President of International Church Growth Ministries, Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John has said the focus of its first major pastors’ conference for the year 2023 will be on the health of the church and how to multiply in a local church.
The conference has been slated to hold from February 14 to 17 at the Growth Centre off Iyana Odo, Isheri-Igando road, Lagos.
Already prospective participants have started registering for the four-day event.
Akin-John in a chat with Church Times said the theme of the conference is: The Fundamentals of healthy and multiplying local church.
He explained that the theme was chosen to address ill health in many local churches.
“There is nobody in Nigeria that will not be concerned about the health of the church. Many churches are sickly and are on their deathbed. It is time to bring them back to life. That is what we will be addressing in our February conference.” he said.
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He said the coming conference is not the usual kind of conference the ministry has had in the past.
“We are bringing fresh perspectives to how to address a sickly church. It will shock you that many churches appear healthy but they are dying unknown to the leadership. We will be looking at the telltale signs of dying churches under many sub-topics.”
Akin-John who has been passionate about Church health for about three decades said the conference will focus more on some practical tips on how to grow a church to health.
He said, “The principles we share in our conferences are time-tested principles. They are not what you can pick on the roadside. They are things I practiced when I was a pastor and I have seen them done in many churches I consulted for over the years.
“They are not what we can get in a school of theology. That is why I encourage pastors to take advantage of this conference so they could learn how to nurture a healthy church,” he said.
He disclosed that topics like relationships that help healthy churches, healthy lifestyles and character of leaders, Biblical laws of church multiplication, and many more will be treated at the conference.
Beyond the teachings, he said participants will enjoy the awesome presence of God. “Our meetings are usually a time to pray and intercede for the church. It is a time also seek the face of God and enjoy his presence. Many other ministers will be ministering during the four days that we will gather.”
