The ICOFCC Third International Annual Conference was completely successful, a celebration of GOD’S favour and might in strengthening the commission and enhancing the advancement of HIS Word. New members were commissioned, further strategies on advancing the GOD’s word discussed. The success of this event is to the glory of GOD.
In continuation of promoting the United Nations eight millennium development goals, the international circle of faith chaplaincy corps (ICOFCC) in commissioning her 55 newly recruited members in Yola, Adamawa State of Nigeria in a series of activities from 4-15 June 2014 tagged her peace parley seminar “ PEACE A PIVOTAL TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” the peace parley attracted several people from different works of life, religious and opinion leaders, security personnel, community leaders and some government top functionaries. Free medical assistance was administered to several sick people make up of both old and young people in Bwaranji community of Yola.
DYNAMICS OF PEACE
INTRODUCTION: The man that knows you so well and yet is willing to keep your relationship often at personal sacrifices is your friend. The one who knows where you hurt, yet he can touch it without rubbing it in is also your friend. Friendship is a level of relationship based on experiences, so is peace, a character molded by knowledge.
Websters’ dictionary defines peace as a state of quietness and freedom from contention, disturbance, or war; ease of conscience or of the mind. From the above definition, there are few places on earth enjoying peace as at today. In fact most people on our roads are not at peace with themselves or with somebody else.
Peace is a spiritual force, you cannot see it with your eyes yet you know when it is not there. In some places, the influence of peace is very strong and it shows on the people. In some other places the influence is mild and so there is tension even when there is no identifiable conflict. It is therefore dynamic such that communities under its influence hardly organize safety or security measures.
WE MUST HAVE PEACE, BUT HOW!
1. It is a gift received from God. Jn 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. The world gives peace, religion gives peace to its adherents, but the ultimate peace is from God. By looking at how a community is flowing in harmony or boiling in conflicts one can easily understand the content and brand of peace that is prevailing there. Everyone therefore can hold on to the word “peace” but by their lifestyle the truth is known from error.
2. Those who have received peace must give it to others. It is a spiritual law that says that what you sow, you also reap. However, sowing goes as seeds but reaping comes as harvest. The quantities are different.
All over the world, children appreciate gifts. A gift tells a child that you are pleased with him. In fact he understands it to mean love. Adults may not be disposed to accepting a material gift from a stranger but a word that contains an answer to a challenge is welcome. Then give it with a selfless motive. So the onus is on those who know peace to explore the best way to pass it on to those who don’t know much of it despite their differences. So we must build human communication bridges that are adapted to individual challenges, family challenges and community challenges.
3. We must be proactive with peace (1 Pet 3:10-11)
“For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it”.
It is best to engage peace initiatives before a conflict explodes into violence. It is clear from our national experiences that a conflict can transform itself. Example (a) Two little boys playing in a field can lick themselves into a fight. If it is not arrested on the spot, fans from both sides can jump into the pitch and from the play ground into the host community. Anything can happen from then on.
(b) Very often when a small misunderstanding is allowed to brew over a period of time, other negative imputes will inflate the issue into a conflict. By the time the rage is over and issues are brought to the round table for discussion, the very cause of the conflict has been submerged and may not even be mentioned.
The way things are now in our states, it will be ideal to set up crisis committees from seasoned elders whose focus is to wade into a conflict, separate the belligerent factions, study the causes and embark on resolution of the conflicts. But until peace is restored, no conflict has been resolved permanently.
We must bear in mind that a purely political or economic crisis has a short fuse and can easily burn out no matter how intense it is. On the other hand, an ethnic conflict can drag for some generations.
However a religious conflict is devastating and does not go away on its own. It seems to have a post millennial elasticity. It is like a terminal or age related disease that has no cure but has to be managed for life. Every one must put on efforts to head off a religious confrontation. It will destroy those who started it, those who fan it into flames and those who belatedly try to extinguish it. When a conflict transforms itself to incorporate economic, political, ethnic and religious dimensions then the worst has arrived. The preacher and practitioner of peace becomes an endangered specie. We must pray, act responsibly and with speed to ensure that something can be salvaged.
