2022 ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES
OF THE
DIRECTORATE OF ECUMENISM; INTERFAITH RELATIONS AND SPECIAL DUTIES
By
REV ONIFADE, TESTIMONY OYEWOLE OLUSOJI M. Public Admin; PhD
Preamble
In a statement by Henri Bergson, Change is a reality that every mortal being contends with. Because” to exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating and progressing endlessly.” And the change we dread most may contain our salvation, says Barbara Kingsolver.
We are grateful to God that the ecumenical network and relations have taken progressive dimensions in the Nigerian Baptist Convention within the year 2022. The awareness was dynamic and promising.
OUR STEWARD OF NINE YEARS’ SERVICE IN CAN: Our prominent involvement for nine years brought an indelible landmark to the ecumenical pilgrimage as vice president and president of CAN, under the Immediate past Convention President, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle, who completed his term in July 2022. The ecumenical department applauds the incumbent president/CEO for leading the convention family to especially sponsor an appreciation and welcome home service for Dr. Ayokunle in recognition of his service to the Christian community of Nigeria. Apart from Baptist representations at the Abuja send-forth ceremony, a well-attended welcome service with handsome gifts was presented to the man of God. We thank all churches and organizations in attendance. This service attracted national honors conferred on him by the federal government, CON. We commend the Convention Executive, the apex leaders of organizations and departments for their unalloyed support, morally, materially, and financially during the service. The Convention sponsorship to most meetings and her prayer vanguard in diverse groups are noteworthy. We thank God that leadership in CAN during that period witnessed an unprecedented transformation and sustainable restructuring and new investments. This appreciation will be incomplete if I fail to recognize the overwhelming selfless support received from the incumbent President/ CEO of NBC, in providing material and financial resources, moral kindness, unreserved cooperation, and resilience to render selfless services at inconvenient times to CAN leadership throughout, too many to enumerate. Most important, the Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji for our first 3 years in Abuja, on CAN assignment as Vice President/President would deny himself comfort by releasing his only official car then, to convey the CAN President throughout his stay in Abuja.
ECUMENICAL NETWORKS WITHIN THE YEAR
The first All Africa Ecumenical Youth Gathering was held between October 31 to November 5, 2022, in Kasoa, Accra Ghana, with the theme “Africa: My Home, My Future”. This was attended by 38 Nations from Africa Continent. Our President, who is the LOC Chairman of the AACC 2023
General Assembly, together with 85 of our Young people represented the denomination (NBC). We thank the President for sponsoring the youths and applaud the youths and students ministries department for the ecumenical collaboration. We covet more of this from other organs of our convention.
The increasing rate of unemployed Pastors is posing threat to the security of the serving ministers as well.
The Directorate is resolute in promoting awareness of the Values of General Chaplaincy short-term training for the trained clergy as a way to combat the increasing rate of unemployed Seminary graduates. More achievement is recorded on this among the interested pastors. The directorate embarked on General Chaplaincy short-term orientation for any trained pastor who has the call for this specialized ministry during the year. The chaplaincy manual and curriculum writing on this are almost completed with the assistance of the academics in our institution. I wish to implore the services of the Pastors’ Conference to embrace this and promote it. For more pastoral counsel from Ecumenical Department. Please call the Director on +2348033447876
We are glad that the Kaduna Baptist High School Students have regained their freedom, except for one who on his own decision to stay back.
The faith-based unit work so hard on it and will continue in securing assistance to mitigate in this crisis. We thank the ICS Jos for collaboration with EDAPI. To all Churches and our institutions invite EDAPI to equip the members through Trauma Healing and on Church Strategic Security Workshop. These will be our major focus for PEACE EDUCATION& PEACE BUILDING in 2023. God’s willing.
Our department will be willing to provide trusted and competent resource Persons.
ECUMENISM FOR DEVELOPMENT & PEACE INITIATIVE (EDAPI) is the project or brain child of the directorate of ecumenism of the Nigeria Baptist Convention under the leadership of His eminence Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle. Edapi is an interdenominational organization and it’s been established to build Inter-faith relationships. Edapi was registered as an NGO with the Corporate Affairs Commission at FGN-CAC/IT/Number 96590 of 2017 in Nigeria
Edapi as an NGO has been established so the Nigerian Baptist Convention can be fully involved in impacting the lives of the people not just spiritually but economically, socially and politically; to earnestly transform the lives of the people through education by organising developments and empowerment programmes, seminars, conferences, workshops etc. Edapi in partnerships with the Bowen University, Iwo and Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, organised a National Civil Leadership Summit themed “Transformational Leadership” from July 24th – July 26th which was held at Bowen University. Several other summits would be coming up from time to time to prepare the people and arm them with the necessary tools to be successful in leadership positions.
Becoming a foremost godly organization protecting the interests of the disadvantaged for the actualization of their full potential.
To improve the well-being and rights of the masses through equipping, peace building, discipline and networking without any form of discrimination.
The campaigns of EDAPI is to help build the society by eradicating the ills and providing solutions to the challenges or problems in the society by empowering the people, building Inter-faith relationships, community mobilization, peace work, reconciliation, Research, etc. amongst other things. The campaigns of EDAPI are listed below.
Edapi is currently partnering with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Bowen University, Iwo (BUI), Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Youths off the Street Initiative and Juhst-Intents International. Edapi is also discussing with several other partners in other to meet the needs of the people.
Conclusively, we are pleased that Edapi has come to stay and to impact lives. We are very much open to partnerships with any organization that have similar goals with ours and are ready to work with us in alleviating poverty, youth empowerment, peace initiatives, bridging the divides across religious lines etc.