GCC 2012 President's Speech
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- Jos, Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
God has brought us together once again to Jos with the privilege of celebrating Him and deliberating on matters that will move His Church further into the right direction.
The year 2011 was a difficult year for the Church in Nigeria. It became necessary in 2011 GCC to painfully remember those members of ours who were martyred in 2010 and early 2011 just because they belonged to Jesus Christ. After the 2011 GCC and prior to this GCC, some other Christians have gone through the same fate, while others lost the lands of their birth and property. The Church has been victimized again and again in our nation, Nigeria, and indeed all over the world.
You are all aware too that Trustee J. Landue went to be with the Lord after many years of fruitful labor. A moment of silence in memory of those killed for Christ and a short prayer for those left behind.
The Church may be victimized but we are not victims. We all are more than conquerors through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I. SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS
We are glad to remind us that the Church is making progress in all angles. However, the challenges that the Church in our time faces are numerous and multifaceted. ECWA and her ministers must stand out in the midst of the present degradation and dare to be different. Happenings in our societies are forcing some Christians to indulge in idolatry and African Traditional Religions. ECWA leaders at various levels must now take the lead in both teaching and practical Christianity. To allow for disconnect that seems to creep in within the last few years will mean to blur the vision and inhibit growth of our children and future generations of the Church.
The Church may continue to receive persecutions from many angles. She must stand firm and defend the truth of the gospel. For, ‘Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. … they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.’ (Acts 4:12, 13b). We all must be bold in being right at all times since we are with Jesus and He is with us. in the light of the above, ECWA Headquarters staff gather every first Tuesday of each new month to fast and pray for the ECWA, the global church, Nigeria, and other nations. We encourage all of you to consider introducing same in your DCCs, Departments, Units and Institutions but being careful not to force it on your employees or members.
II. 2012 THEME
This year’s theme is captioned ‘Fellow Workers of the Truth’ – 3 John :8. As we match through 2012 we must show hospitality, and care and love for our co- laborers in the vineyard – whether retired or serving. Let the Church arise and live out the truth that we proclaim and work for.
III. DCC Creation
ECWA keeps expanding to God’s glory. This Council approved the creation of three District Church Councils (DCCs) during 2011 General Church Council. Those DCCs – Shiroro and Kaffi from Minna DCC and Gwol DCC from Mangu – have all been inaugurated. We must keep refreshing our memories that such expansion, as witnessed in ECWA, carries with it obligations from both their mother-DCCs and themselves. We shall, during this GCC, consider reports for creation of two additional DCCs.
IV. Reorganization in ECWA
ECWA Executive effected some restructuring from January this year on some ECWA Departments, Units and Institutions so as to add momentum to the growth of the Church. This is in compliance with the Constitution we approved for the operations of our great denomination. We are also cautious as we go about this so we are seen to be achieving the right results and meeting the overall goal of ECWA. We owe it to pray for those assigned to new offices that they will do well and ECWA will be stronger for it.
A. Finance Department now has Mr. Moses Kolawole as the Director.
B. Audit Department has Mr. Solomon Edokpa as the Director.
C. ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro has Rev. Dr. Sunday Agang as the Provost.
D. Medical Headquarters has Dr. David Lass as the Director of Medical Services.
E. ECWA Central Pharmacy Ltd has Mr. Bulus Yayok as the Managing Director.
F. ECWA Egbe Hospital has Dr. Laura Smelta as the Medical Director.
G. ECWA Information and Computer Science Institute has Eng. Isaac Tanam as the Acting Principal.
V. ECWA Human Resource Database Program
ECWA is updating the centralized records of all her staff. As reported during the January 2012 Consultative Seminar, this project aims at providing our leaders at GCC, DCC, LCC, Departments, Units and Institutions reliable and rapid information on each staff as may be needed each time for various reasons. We have made a huge progress already. Hence we thank many of you that have labored so far alongside officers in charge of this project for its success.
My office has been informed that some staff and leaders find it hard to comply with the terms of this program. I hereby mandate DCC Chairmen to supervise their Secretaries on this program. I will personally hold Departmental, Unit, and Institutional heads responsible for non compliance. Decisive and/or disciplinary measures should be taken on staff that refuses to provide all needed information.
VI. REPORT ON CENTRALIZATION OF PASTORS’ SALARY
We have a report from the Committee on Centralization of Pastors Salary. This will be presented as provided for on the table of events.
VII. Assignments Prior to GCC 2012: NEW LOGO, EMAIL ACCOUNT, Staff New IDENTITY CARD, and Permanent GSM Lines
A. I notified us during the past Consultation on the following:
1. That ECWA Executive’s frowned at a few ECWA outfits’ retention of both the old ‘Evangelical Church of West Africa’ and its logo.
2. That some of us leaders refused to make use of official email addresses created for their DCC, Department, Unit and Institution for official use.
3. That it became burdensome to constantly track DCC Chairmen and Secretaries’ GSM numbers due to emergence of new leaders every three and six years. Sometimes official messages and information meant for incumbents go to their predecessors.
B. I therefore directed, on behalf of ECWA Executive and in compliance to ECWA Constitution, the following:
1. That every DCC, Department, and Unit/Institution must see to it that all ECWA Local Churches and establishments use Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the new logo that depicts the global outlook of ECWA and organizational resolve to reach all parts of the world with the gospel.
