Pastor Abraham Ekebafe
By 'Gbenga Bankole
The Minister in Charge of Christ Apostolic Church, Light House Assembly, Ikeja, Lagos, Pastor Abraham Ekebafe has urged church leaders to stop marketing their churches, but start marketing Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ekebafe stated this while delivering a lecture on the topic "The Purpose-Driven Church" today Monday April 25, 2022 at the ongoing CAC Pastors' Leadership Retreat, Batch Seven. Batch Seven comprises DCC and Zonal Superintendents from Akilling, Babalola, Essien and Sophia Ajayi Regions.
While emphasising on evangelism as one of the purposes of the Church, the Cleric said as a church we must have a strategy for evangelism, noting that the church exists to communicate God's word to the world, it's a responsibility, and a great privilege to be part of bringing people into God's eternal family.
According to him, we are Christ's ambassadors and our main objective is to evangelize and we should not seek church growth for our own benefit, but because God wants people saved.
Pastor Ekebafe noted that Jesus lays out the task of evangelism for us (in Matt.8:19-20, Mk. 16:15, Lk.24:47-49, Jhn 20:21) and the Church that pursues evangelism will definitely grow larger.
The Cleric further stressed that the church is to minister to all kinds of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical, adding that every true church that is ministry focused grows broader.
Emphasising on fellowship as one of the purposes of the Church, Pastor Ekebafe said the retaining capacity of any church that lacks fellowship would be very low.
He noted that it is fellowship that actually makes us a family, evangelism opens the front gate of a church and fellowship closes the back door.
He further said it is fellowship that keeps people in the church even two three hours after church service.
"When people can't connect with a church they don't relate for long.This must be made known to every worker of the church. When fellowship is existing the church is warmer and the church is safe. The congregation needs to network together," he stated.
According to him, as Christians we are called to belong, not just to believe, the church exists to provide fellowship for believers.
Apart from fellowship, he said other purpose of the church is worship, ministry, evangelism and discipleship.
"Discipleship can't be impacted by laying of hands. It has to be taught. It is a place where men are built up in Christ. If we don't do discipleship the future of the church is in jeopardy," he noted.
Laying emphasis on the ministry, Pastor Ekebafe said everyone in the church must be involved in the ministry otherwise after a while they start dragging their feet.
He said when the five purposes of the church are not there, the church is not balanced, adding that the key to a healthy church is balance and it is very important that we maintain a healthy and a balanced church.