The saints in Nigeria recently celebrated three exciting events - the first ever Youth and Family Conference, a new evangelist appointed in Lagos, and Men's Day in Abuja.
From generation to generation, God has always emphasized the paramount importance of the family unit in the life of a nation. It is the need to pass on God's commands to our children that informed the first-ever four-day Youth and Family Conference in Lagos.
The conference brought together men and women from across the Churches in Nigeria, English and French-speaking West Africa and even the United States of America.Powerful classes were preached by elder Larry Craig, from the New York City Church, and his wife Mary-Lou; elder Lewis Livingstone, also from New York, and his wife Tosan; and Evangelist Onyechi Oguagha, known widely as “Nichi”, current leader of New York’s Brooklyn Region and former Lead Evangelist of the Lagos church.
Devotional lessons were taught by Chris Ogbonnaya, Lead Evangelist of the International Church Christ Nigeria, and Evangelist John Obaje.Day two witnessed a mammoth crowd as it was a public holiday (Good Friday). The venue was almost filled to capacity as those who could not attend the Thursday opening ceremony and also missed out on the first three classes came out in their numbers.
The closing day, Sunday, was only the second time this year that the whole Lagos church met together for a combined service, and the atmosphere was charged up as the church was called to live the lives that God has called for in order for the next generation of disciples to continue
in the faith.
Further inspiration came when Olaoluwa Karunwii (left, with wife Abiodun), leader of the Lagos Teens Ministry, was appointed Evangelist. Olaoluwa was baptized in 1996, joined the full time ministry in 2002, and has selflessly served at the Ijebu Ode Church, the Ijesha Sector and the Banjul Church in Gambia.
In the Nigerian capital, Abuja, meanwhile, the 2011 edition of the ICOC Abuja Men’s Day, themed “To Know God and to Make God Known”, was a huge success. 170 men were in attendance, including the Ambassador of Cote D'Ivoire and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives.“The guest speaker, Mr.Ndubuisi Eke from Lagos did us proud,” shares Abuja Evangelist Okechukwu Emeka, enthusing, “We praise and honor the Lord for this heart-warming miracle that has brought to an end four months of prayer, faith and hardwork.”
As God continues to be glorified across West Africa, for more details about these and other exciting events in the region, click here.