The Global Mandate Conference, a non-denominational missions organisation has emphasised the need for the Church to deploy resources towards reaching the unreached with the good news of Jesus just as it is set to host about 150 missionaries from across Africa.
The GMC made this emphasis in a statement signed by its convener; Rev Toyin Kehinde who is also the Senior Pastor of Agape Generation International Church.
According to him, the 2025 edition of the missions’ conference will be held from February 20 to 23 at the Agape Generation International Church, Mende Maryland, Lagos.
About 150 missionaries from across Africa with the bulk coming from Nigeria have registered for the event. Pastors and missions enthusiasts will also participate in the four-day programme.
Rev Kehinde said funding for missions’ work cannot be over-emphasized. “Our joy is that God has been doing his work and he will continue to do it. But then, supporting missions is perhaps the most fulfilling assignment any believer can embark on because missions’ is the heartbeat of God. Jesus’ last commandment to us to go preach the word and make disciples of all nations is the most important commandment for Christians.”
He disclosed that some missionaries from Europe are also expected at the event which according to him, “Will be a platform to harness resources and also empower participating missionaries. It will be another opportunity for missionaries to network and collaborate.”
The theme for the conference is, “His word to our world”. “Resource persons from different ministries will address topics that are of importance to missionaries. Our medical team will be on the ground to attend to the health needs of missionaries in attendance. There will be ample time for testimonies and reports from different missions’ fields across Africa. It’s also going to be a time for the missionaries to relax and catch up with old friends and fellow missionaries” Rev Kehinde said.
He noted that the GMC has over the years been a great blessing to missionaries. ‘In the past we have had testimonies of exploits and stories of some of the breakthroughs in missions’ fields across Africa. The GMC has become a reference point for missionaries and a place for them to be energised for the task of another year of work on the field.”
Rev Kehinde said so far people who are lovers of missions and who feel challenged by what God is doing have been supporting the GMC adding however that, “We still need more support given the state of the economy globally.”
While calling on churches to bury their denominational differences, he said, “In GMC, it is not about my church or your church. It is about the kingdom. That is why we support missionaries irrespective of the churches they serve or the mission agency they belong to. The idea is to strengthen the body and not allow any part of the body to lack.”
He lamented that the bulk of resources that accrue to churches are spent on things that have nothing to do with the gospel. “We are not against church building and other infrastructures. But those things are secondary. The church needs to keep evangelising and supporting the growth of the work because the enemy is not resting. The devil is also doing his own evangelism and many are going to Christless graves daily. The end is nearer than we think. We need to wake up. It is an assignment we all should embrace.”