Meet Laos

by Adebola | Mar 3, 2021 | President's Desk | 0 comments

Others may call it – logo but we know it as Laos (????), the Greek word for “The People” and by implication, God’s people, moving in the right direction and making progress one step at a time.

The missio Dei (a Latin expression for ‘the mission of God’, ‘God’s mission’ or ‘the sending God’) is a quintessential concept for resolving the disparities of views that have long beguiled the Body of Christ about the meaning and significance of mission, and has narrowed the spectrum of divergent perspectives. In a nutshell, God is the initiator and sustainer of His mission. Within the broader mission of God, however, is missions (the specific assignment that is performed by the local church, individual mission agencies, or other missionary organizations like PHGM).

The execution of missions is only possible when the required resource is available, and that resource is people. The responsibility for executing and realizing the goal of missions, therefore, rests on the people of God everywhere.  This calls for faithful participation in line with the blueprint of the initiator.

The blueprint is stated in Isaiah 43:6b-7: “… Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth – everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.” We are mandated to go out and in collaboration with other God’s children, and through partnership with mission agencies, bring in God’s sons and daughters (both the lost and the found) into the kingdom that they may join to also worship Him.

The scope of our mandate in missions is Africa. The missionary mandate includes and is not limited to direct and indirect participation in worship renewal, evangelism, medical mission, educational mission, and meeting other human needs in the name of the Lord.

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ [and others that will be brought in through missions], might be for the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:11-12)

This is what Laos is about.

When to Pray “Remember me” with Confidence – 1

by Adebola | Jan 27, 2021 | President's Desk | 0 comments

Mission, from the point of view of our human endeavor, means the committed participation of God’s people in the purposes of God for the redemption of the whole creation. Mission, like salvation, belongs to our God and to the Lamb. We are those who are called to share in its accomplishment.¹

The Book of Nehemiah opens with Nehemiah’s inquiry from Hanani, one of his brothers, who visited him in Susa (the land of his captivity where he also rose to prominence) from Judah about the state of affairs in Jerusalem and the wellbeing of “Jewish remnant that had survived the exile” (Neh. 1:2). It is not by chance that the book closes with his prayer; “Remember me with favor, my God.” (Neh. 13:31b, NIV) There is a pertinent lesson in it for anyone that is passionate about fulfilling God’s purpose.

“Remember me” is an expression that erupts from the depth of the soul especially when there has been an antecedent, be it an event or an action. For Nehemiah, the expression of this gusty prayer was the culmination of his unalloyed devotion to God, which reflected in his commitment to initiate, mobilize resources for and see through the shame-reversing project of rebuilding the burnt down gates and ruined walls of Jerusalem, the city of his heritage. Therefore, it wasn’t an ‘anyhow’ remembrance that he craved and prayed for but one that was loaded with God’s favour.

It is pertinent to note that the word that was translated ‘remember’ in that prayer has its root in the Hebrew word zakar, which connotes marking out for recognition and by implication to ‘also mention’. When conflated with the counterpart Hebrew root towb (meaning ‘good’) translated ‘favour’ in Nehemiah’s prayer, the supplication can be rephrased: “My God, mark me out for recognition and mention me (or my name) for good.” This is instructive for every believer.

The first thing that jumps out of this prayer is the indispensability of a personal relationship with God as a precondition for fulfilling our individual purpose in life, with His call for each life at its very core. The account of Nehemiah’s exploits as documented in the entire book is a model of participation in God’s mission which aligns with Christopher Wright’s view of the Bible as “a product of mission in action” i.e. a documentation of God’s mission, in which He demonstrates His continuing grace for reconciliation, redemption, restoration and liberation.

Nehemiah models a missional lifestyle, that places responsibility ahead of prosperity. May we fulfil our ordained destiny in Christ.

(To be continued in Part 2)

Isaiah Okanlawon

Isaiah.okanlawon@praiseofhisglory.ca

¹Christopher J. H. Wright, “Word of God and Mission of God,” in Discovering the Mission of God: Best Missional Practices for the 21st Century, ed. Mike Barnett (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 2012), 46.

PHGM/PHGMi Theme: “The Gracious Hand of Our God” (Ezra 8:18)

by Adebola | Jan 1, 2021 | President's Desk | 0 comments

We grew up singing the song, “For this God is our God; forever and ever. He will be our guide from now even unto the end.” (Ps. 48:14) We have no doubt experienced the power of that song over the years. God has continued to prove Himself in our lives as we continue with that powerful declaration.

He kept us through the highs and lows of 2020 in spite of all the challenges because of His faithfulness to be our God and guide unto the end. He remembered us favorably, shielding us from being victims of the enemy’s ferocious attacks and establishing us as victors. All glory to Him indeed.

We are now in 2021. Hallelujah! We do not know what the New Year holds but we know the One who holds the year and the entire universe in the palm of His hand. He is the One that we have entrusted with our lives and know He is faithful to take us through with His gracious hand like He did for Ezra and the contingent of returnees from exile, to whom He assigned a great task that required a great backing – His Gracious Hand. The task ahead of us in 2021 may be great, as a ministry, as families and as individuals; but we should not fret because the gracious hand of our God is on us (Ezra 8:18). He will raise up the people who will join forces with us, favour us and be used by Him to establish us as victors in all ramifications of life.

Welcome to your season of God’s gracious hand.