BUILDING THE CHURCH THROUGH THE FAMILY

          The topic above has two principal components, the Church and the family. This paper discussion intends to show the nexus between the family and the Church in God’s plan for humanity.

THE BIBLE

          God has revealed Himself to mankind through His Word.  Millions of people have been impacted, challenged and continued to be blessed by the message contained in the Holy Bible.

          The  Bible contains the inspired Word of God suitable for teaching, for reproof, conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness in holy living, in conformity with God’s will in thought, purpose and action (2Tim3:16). This God given resource will therefore be the principal source of this discussion.

THE FAMILY  

          The family is derived from the Latin word familia and in human context is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity (by recognized birth) affinity (marriage) or co-residence/shared consumption (Nurtured kinship).  Members of the immediate family may include a spouse, parent, sibling, son, daughter. Members of the extended family may include grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew and niece.

          The family is very important in God’s eyes.  He has a special concern and cares for the family institution which He created for various purposes amongst which are:-

          1.       For a Man and Woman to love each other unconditionally.  

2.       That members of the family may provide for the physical and emotional needs of each of its members.  

3.       To procreate and populate the world.

          In God’s view, the family is the place where people are schooled and moulded for life (Jim and Judy Kemp 2012).

EXCERPTS OF THE GRADUATION PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE CHAIRMAN BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF ECWA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IGBAJA ON Friday, 1st November, 2013

 Gentlemen of the Press

 

2.     I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 

3.     It is with great pleasure that I address you today on behalf of the board of governors of ECWA Theological Seminary, Igbaja, on the occasion of our 2013 graduation ceremony.

 

4.     We give honour and glory to God for giving us the grace to get to this stage of releasing our graduands who have successfully gone through an approved programme and are adjudged capable of being recognized and certified by ECWA Theological Seminary, Igbaja.

 

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ECWA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, IGBAJA

 

The Beginning

 

5.       Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Theological Seminary, Igbaja, started as a Bible College in 1941 with eighteen students as an institution of the Sudan Interior Mission (now Society for International Ministries) for biblical and pastoral training. According to Late Rev. Olatayo.

6.       Rev. W. G. Crouch started the only SIM Bible School taught in English with appropriate subjects in 1941 at Igbaja. The institution was called “Seminary.” It had 14 male students in its first class ever.

7.       They were drawn from various professional backgrounds.

 

AN ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF ETSI DR. SAMSON A. OPALUWAH, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 49TH GRADUATION CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013

In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I welcome everyone here present at this very important ceremony – the 49^th Convocation programme of this great Institution, ETSI.  Please permit me to specially welcome the leadership of the ECWA – the President, Rev. (Dr.) Jeremiah Gado, the ECWA General Secretary, who happens to be our Guest Speaker today, Rev. (Prof.) Samuel Kunhiyop, and all members of their team.

2.       It gives me a great pleasure to on behalf of Board of Governors of ETSI, give this address which I can appropriately call my inaugural address to this august assembly as the new Chairman.

3.       I however can’t afford to continue with this address without first and foremost acknowledging the great work of the immediate past Board of Governors under the most enviable leadership of Prof. Luke Dayo Edungbola.  This is a team that has aptly left its mark on the solid sand of progress in this Institution.  I invite this assembly to please rise and applaud God for the excellent administrative and advisory work this enviable team  had done. May the good Lord reward you for all your labour.

4.       Let me also acknowledge the current hard working management team of the Institution under the visionary leadership of Prof. Julius Lawal, the Provost.  It certainly won’t be an overstatement to assert that this team has, within the last one year, given the Institution a face-lift that beats human imagination.  The development, spiritual and physical, are all there for us to see.  This team also deserves our applause.  So also do the Academic, Faculty and indeed all members of staff deserve commendation for their commitment and zeal to serve.

