Key Points:
- Church leaders and members celebrate milestone with a street rally, worship services and outreach.
- As part of the festivities, the church’s United Methodist Rural Health Program offered free medical services for two days in each of the four Nigeria annual conferences.
- Bishop John Wesley Yohanna remembered the early missionaries and the sacrifices they made and gave thanks for partners throughout the connection.
United Methodists took to the street of Jalingo, celebrating 100 years of mission in Nigeria.
Led by the Boys Brigade, congregants marched, sang and danced. Flyers and a banner invited recipients to “Celebrate with us! The United Methodist Church is 100 years within Nigeria.”
“The street rally became mandatory for us because we cannot remain silent in proclaiming the Gospel and rejoicing in the faithfulness of God throughout the years,” said planning committee member Dr. Helkiah Buba Joda. “We must let the people know that God has done a great thing for (The United Methodist Church in Nigeria), and we are so happy to be part of this great work of love.”
Church member Dorcas Jude joined the December celebration to express her gratitude to God.
“I am grateful to God for counting me among the living to witness this great and special day. Thank God, I have attended school, and today I am a government worker.”
The United Methodist Rural Health Program offered free medical services for two days in each of the four Nigeria annual conferences as part of the celebration. Pioneer missionaries used health care delivery as a tool for preaching the Gospel, and the practice continues.
The head of the program, Dr. Godfrey Ugwu, said 550 people of different faiths received help with health challenges.
Beneficiaries of the free services thanked The United Methodist Church.
“I am a Muslim,” Amina Umar said, “and I benefited from this offer of love. Two of my sisters from a village outside Jalingo took advantage of this exercise. Both had complicated issues and passed through surgery free of charge. This love is too much, and we cannot appreciate you enough. May God bless The UMC for the great sacrifice.”
Another recipient, Elizabeth Yusuf, said hospital bills and medications are costly.
“Many of us who are poor would not have access to these medical services we are enjoying today. My prayer is that God will continue to bless The UMC because the church is doing great in assisting the less privileged.”
Free medical services included diagnosis, treatment, surgery and medication.
“I am so glad to be among the living to witness this great event, and in same spirit, I am treated freely by the medical team. May God bless the UMC for this wonderful gesture,” Queen Avero, another beneficiary, said.
On the final day of the celebration, Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna prayed, “God of love, we thank you for all with which you have blessed us. For the gift of joy in days of health and strength, and for pain and grief. We praise you for our home and friends, and for our baptism and place in your church with all who have faithfully lived and died. Above all, we thank you for Jesus, who knew our joy at this centenary service.”
The bishop invited the congregation to another session of prayer in remembrance of the early missionaries and the sacrifices they made. The congregation responded, “We give thanks for the saints before us who have prayed, worshipped, studied and given of themselves to be missionaries. Creator God, may we continue to bear witness to your love.”
Yohanna expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by denominations that preceded The United Methodist Church. “In spite of opportunities in their home countries,” he said, “they abandoned all for the sake of the Gospel. Equally, some of our ancestors, who saw the prospect of the Gospel, embraced it against the olden ways.
“The church continues to wax stronger and stronger. God has been faithful. He uses our partners all over the world to encourage us.”
He credited partners from the United States, Germany and Finland with providing Christian religious instruction.
Yohanna also expressed his joy at the involvement of women in the church.
“The role of women in the history of church is increasingly complementary to their men counterparts,” he said. “That has been in line with the Wesleyan spirit. Most of the missionaries came with their spouses, who contributed immensely in the propagation of the Gospel.”
The Rev. Garry Maxey, founder of the West Africa Theological Seminary Lagos, reminded the congregants of God’s work through the pioneer missionaries who served worldwide. Reading from 2 Timothy 3:14, he highlighted the early teachings of John Wesley.
“The teachings of the early Methodists,” Maxey said, “were founded on holiness, and this is the heart of the Holy Bible. Holiness was the mandate of God to Abraham, Isaiah and Ezekiel. God said to Abraham, ‘Walk before me and be holy.’ This is the call for all of us today.”
Maxey awarded scholarships to 20 United Methodist students who hope to study at the West Africa Theological Seminary.
“The magnitude of mission contribution in the national development is a landmark that for decades the government has built upon,” said Jemimah Gideon, a representative for the state governor. “The missionaries’ contribution to humanity in the areas of education and health care delivery has made an impact in people’s lives. Many of our leaders were trained through the mission schools.”
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She listed church planting, establishment of schools and hospitals, drilling of boreholes and entrepreneurship as examples.
Such partnerships, she noted, encourage the government and the church to work together.
“In the way of this celebration,” Gideon said, “the government is optimistic at a greater partnership with the church in building the society, especially in the areas of curbing social vices, and moral decadence, upholding government programs on security consciousness in and among people, and strengthening the body of Christ, as well as promoting peaceful coexistence in society.”
Representing the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Nyamah E. Dunbar of the West Africa Liaison Office presented a crucifix to Yohanna inscribed with words from Matthew 16:17-19.
“Bishop,” she said, “I would like you to put the cross with this inscription so that when the wind and storm come, you will be encouraged by the verses to keep moving.”
Representing the General Council on Finance and Administration, Ndzulo Tueche commended The United Methodist Church in Nigeria for its achievements. “I stand before you today with immense joy and gratitude,” he said, “as we celebrate a remarkable milestone — a century of The United Methodist Church’s unwavering presence and impact on Nigeria.”
Tueche said the collective efforts of the denomination have played a pivotal role in supporting United Methodist endeavors such as Africa University, which “stands as a beacon of hope in providing education and empowerment to countless individuals across Africa.
“Our financial contributions and prayers have supported the work of our bishops, and we count on God’s faithfulness to continue supporting their work in the next century and beyond. Let our connection remain a source of strength, solidarity and inspiration.”
Ibrahim is the communicator for the Nigeria episcopal office.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer, news editor, [email protected] or 615-742-5469. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free daily or weekly Digests
