…. as Global mandate conference holds

By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The Convener of the Global Mandate Conference, GMC, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, has urged church founders and pastors to make mission work a priority, describing it as the key to ensuring the gospel gains ground and produces the desired impact in society.

Kehinde made the call in a statement while announcing the annual Global Mandate Conference, a platform created for missionaries across Africa to retreat and “refire.”

Kehinde who also commented on the state of the Nigerian Church, attributing frequent doctrinal arguments and social media debates to a lack of focus on missions said, the reason why many have time to argue about doctrines and all sorts is because we are not doing what God called us to do,” he said.

He urged churches to refrain from “unnecessary bickering on the internet” and concentrate on evangelism, while also warning against the misuse of scripture for personal gain, which he identified as a root cause of ongoing controversies online.

According to him, churches must make deliberate efforts to place missions at the centre of their purpose.
“The task the Master gave us is to go into the world and make disciples of nations, teaching them to observe all that He has taught us. That was the last commandment, but the most important commandment,” he said.

He added that the gospel can only spread through active preaching, noting that evangelism remains essential to conversion and spiritual liberation.

“If the gospel is not preached, there is no way people will hear and be converted. It is the preaching of the gospel that produces power and brings liberation to souls,” he stated.

Kehinde, who noted that evangelism has declined over the years, rejected the notion that Nigeria has “too many churches,” stressing that the issue is not the number of churches but the lack of outreach to unreached populations.

“There cannot be too many churches because churches have to do with people, and there are people everywhere,” he said.

He further observed that much of the growth recorded by churches today is often due to movement of members from one church to another rather than new converts.

“Many of the churches that boast of growth today get their members from existing churches. That should not be. There are many people who are still unreached with the gospel,” he explained.

Kehinde also stated that mission work is not limited to rural areas, adding that churches can carry out missions within cities by targeting specific communities yet to experience the message of the cross.

Announcing the 2026 edition of the conference, Kehinde, who is also the founding pastor of Agape Generation International Church, said the event will take place from February 19 to 20 at the church’s headquarters in Mende, Maryland, Lagos.

About 200 missionaries from Nigeria, Africa, and Europe are expected to attend the conference, which has the theme “Great Power and Great Grace.”

He said participants will have the opportunity to listen to seasoned teachers of the Word, expressing hope that the gathering will strengthen missionaries for evangelism.

“We believe that without the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, it will be impossible to carry out the mission of evangelism,” he noted.

The Global Mandate Conference is expected to serve as a major gathering for missionaries seeking renewed spiritual strength and direction for mission work across Africa and beyond.