Rev. Pst. Ejikeme Ejim - Former GS
Increase – Go to page 2
The General Council of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, has announced its theme for 2025: “Increase”. This theme calls on believers to pursue growth, expansion, and greater impact in their faith and ministry. It is my strong believe that the GC did not just arrive at this without praying. They had thought it though before they penned it down and said, “This will be our theme for the year, 2025.
For preachers in AGN, Increase will mean different things and different opportunities. These opportunities will also influence the goals they set for the subjects under their influences. This means the way they interpret and pursue these 2025 theme will differ. In fact, it will depend on their style and approach to ministry. In this article, we want to explore the likely goals that the two types of preachers we have in AGN today – the welfare-conscious and the heaven-conscious preachers – may set for their subjects from this theme.
The Welfare-conscious Preacher: Bold, Eloquent and Dynamic In Nature
Welfare-conscious preachers always think about innovation and tilt it towards growth here on the earth. His emphasis and knowledge on deeply spiritual things are often very thin or shallow. Thus, he would love to emphasize the use of technology, media, and logical, contemporary methods to get things done. Then, he can sprinkle God, Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ in his words to give them some religious colorations. His goals, inspired by the theme: “Increase”, may may spread across several dimensions, some of which are:
Digital Outreach
Welfare-conscious preacher aim to expand his reach. He will trust more on the use of social media platforms, YouTube, podcasts, and live streams to share sermons and teachings. Devoting his time to cook his ministrations in prayers before employing these fantastic innovative tools will be low, if not absent. His goal will be to grow his followers and impact lives worldwide with little or no concern about how genuinely born again they would be. After all, these social media outlets have opened their doors to Nigerians. They can now receive money for their original contents online.
Youth Empowerment
Welfare-conscious preacher will want to focus more on engaging younger generations. Through creative programs like music festivals, workshops, and mentorship, he would want to inspire and equip young people to break new grounds. It would be for them to grow in their talent, gift, business, career, or in any area they can dominate the world around them. The emphasis would be heavily placed on what they can acquire or achieve. If he ever cautions these youths about living outside God’s will, the warning would always be weak to make any impact in the youths.
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Almost all his messages will be tuned to bear positive affirmations. If it’s not declaration, it will be prophesying. If it’s not commanding, it will be decreeing and calling down fire from above on both abstract and perceived enemies. They would begin to talk more about enemies, destinies, breakthroughs, obstacles, prosperity, and demonic this or that more than they mention the name of Christ and God. They will split hairs about all these supposed causes of backwardness and hindrances to progress in life than they would commit their time to sound and balanced Bible exegesis. But we know that careful preparation and correct presentation of the word of God by using traditional or local examples was their method before.
Church Planting
Modern-day preachers will desire to plant churches in urban areas mostly. They would target these areas because population growth is faster there. Their major concern is not on getting men and women who are genuinely born again, but just get the people that would add to the church’s number. They would depend on tactical approaches and intelligent human wisdom to design their programs and events. They would make sure their churches look welcoming to people, filled with modern facilities and a relaxed atmosphere. These things are very beautiful. It’s just that something remarkable will always be missing in their labor.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Many socialite preachers crave after financial independence for their ministries and, for themselves. They always hide their evergreen hunger for financial freedom under the guise of raising money for propagating the gospel. Some that are a bit smart among them may start schools, media companies, or even businesses that provide jobs. Yet, there are those among them, who would use such generated fund to promote the work of the church. It’s just that a huge number of them would want to enjoy life small on the earth. You will always see that in every joke they crack.
Global Missions
They prioritize international connections. Their goal is to collaborate with churches abroad, organize global conferences, and share the gospel with unreached communities. While this part is often done by pastors in big church located in the cities, most of them often do this for their own selfish gains. They can tell you it is about mission and promoting the work of God. But watch them when the opportunity finally comes. That’s when the motive behind the whole effort surfaces. Yet, there are genuine ministers among them who will do all these for the sake of the Gospel and Christ alone. Their type is few, though.
The Deeply Conservative Preacher: Soft, Gentle; Always Looking unto God
The deeply conservative and shepherd preacher will focus on preserving traditional values. His goals will reflect a commitment to holiness, scriptural truth unstained, and the practices of the early church. The theme: “Increase,” will inspire him to do things differently. Some of them will take these ground-breaking ways:
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