Men Christian Fellowship

MEETINGS

The Fellowship held its monthly meetings from January to December 2023. The Fellowship meetings have been hybrid – physical as well via Zoom.

Attendance at our meetings could be better. 4 new members joined the Fellowship in the year.

Our meetings hold every 3^rd Saturday of every month at 10 am in the Church.

 FUND RASING DRIVE

The Fellowship in a bid to shore up its financial base, in the year 2022 embarked on a fund raising drive. The goal for the fund raising was for i. Intervention- support some of our members who require help ii. Scholarship iii.  Empowerment and iv. Church Bus.

At its February 2023 meeting, the motion on how to apply the funds raised was put to vote and it was carried by a vote of 18:5 that the funds be applied in the following ways: 5 million naira be used to refurbish the 7 Church vehicles- since we could not raise enough money to buy a new bus; 7.5 million naira for investment and scholarship.

Following this agreement, the Fellowship then set up a Church Bus Refurbishment Committee; a Scholarship Committee and an Investment Committee.

Church Bus Refurbishment

The Committee was able to refurbish the 7 vehicles of the Church- engine overhauling; repairs and painting with the sum of 4.5 million naira only and handed back the vehicles to the Church. The savings of 500,000 naira from the approved budget was put into the repair of the 100KVA generator at the Vicarage. The generator was repaired and handed over to the Church with some further support from some members of the Fellowship.

Investment

The Investment Committee with the approval of the Fellowship invested the sums of 10 and 5 million naira in 2 investment companies. The investments are yielding returns as expected. The funds can be recalled anytime the Fellowship so desires.

Scholarship

The Scholarship Committee has screened several candidates for the scholarship but only 1 candidate met the criteria as set by the Fellowship. The criteria for the scholarship is as advertised in the Church Bulletin every Sunday.

PROGRAMS

The Fellowship held only one program where we had a guest speaker in November. We had Dr Erere Otrofanowei a Church member; a Lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine University of Lagos as well as a Consultant Dermatologist and GenitoUrinary Physician with Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)- to mention just a few of her qualifications- talk to us on Prostate Health. The appeal after the talk is that it should be organised for the whole Church so that others could benefit from such knowledge.

However, the general frame work of our programs still remains as follows:

1. Spiritual: Organizing retreats, prayer and fasting sessions, special sessions on marriage, conduct in business, study on specific topics and men in the Bible.

2. General Interest: Writing wills, Financial Planning, Legal Guidance, Politics? Life Insurance, Discipline in the Home etc.

3. Physical/Health: Walk for life, Talks on various subjects like prostate cancer, Hypertension, Nutrition and Diet, Medical Check up.

The Fellowship will have in-house/ invited Guest Speakers talk to members and other attendees on various topics:

FATHERS’ DAY/ ANNIVERSARY 2022

The Fellowship merged the Father’s Day Celebration with its Anniversary. On the day, we, appreciated 3 categories of people: Those who donated 1million naira and above during our fund raising; Sponsors of the Children Feeding Program and All our Past Presidents.

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE FELLOWSHIP MEMBERS

The Fellowship’s group life insurance scheme is still running.

HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME FOR THE FELLOWSHIP MEMBERS

The Fellowship set up a committee to work out the modalities for the Fellowship members who cannot afford health insurance to be covered under the Lagos state health insurance scheme.

MOTHERING SUNDAY

The Fellowship presented gifts to the Women of the Church during the Mothering Sunday.

MCF FEEDING PROGRAM

The feeding program ran for the whole of 2023 despite some challenges. We use this opportunity to once again thank all the sponsors and pray God Almighty will continue to replenish their purses and be with them and their families.

ENTHRONEMENT OF OUR BISHOP

The Fellowship rejoiced with and participated actively in the celebration of the enthronement of our former Vicar as our Bishop.

FELICITATION WITH MEMBERS

The Fellowship felicitated with our members who celebrated their birthdays or their spouse’s birthdays and other occasions.

Professor Adeniyi Osuntogun OFR marked his 80^th birthday during the year. Chief Afam Nwagaso also celebrated his 80^th Birthday, while Dr. Adetunji Oyebanji and his wife Justice Adedayo Oyebanji were given Chieftaincy titles and Justice Adedayo Oyebanji also celebrated her 60^th birthday;

BEREAVEMENT

During the year we lost one of our members Chief Emmanuel Anyadike and    some of our members lost dear ones:

We pray for the repose of the souls of all those who have gone to be with The Lord.

WE CARE

We appreciate our former Chaplain Reverend Emmanuel Mordi who joined members of the fellowship- especially the EXCO to visit and pray with our members who were bereaved.

APPRECIATION

We are using this medium to appreciate all those who have contributed and continue to support the Fellowship in various ways. May God Almighty continue to reward your labour of love in His vineyard.