WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED BY REV. DR. SEGUN JAYESIMI, PRESIDENT OGUN BAPTIST CONFERENCE TO THE WESTERN ZONE OF NIGERIAN BAPTIST PASTORS HELD AT IDI-ABA BAPTIST CHURCH, ABEOKUTA ON MONDAY 10TH OF FEBRUARY, 2014.

INTRODUCTION

I hereby welcome all pastors, PRC and other leaders of this Organization to Ogun Baptist Conference in the precious name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. May The Lord bless our gathering with His presence and power for His glory and relevance in the ministry. Amen.

BRIEF HISTORY OF OGUN BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Ogun Baptist Conference was inaugurated in January, 1977. She came out of Western Baptist Conference. Nevertheless, the Baptist mission efforts started with 

 the first American Baptist missionary sent to Nigeria from Southern  Baptist Convention, Rev Thomas Jefferson Bowen. He stayed in Abeokuta for a period of one and half years and thus started the work, studied Yoruba language and also wrote a book on Yoruba Grammar. Many Baptist Churches were later started in different parts of this State to form this Conference. They included The First Baptist Church Ijaye, Abeokuta (1862), Ebenezer Baptist church Saje, Abeokuta (1866), Owu Baptist Church Owu, Abeokuta (1903). Churches were also started in Ijebu area by Rev Moses Oladejo Stone. There were missionary efforts in other parts of the Conference.

 The Conference has produced two heads of The Nigerian Baptist Convention in persons of Rev Dr James Tanimola Ayorinde and Rev Dr Emmanuel Ajayi Dahunsi both of blessed memory. The following Baptist Schools are located in Ogun Conference: Baptist Girls College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta. Baptist Boys High School, Saje, Abeokuta. Baptist High School, Ilaro and Baptist Grammar School, Ogbogbo.

Ogun Baptist Conference has twenty one Associations and three hundred and seventy-two Churches. There are eight Worship Centres for Baptist Student Fellowship in the tertiary institutions located in the Conference. A total number of two hundred and nine pastors are serving in the Conference.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION

I hereby congratulate all pastors of Nigerian Baptist Convention on the Centenary Celebration. It is a great opportunity to be living witnesses of this celebration. It is certain that most of us will not be around for two hundred years celebration of the Convention if Jesus Christ tarries to come. Therefore, this centenary celebration calls for thanksgiving to God for all His goodness and faithfulness to the Convention family. It is also appropriate to re-examine the purpose of our existence for evaluation. The correct assessment of the purpose will guide us on the right track necessary for forward movement. I pray for meaningful and fulfilling celebration in Jesus name. Amen.

THEME RELEVANCE

The relevancy of the theme of this retreat that is calling attention to the renewal of ministries is appropriate for this end times. Many Ministers of the gospel are losing focus in the ministry and thus left the duty post. Many are using obsolete methods that are not compliant with the present technological development and thus become maintenance Ministers. It becomes imperative for us to examine our ways, skills and ministries for renewal and rededication in order to be relevant in the programmes of God for this generation.

CONCLUSION

I urge us to make the best use of this retreat time for the edification of ourselves which will result in the upliftment of the ministries and also bring glory to the name of our Lord. You are welcome to Ogun Baptist Conference.

OGUN BAPTIST CONFERENCE WORKERS’ SEMINAR FOR 2013 THE ROLES OF USHERS IN THE FULFILLMENT OF MISSION AND EVANGELISM BY: REV. WALE ADEBAYO UNION BAPTIST CHURCH, OLOMORE, ABEOKUTA

INTRODUCTION

Mission and Evangelism is the mandate giving to the church by our Lord Jesus Christ. The church must strife harder to fulfill this mandate in this generation of ours. Ushers are integral part of the church, therefore the role of Ushers in fulfillment of Mission and Evangelism cannot be over emphasized. Infact, Ushers are absolutely essential in any church activities. They are essential because they perform very important ministries or duties in the church.

•                   THE USHER AS THE FIRST CHURCH IMAGE

Usher is the first person any worshiper sees or meets as he or she enters the church premises or any spiritual gathering. It means that the Usher goes a long way to set the tone for the day or dictate the kind of worship experience the worshipper will have.

Moreover, it may be seen that the church Usher occupies a strategic office in the life and image of the church. He/she is first person to be respected and appreciated. He is the embodiment of the gracious spirit of the religious group (i.e. he/she shows the kind of people in the gathering).

