Members of the Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria have been told not to relent in making sure that the message of the gospel is taken to both the privileged and less privileged members of the society.
This call was made by the National President and the Grand Commander of the Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria, Archbishop Lawrence Ayodele Afilaka.
Archbishop Afilaka made this call on the occasion of the annual Convention and National Day of Prayers of the Fellowship held on Monday, May 1, 2023.
The Chaplain Grand Commander in his welcome address told the officers and members of the fellowship that in a time like this, there was the urgent need for chaplains to preach the gospel at all times and to win souls at all cost.
Speaking on the theme of the convention, Chaplains and the Challenges of Gospel Outreaches to Schools, Colleges, Prisons and Hospitals, Archbishop Afilaka told members of the CFN of the need to think and reach out to all manners of people wherever they are, “whether they are at their homes, in the schools, on hospital beds and even in prison yards” noting that this was why Jesus made Christians and chaplains in particular His disciples.
“At a time when the entire world is endangered, it is only the message of the Lord that can save the world. We must not only preach to the world but think and take care of their needs,” explained Archbishop Afilaka quoting copiously from the scripture.
Reading Hebrew 13: 1-3, he said,
“Let brotherly love continue. 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
Also speaking in the same vein, the Matron of the CFN and the Chief Executive of BOFIK Group of Companies, Rev. Dr. Mrs. Bolanle Adereti charged the members of CFN to always prepare themselves at all times as true Soldiers of Christ to be prepared to preach the message of the gospel at all times.
Speaking on Chaplaincy and the Challenges of the Soldiers of Christ, Rev. Mrs Adereti said “Chaplains should see themselves as militant Christians and must be ready for the challenges of life, and fill themselves with the love of Christ, noting that they should be obedient in the service of God, and be godly to be well equipped for the battle of the kingdom.”
Rev. Adereti who also noted that many Christians hate discipline and correction called on the chaplains “to live a life without sin, give themselves to fasting and prayer, reading of the bible as some of the weapons needed for the challenges of committing themselves to the works of the mission.
“Mission grows from the heart of God to man. Mission is God’s limitless love to mankind, as Jesus left His heavenly comfort to the earth to shed His blood for the sin of man, that all may come to the true knowledge of the son of God,” she emphasised.
In his own submission Bishop Olusesan Adeniyan, the Secretary General of the Fellowship speaking on Passion and Priority of the Chaplains called on members to set their priorities right by reaching out to members and non-members alike, taking care of the poor and the needy, as well as setting positive agenda for Chaplains Fellowship of Nigeria.
“The passion of Jesus Christ was to fulfil His mission and the purpose of our mission for living. We have to be nurtured for greatness and work hard to reach out to the less privileged.
He called on leaders to mobilise every available Christians in their community, church and ministry to do the works of the ministry.
“We want to see how God will use us to enlarge the body of the Chaplains and we encourage you to do this passionately by bringing in the youth to take care of the lost,” noting that the glory of the Chaplains is not in the uniform but what they were able to do with their calling.
The GOC Training, Bishop E.O. Oladeji told the members to be aware of their calling and to be conscious of the ethics and discipline of the ranks and file of both the officers and the members.
“As members of our Chaplain fellowship, we do not carry firearms and we do not confront government agents but see what we can do to make the society better.
“We don’t encourage carrying of fire arms, we don’t confront government law enforcement agents, we don’t condone improper dressings and all anti-social behaviour, but we try our best to defend the cause of the gospel by thinking of the needy, praying for them and providing for their needs. We live for humanity, we engage in counselling, prayers, personal commitments, sharing of the word of God and separating ourselves from sinful life.”
In his own contribution, Chaplain Williams Afolayan, an Assistant Grand Commander lecturing on Chaplains and the Challenges of the Gospel Outreaches charged the members and officers of CFN to live to endure hardships in rendering their services to God and to humanity. He urged members of the CFN to make the best use of the resources available to them in the growth and expansion of the gospel.
Other highlights of the programme of the day were the promotion and decoration of new officers and the ordination of new ministers.
Present were members and officers from different parts of Lagos. Some of the officers present were Chaplains Julius Adeyemi, Bishop Isaiah Adegunju Adereti, Chaplain Mrs. Adeniyan, Busuyi and Yinka Afilaka, Chaplains Enosegbe, Joseph Haruna, Joseph Chukwuma Akaeze and a host of others.
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