RESTRUCTURING FOR MISSION: WAD INSPECTION TEAM VISITED PORT HARCOURT CONFERENCE

A cross section of WAD reorganization Committee and PHC Excos 

By Ekpor Temple

Pastor (Prof) Oyeleke Alabi Owolabi, Field Secretary in charge of Strategic planning and Trust Services of the West Central Africa Division (WAD) has urged clergymen in Seventh-day Adventist Church Port Harcourt Conference to set aside time to train laymen to carry out mission work efficiently.

The former President of the Western Nigeria Union Conference (WNUC) gave this admonition at the conference's headquarters in Rumoukwuta, during the WAD reorganization committee inspection visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 19-20^th March 2023, where he met with the conference's executive committee. Though his narratives were not void of historical realities and statistics, he presented them so dramatically with such natural sequence and spell binding language that every member of the Exco felt taken through the actual experience.

While praising the enormous strides made by the different zones that make up the Port Harcourt conference, the clergy advises the church leaders on crucial factors that will ensure the dream of reorganization is realized, such as spiritual maturity, mission focus, a solid financial foundation, membership growth, manpower and infrastructure development, etc.

Pastor Owolabi contends that because Nigeria has increased its missionary efforts, more conferences need to be reorganized in order to expand the potential for soul-winning. He referenced that in the year 1972, Nigeria had just one union, the Nigeria Union Mission (NUM), which gave rise to the Eastern Nigeria Union Mission (ENUM) in 2004. And in 2013, two conferences were formed from the Western Union mission. (WNUC and NNUC). He ascribed this feat to members collegiate spirit and detribalized attitude.  Additionally, he cautioned that history can only be repeated if we put all of our focus on the goal of reorganization, which is nothing else than mission and populating  God's Kingdom.

 “Reorganization is not for compensation of office or for tribal sentiment; as Adventists, irrespective of the conference where we serve we are brothers and sisters; we don't serve our tribal affiliations, but Almighty God.

“We can take advantage of our location and grow above minor sentiments. Members and leaders should deceased from instigating variables that promote or engender disunity and animosity. Let us not be so afraid to loss our identity that we now lack sense of mission. He heralded.

While other indicators like strong financial Growth, membership drive, and Infrastructural development are key indices for the approval of a conference who desire to be restructured, the cleric maintains that manpower development is an indispensable feature for mission expansion.

“Port Harcourt is ready for reorganization. As this process is going on, manpower will be looked for. There should be a joint effort in training and equipping the lay people to be effective and efficient in service delivery.

"Reorganization brings forth silent talents. Where are the young talents. Let's bring them on board. Bring the hidden talents out. The older clergies shouldn’t be frustrated with their methodologies because the youths in our churches are contemporary in nature. He avers.

Pastor Onyebuchi Thomas Opara, Executive Secretary of  the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC), on behalf of the President, Pastor Bassey E.O Udoh, promptly charged the Port Harcourt conference administration to dot the is’ and cross the t's as well as intensify plans for the reorganization. He prayed that the advice given would significantly advance his long-held goal of mission restructuring of Port Harcourt Conference into two giant conferences. (West and East).

Pastor Anyalebechi Nnunukwe (Ph.D.), President of the Port Harcourt Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, also reacted. He thanked the WAD committee and the ENUC delegation for their wise advice and assured them that the Port Harcourt Conference administration is committed to the reorganization plan and will work with greater urgency to complete the task at hand.