Beloved in the Lord, this week, as we commemorate the 169th Anniversary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Mission in East and Nigeria in General, the words of St. Paul to Timothy become particularly significant: "Fight the good fight of faith."
The Christian faith has never advanced without sacrifice. One hundred and sixty-nine years ago, God used the Church Missionary Society to establish a lasting missionary witness in our land. Through the faithful labours of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the Rev. J. C. Taylor, Rev. Thomas King, Rev. David Hinderer, Rev. C. A. Gollmer, and many other missionaries, the light of the Gospel penetrated communities that had never heard the saving message of Christ.
These men and women fought the good fight of faith. They endured hardship, disease, opposition, and countless sacrifices, yet they remained steadfast because they believed that Christ was worthy of every sacrifice. Today, we worship freely because others fought faithfully.
Their legacies challenge us. The battle before us may not be against hostile terrain or unfamiliar languages, but against spiritual complacency, moral compromise, declining commitment, and a generation that desperately needs to be rooted in Christ.
Paul therefore exhorts us to "lay hold on eternal life." Our service must never be driven by earthly recognition but by the eternal reward that awaits those who remain faithful. Whether as clergy, clergy children, or committed believers, God calls us to preserve the faith we have inherited and to hand it over intact to the next generation.
As we remember our missionary fathers, let us also look forward with great expectation to our Anglican Clergy Children Association (ACCA) National Convention, which, by the grace of God, will begin exactly one month from now, from 27th–30th August 2026 at the Cathedral Church of St Peters, Asaba. Let us prepare spiritually and prayerfully for this great gathering. May it become a time of renewal, deeper fellowship, and fresh commitment to Christ and His mission.
The Christian faith has never advanced without sacrifice. One hundred and sixty-nine years ago, God used the Church Missionary Society to establish a lasting missionary witness in our land. Through the faithful labours of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the Rev. J. C. Taylor, Rev. Thomas King, Rev. David Hinderer, Rev. C. A. Gollmer, and many other missionaries, the light of the Gospel penetrated communities that had never heard the saving message of Christ.
These men and women fought the good fight of faith. They endured hardship, disease, opposition, and countless sacrifices, yet they remained steadfast because they believed that Christ was worthy of every sacrifice. Today, we worship freely because others fought faithfully.
Their legacies challenge us. The battle before us may not be against hostile terrain or unfamiliar languages, but against spiritual complacency, moral compromise, declining commitment, and a generation that desperately needs to be rooted in Christ.
Paul therefore exhorts us to "lay hold on eternal life." Our service must never be driven by earthly recognition but by the eternal reward that awaits those who remain faithful. Whether as clergy, clergy children, or committed believers, God calls us to preserve the faith we have inherited and to hand it over intact to the next generation.
As we remember our missionary fathers, let us also look forward with great expectation to our Anglican Clergy Children Association (ACCA) National Convention, which, by the grace of God, will begin exactly one month from now, from 27th–30th August 2026 at the Cathedral Church of St Peters, Asaba. Let us prepare spiritually and prayerfully for this great gathering. May it become a time of renewal, deeper fellowship, and fresh commitment to Christ and His mission.