Dynamics of peace
A paper presented by E.P. Ajaero (DD)
Secretary General, International Circle of Faith Chaplaincy Corps at the commissioning of the chaplaincy cadets in Yola on 13/06/2014.
THREE DAYS INTERNATIONAL MINISTERS CONFERENCE OF MEN/WOMEN OF GOD’S COMMISSIONING OF ICOFCC AND AWARDS. THEME: “HELPING ME I DO NOT HAVE A FATHER”
INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE OF FAITH CHAPLAINCY CORPS (ICOFCC) (AFRICA/NIGERIA COMMAND) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY (NOA), IMO STATE ORGANIZE A 3 – DAY INTERNATIONAL MINISTERS CONFERENCE OF MEN/WOMEN OF GOD, COMMISSIONING OF ICOFCC AND AWARDS.
THEME: “HELP ME I DO NOT HAVE A FATHER”
At Rosy Arts Theater, Ikenegbu, Owerri, Imo State, January 17(Thursday.)-19(Saturday.) 2008, 10:00 am Daily DAY-2 (Friday. 18 Jan., 2008) LECTURE: “THE CHURCH AND MORAL DECADENCE IN THE NIGERIA CONTEXT”
LECTURER: Chief Deacon, Professor Chinyere I. Iwuoha, the Administrator, the New Jerusalem Liberation Church Int’l Inc., Temporary Headquarters Office, 13 School Road, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
KEYWORDS: [1] The Church, [2] Moral [3] Decadence, [4] The Nigeria context.
KEY1. Church
A house set apart for public worship.
a.The whole body of Christians
b.Any particular set or denomination of Christians
c.Any body professing a common creed, not necessarily Christians
KEY2. Moral:
(Character, Conduct, Ethical).
a. Character: mark, distinctive qualities, reputation
b. Conduct: the directing, the leading, the managing of behaviour
c.Eth ic (ethical): rules of behavior
NB: It calls for control-checks and balances, limits, tolerance levels
KEY3. Decadence.
State of decay; Degeneration/rotting away; A decline from a superior state or std; Wasting away; A falling into a worse or less perfect state; A wearing away; The impairing.
KEY(2+3). Immorality.
This implies the exhibition, practice and actions that are inconsistent with, show Disregard to, good character, proper and decent conduct and rules that are in consonance with Phil. 4:8 (Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {honest: or, venerable}). Indulgence in animal passion, wickedness, and sexual perversions are serious ingredients of the vice called immorality. This is analogous to decision tree we encounter in quality control for conclusions or drawing inferences. It is similar to algorithm in computer programming which employs “IF” to aid the decision-making.
A school of thought are of the view that, ‘whatever you wish to do or talk about anything/anybody, check whether you will give positive response to this prerequisites, ◦Is it true/honest, (b) Is it friendly/comforting, (c) Is it edifying/Godly, (d) Is it necessary. If the responses to all the quizzes are POSITIVE, then say it or do it, but if not, then refrain/repent from such attitude/behaviour/conduct
KEY4. The Nigeria Context.
This means Nigeria’s unique background (historical and spiritual upbringing and experience, her conditions and setting); circumstance; environment (location, atmosphere); framework (agenda, plan); milieu (location); perspective (viewpoint); and situation (state of affair).
NB: These call for repairing and fortification of sound morals via teaching, counsel and encouragement
THE TEXT:
•APPOINTMENT OF PASTORS, DEACONS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH
(1 Tim. 3:1-7,8-12): The principles / procedures to follow/adopt are spelt out and good judgments are also embedded in our hearts, if we have sincere conscience towards the church and faithfulness towards God Almighty Father, of what to do. However, what is obtained are (have been) Nepotism (family business, whether qualified or not); (b) Politicking, (c) Man-know-man tactics, (d) Cash –and-carry practice (the highest bidder gets the position/office). All these ran contrary to prayerful Divine consultations prior to the selection of any worker/officer in the church or under some Ministries. Through these wrong basis novices are appointed at the expense of qualified/experienced candidates.
