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| Pastor Gideon O. Oladokun in group photograph with Zonal Superintendent of CAC Life and Power Zone, Pastor Mich 'Tunji Oladapo and other minsters of the zone |
By 'Gbenga Bankole & Boluwatife Oparinde
As a counter to a growing trend of ministers and church workers who are too big to serve but want to be served, the Superintendent of CAC Itire Districts' Coordinating Council (DCC), Pastor (Dr.) Gideon O. Oladokun, has highlighted the necessities of service and how to truly serve.
"Service means rendering help, assistance and support in a selfless and sacrificial way to the benefit of others. It could be physical, material and spiritual in nature. It may involve using your gifts, talents, time resources, knowledge, influence and ability," the cleric said.
Delivering a lecture titled "Oferring An Acceptable Christian Service", Pastor Oladokun gave these assertions on Monday June 12, 2023 at the 7th edition of the annual Workers Refresher Course of CAC Life and Power Zone, Ikorodu, Lagos. The theme of the refresher course is "Growing in Grace and in the Service of the Lord."
Serving God wholeheartedly, the cleric related, involves pure love, motive, sincerity, joyfully, and doing that which is well pleasing in God's sight; adding that "serving God requires that we serve our fellow human being. Our love for God must be in action towards others."
Speaking on the mandate for ministry of the effective Christian, Pastor Oladokun noted that, "no one can become an effective Christian without a clear mandate from the Lord. There can be no ministry without a clear mandate. The general and non-negotiable mandate is to preach the gospel. You must preach the gospel."
"It is your mandate that will become your ministry and assignment. It is given by the Lord to individuals. There are ministries in every church, but there is no church in every ministry. If you are called and gifted as an evangelist, teacher, prophet, Pastor, Apostle, Singer or intercessor, stay in that calling and ministry. We are, saved for ministry, called for ministry, commended for ministry, authorised for ministry, gifted for ministry and rewarded for ministry," he added.
The clergyman charged that, "your ministry must be productive, proven, pure and positive. Your ministry must lead to transformations. Transformations of lives, homes, destinies, communities and cities are the hallmark of effective ministries. Make sure you receive your mandate from God, not from men, circumstance and wrong motive."
Interpreting the book of Acts as a standard template for contemporary discipleship, the cleric told his audience that Christ has called us into discipleship, stating that, "He made it abundantly clear to the first disciples that what He is looking for is a disciple, one who will be disciplined and rugged to the core and ready to pay the price of His call. He does not want a weakling. Self-centred people who are only out to enjoy themselves are not welcome."
He listed the ten-fold call to discipleship as, a call to true repentance (Matt. 4:17;9:13); a call to learn of Christ (Matt. 11:28-29); a call to a life of self-denial and cross bearing (Luke 9:23); a call to a life of service (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15); a call to live a life of blessing to others (John 7:37-39); a call of commitment to the body of Christ (John 21:15-17); a call of commitment to the work of Christ (I Cor. 15:58); a call to walk with Christ in light (John 8:21; I John 1:6); a call to a life to witness for Christ (Matt. 4:19) and a life of absolute dedication to Christ (Matt. 10:37).
The cleric also noted that the enemies of service are insecurity, inferiority complex, position, title, cold and hard-heart, bad examples, peer pressure, uncommitted spirit, rebellious spirit; stating that the power of service lies in "he that waters shall be watered, upliftment, effectiveness promotion, honour protection, divine reward, higher level of favour."
Pastor Oladokun concluded with the ways to truly serve, "put others ahead of your agenda; be motivated by love; take steps to act; do small things well; stop seeking for attention and reward; find a need and meet it; live a blessed life."
The annual Workers Refresher Course of CAC Life and Power Zone started on Friday June 9, 2023 with Ministers' Retreat on the topic "Ministers' Home: A Model of God's Kingdom on Earth" and ministering was the Zonal Superintendent of Life and Power Zone, Pastor Mich 'Tunji Oladapo.
Day two of the annual programme was tagged "All Ministers, Elders, Deaconesses and Group Leaders' Conference" with the topic "Elders, Deaconesses and Group Leaders in the 21st Century: Role Expectations" and ministering was the new DCC Superintendent of CAC Revival Centre DCC, Akure, Pastor Titus Oyerinde. All the programmes were held at the Zonal headquarters in Ikorodu, Lagos.
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