By Boluwatife Oparinde
The Director of Youth Affairs, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samson O. Gbuyiro, has laid emphasis for students, youths of CAC and all Christians on the need for proper and solid discipleship.
"When God is offering us this matter of discipleship, God is offering us the only thing that can provide a future for us," he said.
Pastor Gbuyiro made this emphasis while speaking on the topic "Disciples as Agents of Transformation" at the just concluded 2022 Academic Summit for students organized by the CAC Directorate of Youth Affairs, held at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State.
The clergyman told the students that, "you can't be very sure you have a secured future if you are not a disciple," adding that, "it is not only that you are not an agent of change, but you are running your life at a risk."
According to him, "one thing that Heaven has offered mankind, especially on the gospel of Jesus is Discipleship. So, if you are not there, as far as God is concerned, you are nowhere."
The CAC Director of Youth Affairs reiterated that God is always deliberate and purposeful, explaining that "when God calls a man, there is a divine purpose and the purpose is that you will be needed as an agent of transformation."
The cleric who described how many people are familiar with only the ministerial success story of Apostle Ayo Babalola, declared that, "Apostle Babalola was discipled" and it was in the process that the then revival was birthed.
Pastor Gbuyiro also cited that people often talk down on the fathers of CAC that they are not educated, countering that "ènìyán ka Olórun, e ní kò kàwé" (meaning that you can't call someone who has the knowledge of God or walks with God uneducated!)
Explaining the reason and essence of discipleship, he said, "The reason is, for anybody to last, to endure, who will not be known today and forgotten tomorrow, you must enter this ship (discipleship)."
Pastor Gbuyiro who told his audience that the problem is not God sending revival amidst the call for revival, but the people who are to harvest the revival, added that, "the agenda or God is that the world would be transformed but the men he would use must be made first. God will not use a man he has not made."
Alluding that Moses when through discipleship under Jethro, the cleric said that, "there is always a process before you can become a product. You can't be a product except you go through a process."
Pastor Gbuyiro, who shared the story of his journey to becoming the Director of Youth Affairs from being a disciple of Prophet M. O. Olowere, explained that the word manifestation being synonymous to unveiling meaning that no one showcases an unfinished product, adding that "it is only a finished product that can manifest."
"If you are not in discipleship and you are in courtship, you are in trouble. If you are not in discipleship, and you are looking for scholarship, you are in trouble," he said.