 |
| Cross Section of the World President and participants at the session |
By Ekpor Temple
The restructuring of the Port-Harcourt Conference to Port Harcourt East and West for the purpose of enhancing mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Rivers Territory was one of the top items approved and decision reached at the just concluded West-Central Africa Division (WAD) Year-end meeting held at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria from 29 October – 1st of November 2023.
According to a statistical report at adventistreview.org, the
West-Central Africa Division (WAD) currently have 5,243 churches and 5,450
companies, with 1,784 ministers. The region also includes five Adventist
universities: two in Nigeria, and one in Cameroon, Liberia, and Ghana,
Adventist education is represented in 176 secondary schools and 995 primary
schools. The region also oversees 34 Adventist hospitals and sanitariums, nine
clinics and dispensaries, and two printing presses.
In his video addressed, the WAD president Robert Osei-Bonsu
summarized the main activities and achievements across the region and presented
some of the challenges affecting the region such as security threats in
northern Nigeria, social unrest and military coups, and economic volatility
among many.
Professors Bonsu also expressed that Between June 2022 and
June 2023, the church in the region baptized more than 42,000 people, which
represents a 5 percent growth rate and despite those seeming roadblocks, the
Adventist Church has kept its focus on mission, Osei-Bonsu with hopes to reach
the goal of 1 million baptized members in the region in the next few months.
The General Conference president Ted N. C. Wilson, in his
speech encouraged the delegates that the key to steady church growth and
member nurturing is getting people involved in the mission.
“When people get involved, they stay with us, the same can be
said about young people. First, get them to study the Bible, and secondly, get
them involved in service, reaching out and doing something for others. He asseverated.
There were other pertinent mission decisions reached at the
year-end meeting which included delegates and invitees from 22 countries and
special guests.
Good one
ReplyDeleteWhich means we don't have Port Harcourt again
Is the east and west mission?
Thanks for this information
ReplyDeleteA step in the right direction, God's will over all..
ReplyDeleteRestructuring Port Harcourt Conference is a good idea for purpose of expansion and growth what is the cost implication? .Will it be ìmplimented immediately òr kept in view? From C.W.Esukpa.
ReplyDeleteRestructuring of PH Conference is a good one. The Mapping, Cost implications & Liabilities/assets sharing are not clear to some of us yet. Due deligence be emplored to avoid the experience of Rivers East Conference in their first Four-Six years.
ReplyDeleteElder Bestman B Needom