Often unknowingly, Usher is the friend who shares in making the lonely feel cared for, the bereaved see hope, the sinner feel forgiveness, the discouraged feel cheered, the rich feel generous, the poor feel rich, and everyone feel enjoined to unselfish love for his/her neighbor. In short, Usher is the instrument who introduces the individual to every practical expression of the church’s mission and to the presence of the almighty.

•                   THE PERSON WHO USHERS

For a successful ushering ministry, the person who ushers is expected to posses the following qualifications;

•                He/she must be genuinely born again (Acts 8:26-36).

•                He/she must be a person of good report both inside and outside the church.

•                An Usher must be a committed Christian.

•                Usher must be a person of prayer

•                He/she must be very sensitive to the needs of the members and visitor. This calls for nothing but his sensitivity to the Holy spirit of God.

•                Usher must be friendly to people.

•                He/she must be a person full of humility. Be cheerful and courteous even when people are rude and adamant.

•                He/she must be a faithful person to God and him/herself.

•                He/she must have spirit of self control

•                Usher must be able to relate well with people.

•                He/she must be well dressed. 

•                THE ROLE OF USHERS IN ANY SPIRITUAL GATHERING

Ministry of the Ushers is an indispensible part of the church’s ministry. Imagine there is no Usher in a spiritual gathering, the result would be disorder. Therefore, Ushers must perform these and some other roles towards fulfillment of mission and evangelism.

•                They take care of the logistic such as:

•       Taking cooperate prayer before the worship or program starts.

•       Making sure the chair or benches are well arranged before the worshippers arrive.

•       Making sure the lights and fans are on if necessary.

•       They must have basic information about the facilities available within the church building or compound i.e. toilets, tap, children church, first aid room etc.

•       The offering bags or baskets, bulletin, tithes card, visitors’ card and other thing needed for the service must be within the reach of Ushers.

•                They must maintain orderliness during the service by:

•       Welcoming people coming to the service with smile “first impression last longer”.

•       Give out bulletins or program for the service

•       They will seat worshippers at appropriate point in the service

•       Receive the tithes and offering

•       Seek for people’s comfort

•       Count the people (worshippers)

•       Leading the children to their place of service

•                They must perform these tasks at the end of every worship service

•       Watch carefully as the people march out of the sanctuary

•       Watch out as people go where they kept their belongings

•       Wait on the pastor as he greats the worshippers. He may require gifts such as tapes, magazine e.t.c. to be brought for him for the worshippers.

•       They are expected to be ready to handle all emergencies.

As the service come to an end, all Ushers should ensure that things are in proper place, then come together for prayer.

•                They have opportunities to witness

Your service as an Usher will place you in a strategic location to witness. You will have the opportunity to show the love of Christ as you interact with members and visitors. Your mood will be caught by many who are entering the sanctuary for worship. A positive mood will help them to be positive. You can use the phrase like “Good morning, Jesus loves you”, “Greeting, this is the day the Lord has made” “smile, Jesus loves you, and I love you too. e.t.c. to the people entering the worship place for worship. When you are doing this, you are planting a positive word about Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to use it during the service.

You will have opportunities for witnessing. Be ready to share your faith. Note that anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. Take that to heart, put it into practice as you usher. Ushering is worth doing. So do it well. 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, if the mandate giving to us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is going to be fulfill, then Ushers have great task to perform. Usher should note that all the workers in the church are working toward the same goals and it pays to serve than to be served. Therefore, we all need to work together to fulfill the task of winning soul for Christ. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Clark, Thomas L. A Guide for the Church Usher. Nashiville: Broadman Press, 1984

Johnson, Alvin D. The Work of the Usher. USA: The Judson Press, 1967

Olufemi, Tunde. Ushers & Ushering Ministry In the 21^st Century Church, Abeokuta: n.p, nd

Oyemomi, Emmanuel O. The Place of Usher in Worship. Abeokuta: Praise Publication, 2001

OGUN BAPTIST CONFERENCE WORKERS’ SEMINAR FOR 2013 KINGDOM MANDATE “The Roles of Deacons in Mission and Evangelism Efforts” BY DEACON L.A. OKUNADE

Kingdom mandate is a Divine Command and Order from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is generally referred to as “The Great Commission” Just before His ascention to heaven “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18 – 20             New Living Translation)    

This command is to every spirit-filed Christian Deacons inclusive. Deacons in the early church took this mandate very serious as recorded in the Acts – Philip and Stephen example. These deacons faithfully served the table, but they did not stop at that. They also preached the good news of Christ wherever they were. Philip was both deacon and Evangelist. They served as church workers kingdom preachers and missionaries. Deacon Stephen obeyed the mandate to the last breath of his life thus becoming the first mytha for the sake of the kingdom.

