CALLED TO BE MISSIONARY

Greetings from the people of the Greater Manchester, “The Queen City”. I want to firstly give thanks to God for sparing our lives to witness another Synod in the life of this great Diocese of ours. I thank God on behalf of our Bishop whom God is using for the spiritual and physical growth of the Diocese since inception in 1995. During your episcopacy many sons of the Diocese opted out to become priests and many were elevated in one way or the other. I humbly congratulate you on the strides you have taken so far, may the good Lord continue to empower you.

Our anointed Baba Ijo of St. James Church, Ilugun, the Prince Engr. & Evang. Mrs. Yinka Gbadebo your generosity is appreciated for hosting this monumental Synod this year.

This is year Synod theme “We are called to be Missionary”, being the heart bit of God must be taken seriously by all and sundry. This is a task that must be accomplished before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to make disciples of all nations not Egbaland alone. Based on the above insight, the Synod theme is appropriate and timely so that the second coming will be hasting.

 “Mission” carries a holistic understanding: the proclamation and sharing of the Good News of the gospel by Word (kerygma), Deed (diakonia), Prayer and Worship (leiturgia) and the everyday witness of the Christian life (martyria); teaching as building up and strengthening people in their relationship with God and each other; and healing as wholeness and reconciliation into koinonia — communion with God, communion with people, and communion with creation as a whole. Mission is central to Christian faith and theology. It is not an option but is rather an existential calling and vocation. Mission is constitutive of and conditions the very being of the Church and of all Christians.

The God revealed by the scriptures is not static but rather relational and missionary: a God who has always been manifested as the Lord of history, leading God’s people towards fullness of life through the covenants, the law, and the prophets who voiced God’s will and interpreted the signs of the times. Mission begins in the heart of the triune God. The love which binds together the persons of the Holy Trinity overflows in a great outpouring of love for humankind and all creation.

God calls the Church in Jesus Christ and empowers it by the Holy Spirit to be a partner in God’s mission, bearing witness to the gospel of the love of God made clear in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and inviting people to become disciples of Christ (Matt. 28: 18 - 20).

Henry & Avery in Perspectives p.55 concluded that on mission with God, you will experience that God is love. His will is always best. He pursues a love relationship with us so we can join Him in His mission. On mission with God, you will experience that God is all-knowing. His directions are always right. He reveals them when we are obedient to Him. On mission with God, we will experience that God is all-powerful. He enables us to accomplish His will when we are totally dependent on Him.

The scriptures admonish us in Luke 12: 48b that “to whom much is given much is required.” Our Lord Jesus Christ has done a lot for all of us by laying down His life for us as ransom for our sinful nature and now He is calling you and me to be MISSIONARY and He had promised us of His presence at all times in other not to have excuse. Don’t let us turn deaf hear to His CALL.

Your Son,