By Toyin Adeniyi
The atmosphere at the Agape Generation International Church, Mende, Maryland, Lagos, was upbeat. It was the annual Global Mandate Conference, which attracted close to 200 missionaries from across Africa.
The event started on Wednesday, February 18 strictly for missionaries. But it kicked off officially for all including city pastors on February 19.
A good number of the missionaries from as far as Niger Republic travelled by road to the venue. But despite the stress of the journey participants were lost in the euphoria of fellowship.
it was also evident from day one of the event that they were in for something different from previous years. Speaker after speaker stirred their hearts, encouraging them to live up to their billings.
Pastor Mrs. Sade Toyin Kehinde kicked off the event by introducing ministers of God and resource persons for the programme and encouraging participants to tune their hearts to what God was about to do.
She said, “God is not tired of you. He is not tired of the work. God is still in the business of rescuing the lost. Each year of this conference takes us higher.”
Just after the opening charge, Rev. Leke Akinola, Chairman of the Movement of African National Initiative (a missions support body), also prepared the hearts of the missionaries for a transforming encounter.
Teachings on Balance and Power
One of the major teachings at the conference was delivered by Pastor Andrew Folorunsho, who spoke on “Finding Balance in Power-Driven Living and Ministry.”
He shared the story of a missionary who had been working faithfully with him in Nigeria and was finally sent abroad, but eventually abandoned contact and ministry responsibilities.
Using the account as a warning, he posed a reflective question to participants: “If God blessed you with wealth, would you still be in the ministry?” He urged missionaries not to allow success or material blessings to alter what God has committed into their hands. “Let nothing change the calling God has given to you,” he added.
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Ajose, in his delivery, emphasized the need for corporate prayers for apostolic empowerment. While stressing that personal devotion is vital, he noted that missionaries must cultivate a culture of corporate prayer with a larger group of believers. According to him, corporate prayer strengthens faith and accelerates divine intervention.
Also addressing participants, Rev. Toyin Kehinde spoke on “The Balance of Power and Grace,” noting that both dimensions are essential in missionary work and are not interchangeable. He explained that power without grace could result in pride, while grace without power could render ministry ineffective, urging missionaries to maintain spiritual balance.
A Time of Renewal
Indeed, it was a time of spiritual renewal, reflection, and strategic repositioning. The conference featured teachings and prayers aimed at empowering missionaries for their continued work. These missionaries described the gathering as a moment of “refueling” for the demanding work on the mission field.
In an interview after the first day of the event, Archbishop John Osa-Oni—former leader of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in the south west and founder of Vineyard Christian Centre—reflected on his 41 years in ministry.
He described the call of the missionary as one rooted in obedience to the biblical mandate to “go into the world and preach the gospel,” sustained by the assurance of God’s presence.
He acknowledged that the journey has not been without hardship, recounting an incident in which he was flogged with a horsewhip by a military officer while evangelizing. Despite such trials, he emphasized the need for being genuinely called. “No one should go into ministry without being called,” he said, urging missionaries to remain committed to whatever assignment God places in their hands.
Personal Reflections from the Field
Christiana Ajibola, a missionary with the Children Evangelism Ministry (Ogun State chapter), recalled that she initially misunderstood her calling.
She said having repeated dreams about feeding people in the bush made her believe God wanted her to go into catering business, only for her to later realize she was being called to missionary work.
She identified financial constraints as one of the major challenges missionaries face. She added that the conference felt deeply personal to her, especially when prayers were offered for individuals with heart conditions—a health issue she had been experiencing.
Bro Segbegnon Luc Zannou from the Republic of Benin also spoke during a post-conference interview, stressing that missionaries must be willing to give themselves fully to the people they serve.
He recounted how he was delivered from what he described as a spiritual attack while alone on the mission field, saying prayer strengthened him in a moment of fear.
Referring to a message shared by Rev. Dr. Kehinde, he likened the gathering to refueling a vehicle, noting that without fuel, a driver would eventually stop mid-journey.
Pastor Omotoye Adewale, a missionary with Igede TV in Ado-Ekiti, said he sensed a call to ministry the same day he gave his life to Christ and formally began serving in 2013. He noted that missions demand sacrifice and resilience, recounting the death of a ministry member during a raid. Despite the painful experience, he maintained that God has been faithful.
SIS. Honour Migah, who ministers among the Egun community in Lagos, said her missionary journey began during her student years when she volunteered her National Youth Service year to mission work. What was meant to be a one-year commitment has now spanned 21 years. She shared the traumatic experience of a road accident involving herself and 15 children, which resulted in the loss of four children and left her with lasting scars. Despite the tragedy, she remains committed: “It is a journey for life for me,” she said.
Pastor Abiodun Olowookere , who has served in Ifeodun, Osun State, for 25 years, attributed his longevity in ministry to the support of his family.
He uses the Jesus Film as an evangelism tool in rural communities and has witnessed testimonies of salvation and healing. He expressed appreciation to Agape International Church for its sustained support and described the conference as a consistent source of encouragement.
Going home
As the conference wound up, the consensus among the attendees was that it was a time of reawakening and restoration. Many say they were going back to their base with renewed strength, clearer focus, and a reinforced commitment to their calling.