Lutheran Gospel Singers Patrons inaugurated
The Archbishop of the
Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria Most Rev Dr Nemuel A. Babba inaugurated
the newly appointed Patrons/Advisers of the New Life for All at the LCCN
Arch-Cathedral in Numan on the 19th of September, 2015. The Patrons
were drawn from various churches within the LCCN and across all dioceses. The
Archbishop appreciated the new patrons for picking up the challenge to assist
the youths through the LGS.
The Director Lutheran
Subgroups Organization (LSO) Rev. E.C. Voma told the congregation that the LGS
being one of the Subgroups LCCN are members of the LSO and that was why the
Chairman of LSO council Mr. Robert Gorta and the National Leader of the LCCN
Women fellowship were present. He said the LGS is known for their role is
reaching out through songs. He called on the Patrons to advice the group
accordingly and should ensure to be in touch with the group always.
In a meeting with the
newly inaugurated patrons/Advisers the National Chairman of the Group Joshua .J
Muzong told them that the LGS is a very big group in terms of membership in the
LCCN but have been ineffective in recent times. He informed them that the very
popular sub-group has been bedeviled in recent times with leadership
challenges, but assured them that the matter have been resolved and the group
is on the way to taking their role back in the church. He told the patrons that
the subgroup is in their hands as the Leaders of subgroup will rely on them
(patrons) for direction. He said they must not wait until they are called to
have their view or advice on matters of LGS but wherever they sense problem
they are expected to come in and play their role.
At the meeting, one of
the patrons challenged the subgroup to stand up to their responsibility, he
said being part of the past Patrons he observed that the leaders of the
subgroup only contacted them where there was financial need but never involved
them in processes of decision making even on serious issues. He admonished the
LGS leaders to be responsible and be focused in leading the great subgroup. The
National Chairman promised the patrons that there will be change in the way and
manner the subgroup is ran.
In an interview with
Rev Jibrailu Barnabas one of the patrons, he said the work of Patron in LGS was
not a totally new assignment to him, “as a pastor who is called and ordained to
instruct, rebuke, correct and teach I find this as part of my calling though in
different dimension. I am sure God is calling me to play a role in this subgroup.
Rev Barnabas said, “As the name implies, they are singing the gospel of Jesus
Christ to the world, I see them in near future to show forth their name and
present the gospel to the people. I also call on them to hold each other’s hand
in this work, especially the leaders; they should work together as a team when
they do that they will achieve a lot. He urged them to defend and stand for one
another as a group.
In an interview with
the Lutheran Today Evangelist Joshua
John Muzong the National Chairman of the LGS said since his assumption of
office in 2014 he has put his heart in the development of the organization and
refocusing it to achieve its objective. “I was elected substantive National Chairman
in March 2015 but have being in acting capacity as an interim National Chairman
since November 1st, 2014. That is to say that I started the
leadership work of this Subgroup in 2014. I am committed to refocusing the
subgroup towards its goals. We conducted our annual national convention at
Mayo-Belwa and as a result we were able to pay off our gospel vehicle we
purchased. Now we have sworn in those who will help us with fatherly advice in
running the affairs of our group.” He said the choice of patrons and advisers
in LGS this time took a different dimension as ordained pastors are among. “We
have included pastors in our selection of Patrons to show our commitment to
doing the right thing. This will prove to the church that we are ready to move
on. The Archbishop himself has sworn them in, this show how serious their task
is, and they are people of great repute, we can be sure that we are making
progress. We elected them so that they will advise us and give us direction in
the fellowship.”
Bearing his mind on the
need for giant strides in the subgroup the LGS National Chairman said, “My
desire for this organization is by the year2016 we will make available our
Bible Study manual, we also have the desire to construct a conference hall for
the LGS at Demsa convention ground. We have also discovered that a lot of our
members are school drop-outs and many of them find it hard to go back to
school, therefore we shall embark on an educational programme for our members.
They will be given the opportunity to reenroll and get their certificates. We
are trying to take away the inferiority feeling that is lingering among them.”
When asked on the
leadership of the fellowship he said, “It is not easy, they can make promise of
supporting you but I can tell you that most times they don’t. To be able to
succeed, I had to sit down with them discuss ways forward. But still I see lack
of commitment in many of them. I am praying about it, and I am also looking out
for people that can help me so that I can do what many members will see and
know that we are willing to change the group for the better. I depend on God
and I am using those who have made themselves available.
“I call on LCCN to be
patient with the youths and I also call on all Church elders and pastors to
support them. I am pleading that they should allow LGS to hold their programmes
especially their week as other subgroups in the church are given the opportunity
to do. On the part of the LGS they should respect instituted authorities in the
church; they should always inform the church of their programmes. The Dioceses
should inform the Bishops and Districts should liaise with the District Pastors.
LGS should be faithful servants of God. They should ensure that they do what
they say they will do because at the end of it we shall be accountable to God
for everything we do.”
The LGS leader thanked
the Church for the support giving to them. It could be recalled that in the recent
past the LGS have been in leadership crisis where they had to dissolve their
council two times. But with the new council now at the nationals all matters
have been laid to rest and are moving towards a new beginning.
Boko-Haram:
Students of University of Maiduguri thanked the Church for prayers
Some Lutheran Students
of University of Maiduguri who spoke to the Lutheran Today said their lives in
school was spared by God’s mercy. They said it was hard to study in the area as
the insurgency were mounting several attacks in different places and sometimes
close to the University. Changyedini Felix a 500 level Law student said, “It is
hard to concentrate when you hear sounds of gun shut and heavy bombs. But we
thank God we could still continue with our studies. Sometimes to go to
Maiduguri is even more risky than staying right in the school. You have to go through
Gombe then to Yobe. Sometimes we go as far as Bauchi to be able to access
Maiduguri. It was God, we return all honor to him.” She said in the school
there are times no one is allowed to go out so they remained.
Joseph Nathaniel also a
500level student of Veterinary Medicine also thanked God for sparing their
lives. “I believe it is because of the prayers the church is praying that we
are alive. I know people who have been killed through the attacks of the
insurgency but God spared us. We thank the church for praying for us.” they
also continue to seek the prayers of the church as they will be rounding off in
the coming year.
University of Maiduguri
is the first University in the north eastern Nigeria and has produced lots of
professionals, but with the activities of the insurgency in the area some
guardians and parents withdrew their children and wards from the school.
Recently the school authorities said they have recorded tremendous increase in
applications for admission into the school, this they attributed to improved
security situation in the country where the Nigerian Armed Forces are said to
be on top of the situation in the North East.