The tragedy of an immoral act; Prov. 7: 1-27; 5: 3-5
RESOUNDING CALL Proverbs 7:1-5; 6:20-24; 2 Peter 1:12-13; 3:1 The call to youth to keep and obey the word of God is much often repeated in the book of Proverbs. This repetition is not an indication of lack of other admonitions to make. Rather it is to emphasize the importance of upholding the Word of God as a standard to control youths’ thoughts, actions and reactions, and weigh their decision, keeping to God’s will, therefore, assist youths to know the right way to follow in the wilderness of this world. Not only this, it makes them avoid devil’s traps set for them in their success academically, physically and spiritually. Friend, what have you done with God’s Word? If you actually desire good life and victory, you must keep God’s commandments as “the apples of thin eye” No wonder the call is still resounding.
RECOUNTED CONDUCT
Proverbs 7:6-23; Genesis 39:7-12. The passage read in the book of Proverbs focuses our attention on the immoral conduct of a young boy and a woman. Having no fear and the Word of God in his heart, he was described as a person “void of understanding” Being easily persuaded (“simple”) and desiring to satisfy the sinful desire of the flesh (lust), he went to the place of temptation. Without any resistance, he fell and lost his life. What a lesson! He went to the place of doom “in the blood and dark night.” These, he was promised pleasure but got pain. His seducer, through her appearance, speech and promise, convinced him. For “with her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him” His emotion then was aroused and without thinking twice, off he went for his destruction. Compare this young man with Joseph in the Bible. Joseph, full of God’s Word and fear, saved his life from a seducer. Consequently, God rewarded him.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY MR. VITUS EKEOCHA, STATE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY (NOA) IMO STATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A 3-DAY MINISTERS OF GOD CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE OF FAITH CHAPLAINCY CORPS (ICOFCC)
The mission of ICOF Chaplaincy is to reach people in specialized settings through extraordinary ministries that are Biblical based, compassionate, and transforming
It gives me great pleasure to be in your midst today to address you at this Ministers of God conference. This conference is of great important to us in our quest to inculcate value, re-orientation and attitudinal change toward the bettering of our society. It is realization of this fact that the National Orientation Agency and International Circle of Faith Chaplaincy Corps (ICOFCC) decided to collaborate to organize this 2-day conference for Men of God to redirect them to the Gospel of God.
The word “Minister” means Servant. Ministers of God are God’s servants and by extension servants of the people. Redacting the ministers to our Lord Jesus Christ, ministers are called to serve and not to be served. However, to the ministers of God nowadays the reverse is the case. The servant-leadership attitude is not found in some of them and this has affected the work of God adversely and painted Christianity black.
One recalls the Biblical recordings of the eventful days of Apostle Paul who as an exemplary soldier of the cross, who for want of pressing towards the mark, fought a good fight and kept the faith, and for the Excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as His Lord suffered the loss of all things and counted them as dung (2 Tim. 4:7, Phil. 3:8). Paul said, “I press towards the mark for prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Thus, any Minister of God who genuinely is called by God must always remember that there is a mark already set by God to be reached by any of His servants who must win the exalted prize of the high calling.
Nowadays, our Ministers of God have different orientation about their calling. The call to serve has become worldly, as the only way to recognize a “Minister of God” is the type of expensive cars he or she uses. This quest for worldly things has led to a lot of unhealthy rivalry among the Minister of God is not determined by the type of car he or she uses nor by the large congregation he/she gathers but by the true word of God that he teaches.
