The Evangelical Church Winning All, (ECWA) has inducted its newly elected Vice President, Rev. Madubuko Chidi Joseph, to succeed the outgoing Vice President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Sunday Ajise.
ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat who inducted the leaders at the ECWA International Conference Hall, ECWA Headquarters, Jos, Plateau State charged them to remain faithful in service to God and the Church.
The President also inducted Rev. Dr. Ezekiel Babatunde Omidiji as the Church’s Zone 9 Trustee following the completion of the 10-year tenure of the outgoing Trustee, Rev. Engr. James Asonibare.
Rev. Dr. Bagat expressed appreciation to the outgoing leaders for their dedicated service to the Church, praying that God will reward their labour in His vineyard with good health, wisdom, and continued grace.
Delivering a sermon at the event, the General Secretary of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Associate Professor Benjamin Pokol, spoke on the theme, “Christian Ministry: Starting Well and Finishing Well.” He admonished the new leaders to emulate Jesus Christ by submitting to the will of God in all circumstances in order to succeed in ministry.
Speaking from 1 Corinthians 9:19–27, Rev. Pokol said following the example of Jesus requires church leaders to create mission-enabling structures that transform churches from maintenance-focused institutions into mission-oriented communities.
According to him, many churches have become overly executive in their operations at the expense of their missionary mandate.
“This requires that church leaders be consistent in following Jesus in order to experience progressive transformation, moving from over-familiarity to a rediscovery of the life-changing power of the Word of God,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, the new Vice President, Rev. Madubuko Chidi Joseph, gave glory to God, whom he described as the One who lifts people from where they are to where He desires them to be.
He thanked the Church for entrusting him with the leadership position and appealed for prayers and cooperation to enable the leadership to succeed not only in preserving the Church but also in advancing the Gospel in fulfilment of the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:19.
“By the grace of God, I will work with the President, the ECWA Executive, EMS, the General Church Council, DCCs, LCs, and mission partners to strengthen our missionary enterprise. We must intensify church planting, evangelism, discipleship, and Gospel expansion across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
During the ceremony, the outgoing Vice President and the outgoing Zone 9 Trustee formally handed over to their successors shortly after the oath-taking ceremony.
Special prayers were offered for the incoming leaders, while goodwill messages were delivered by well-wishers and members of the congregation.
