By Adeola Ogunlade
The Lagos chapter of Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), one of the five blocs of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has challenged churches to position themselves for opportunities for ministerial exploits post-COVID-19.
Ministerial operations, according to the body, had changed since the coronavirus pandemic, opening up new windows of opportunities for churches to reach more souls.
The body stated this at its special end-of-the-year meeting in Lagos.
Lagos OAIC’s General Secretary, Senior Apostle Ezekiel Daramola, who presented a paper entitled: Impact of Year 2020 crisis on OAIC churches, said the outgoing year had shown that there were greater opportunities for soul-winning.
He pointed out that despite the lockdown, a lot of churches employed alternative means such as teleconferencing, live streaming, online prayer sessions and social media platforms to hold normal church services.
He challenged OAIC churches to employ same despite the ease of lockdowns because many Christians had become used to the alternative channels of worships.
Churches, he said, have to upgrade their Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and multi-media ministry to retain members and win new ones.
He urged them to improve themselves because ministry has gone beyond physical activities.
“Pastors,” according to him, “must reinvent themselves with current trends, especially ICT knowledge to be relevant and minister to multimedia believers.”
He also said they must uplift the humanitarian part of the churches because the pandemic has shown “church members are going through a lot than they want to talk about.”
“This is the time that pastors should be more passionate to show they really care for the church members. They must find ways to make the members feel the positive impact in their lives and situations.”
Daramola further advised churches to invest more in multimedia ministry as well as train members and pastors to use them for more reach.
“They are to make necessary adjustment in their service plans and messages. The age of parochialism is over. New innovations are needed in pastoral activities to combat the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed to the world.”, he said.
Chairman Lagos OAIC, Apostle Julius Opasola, said churches would certainly thrive post-COVID-19.