The Ministers of God should not water down the Word of God for the sake of money by preaching selective messages aimed at massaging the ego of the so-called political bigwigs with the intention of winning contracts or being giving handsome monetary gifts. As Ministers of God, you are agents of change and transformation, you should be bold to confront the political class and rebuke them whenever they are not rendering services for which they were voted into power. A situation, where Minister of God are always competing, trying to outwit one another, carrying cap-in-hand to the Government house to beg for help, how can they play their God-given mandate of transforming the character of the society. This requires a change of attitude, for God who called you is more than able to supply all your needs in abundance and build His Church.
We believe that in all things, a Minister of God should show himself/herself a pattern of good works, showing integrity, being incorruptible, avoiding foolish disputes. Remember, the flocks under you are watching your lifestyle to take example from you. Like St. Paul, could any minister boldly tell his congregation to emulate him as he emulates Christ? It is only when the Word of God is presented in holiness and purity of heart that it can transform characters. Please I urge you not to be a hindrance to the work of God.
Finally, if the churches, exemplified by their Clergies will understand and play their true roles as agents of change and social control, immoral behaviours in our society will be reduced to a minimal level. If our men of God would stand firm to worship God and not money, nor human glory, not fame and titles, the job of governance would be quite easy for our political leaders, and the society in general would be a better place to live In.
The officer of a Minister of God is a very honourable and respected one. Much more our tithes and offerings go to them. As the Bible puts It; to whom much is given, much is expected, the society expects much from our Men of God unto whom God has given the great and high calling and made them Shepherds over the rest of us.
Once more, may I thank everybody who has found time to be at this conference and pray that the Ministers of God will be spiritually enriched after this exercise, so as to have the proper Ministerial Orientation to preach the Word and save more soul.
Have a very fruitful deliberation.
Thank you and God bless you all.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY JOHN EKWONIKE Phd;D.min. ON THE OCCASION OF MINISTERS OF GOD CONFERENCE AND COMMISSIONING OF INTERNATIONAL CIRCLE OF FAITH CHAPLAINCY CORPS (ICOFCC) TITLED “HELP ME I DO NOT HAVE A FATHER” AT THE ROSY ARTS THEATRE, OWERRI IMO STATE NIGERIA ON 17TH JANUARY, 2008
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State Chief Ikedi Ohakim, other Protocols observed. It is my privilege today to present before you the Mission of the International Circle of Faith Chaplaincy Corps (ICOFCC) in Nigeria in particular and Africa in General. The body is set up one, to bring the Gospel (Good News) to all people in all works of life including those in Hospital, Prisons, Military/Security Institutions, Corporations, and disaster areas etc. In addition, the purpose is to raise a disciplined chaplains who will spare no effort in bringing the message of hope and love to those who are starved of God’s care. It is an extraordinary service for those clear propose is to minister on the battle fields of our world especially in those areas and or cultures where conventional ministry cannot reach or is not received and to match words with positive social actions.
Chaplaincy Ministry Target include:
Correctional: The outfit is poised to present the amazing gift of freedom purchase by Christ for us in such a way that it transforms the attitudes of the inmates positively: Therefore we are headed to the jails, prisons, juvenile facilities etc. We will follow up with aftercare programs for those discharged.
•Healthcare: Our healthcare Chaplains revive the hopes of people in pains especially when the borden of healthcare becomes intolerable. There are times when doctors, their patients and loved ones are forced to look elsewhere for services and Chaplains can communicate God’s never ending comfort. So we are active in assisted living centers, hospitals, hospice centers, nursing homes, health Mental facilities and Retirement Communities.
•In occupational: Our all occupations, there are hazards. Our Chaplaincy is poised to relate to professionals to share God’s love and care. These areas include the police, fire service, the military etc. We believe we must confront the spiritual humanitarian and social needs of the people. There are therefore programs developed by ICOFCC designed for the Nigeria peculiarities; some of which all including: Alternative conflict resolution, Grass root youth information; rehabilitation of drug addicts, prostitutes; grison and disaster management services, emergency relief services, life and accident victim rescue operations etc
Your Excellency Sir, ladies and gentlemen, we are depending on God but we grave your cooperation in our quest to renew the mind set of our people and prompt honour and virtue.
God bless you all.
