The New Testament Assembly Worldwide recently held its annual Sisters’ Conference. Special Correspondent, GRACIOUS AKANDE, who was at the event, writes that it was a time of edification for those who attended.
For Christian women to stay connected to God, they should avoid temptation and remain obedient always. Also, this is the only way they can enjoy grace of God continually.
This was the admonition they got recently at the New Testament Assembly annual Sisters’ Conference.
Ministers of the Gospel, who spoke to the sisters at the occasion, also stressed the importance of maintaining a good inter-personal relationship with mothers-in-law, raising godly children and healthy relationship with husbands.
Ninth in its series, the annual conference, which held between July 31 and August 3, had women from different denominations gather for the four-day camp at the church’s Success Camp ground along Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
With the theme ‘Woman of Grace’, the seminar topics treated included:
-Keeping marriage hope alive
-Road to married life
-Couple who stay together
-Effective motherhood
-Granma’s joy
The four-day programme began with a ministers’ conference.
Addressing the ministers, the General Overseer of New Testament Assembly, Pastor Samson Bamigbayan, who spoke on the topic, ‘Ministering in Grace’ highlighted four categories of people that ministers generally minister to. They include: the unwilling, the unfocused, the unexcited and the undecided. He added that it takes grace to serve any of them.
He urged his fellow clerics to “continually stay connected with God, as He alone can give the wisdom to handle these four categories of people and succeed”.
In her welcome address titled: ‘Vine and vine dresser; clay and potter’, the Sisters’ Coordinator, Pastor (Mrs.) Fisayo Bamigbayan, stressed the importance of Christians staying true to their source – God.
“We should never be tempted to turn away from God’s way of doing things and fall into the world’s way of doing things. The Bible speaks of these temptations in Colossians chapter two verse eight, when Paul warns us about inducements that are man-made.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
Paul is telling us that temptation is a “hollow philosophy”. Temptation is man’s way, and Satan’s way, she said.
She urged them to avoid temptation always and remain obedient.
This was followed by a discussion on ‘How to answer questions properly’.
Mrs. Bamigbayan gave guidelines on how to answer questions in the home, between husband and wife, parents and children.
Physical exercise, in which a good number of people took part with enthusiasm, was part of the conference.
In the message titled ‘Effects of Grace in Ministry’, the general overseer noted that the sisters have great and strategic place in life and in ministry, adding that sisters of grace shine on.
He explained what grace in ministry does to a person as a minister of God and those around them.
“Grace breeds distinction and excellence. It is a meal ticket to life’s next level achievement, a gift of God to His beloved,” Bamigbayan said.
The wife of Transformation Parish pastor, Deaconess Folukemi Omotayo, speaking on the topics, ‘Season of Grace’ and ‘Growing in Grace’, emphasised the power of grace and how to sustain. She added that in every area, the life of a Christian should be developing in grace; else they are not making progress in their journey of Christianity.
The women later assembled at the auditorium for a talk on ‘Help for Anxiety and Depression’ which was taken by the general overseer. He gave an insightful talk on how to prevent anxiety and depression by being conscious of the thoughts.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Abundance of Grace’ at a vigil held on Saturday, Pastor Akin Akande of Men of Purpose Ministry educated the sisters on the types of grace and how to sustain it upon individuals’ lives. This was followed by the congregation praying fervently for grace to abound in their lives.
There was a talk on ‘Women of Wealth’ followed by a one hour Bible study on ‘Woman of Grace’. The study highlighted how to gain grace, characters of a woman of grace and how to grow in grace from the scriptures.
A symposium on the problems women face in marriage and family, no doubt, got the women. It highlighted how to tackle rivalry between wives and mothers-in-law; relationship with in-laws; raising godly children; and how to maintain a healthy relationship with husbands. There was also a one-on-one counselling session for women.
A group seminar, where sisters were encouraged to join the group that best suits them, which lasted an hour, turned out to be interactive and informative.
The programme was spiced up with a variety night that featured testimonies, choir ministration and bible quiz, which was won by Transformation Parish.
The conference was rounded off on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.
