The evangelical ministry was rebirth in April 2019 with a call from the then Vicar, now the Rt. Rev. Ifedola Okupevi the Diocesan and Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, towards the rebranding and re-strategizing of the ministry
The call was met, by members of the ministry, with zealous response from both old and new members who had been desirous of pursuing the Lord’s first call of making disciples, Mark 16:15-18 and Matt. 28:19-20
A month was dedicated to prayer and fasting seeking the Lord’s face for direction, favour and empowerment for the work ahead.
The Lord visited us with strategies and plans and the need to take over our immediate community (catchment area) for Jesus.
The latter became, amongst others, the primary vision of the ministry. That is, to see our community (catchment area) transformed for Christ with every form of debased lifestyle being out dated. The catchment areas consist of TBS, Freedom Park, St Gregory, Ijeh barracks, Campos square, Campbell Street etc.
Towards the achievement of these goals, a list of items had to be prepared, created, and procured. With full support from the then Vicar, who has a strong passion for evangelism. We were provided with most of all we required.
Bible dividers were created and printed with the word of God personalized so they could double as Bible confession.
- Mini tract booklet tagged ‘A message for you’ was created dealing with key issues of salvation. A sizeable quantity was printed for ministration and used during our outdoor ministrations.
- A generator and a megaphone were also bought by the church for the ministry, for use during outdoor ministrations. All these items proved handy and beneficial to the success attained in 2019 via the programmes we held. We give God the praise.
Some of the activities of the ministry in achieving this vision are:
- Monthly Prayer Meeting: During the tenure of our former Vicar, the Rt. Revd. Ifedola Okupevi; the first three days of the month are usually for Prayer and Fasting while the first Saturday of every month are for corporate prayers in the Church by members of the ministry. Worthy of note is that the new Vicar, the Ven. OreOluwa Agbelusi encouraged the ministry to extend the prayer meeting to other ministries of the Church and so it is now a joint prayer meeting of all the ministries called “Monthly Worker’s Prayer Meeting” which is held every first Saturday of the month. The meeting is devoted solely to prayers and intercession towards God’s presence and guidance for the Church, Church members, the Community, Lagos State and the Nation.
- Saturday Evangelism: At the beginning of the year under review; the second and fourth Saturdays were used by members of the ministry to embark on one-on-one soul wining around our environment /catchment areas as named above; with fliers, tracts, and sometimes mini gifts like the church branded keyholders, Bible dividers etc. However, the ministry agreed to concentrate more on those that have been ministered to over time referred to as “MEN4GOD” and so on those two Saturdays in the a month these set of people come to the church to be ministered to. Like little drops of water, these Saturday evangelism has been most rewarding, transforming lives one at a time, and making our presence, as a vibrant parish, known in our immediate community.
- Men for God (M.4.G): Has mentioned above, these people consist of those the church has ministered to in the past, area boys who constantly hang around the church etc. With prayers, we reached out to few of them, and began ministering the word to them, with time we discovered, contrary to opinion, that these ones were not the regular area boys or miscreants as we supposed them to be, but young men and women who had no one to depend on or to map out their lives. Plans are on-going on the way to properly rehabilitate them. They are ministered to on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month by 9am at the chapel extension and are ministered to in Word and fed with breakfast.
During the Christmas period, our Vicar, The Ven. Folorunsho OreOluwa Agbelusi, ministered to them and over Two Hundred people were given bags containing food items to celebrate Christmas with members of their family. The Church also organised Christmas Party for them; on that day, the Vicar and the Priests ate with them and thereafter prayed for them.
We appreciate the efforts of the Church and members who contributed to put smiles on the faces of this group of people. We are looking forward to partnering with the Hospital visitation /Church Clinic ministry to assist in meeting their medical needs.
The Evangelical Ministry is in dire need of devoted men and women, who will be willing and ready to serve God in response of His clarion call. We thank our Vicar, The Venerable Folorunsho OreOluwa Agbelusi, and our able Chaplain, The Rev. Canon Bola Osinupebi for their passion and kind support to the ministry.
REPORT OF THE PRAYER FELLOWSHIP
The prayer fellowship is for every member of the Church who believes in the efficacy of prayer. This fellowship has undergone many changes under the various Vicars of the Church.
During the tenure of our former Vicar, the Rt. Rev. Ifedola Okupevi, the church was always at prayer at 12noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, the current Vicar, The Ven. Folorunsho OreOluwa Agbelusi, has restored the Midday prayer to what it used to be during the Covid era; Monday- Saturday at 12noon.
Also due to the clash of church programmes on Wednesdays, the Weekly Prayer meeting of the church was merged with the Friday Bible study; the present Vicar has however rebranded and named it “Victory Hour” which now holds on Tuesdays by 6pm.
Members are encouraged to join the midday prayers online and the Victory Hour physically.
REPORT OF THE BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP
The Bible Study Fellowship is designed to teach and expose all members to the scriptures in a more interactive manner with the aim of making every member a Bible literate. The Church does Bible Study in-between the services on Sundays by 8:15am, selected days on Sundays during the 9am service and on Fridays by 6pm.
The one of Fridays is done virtually and Readers as well as members of the congregation who have been identified to have the gift of teaching are used as teachers to lead the study which is always interactive in nature.
It has been observed that the attendance of those who participate at both the Bible study on Sunday in-between the services and that of Friday is very low.
The importance of Bible study cannot be over emphasized and so members are encouraged to participate so as to have a more robust participation and the Church leadership should also look at restoring the Bible study in our Sunday service especially at the 9am service as this may ignite the interest of members towards Bible study.