The Family – The Nucleus Of The Church

 “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of God shall stand forever”

                – Isa 40:8.

In discussing the family, we must only rely on the OWNER'S MANUAL, The Word of God - The BIBLE.

 THE FAMILY

What is a family?  A family is a union in which the husband and wife are properly married with each living their lives to please God individually and in the union.  A family is a unit where love is experienced, demonstrated and oneness is a watchword thus creating the relationship that exists among the Trinity between men on earth i.e. heaven on earth.

GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FAMILY

We can peep into God’s plan for the family by reviewing what God said concerning Abraham in Gen 18:19 “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he have promised.”

God’s plan for the world was channeled through Abraham by his obedience and by exemplary conduct in his leadership of his family who are supposed to follow after him in doing what is right and just.  He was to lead by example and thus become a channel for the actualization of God’s purpose in his generation.

The outcome of this character and obedience is that God will then accomplish His purpose for Abraham and through him, God’s purpose for mankind.

The family is therefore a unit of creation put in place to enable God accomplish His purpose on earth’

The Church, being the body of Christ, is therefore an aggregation of family units serving as vehicles for the accomplishment of God’s purpose.

ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY

The family is God’s own idea.  It is His provision for the lonely and the deserted, it is his mercy towards the man  He has made for His own pleasure.

THE CHALLENGES OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN NIGERIA

 TRANSFORMATION AGENDA OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNEMENT AND THE CHALLENGES OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN NIGERIA: WHICH WAY FORWARD FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

One of the most basic needs of people is shelter but in Nigeria and in sub-Sahara African most people still find housing a major challenge as even the smallest units are out their reach. It is interesting to note that all governments since Independence have always highlighted housing as a major priority. Although, the Federal government established the Federal Mortgage Bank to assist Nigerians in this regards, terms and conditions for mortgage loans have continually made it inaccessible to majority of Nigerians. Many housing developers have emerged in recent years in Nigeria, however the cost of owing such houses have almost made impossible to buy from them

The Federal Government under President YarAdua created the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development from the former the erstwhile Ministry of Works and Housing and tasked it with the provision of housing across the country; however a lot need to be done to address the huge gap existing in the housing sector.

MAJOR OBSTACLES TO HOUSING DELIVERY IN NIGERIA

In 1978 the Obasanjo regime passed the Land Use Act which vests the ownership of all Land in the government. Accessing the land for both Agriculture and Housing Development became a major problem. On assumption of office the President YarAdua promised to review the Land Use Act to make land more accessible. This pledge of Mr. President was not fully address before he died in 2010

Another challenge facing the housing delivery is the high cost of building materials in Nigeria. There are some restrictions on the importation of some building materials. Cement factories in Nigeria for instance are not meeting the local demand. Also steel which is needed in the building industry is hardly produced locally and since local currency fluctuate against foreign currencies prices of steel is not always stable. It was in need to address the problem of steel import that lead government to establish steel industries but they have not been in operation fully since establishment. With housing deficit hovering around 16 million units of housing, urgent measure should be put in place to avoid crisis in the future. This number of housing units will cost more than N45trn being speculated the way cost of building materials keep changing. Meanwhile in order to provide decent and affordable mass houses to meet the nation’s housing requirement, the Vision 2020 economic blueprint had recommended the construction of 600,000 housing units by the Federal Ministry of Housing. The State governments are not helping in regards to housing provision even in the state where they hold sway.

The high interest charged by financial institutions like banks have made acquisition of houses inaccessible. The government does not provide its workers necessary support to own houses in Nigeria as it is done in other developed economies.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NIGERIA IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY

(A) Acts 8: 1 – 8

Paul was in complete agreement with the killing of Stephen. And a great wave of persecution of the believers began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled into Judea and Samara. (But some godly Jews came and with great sorrow buried Stephen).

Paul was like a wild man, going everywhere to devastate the believers, even entering private homes and dragging out men and women alike and jailing them.

But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus! (The Living Bible).

(B) John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

(C) John 15:18 – 23

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

(D) Rom 12: 14, 17 – 21

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse … Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge: I will repay” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (NIV)

(E) 1Chr 16: 13 – 22

O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And has confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, unto thee I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

And when they went from nation to nation, from one Kingdom to another people; He suffered no men to do them wrong: yea, he reproved Kings for their sakes. Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm (KJV).

(F) 1Pet 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, a perculiar people: that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Brethren, these are Words of God for a traumatized church undergoing persecution. It is not easy to comprehend these admonitions when bombs are detonated in places of worship and people die for no other reason than for the fact that they decided to worship God in obedience to His admonition that believers must not forsake the assembly of God’s people.

How can a man explain to a traumatized church who has just lost loved ones to the cold hands of death, who is tending to the injured in the hospital that it is not right to seek revenge. But that is the truth! And that is the expectation of God upon our lives. This is hard teaching, but it is the truth and that is why many left from following Jesus in his days.

The Church in Nigeria had become complacent and lookwarm. A great many of us have become artists and show Business impresario telling the people what they want to hear and warming their way into people's pockets. The allure of filthy lucre has drawn a great many away from preaching righteousness and holy living. The business of prosperity on earth has overtaken the desire to lay our treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves do not break through or steal. Matt 6:19-20.

In most churches, the great commission has been left to a motley group referred to as EVANGELISM TEAM as if other members are not supposed to engage in evangelism.

Christianity has been relegated to an urban phenomenon in Nigeria where men of God built giant overcrowded edifices to the neglect of evangelizing the larger population in the rural areas. Whatever happened to Christ directive for us to go to the” uttermost part of the earth”.

This is the scenario of Spiritual laxity that saw to the resurgence of the enemy of the church to wreck havoc. Let no one think that geographical location is a protection from the wiles of the evil one.

The church must arise as one and claim our heritage in the Lord. We must not use the arm of the flesh for it will fail. We must arise knowing that our weapons of warfare are nor carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of stronghold

(2 Cor. 10:3 – 4) for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.

Brethren this being the case what must our response be?

The Church of God in Nigeria must in response to the present circumstance embark on a series of actions immediately. Let no Christian by reason of geographical location think that he is safe when brethren are attacked for no other reason but for their faith. The church must bind together as one to protect and defend one another as a protection for all in Nigeria.

The following actions are therefore recommended:-

VALEDICTORY SPEECH OF ENGR. SAMSON AMEH OPALUWAH AS OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF ABUJA CHAPTER OF IFMA

IFMA Abuja, was established on 15^th, March, 2006 when the then President of IFMA Nigeria, Mrs. Marrion Johnson and the Secretary Mrs. Iyabode Abaoba visited Abuja on the invitation of practicing facility managers in the Capital City to inaugurate the Abuja Chapter. Prior to this time, members of IFMA Nigeria domiciled in Abuja had to attend monthly meetings in Lagos at extreme cost and inconvenience.  A decision was therefore reached upon request that a chapter be inaugurated in Abuja, the new Federal Capital Territory.  After the inauguration, the chapter continued to meet monthly up till this time.

Intentions of Establishing Abuja Chapter of IFMA 

The establishment of Abuja Chapter of IFMA is part of a sustained effort by professional facility managers to arrest the decline in the management of Nigeria’s facilities and infrastructure. The nascent Federal Capital City of Abuja was clocking thirty years then and the facilities had started showing signs of wear and tear which if not quickly and professionally arrested will lead to a general decay of large portions of the Capital.  The Abuja Chapter of IFMA was thus established to among others: