By Rachael Oke
The fifth stream, second batch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Pastors' Leadership Retreat commenced today at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, bringing together Zonal and District Superintendents across various regions of the church for another season of spiritual renewal, leadership development, and ministerial capacity building.
The retreat is the second edition of the programme in 2026, following the first session held in March, and continues the church's commitment to equipping its ministers with the spiritual depth, leadership skills, and practical competencies required for effective ministry.
Delivering the presidential address on behalf of the President of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele, the Head of the Christ Apostolic Church Leadership Academy (CACLA), Elder Abiola Popoola, emphasized that training remains one of the indispensable tools for organisational growth.
Drawing from the example of Jesus Christ, who deliberately called His disciples to Himself and taught them, the President noted that the disciples were teachable men whose willingness to learn prepared them for impactful ministry.
He stressed that, despite the church's rich heritage and the impressive individual pedigrees of its ministers, there remains a continuous need to acquire new skills and competencies that will enable God's work to be carried out profitably and creditably, citing Matthew 25:20–23.
The President further disclosed the church's intention to establish a productivity-based reward system, where clear, objective, and measurable performance indices will be employed in evaluating ministerial effectiveness.
Earlier in the opening session, the Chaplain of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Pastor O. J. Oluwasanmi, delivered the opening charge titled "When I Looked Closely", drawn from 1 Kings 3:21.
He challenged ministers to deliberately examine every aspect of their lives and ministries, describing the retreat as a divine opportunity for careful reflection, discernment, and spiritual realignment.
According to him, every minister must look closely at his or her prayer life, divine calling, marriage, and every responsibility entrusted to them by God.
Speaking on the need to reassess ministry, Pastor Oluwasanmi asked participants to honestly evaluate whether their passion for ministry remains as vibrant as it was when they first received God's call.
He also urged ministers to examine their personal lives, warning against what he described as "spiritual substitution," where public ministry appears vibrant while private devotion is neglected.
Quoting from Ezekiel 33 and 2 Timothy 3:5, he reminded participants that effective ministry extends beyond appearance and public performance, emphasizing that a minister's lifestyle and character speak louder than outward presentation.
The Chaplain further admonished ministers to pay close attention to their emotional, spiritual, and physical health, noting that regardless of the level of grace upon a minister's life, a weakened body can hinder effectiveness in ministry.
He equally stressed the importance of healthy homes, declaring that "when you don't have a home, you don't have a ministry," while encouraging ministers to emulate Joshua's commitment that "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
On integrity, Pastor Oluwasanmi urged participants to uphold righteous character, referencing Psalm 15:1–2, and reminded them that the retreat presents a rare opportunity for sincere self-examination and renewed focus.
Drawing from the theme text, he explained that although the woman in the biblical account was unable to discern the truth during the darkness of the night, she discovered reality when daylight came because she looked closely.
In the same way, he encouraged participants to maximize the retreat by carefully examining their lives and ministries, setting aside church-related distractions, and remaining fully focused throughout the programme.
The retreat continues with a series of lectures, interactive sessions, and spiritual exercises aimed at strengthening pastors for more impactful and productive ministry.
