BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
One of the fastest growing Pentecostal Churches in Cross River State, “City of Evidence Ministry International ” has ended a 2-day workers’ conference tagged “Making Yourself Relevant” for its workers and ministers as a way of building their spiritual, discipleship life and church growth
The event which took place inside the church auditorium had seasoned ministers and servants of God presenting papers on Church growth and discipleship in the church.
In his paper entitled “How Can we work together ” Elder Kanu Ubio, traced the origin of the worshippers of the true God from nations in Asia, Europe and Africa “.
He said “those Christians then recognised their primary obligation to love the true God, with all their heart, soul and mind. They understood that it was God’s will for them to be “united in the same mind and in the line of thought” as evident in tthe Bible in 1Cor. 1:10,Matt:22:37,Acts10:1:35″.
Ubio called on Christians to always pursue peace with everyone by ensuring that our conduct is in harmony with the Bible. Making reference to the Apostle Paul who wrote to Christians, “put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct” and put on the new personality, which conforms to your course of conduct and on the new personality” according Ephesian 4:22-32″.
As Christians, he said, “disagreement will always arise but the ability to attend swiftly and fairly to them makes us Christians, referencing Act 6:1-6 and Act 15:1-29”.
He further explained that disagreement did not lead to division or unyielding doctrinal disunity in the 1st century Christian congregation because of the unifying factors, love for God, faith in Jesus Christ, self sacrificing, love for one another, acceptance of the guideline of the Holy Spirit and common understanding of Bible teachings and a readiness to change one’s conduct/attitude”.
These qualities were powerful enough to keep the early congregation together and at peace, he noted.
Ubio went on to state “for Christians to work together, “firstly, we must have a common understanding that we were all created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27”
According to him, “we can only work together by ‘spiritual rebirth, forgiveness, acceptance of one another, loving and concern, good virtues, doing good, allowing peace to reign among other things.”
He queried “if the Godhead could be so united to achieve goals, why are we finding it difficult to be united or to work together as a team? Togetherness and team work are hallmark of humility “.
He enumerated specific reasons why we must work together as “it is a command from God, we are not self-sufficent, we need to co-exist, we need to grow as a church and because it brings success and victory “.
Working together as a body of Christ, “attracts God’s blessings, presence of God dwells where there is no rancour and acrimony, it gives strength and courage as well as brings unity”.
Ubio, said “there is power working together but if people work together against God’s will, it will not stand “.
Also in her paper, “How to be a good follower and a vision supporter, Deaconess (Mrs) Patience Aggrey, referenced 2Kings 1:-end, described a follower as ‘a person who believes a particular cause, faith or specific person “.
She said a good follower, must among others “be able to think for his/herself, stand up for his leader, defend his leader as well as follows the opinion and teaching of his leader”.
Benefits accurable for a good follower includes, “it helps you to form a relationship with your leader, helps you to serve your leader and helps you to learn important skills”.
Mrs. Aggrey noted that “Elisha believed in the vision of Elijah and followed it to the end. He never got distracted, even when the other sons of the Prophet tried to discourage him as recorded in “2 Kings verse 5”
Therefore, there is a link between the vision of Jesus Christ with the vision of the General Overseer Evangelist Bam Uket which “is to build the church. He keeps saying one day, the church City of Evidence Ministry will grow up to be one of the biggest church in town “.
She advised against been “a good follower, but who cannot be a vision supporter. You must be a good follower before you can be a good leader “.
Earlier, the General Overseer of City of Evidence Ministry International, Evang. (Amb.) Dr. Bam Uket in his opening remarks on the conference theme “Making Yourself Relevant ” while declaring the first ever two -day City of Evidence Ministry International Workers Refreshment Conference open admonished participants that the conference is a refreshers conference geared towards church growth.
He took time to elucidate on the aims of the conference which centres on “Making Yourself Relevant” for church growth”.
Evang. Bam, told the participants that as workers and ministers in the vineyard of God, its imperative for us to position ourselves to be relevant as vessels in the house of God always ready for the Master’s use adding that “all hands must be on deck dedicatedly towards church growth”.
He encouraged participants to make use of the conference to equipped themselves with the necessary spiritual gifts and skills needed to be relevant for church growth.
According Evang Bam, “the tasks ahead of us are enormous, but however charged them not to relent in their service to God that with God by our side victory is assured.
He said “this refreshment conference is not going to be a one-off exercise as it is now going to be an annual event in the calendar of the church”.
Evang Bam expressed delight that the conference has helped the church to discover lots of hindered potentials on the side of the speakers which is ready to be developed.
The conference had also he said, revealed a lot of pastors in the waiting wings of the church.
The conference was graced on the first and second day with motivational speakers with scintillating and expository conference papers in the category of resource persons as follows as Deaconess Catherine Ayaogu who spoke on “How to be a Relevant Worker”, Elder (Barr.) Pius Usang who spoke on “Humility and Loyalty. and Deaconess Mercy Charles Mgbe who spoke on ” How Can Individual Grow a Church”.
Others are Deaconess Patience Aggrey who Spoke on “How to be a Good Follower and a Vision Supporter and Elder Kanu Ubio who spoke on ” How can we work together”.
Highlights of the conference includes light and heavy refreshments, free speeches and life sharing experience from the participants including Pastor Ndubisi Kalu the branch pastor of New Netem in Akamkpa.
The conference ended up with a word of appreciation from the wife of the General Overseer and conference Co-host Evang (Mrs) Arit Bam who charged participants to always show high sense of Christians maturity in all forms and ramifications of their Christian life and living.
She thanked the participants for always supporting the vision of the church particularly in the peace which she enjoyed from the workers.
The conference came to a close with participants pledging loyalty of good followership and commitment to church vision support.
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