Segun Awofadeji in Gombe
The North-East Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nigeria has inaugurated the Savannah Nigeria Mission Field to take charge in continued spread of the gospel of the second coming of Jesus Christ in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
The new Mission Field which will be having its headquarters in Numan, Adamawa State, where the ceremony took place, is the latest administrative reorganisation which now sees the defunct North-East Nigeria Conference (NENC) now taking a new name, Plateau-Bauchi Nigeria Conference and retaining its headquarters in Bukuru, Plateau State.
In his charge to the new Mission Field officials and entire membership, the Northern Nigeria Union Conference President of the Church, Pastor Istifanus Ishaya, tasked the new Mission to be up and doing by being on fire for Jesus Christ.
During the consecration of the Mission officials comprising the President, Pastor David Ode Onuah; Executive Secretary, Pastor Bitrus Nuhu, and Financial Adviser, Elder Nathan S Nathan, as well as 13 other directors and field committee members, Pastor Istifanus reminded them of their duties, which is to mobilise themselves and members to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to him, “Coming out from the NENC is more of an expansion to reach more people, enter more areas with the gospel in the mission field territory.”
In a sermon titled: ‘You and the gospel’, with the key text taken from Mark 16:15 during the inaugural ceremony, Pastor Istifanus charged the new Mission to stand up and go, for the gospel of the soon return of Jesus Christ must reach every nook and cranny of their territory.
“Our life style is the easiest way of winning people to our side. We are like salt that has to create a taste for people to long for Christ Jesus.
“People will want to see the Bible in your life style. Use your tongue to bless rather than curse. We are saved because we have good news to declare to the people around us. If we don’t, it means we are not saved. The apostles went out because they had a story to tell and so should we,” Pastor Istifanus emphasised.
He, thereafter, urged them to make the greatest commission in Matthew 28:19,20 which is ‘to preach, baptize and teach’, their sole mission in the Savannah Nigeria Mission.
President of the defunct NENC, Pastor Joshua Ezra Mallum, expressed gladness over the expansion of the Church, and called on members of the new Mission to join hands with their leadership to make exploits for Jesus Christ.
