can do without the support of the laity hence he expressed the administration’s gratitude to the Adventist Men’s Organization (AMO), the Women’s Ministries (AWM) and the Youth Ministries (AYM) for constituting a band of tireless vanguard in proclaiming the everlasting Gospel.
The newly nominated officers and director of the Union Conference are:
ADMINISTRATION
President - Oyeleke Alabi Owolabi;
Secretary - Ezekiel Adeleye
Treasurer - Amos O. Ibhiedu.
DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTORS
1. Children’s Ministries - Chinwenmeri Ikechi (Mrs.)
2. Youth and Chaplaincy - Olufemi S. Alofe
3. Women’s Ministries (AWM - Victoria Omodan (Mrs.)
(a) Associates - Joyce Ogunsanmi (Mrs.)
(b) - Rose Ijeh (Mrs.)
4. Adventist Men’s Organization - Moses Dosu-Idowu
(a) Associates - F. I. Olusi
(b) - Anthony Egbulefu
5. Education - Yemisi Aina (Mrs.)
(a) Associates - Josephine Yemisi Oke (mrs.)
(b) - Yemisi Idiodi (Mrs.)
6. Health Ministries - John Sotunsa
(a) Associates - Akin Obisanya
(b) - Kennedy Omonudhowho
7. Stewardship and Trust Services - Abraham Aremu
(a) Associates - Kayode Ojo
-Reuben Onwubiko
8. Strategic Planning -Sheyi Wright
9. Public Affairs & Religious Liberty -Paul Ananaba
10. Adventist Relations, Sabbath School &
Personal Ministries/Evangelism - I brahim D. Maviah
(a) Associates (Media) - Roland Nwosu
(b) (Internet) - Fikayo Aremu
11. Communication - Kunle Falade
12. Family Life & Ministerial Associate - Okei E. Okonkwo
13. Publishing Ministries - Adewale D. Alabi
Executive Committee (31)
3 Western Nigeria Union Officers
11 Field Presidents
5 Lay persons
1 Hospital Administrator
2 Secondary School Principals
1 Babcock University Administrator
5 Union Departmental Directors
1 School of Nursing Administrator
2 Pastors