5.       Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t intend to bore you with the background history of ETSI.  The man who knows it better, the Provost, has already adequately done that.  He has also presented to us a comprehensive update on the academic achievements and the Institution’s future plans to further strengthen this area, especially the efforts to add the NCE programme and courses for the award of PhD to the existing curriculum.  Not the least, I congratulate the 250 students that are graduating today.  They are in this order: 3 each from the Women Bible School and Certificate in Pastoral Studies Class; 12 will be awarded certificate in Theology; 10 Diploma in Pastoral Studies while 17 are graduating with Diploma in Theology.  For the Bachelor of Arts Degrees we have 32 in Christian Education, 38 in Pastoral Studies, 24 in Theology, and 10 in Missions.  At the Master of Arts level, we have 8 graduands in Divinity; 12 in Christian Education, 6 in Missions and Evangelism, 2 in Theology (Old Testament), 1 in Systematic Theology, and 14 in Theological Studies.

Acceptance Speech At PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS’ GROUP MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (PMG-MAN) DAY OF RECOGNITIONS

Engr S.A Opaluwah receiving his award 

I give God the glory for this event. 

I wish to most sincerely thank the leadership and members of the PMG-MAN for this award. 

I have closely interacted with the members and leadership of the PMG-MAN in the course of my duty tour at the Federal Ministry of Health where I was the Director of Procurement. I believe that this event is a consequence of that period of my public service. When I was informed of today’s event, I was very surprised in the sense that while I knew and interacted with members of PMG-MAN, defended their cause, both at home and at some international fora, I was merely doing my duty as a government official in the Health Ministry and also a patriotic Nigerian. 

You can therefore understand my surprise for being recognized for something I enjoyed doing. I am most deeply appreciative. With the advent of the Obasanjo administration on 29th May,1999, the country’s public expenditure profile came under the searchlight of international finance institutions.  Nigeria was then saddled with a huge public debt profile, both local and foreign, that stifled development and made life intolerable within our polity. 

The Man: Engr S.A Opaluwah!

Engr. Samson Ameh Opaluwah is a Construction Engineer, a Professional Builder, a Facility Manager and a Procurement Expert. Born on October 1st, 1954 at Idah in Kogi State of Nigeria, Engr. Opaluwah is married with one wife and five children{ four ladies and one man}  He is presently the Director of Procurement in the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja. 

He attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria {1975-1978} where he obtained a BSc. first class honours degree in Building, Leeds University, England {1981-1983} and St. Clement University, West Indies between {1998- 2002} for the MSc. & PhD. degrees in Civil Engineering & Management respectively. 

He was a member of the management team at Benue Cement Company Plc. Gboko who took over the management of the company from the expatriate managers in the eighties and brought the company to the stock exchange as a blue chip investment in 1990. Engr. Opaluwah joined the Federal Public Service in 1999, in the Presidency, as the pioneer Director of Maintenance at the National Hospital Abuja where he supervised the Facilities Management of the then newly installed state-of-the-art hi-tech medical equipment, infrastructure and facilities of the apex-referral Hospital and produced the first documented Maintenance Policy in the public sector in Nigeria. 

The Chief G.Y. Aduku I Know

Arc G.Y. Aduku

I consider it a great privilege and an honour to be asked to write a brief on a person I consider as my mentor and a leading light in the Construction Industry under whom I cut my teeth professionally in 1979 as a young graduate of Building.  As is the case even today, so it was then that when the news broke that I had obtained a First Class Honours Degree in Building from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University a lot of interest about me was generated in Igala-land. 

 It was under this circumstance that late Chief A. J. Ali who was the Chief Administrative Officer of the Anyigba Agricultural Project where I wanted to settle down and work advised me to meet Chief G. Y. Aduku for advise on my career and possible employment opportunities. I undertook the Trip to Kaduna in August 1979 and never returned to take up the offers of employment in the Benue State Government and the Anyigba Agricultural Project. 

It is pertinent to say that his influence on me which started at first sight was such that when in October of the same year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) offered me the position of a pupil Engineer, I declined the offer and remained with Chief G. Y. Aduku in Archcon Nigeria Ltd, Kaduna.  In Archcon Nigeria Ltd, we were one family of professionals of various disciplines managing both small and large projects all over the country. 

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:

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ALHAJI MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR RIMI

I received the news of your sudden death with a rude shock.

I had always admired your bubbling and infectious zeal to accomplish whatever task or goal you set for yourself.

Even though, by my Christian faith, I know that death can come knocking at any time hence our resolve to be assured of life in the hereafter which only Jesus Christ can guarantee, I naively did not know that death was so close to you hence my shock.

