By Boluwatife Oparinde
Towards building an effective church through an effective and efficient workforce, Christ Apostolic Church, Orisun Agbara Zone, Modakeke, has held a joint refresher course for her Ministers and their Wives, Elders, Deaconesses and Church Workers under the theme, "Grow In the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord (2 Pet 3:18)."
Having had the programme declared open by the Refresher Committee Chairman and Superintendent, Glory Land District, Pastor M. A. Abiola, the Zonal Superintendent, Pastor E. E. Joshua, welcome the attendees in his welcome address, and urged them to be open to learning.
In the first lecture, a medical specialist, Dr. Adeoye Oyewale, who gave a health talk on “Stress and Its Management”, defined stress as mental, emotional, or physical strain caused by anxiety or overwork, stating that "it may cause such symptoms as high blood pressure or depression."
Dr. Oyewale noted that stress can be managed, "by going for medical checkup, delegation of works/duties, taking time to rest, abstain from quack doctors, consulting medical experts, administration of drug e.g. to suppress high blood pressure, among others."
Pastor Dr. D. Oluseye Oyeniyi, delivering the second lecture titled "The Way Forward of the Church of Christ" expounded that Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 reveals that God gives different kinds of talent to His servants for the purpose of moving the kingdom/church forward.
Highlighting the qualities of church workers that God needs, Pastor Oyeniyi expressed that, "God is looking for a faithful church worker (Ezek 22:30) who, loves nothing more than God (John 21:15-17), fears nothing but God (Dan 3:14-18), hates nothing but sin (Gen 39:7-10), is totally committed to God (2 Chro. 16:9, cf. 1 Kgs 8:61), desires to know Him regardless of the cost (Phil 3:7-10), measures his success by the standards of God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17), desires to grow and mature through intimacy with Christ (1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18)."
Examining the metaphorical and farming analogy used in Mark 4:26-27 to explain the growth of God's Kingdom, the cleric established that "church growth is a combination of the blessings of God (divine intervention) and the stewardship of man (1 Cor 3:6-7). God-given results somehow teamed with human endeavours. This suggests that for numerical, spiritual and kingdom growths to occur, the Church has roles to play so as to move the Church of Christ forward."
According to Dr. Oyeniyi, the Biblical strategies for Church growth for ministers and workers are, "Knowing Jesus as the ultimate builder (Matt 16:18) and the brain behind the growth (1 Cor 3:6-7); Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, and having everything in common (Acts 2:42, 44); Passion for the Great commission (Matt 28:18-20); Equipping the believers to do the work of ministry (Eph 4:12; 2 Tim 3:17); Using your spiritual gifts to build the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:7); Keeping the vision of church to mind, that is, calling people to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and challenging them to live out the great commission in their worlds; Church should focus on Leadership; Leaders and workers have to focus on building stronger youth and children programme."
The third lecture, delivered by the Modakeke DCC Secretary, Pastor E. O. Afolabi, on the topic, “The Importance of a Minister of God’s Family in Ministry” stressed the major role a minister's family plays in the success and failure of a minister of God in the ministry God has called him.
Pastor Afolabi who described a minister of God as "a person called by God or willing to serve God in a local Church or assembly on a full-time or part-time basis, or a person ordained and recognised by a Christian Mission to serve as the representative of God and Christian Mission in a local assembly," pointed that a person is not worthy to be called a minister of God if he/she fails to minister to his family (1 Tim 3:1-5).
Describing the importance of a minister of God’s family in ministry, the clergyman said that, "your family is the first and most important ministry. Thus, do not neglect your family at the expense of ministering in the field. Remember Abraham, Noah and Eli (Gen 18:19; Gen 7:7; and 1 Sam 2:29). All members of your family must show themselves as a worthy ambassador and representative of Christ (cf. Acts 21:19). As a minister of God, your family is a point of reference for other families in the Church. The family of a minister of God must not be far away from his station of service. Apart from cases that are beyond your control, the members of your family especially children must attend the same church you are posted to as a minister of God. In conclusion, as a minister of God, your family is important to God. Therefore, you must not fail in your responsibility as the head of the family representing God the super head."
The Dean of Academics, Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary (CACTS), Opa, Ile-Ife, Pastor S. A. Atetedaye, who delivered the fourth lecture titled “Workers' Duties in the Church of God” theologized that the word Church is from the Greek word Ekklesia, meaning “the called out ones” from wicked ways of sin into the marvelous light of Christ in preparation for eternal life.
Pastor Atetedaye highlighted some of the qualifications of Church workers as stated in Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim 3:1-12, as "he must be blameless, a faithful person and of good character (Titus 1:6); the husband of one wife or the wife of one husband (Titus 1:6); he/she must live an exemplary life (Eph 4:1); he must have self-control (Titus 1:8); he/she must not be a disobedient person; among others."
The CACTS Academic Dean noted that the duties of workers in the Church of God are, "They must manage their family well (1 Tim 3:4-5; Titus 1:6); they must keep the secret of the Church (1 Tim 5:13); they must pray for the progress of the Church (Luke 18:1); they must make themselves available for all programme of the Church; they must support the Church with their material and spiritual gifts; they must give respect and honour to ministers of God; they must take care of the Church when the Pastor is not around; they must be involved in evangelism."
During the course of the lectures, the congregation enjoyed the presence of Pastor E. A. Olojede (Rtd) visited who admonished them to maintain Christ's standard in this perverse generation; and the Modakeke DCC Superintendent, Pastor Adeleke.
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