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| In the Middle (Sixth from left) CAC Finance Director, Pastor J.F. Omitinde, (Fifth from left) CAC Music Director, Elder Abidemi Oyesanya (SAN), (Fourth from left) CAC Assistant Music Director, Pastor Paul Bankole, Regional Choirmasters and choir leaders at the retreat. |
By Rachael Oke
As choir leaders from Christ Apostolic Church's regions gathered for a rejuvenating retreat at the Christ Apostolic Church All Saints Chapel in Ibadan on March 28th and 29th, 2025, the importance of spiritual growth was a key emphasis that emerged.
During the opening session, CAC Director of Administration and former Director of Music, Pastor Tope Dada, in his message on "The Spiritual Content of a Choir Leader," stressed the need for spiritual maturity among choir leaders.
He highlighted the importance of spiritual maturity and the responsibilities that come with being a choir leader.
"As leaders, we are a priest of God and we must have experience of spiritual circumcision. We must put away the old man of sinful nature and put on us, the new man which is Christ Jesus. A choir leader is much more than someone who conducts rehearsals; we are leaders in spiritual worship, mentorship, and we are carriers of God's grace and presence,’’ he noted.
He reminded the choir leaders that their role goes beyond just singing or playing music.
"We are not just in the church as people just singing or waving hands. We are priests. You cannot separate a musician from his music. It is the man behind the music that determines the weight of the music," He stated.
Pastor Dada further emphasized the importance of quality and effectiveness in their leadership, referencing 1 Timothy 4:16.
He also cited biblical examples of effective choir leaders, including Jehoshaphat, Asaph, and the Levites, who demonstrated good administrative skills, led worship and praise, and guided the people in music.
Citing 1 Corinthians 14:15, the immediate past Director of Youth Affairs and Superintendent of Mokola DCC, Pastor Samson Gbuyiro, standing in for the Special Assistant to the President, Pastor Tunde Asokeji, also emphasized the vital role of anointing in empowering choir leaders during his message on "The Place of Anointing in Music Ministry".
“Paul decided that if he was going to do something for God, it must be reasonable, pleasing and acceptable to Him. He is not a man who will come to the pulpit and do things anyhow if that opportunity is not bounded by a divine mandate. Every opportunity we have to stand before God's people, we must begin to look at it with the consciousness that there is a divine mandate attached to it.” He noted.
He also noted that while creativity can be appealing, it is not enough to keep people engaged.
“As much as creativity is good, it does not keep people in church and once these people discover that what you are giving to them in the church, they can get it better elsewhere, there is nothing you can do, they are going. The only thing you cannot find in the world when it comes to the music ministry, that is where the anointing of the Lord is working. You cannot find it in the world. The anointing of Jesus cannot be duplicated; it takes the anointing of the Holy Ghost to do anything that will endure.” He stated.
Pastor Gbuyiro highlighted the profound impact of the anointing by referencing the patriarchs, saying:
"We still make reference to our patriarchs; their songs are still relevant even in the 21st century. Their interest is not just to come out; they are never in a hurry to come out. If it is going to be a song in their lifetime, the world must continue to sing it, ever fresh, ever relevant, ever challenging, ever impactful, and ever forceful; even though they die, their works speak on. That is what anointing does."
He further emphasized the necessity of anointing for leaders, citing Acts 10:38:
"Anyone that will matter in the kingdom must pass through this, that is, must be anointed. There is no liberty for anyone to do it with the strength or the energy of the flesh." He noted.
Beyond the emphasis on spirituality, the retreat also featured a range of training sessions, including "Effective Choir Leadership in the 21st Century" by Mr. Akin Olubi, Organ Performance Studies Instructor at Mountain Top University; "Hymn Selection for Church Services and Programmes" by Assistant Director of Music, Pastor Paul Olufemi Bankole and "Basic Conducting Techniques and Patterns" by Mr. Ayo Ajayi, in addition to other impartation prayers.
CAC General Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel E. Mapur, who represented the church authorities and officially opened the retreat; also Pastor Gabriel S. Dada, Superintendent of Babalola Region, attended on behalf of the President, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele. The Finance Director, Pastor Johnson F. Omitinde, was also in attendance, providing his usual fatherly support.
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