By Dayo Emmanuel
A Christian interdenominational group, Gary S. Maxey Network has been officially unveiled in Lagos with an urgent call for a renewed Christian commitment to biblical truth, holiness, integrity, sound doctrine, and accountable leadership across Nigeria, Africa, and the global church.
Named after Professor Gary Maxey, founder of West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagos, the network, unveiled in Lagos yesterday, aims to strengthen foundational Christian values, address doctrinal decay, and equip a new generation of leaders dedicated to genuine spiritual revival.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Director of the Network and WATS alumnus, Pastor Sola Bamidele, emphasised that the initiative was born out of deep concern for the contemporary spiritual climate of the Church. He clarified that the initiative was established not for personal prominence, but as a solemn responsibility to preserve and advance Nigeria’s rich evangelical heritage.
“Today is not simply a product of the Christian Network. Today is a product of praying for the Church. It is a product for Nigeria. It is a product for Africa and the world at large. A product for generations,” Bamidele stated.
Bamidele urged believers to look beyond past movements and avoid measuring spiritual awakening solely by the size of crowds or public spectacles.
“Revival is transformed lives. Revival is men and women that return to God. Revival is when ministers do not manipulate the gospel of God. Revival is when leaders are not seeking their own glory. Revival is when the church becomes a sign, a solution that God designs.”
Tracing Nigeria’s faith legacy to pioneers such as Joseph Ayo Babalola, Pa Elton, and Josiah Akindayomi, founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bamidele warned that earlier sacrifices cannot sustain today’s generation without active stewardship and moral integrity.
“The promise of revival carries responsibility. It must be fought for, or it will be extinguished. We cannot rely on past revivals. We cannot rely on past legacies. We must raise the standard. We must build, we must empower, we must mentor, we must equip, and we must advance for the assignment of God upon the continent.”
Highlighting Africa’s pivotal positioning in global Christianity, he urged Christian leaders to reject commercialised religion and hypocrisy.
“This is our time. This is our hour. This is our strategic moment to stand for Jesus, because Africa holds the key for global revival. We cannot pray for revival and then retreat into the path of corruption. We cannot pray for revival while living in compromise. We cannot pray for revival while abandoning sound doctrine. We cannot pray for revival while reducing accountability. We cannot pray for revival while treating the Church like a business empire,” he stressed.
Addressing the audience, Professor Gary Maxey who is also the Convener of the Network, reflected on Nigeria’s vast natural resources
including its rich deposits of gold, coal, bitumen, lithium, and iron ore while asserting that the nation’s highest potential lies in its human and spiritual capital.
“Of far greater importance than our natural resources is the staggering potential of our human resources. What I am saying is that Nigeria’s hope largely is rooted in its unshakable, deep religious mindset and convictions. My dream, therefore, is that Nigeria can and should rise as a beacon light to the nations.”
However, Maxey cautioned against complacency, empty prophetic declarations, and the drift toward material prosperity at the expense of biblical truth. He challenged the church to confront its moral compromises directly.
“I steadfastly refuse to be a part of those cheap prophecies that I have been hearing now for decades: that Nigeria is going to eventually triumph, just because some physical prophet without much personal skin in the game said it’s going to happen. During my decades in Nigeria, I have witnessed a massive capitulation by the Nigerian church to a false, blatantly humanistic, human-centered gospel. We have abandoned the New Testament call to deep surrender to Christ, freedom from the bondage of sin, and purity of heart,” he explained.
Maxey reminded ministers that true Christian calling goes beyond comfort and earthly gain, urging a return to deep piety and self-sacrifice to trigger a true national awakening.
“God is not calling us merely for good health and longevity. God is calling us to righteousness. He’s calling us to holiness. He’s calling us to be like Jesus. These are the men and women who will bring about a truly national spiritual awakening that is my hope for this great nation called Nigeria,” he emphasised.
Closing his address, Maxey echoed the words of Phillips Brooks.
“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.”
Reinforcing the mission, the Provost of WATS, Pastor Olufemi Emmanuel, PhD, highlighted the critical link between sound theological education and lasting revival. He outlined WATS’ target to host 4,000 resident students over the next decade to build leadership capacity across Africa.
“WATS is being positioned with capacity and vision to be able to host 4,000 resident students within these 10 years, not only from Nigeria, but also from other African nations and beyond. Our goal at WATS is to intensify the message of biblical holiness and spread it throughout Africa and beyond through the service of well-trained, spiritually grounded, and adequately equipped faculty, staff, pastors, and Christian leaders,” he said.
Emmanuel warned that the Church is currently operating in an era of serious cultural and moral confusion, making rigorous leadership development non-negotiable.
“We are living in a time of profound moral and doctrinal decay, an age in which thick challenges are threatening to tear the fabric of both the church and society. Why are you concerned about the tailor that sews your dress, and you are not concerned about the training of the pastor? You look for the best mechanics for your cars, the best teachers to teach your children, but you don’t care about who leads or feeds your heart?”
He emphasised that evangelism without structured discipleship leaves converts vulnerable, placing the burden of care on trained ministry giftings.
“When we go to the street to win souls, who handles those that are converted, to disciple them? It’s the pastors. We must insist on a church led by men and women who are properly trained, biblically equipped, spiritually formed, and committed to Christ-like holiness.”
Concluding the launch, Emmanuel reaffirmed the shared trajectory between WATS and the newly formed Gary S. Maxey Network in raising accountable leaders across sectors.
“This is WATS’ vision. This is WATS’ mandate. This is the vision we have inherited, and this is the vision we must now carry forward to renew, reignite, and raise for the future,” he emphasised.
Together, the speakers established a unified charge: the future of Christianity in Nigeria and Africa must be grounded not in fame or numbers, but in sound doctrine, spiritual depth, personal holiness, and transformative service.
