The Primate of Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, Has charged members of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican(EFAC) to be fired up in their desire to win souls, saying the harvest for souls is still plenty and thus requires more labourers. Most Reverend Ndukuba spoke yesterday when he addressed priests and their wives at the opening of the 2021 Convention of EFAC at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
In his address to the meeting which has the theme ‘empowered to manifest’, the Primate of All Nigeria said the soul of the church is evangelism and prayed that after this year’s convention those in attendance will be empowered, like the apostles, to go out for evangelism.
Before he addressed the meeting, the primate who came with the bishop of Oyo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr, William Aladekugbe, had been received by the Vice- Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Timothy Adebayo, in the Vice- Chancellor’s office. There, the Primate commended the University for the giant strides it is making and prayed that God would strengthen and direct the Management to take the University to higher heights.
At the Crowther Hall, venue of the event, the vice- Chancellor also welcomed the participants to the University, and told them that the University has commenced admission and encouraged them to send their children to the University where they would be raised as godly intellectuals. He said the University recently called back some students who would have been rusticated for misconduct and gave then another chance and got counsellors to attend to them, saying the University functions with love and discipline.
In his address the National President of EFAC, Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel Ezeofor, thanked the University for hosting the event, and prayed that God would help the University to soar to higher heights. The Primate told those in attendance that EFAC started as a body of priests and their wives.
‘But it was opened up in Nigeria around 1983 or so after a meeting in Jos. It was agreed that lay people should come in to populate EFAC. It had challenges from authorities of the church at that time, but all that has changed. Nothing should distract us from the great commission. We must also involve the youth in evangelism. We have started the Joshua Generation and at the first youth conference we planned for 15, 000 people but we had 22, 000 thousand and 2, 500 of them have volunteered themselves for mission work. When they are trained and released to work, they would certainly make a change in mission work. We should get our youth involved in mission work.’ He said.
The Primate also gave update on developments in the Church of Nigeria. He said the Communion is building the Anglican University of Technology in Kwaita, Abuja as the National church University. He announced that the church will launch a campaign against drug abuse through the Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative(ADADI), a body that has been registered by the Church of Nigeria. He said the Church of Nigeria Missionary Society(CNMS) is being repositioned to fully function as the Mission Arm of the Church of Nigeria.
It will be built into both a mission agency and Institution.’ ‘ our desire is that the Church of Nigeria shall intentionally stir up the Universal church into world mission and led in preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first phase of the Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Centre Osoogun, Oyo State, has been completed and dedicated.
The Centre is our National Church Mission Training Institute.’ He said. After his address the congregation prayed for him that God would enable him to carry out the job entrusted to him as the leader of the Church of Nigeria . Many Bishops and priests were in attendance.