With the above preamble, the present generation of deacon, I mean deacons that are spirit-filled and in good spiritual standing before God and man have no option than to obey and effect the commission.

Jesus says “You are my friends if you obey Me” Obedient Deacons shall play active roles and relentless efforts through effective evangelism and mission works. The outline below is a guide to follow:

I.             Deacons must be evangelism oriented  - planting churches

-          Deacons must take evangelism as a priority assignment

-          Deacons must sensitize the church members

-          Deacons must set up a prayer group-intercessory

-          Deacons are expected to witness to the nearest person within neighborhood

-          Deacons are expected to witness to foreign places far and near

-          Deacons must make disciples of such new people in the kingdom 

II.             Deacons must cooperate with the church program on both home and foreign missions:

Deacons must be mission conscious and demonstrate

-          Leadership in giving for mission works

-          Sponsoring pastors/missionaries on the field

-          Adopting churches home/foreign mission field

-          Meeting the needs of missionaries or the needs of their children

III.       Deacons must come to the knowledge of relevant scriptures that count so much on their services to win souls into the kingdom: (A) Romans 10:13 – 15

How will the world hear if we do not tell them?

“For whoever call upon the name of the Lord will be saved How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent” Deacons should evaluate themselves through this checklist to note certain excuse(s) they might have used for not bothering to pray for and reach the lost for Jesus:

(a)      I did not know of the Bible’s teaching that every person is lost until he or she believes on Jesus.

(b)     I did not understand the reality and horror of hell for the unsaved.

(c)    I have not accepted my personal responsibility to obey Jesus command in His great Commission.

(d)   I have been too busy keeping my own family and myself together to bother with other peoples problems.

(e)    My Church and Christian Organization see evangelism as a project-not rescuing souls from satan’s kingdom.

(f)    I have been taught to be tolerant of all peoples religions and not to think of mine as superior to theirs

(g)   Since God knows who will be saved anyway, why should I bother?

(h)   I lack understanding of the power of the Holy Spirit to use and bless my seemingly feeble efforts.

(i)     I am afraid I will fail

(j)     I am afraid of discussing spiritual matters 

(k)   I would rather be liked by people than to push my religion on them

(l)     I just have not cared

              Deacons, grade yourself and take steps to amend wherever it is necessary. However, pray this prayer:

1.      Ask God to forgive you for each one of your excuses for not bothering to pray for and win people to Jesus

2.      Ask God to give you His burden for the lost near you and around the world.

3.      Promise God you will start to pray faithfully for the lost

4.      Promise God that you will obey as He directs you to witness to the lost.

EVANGELIZE IN THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT BUT NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH   

(B)        Deacons must allow the Holy Spirit indwell them. Let us recall here the activities and effect of the Holy Spirit on those ones sent out to tell the world about Jesus: (i) Lk 24:49- “And behold I am sending forth the promise of my father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power form on high”

(ii)         Acts 1:8” But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth” This promise of the Holy Spirit came to pass on the Pentecost Day –Acts 2:4

-          Acts 11:22-24: Says that when God used Barnabas to bring considerable numbers to the Lord, He was full of the Holy Spirit

-          Paul said it was God’s power that worked mightily in him. Colossians 1:29

-          When Paul confronted supernatural evil and the magician was struck blind (Acts 13:8-11), Paul’s power was because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

-          The Holy Spirit gave these followers boldness to preach to those that crucified Jesus: Acts 2:14-23

-          Their courage to suffer and even die for Jesus was because of the Holy Spirit in them.

Finally beloved brother deacons pray fervently to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who is the only, power enabling us play our roles faithfully in evangelizing and mission works both at Home and foreign lands, so that we all may say like Paula of Tarsus “How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trust worthy and appointing me to serve Him” 1^st Timothy 1:12 NLT.