2. That all ECWA Institutions and Units that make use of other customized logos were directed to have ECWA logo inscribed on their boards and letterheads as well.
3. That every ECWA staff must upgrade his/her ID Card to depict the new logo.
4. That all official email communications be carried out using your DCC/Department/Unit/Institution’s email address on ecwang.org.
5. That DCCs should acquire, register and maintain specific handset numbers for especially the Chairmen and Secretaries’ offices. They are to handover the sim-cards to their successors at expiration of their offices. Such GSM numbers should be sent to office of the ECWA General Secretary.
6. That the above were to be complied with before this 2012 General Church Council sitting.
I hereby request the General Secretary to take census of those that have or not complied for appropriate action.
VIII. DCC AND DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES ON ECWA WEBSITE
ECWA Information Office has redesigned the ECWA Website for more robust packaging and delivery of information. We will notify them of your important programs, projects, etc. as soon as you let us know. Then we will be sending them to capture, cover and post relevant occasions also from your DCCs and Departments/Institutions on ECWA website.
IX. ECWA 2012 Budget/Finance and Audit Reports
The Finance and Audit Directors will present comprehensive reports and proposals on these. However, I wish to say that the attacks on our Churches and members across Nigeria resulted to partial or complete closure of some of those local churches. A few of the affected churches are ECWA Ungwan Rogo, Rikkos, Danshanu, Gangare, Malumfashi, Funtua, many in Anchau/Takalafiya. This, among other things, advertently affected and is affecting the budgets of the DCCs they belong and the whole of ECWA.
X. Security In Nigeria
The Nigerian national security has become a major issue for both nationals and expatriates. We are all affected in one way or the other. If God does not secure us, we will all perish. However, he has permitted all of us to work with him in securing whatever we have to and can – our families, members, property, etc. Therefore, we owe it to God and our nation not to fold our arms and watch. There are things we can do, no matter how little. Our point of beginning is prayer.
XI. Our Focus in the Recent Past
The ECWA Executive has worked hard within the past six years towards achieving some set goals for ECWA. The areas of concentration include, but not limited to, the following:
A. Evangelism/Outreach and Discipleship
We all know that this is the heart-beat of God for which he gave his one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross. It is therefore only proper for us to have harmonized all our EMS Missionaries salary in light of the realities of our time and society so they are able to commit their all to God’s calling. Although we are not fully there yet, I believe this has been the right steps towards the right direction. Also, our emphasis on discipleship and ‘rediscipling’ members of ECWA has been ongoing. Discipleship Coordinators have been appointed to cover given areas across Nigeria.
God has continued to honor himself through this effort and other related ones by expanding our local churches, Local Church Councils, and District Church Councils which are now 78 in number.
B. Staff Welfare
Every organization that aims at making a headway cannot afford to rubbish its employees. Since workers in ECWA are not just employees but also people of the same destiny with the same heavenly father, we have not relented in improving their welfare package. There are hundreds of staff in various kinds of assisted further training to help them realize both the organization’s goals and reach their individual actualization.
C. Stabilization in Some ECWA Departments and Institutions
Three major challenges that ECWA has been facing, even prior to our coming into office, is the instability in ECWA Productions Ltd (EPL), ECWA Rural Development Ltd (ERD), and ECWA Bingham University. While EPL is fast recovering and does not presently owe its staff salary arrears, ERD that was under a huge threat from the banks has finally been given a new lease of life as the banks have since been paid off. ECWA Bingham University was a child of necessity. It also was established from the very beginning with approval of Faculty of Medine which usually has high financial implications. The university has been repositioned to work through her numerous challenges and stand out as a leading Christian university in Nigeria and the world over. Evangel Hospital has been upgraded to the status of a teaching hospital so as to meet the needs of Bingham University medical students and professors.
If there had been any achievements made in recent past years by us, they came solely by God’s enabling power, mercy and our willingness to cooperate with Him.
D. Designated Donations
We are grateful to God for granting ECWA goodwill over the years among our members and other Christians, not leaving our some of other faiths who love ECWA. We are happy to inform you that ECWA Headquarters received some designated funds from sources that demand anonymity. Three jeeps have already been purchased for the offices of the Vice President, General Secretary, and Assistant General Secretary. These will help ease their constant journeys to some of our difficult terrains.
Conclusion
Brethren, ladies and gentlemen, God has kept us alive in ECWA today for his own interests. He made us. He owns us. He has blessed us with all that it takes to be the people that he wants us to be. Also, he has made us leaders at these various levels in ECWA so we become instruments in his hands to live and work his word.
The ECWA Assistant General Secretary, Rev. Ndukwe Ukonu, and the ECWA President, Rev. Anthony Omolewo Farinto, know that this is our last General Church Council in our capacities as members of the ECWA Executive. With excitement, we thank you from our hearts for the support you all gave to us during our tenure in office. We would have not succeeded with some level of ease without your cooperation. Once more, we thank you.
We implore you to keep the truth in focus always. This is our life in Jesus Christ, our Church, our heritage, our future, the legacy for posterity. We cannot afford to mar its progress. We are Evangelicals. We aim at winning all for Jesus Christ. Let us all go out for it while we still have the time and opportunity.
Long live ECWA! Amen!