By Boluwatife Oparinde
To ensure centrality of vision, the need for retreating and reflection so as to foster effective church growth, Christ Apostolic Church Owo DCC has held an Impactful Refresher Course for Ministers on Monday, 17th July, 2023.
The spiritually educative programme held at CAC Oke Isegun, Igboroko Nla, Owo DCC Headquarters under the theme, "Minister of God as Kingdom Influencer" had in attendance many ministers of the gospel from within the DCC.
In his Welcome Address, the DCC Superintendent, Pastor B. B. Olayinka, who noted that when the minister of God is mentioned, relevance should be the first criterion in an age where apostasy and false teaching are the order of the day, also observed that, "in the past couple of years there has been a strong emphasis among the ministers of God and church leaders on the subject of church growth, nearly every Pastors are attending conference and resourced material aiming at equipping pastor. For increasing the size of their local church where does faith cease to influence the church (John 17:6-9). As you study the history of the church in society a case would be made. For the fact that the world exerts more influence on the church than the church does on the world. This has not been growing strong churches (courtesy: Bill Schneider, 2002). So, if the church and the minister would be able to influence and change the society, they should be able to bring the first love relationship into the church."
The cleric highlighted the following as things that will help foster first love in the local church: keeping Jesus at the center at every activity (Children, Youth, Adult); Singing love songs to Jesus and ensure He is exalted; Focusing on being a God pleasing church above a man pleasing church; Making prayer and communion with God a priority; Scheduling regular time of fasting for personal and corporate direction; Highlighting testimonies of salvation and personal encounter with the lord; Making the experience of the Prescence of God in our gathering a priority; Teaching and modeling communion with God especially among leader; Equipping every member with the ability to share Christ with the lost; Reminding the people to keep the first thing first (Psalm 27:4).
Charging the congregation of clerics, the Superintendent stated that lordship, leadership, integrity, relationship, creativity, prayer and finance, are core values of ministers of God as influencers.
Taking the first lecture of the refresher course under the topic "Finding my Place in God's Purpose", the Superintendent, CAC Ayomipo DCC, Pastor M. O. Mojuba expressed that God was purposeful for every of His creation, particularly man, whose purpose in God is natural and spiritual.
The cleric observed that God's natural purpose for man is to populate the earth for God (Gen. 1:28); to rule over God’s creatures (Gen. 1:26); to bring the world back to God (Mark 16:15); and to provide all necessary things His creatures needed (Gen. 2:16-17); stating God's spiritual purpose as, "He paved way to bring people back to Him through Religion (Ex. 25:8; 29:45); He started with Judaism in Old Testament; He provides Jesus Christ to die for the world (Jhn. 3:16); He introduced His Church (Matt. 16:18); He gave His Church necessary gifts to win the world through His Church (Eph. 4:11-14); God bring us to where we find ourselves to bring glory to Him and to share the good news about Jesus, forgiveness of sin with the people around us; Understanding your place in the kingdom of God, is the key to your divine purpose, know your place in the kingdom and success is guaranteed; God calls us to respond to his grace with whole hearted surrender and the pursuit of Christ likeness, these purpose of God are generally and apply to us all. The purpose of my life is to know God and hear his voice so I can live a life of servanthood and obedient. Then I will be a God defined person."
Pastor Mojuba also listed the following as some of the things to do having found one's place in God's Purpose, "It is expected of you to fear the Lord (Psa. 111:10). It is your duty to become a discipler (Matt. 28:19). Do your work with a pure heart (1 Tim. 4:12). Put your trust in God alone (Psa. 9:10). It is mandatory for you to be contempt with what you have (1 Tim. 6:6). Never joke with regular infilling of the Holy Spirit who would always teach and remind you the needed things to be God’s best (Jhn. 14:26). Increasingly cultivate love for God and others."
Speaking on the second lecture titled "The Man Behind Church Growth", CAC Iyere Zonal Superintendent, Pastor G. O. Oludare, noted that the man behind church growth is one who possesses the following virtues, "He must be a man hired, trained & equipped (the Apostles in Mk.3:13-15) (heart of servitude). He must be a man of understanding (Men of Issachar in 1 Chro. 12:32; 7:5), Who knows what church growth is & knows what to do with and at all situations). He must be a crucified man. A man who had died to the flesh and the world (Gal. 2:20; 6:14). (Do you know that we pray so much, but we receive little because we have not been crucified. This is the same reason we were not filled with the Holy Spirit). He must be a man who depends wholly on God and whose spiritual senses are alive and active. Who will not do anything without consulting God and gains His permission before he does whatsoever, he wanted to do (Gal. 1:11-24; Acts 16:6-9). He must be a man of the word. A man rightly dividing the words of truth (2 Tm. 2:15). He must be a kneeling man. A man of prayer (Acts 6: 4). He must be a good manager. Helping members to discover their gifts and talents, creating conducive environment to exercise them. 8. He must be zealous, passionate, hardworking, and committed. He must be willing to sacrifice all (Paul in 2 Cor. 11:23-33). He must be seeker for Knowledge. (Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10:1ff; Paul in Gal. 1:11-24). He must be filled with the fullness of Holy Spirit- His Gifts & Fruits (Eph. 5:18). He must be a man who have graduated from the ‘school of God’."
The cleric concluded that, "A man behind church growth must strongly recognize the God factor that without God he can do nothing (John 3:27; 15:5). But, with God all things are possible (Phillipians 4:13)."
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