By Sam Eyoboka

PRIMATE of The African Church, His Eminence Josiah Udofia has charged newly installed officers of the church to seek God first and embrace stewardship as it is the only way of ensuring success in their ministerial assignment.

Speaking at the installation ceremony of Engr. Babatunde Adewale as the Lay President of the African Church and swearing-in of new officers at The African Church Cathedral Bethel in Lagos, the Primate urged the new administrators to see themselves as overseers of what belongs to God.

Addressing the capacity crowd of worshippers on a theme: “God’s way of achieving enduring success and prosperity,” he argued that “unless we go by God‘s ways, success and prosperity will be a mirage. Where the principle is not followed lack, poverty and miserable life will be the order of the day.

Most Rev. Udofia outlined four principles of success to include: Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness; we must be faithful stewards, administrators or overseer of what belongs to God; working in unity. As long as there is division in the church, there is bound to be failure; and we must have mission that drives us, stressing the need for the new officers to work in harmony to foster unity in the Church because that is where the presence of God is.

“When we do the right thing, all the good things we have been struggling for shall be added unto us. If we must get it right in God’s way, we must be ready to do the needful. This is because all the lies, hatred and all that will be accounted to God one day.

“It is very important for the administrators to have a vision. You must see beyond our bank account. You must also see beyond your members for the progressive development of the church,” the primate enjoined them.

Speaking on behalf of the new inductees, the new Lay President, Engr. Babatunde Adewale admonished members of the church to wake up to the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the church by taking part in spreading the word of God.

He said such can only be possible in an environment where there is unity because little is accomplished when there is divided loyalty, stressing that “I Corinthians 1:10 says ‘I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that there may be perfectly united in mind and thought’.

“The ministry of Word of God was not given to Angels but to you and me. Let us spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. African Church Arise!! Wake up to the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers. Arise and let us spread to every nook and cranny of this world,” he stated.

“Children of God can always do more together than they can when divided. A shared vision is the strength of unity. Let us share that vision of making African Church better than we found it.

“Its a new dawn in the history of African Church – Renaissance. Life is dynamic. Nothing is static. Knowledge is increasing; old things are gradually paving way for new ones and many shall run to and fro, as knowledge shall increase,” Engr. Adewale enjoined.