OLD NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PRESENT. Which do you prefer?
There have been deliberations at the national conference about reverting to the old national anthem. Here for you are the two anthems to compare. Where you to choose, which would you prefer? What would be your reasons?
OLD: NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE!
PRESENT: ARISE O COMPATRIOTS!
Pls note that I couldn’t get the official voice and Instrumental for the old
Anything that has life normally would grow. All the things necessary for life just need to be there and there would automatically be growth. When there is no growth or there is disproportionate growth then, there is a problem: probably a sickness or a disease. The life of God constantly flows into and through His church. the church, free from ‘sicknesses’ and ‘diseases’ normally should grow spiritually and numerically. Those diseases are the things we hope to diagnose here so that we can free the body to grow spiritually and numerically. There are several factors which repel people from our churches. We want to look at 10 most significant of them.
1. Insensitive / Bad Leadership: This is perhaps the most damaging to the welfare of a church in this age where Pastoring has been redefined as preaching, praying and counseling only (full stop). When church leaders are insensitive to the travails and needs of its members, it doesn’t go unnoticed. Leadership that do not visit and care for their sick, widows, widowers and orphans keep the back door swung open for Christ flocks to go away. The annoying thing (if I am allowed to use that word) about bad leadership is that it spoils the work and labours of the other committed workers and members who are passionate about the church. Such are the ones Jesus described as hirelings who do not care about the state of their flocks. You should however not forget that everyone who has one oversight or the other over the flock of Christ is part of leadership and if you in you corner don’t play your part, you are contributing to the problem.
2. Cold Sermons: It’s been found out that most youth and young adults stay away from church because of cold, boring, half – hearted talks and bad music. Go around and check churches where these happen and you won’t but notice only the old and grey headed plus some sulking young people (obviously forced or threatened to come) who are eagerly waiting for when they are older and independent, so they can escape the boredom. Organized churches where their preachers are handed outlines to preach for uniformity, seem to have these problem more; plus churches that seem to talk about one or two subject all year. O Preacher, hear this: If you have a homily and not a message from the Lord, it is noticed almost from the start. Even the unsaved notices when the sermon is anointed from the Lord.
3. Bad Music: Believe me, even a dedicated, Holy Ghost filled church member hates bad music. Those off key, never – well – prepared choristers of yours may be doing a good job at driving the new comers away (the dedicated members have resigned to their fate or may be making up for it another way). Church leadership should do all they can to encourage and train the choir while the latter should work hard to edify the church.
4. Non Integration: Any church that lack integration structures stand in great danger of losing members and are very unsuccessful in making visitors stay. When someone comes, there must be a cell, group, smaller family he should be immediately integrated to within the bigger family (church). This would ensure that he immediately begin to feel the sense of belonging. The church would also be able to reach him easily through that group.
5. Unfriendly Ushers and Church Officials. Putting unfriendly and socially dry people at your church door post, is like making barbed wire across the door and saying “endure the prick if you must get in”. The last time you were in the shopping mall and the attendant was unfriendly, can you remember what you said under your breadth? Bring the ushers together and train them on how to care and be friendly. Afterwards, watch out for those who just won’t change and please, for the sake of the flock, find something else for them to do. Some people just can’t be ushers. However, you must realize that all who come in contact with an invitee or a church member represents the church and should be taught to be friendly with everyone.
Watch out for next 5.
I am reblogging this because you will surely find it insightful. Thom has given his opinion on modern church worship. How applicable is this in your own local church? Fell free to comment below.
Looking around the church last Sunday I noticed that the majority weren’t singing. And most of those who were singing barely moved their lips. The only voices I actually heard were those on stage with microphones.
That’s been the case for years now–in churches large and small. What used to be congregational singing has become congregational staring.
Even when the chipper “worship leader” in contemporary churches bounds on stage and predictably beckons everyone to “stand and worship,” the people compliantly obey the stand command, but then they turn into mute mannequins.
What’s behind this phenomenon? What happened to the bygone sounds of sanctuaries overflowing with fervent, harmonizing voices from the pews, singing out with a passion that could be heard down the street? I suspect it’s a number of unfortunate factors.
