...Restrategize for effective ministry, Amid Covid-19 protocols.
The Retreat resource person, Bro Chijioke Okoro, the assistant chairman, Ikeja Deanery Catholic Charismatic, and former Coordinator, St. Leo's Catholic Charismatic Renewal, in his exhortation taken from the scriptural passage of 2 Timothy 4:1-8, on the topic, "Commitment: Actualizing you ministrial calling," reminded the ministers of the purpose for which they were called into ministry.
"As ministers of God, there is a purpose why God has chosen you. That purpose informs your mission and what you will set out to accomplish," he said. He regretted that some ministers usually started well, exuding burning fire and zeal in the ministry, only to fizzle out at the slightest difficulty such as the one currently experienced under the covid-19 pandemic and its protocols.
It was for this reason, according to him, that St. Paul wrote to Timothy, warning him to be steadfast in preaching the gospel, both in season and out of season. Okoro said, "It is sad to note that many of our ministers have become slothful, while others are offended at their leaders' failure to give them palliatives during lockdown. Because of this, the fire and zeal in them has started dying down. But none of them is asking how is the leader himself is faring or coping with his own family!"
He warned against such an attitude which, he said, if allowed could not only hinder, but lead to abandoning one's ministrial calling. He said Jesus had long foretold the present situation when he warned that on the last days the love of many would wax cold; many would be offended, and many would give up their faith! "When a minister is bitter, angry and hungry, he can hardly discharge his ministrial vocation effectively," the former coordinator said.
The deanery chief took a swipe at those he called the "lukewarm leaders." "They just hang on there in the ministry, without initiative, drive, or action! They are waiting for day they will be told, 'your tenure is over.' They will quietly walk away!" He identified foundational or formational defect as major challenge of such ministers. "How did you start? How did you get to where you are today?", he asked rhetorically. "When some of us remember the way we were formed, the rigorous training we received, we cannot but appreciate what we are doing today."
He identified different categories of ministers to include, the "thorny believers," whom, he said, came to ministry only to criticize, quarrel, and cause disaffection; the "superministers" who hardly have time to attend community programs, unless it was a big national or archdioceasan gatherings where they could be noticed, and the laissez-faire ministers who are bench warmers!
He warned the ministers against indulging in any form of sinful acts because it corrupts and destroys one's anointing. Such sins as sexual immorality, pornography which, he said, has been on the increase, keeping of malice, favoritism, worldliness, unhealthy use of technology, chatting during the Holy Mass, as well as keeping private ministry must be avoided.
"l want you to have it at the back of your mind that your gift (ability), as the parable of the talents has taught us, was being weighed," he advised the participant ministers. He encourage them to devote themselves to training in righteousness as written in Heb.5:14, scriptural reading, meditation, midnight prayers, good discipleship and mentorship, amongst others.
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