Your Excellency, you have been so many things in this country, governor, minister, and chairman of board etc. You acquitted yourself well. Many of us who observed you from afar knew that you were a gem and that your shortcomings were too insignificant to douse the shine of the star which you are.

I can vividly recall your acceptance to replace the disqualified governorship candidate of the PRP in Kano State in the year 1979. Your confidence and the zeal with which you prosecuted the campaigns under the leadership of late Mallam Aminu Kano was not only clinically efficient but a classic example of an election that reflected the will of the people.

Alhaji, in Nigeria’s political terrain, shifting alliances is the order of the day. You had your fair share of shifting locations and alliances however it is to your credit that your ideological posture and direction was never in question or doubt due to the way and manner you comported yourself and conducted your affairs.

Wisdom and happenings round the world demands that a move from the far left to the left of centre is more desirable considering our contemporary experiences.

We will miss you!

Adieu! Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Adieu!

You have fought the good fight.

The progressives still standing will not let you down.

May God comfort and console your family.

Engr. Samson Ameh Opaluwah

Associated Estate

Abuja.

To Dress and to Keep!

It is amazing when we are able to comprehend the marvellous and wonderful plans of our Father in heaven concerning us. The I AM that I AM confessed it thus, “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you and expected end.” Jer. 29 v 11.

The fall of Adam signified the decline of man from the privileged position of maintaining what has already been put in place and depending on the resources, which he did not provide to one, who eats in sorrow from a cursed ground. What a pity! Man has lost a prime position where he was king and ministered to and has become a peasant labouring to feed from a cursed ground.

It is important to examine the original intention of god for man at creation. A few salient points come to mind:

1. God created man in his own image. Gen 1:27

Image is defined in the Longman’s Dictionary of Contemporary English as: “in the same form or shape as someone or something else.” It therefore means that man is replica of God by His own voluntary decision. It also follows that having created man thus, He requested a level; of fellowship which is divinely ordained by creating man after the likeness of God.

ii. God gave man dominion. Gen 1:26

God’s intention for man is to be totally in charge. Thus, man was given dominion over all the earth and all that is contained therein. This implies the power or right to rule over them. Man is thus a king of the whole earth and constituents. The king has a right and the power to rule, to decree, to order and it is to be carried out without questioning.

iii. God created man, male and female. Gen 1:27

The difference in sexes was divinely ordained by God and He desired that man should lack nothing to complement his existence in order for him to function in the perfect will of God. The man and the woman are created in the image of God.

Facilities Management in the Nigerian Public Sector

Facility Management embraces the concepts of cost-effectiveness, productivity improvement, efficiency and employee quality of life. Facilities Management (FM) is the integration of multi-disciplinary activities within the built environment and the management of their impact upon people and the workplace. Effective facilities management which is the efficient integration of the available resources with the activities of an organization is vital to its success.

At the corporate level, it contributes to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. On a day-to-day level, effective facilities management provides a safe and efficient working environment, which is essential to the performance of any business –whatever its size and scope. 

The FM sector is still in its infancy, having been organized in its current format just about three decades ago but it offers great challenges to the Public. The ability of an organization to create, manage and sustain the most appropriate structure that would eventually translate into a value added service is the thrust of this discussion.

A value added approach can be said to involve the organization of an entity or operation through the setting up of cost structures, allocation of resources including its people, equipment, information systems, materials etc. Considerable value can be added through effective organization and management. Nigeria is the country with the largest population of black Africans in the world. With a population of 150 million, one out of every four black persons in the world is a Nigerian.

This country, which is rich in mineral deposits especially crude oil was colonized by the British until 1960 when it obtained independence. Infrastructural and facility development in the colonial era was motivated not by a desire to develop the country but to service industries and other interests in Europe. At independence (1960), Nigerians took over the helms of affairs in governance but the policy thrust of government remained the same. 

This resulted in government embarking on massive developmental projects, which although useful to the society however had no sustainability programs built into them. Thus development projects that were meaningfully conceived and executed failed not long after they are commissioned into operational use. In view of the above situation, it has become imperative that a re-engineering of the procurement process, the management of construction and the facility management of projects in Nigeria be embarked upon as a national priority. It is even more imperative as the main source of income to the country, which is crude oil, may not continue for much longer to be the hot cake in the international market as it is today.