Spectator set-up. Increasingly, the church has constructed the worship service as a spectator event. Everyone expects the people on stage to…
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I was on transit. Someone by the road called, “Pastor! Pastor!”. I turned and saw a woman standing by a man, her man. She was visibly excited but most importantly, she was looking in my direction. Somewhat embarrassed I waved back and then turned to the driver. Are you a Pastor? I asked. He laughed so much I feared he would forget the steering wheel. “Of course, I am not a Pastor and you know she was greeting you”, He said after which he continued his laughter from where he stopped.
Another day long before the former, at a bus stop. A woman came encroaching into my space. “You may not know me but I know you and know that you are a man of God”, she said as she went on to narrate her ordeal with her husband who had driven her away from her matrimonial home that morning because she had not been able to give him [sic] a baby. “I believe I didn’t meet you here accidentally and I want you to pray for me.” Well, pray I did and we parted, never to meet again until December 31st.
As I looked at this smiling and very excited woman whom God has now blessed with a child, my mind went back to that day we met at the junction and how troubled she was. The tear drop in her eyes as she managed so hard to speak without breaking down in tears. I bowed my head and … and worshiped in my heart. That was the last testimony I saw in 2013.
Now, I don’t share this kind of story on this medium everyday. But I believe today (and this month) is different for me and for someone reading this. I don’t know what it is that made you leave home this morning sad. Whatever it is that might have troubled and plagued you for a long time, God has the answer. As I type this, there is a song playing on my system, it says:
Mo ti ri ibi ti mo le sa si / Nigba Idanwo ati iji / Odo Jesu nikan ni mo nlo / Jesu nikan la la bo mi // Ninu ogun aye / ninu wahala / ninu iji gbogbo / ninu ote gbogbo / jesu nikan l’alabo mi
English translation:
I have found a refuge I can hide / During temptations and storms / Only to Jesus I shall run / Only Jesus is my refuge// In the troubles of life / In trials / In all storms / In all treason / Only Jesus is my refuge.
My dear friend, there is a refuge you can run to. A sure and present help in time of trouble. It doesn’t matter how bad it appears. There is a Saviour. He is your refuge. Run to Him right now, right there. He is everywhere. A five minute break can do. Run to him and there shall be peace. Amen.
#music# There is something that makes me come into your presence My Helper
My Helper o My Helper
My Helper o My Helper
There is something that makes me some into your presence my Helper #music#
If you are in Nigeria, you probably have heard or even sang the above song before. It was no different in the church where I worship. The Chorus leader led the congregation into a joyful mood of praises. I was supposed to be ‘following in the spirit’ but I was actually far away. My thoughts were far off but not disconnected from the immediate environment. “My Helper oooo…” will occasional thunder into my ears but they were not interrupting my thoughts. They were actually fanning the flame of my meditations.
I am reminded of Jesus’ rebuke to the multitudes as they came looking for him. He told them they came not actually to seek the Lord or hear His words, but they came because of the bread and fishes he multiplied and gave to them. His rebuke to them can be put this way: I know why you folks came. Not for the word of God but for food. Not to seek the Lord but for the miracle of food multiplication. You have not come for eternal things but for things that will satisfy your present need. The song above seems to come from the same sentiment: “I come into your presence because I need your help. There is something I want you to do for me and that is why I came”. More like a Philanthropist to benefactor relationship than a Father to child kind. What kind of ‘help’ are you seeking for all the time? I know folks who don’t care a pinch about their souls but go from convention to convention every year seeking for ‘help’. The last time I checked, they were still seeking.
There is a better way my friend: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you”. The disciples never came just for the bread and fishes but as long as they were with Jesus, they always had more than enough. They are sons in the kingdom and the resources of the kingdom belong to them.
For clarity, there is nothing wrong with miracles. Neither is anything wrong with seeking miracles from God. Where else shall we go? He only is the present Help in time of trouble. But if that is the major reason we attend every church meeting, every convention, every retreat, every revival meeting then that is unfortunate. Or am I to conclude that such people are merely part of the multitudes and not Christ disciples. We know the multitudes and we know what they always come for. Jesus attracts them to himself in several ways, miracles being one of them. But when they become disciples, they stay for a different reason. This is a season of conventions and retreats. How will this sentiment continue? How many of these multitudes are disciples? Are we even interested in making disciples of all nations or we just like to see the multitudes? These are food for thoughts.
Oyebanji Speaks 