METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA - Online Study Bible

Crusade, Convention etc and at times ought to function as a conductor
and/or leader.
8. Example to Believers. It is imperative for a CA to be an example to
the believers in every area of life. A CA cannot be two faced i.e. be one
thing in the Church and another thing outside. In any case examination
in para 2c has said it all – “an example in the community, local Church
and the world”. A Biblical personality that fits this function is Philip
one of the 7 laymen chosen by the brethren on the advice of the
Apostles to help in administration. The Bible recorded that Philip who
later became an Evangelist had 4 daughters who were virgins and who
prophesied (Acts 21:9). Philip, it was, who led the Ethiopian senior
government official to Christ (Acts 8:30-37). Philip is an example to all
CA. He functioned as a good father, a layman who had completely
submitted to Christ in word and deed (Acts 6:35).
9. Defender of the Faith. A CA must function as a bold defender of the
faith in his/her loyal service to the Church and the cause of Christ’s
kingdom. The main weapon for a defender of the faith is the word of
God. The function of a CA as defender of the faith has a strong link with
his/her function of submission to Christ, the Captain of all defenders of
the faith. Our hymn MHB 821 asks all soldiers of the Cross to stand up
for Jesus who leads his army from victory to victory till every foe is
vanquished. A good example of a defender of the faith is Stephen who
was martyred in defence of the faith.
10. Bridge-Builder and Ambassador of Peace. A CA must function as a
bridge-builder and ambassador of peace among all arms of the Church.
He/She must collaborate with Ministers and elected Lay Officers in all
tasks of reconciliation, peace and concord both in his area of residence
as well as throughout the entire Conference Area. The Prelate
Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Sunday Ola Makinde CON
GPJ once said that if conference award had been in existence the crisis
the Church went through would not have happened. He is of the
opinion that CA, as bridge-builders and ambassador of peace, would
have stepped in. All CA must seek peace and pursue it” (1Pet 3:11b).
11. Performance of Task. A CA must be available to the Church for the
performance of any task at all levels of the Church and at International
levels. Such tasks may or may not be related to his/her exalted
position. After all, at the Covenant Service on the first Sunday of the
year all CA did bind themselves with Christ in the following words
“Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are
difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable
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