These studies will challenge you to be involved in a practical mission. You would be enlightened on the need to support mission efforts with action and be part of the activities of missionaries in your church, association, conference and the convention at large.
Even if you do not have the opportunity to go, you can support in other ways, either in cash or in kind. God wants to use you to put smiles on the faces of others. Would you make yourself available?
1. Rehabilitation/ reorientation
Galatians 1-2 says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.”
This ministry is a noble one that is targeted at people who the law or society has declared guilty of one offence or the other, such as ex-inmates, children from remand homes, ex-drug addicts, commercial sex workers, psychiatric patients, etc.
The unemployed who want to equip themselves on how to better their livelihood, to,o may also benefit from the vocational training. These people are in pitiable conditions and they need our care, concern and love.
Christ, through Paul, calls us to help them so that they, too,o would be able to leave normal lives. As we continue in our study today, my prayer is that the Lord would grant us a willing heart to be of help to them.
What is a rehabilitation centre?
A rehabilitation centre is supposed to be a place where people can be taught how to live a normal life. To an ex-inmate, it is called Midway Home. That is, where they would learn the patterns or the norms of the society.
While they were in person, they were living a regimented life, and many of them had been there for a long time such so they could not easily fit into the system.
Same for addicts; it would take some time before they can change the bad habits they have learnt during their exile from the community.
Therefore, it is those who are committed Christians who have developed large hearts and are self-sacrificing, hospitable, accommodating, and trustworthy who can be involved in this noble cause. We would understand why as we continue in our discussion.
What are the strictures in the centre?
- A large area of land (5-10 hectares)
- A fence around the centre land to avoid interference
- Blocks of dormitories for males and females
- A big workshop that is partitioned into segments for different vocations
- Bungalows for teachers, housemasters/mistresses and chaplains
- A big chapel
- Blocks of classrooms
- A sickbay
- A recreational centre
- Kitchen, dining hall and pantry
- A big store for storing equipment
- A small shop for snacks
What are some of the activities in the centre?
- Prayer, especially for the ex-inmates, addicts and mentally ill, so they would not go back to their former state.
- Counselling on one basis with the counsellors, pastors and other workers
- Teaching of elementary classes and secondary classes, if necessary
- Deliverance sessions when necessary
- Worship services
- Discipleship lessons
- Vocational training
What are the benefits of the centre?
Rehabilitation or reorientation is important because it serves as a midwife for those admitted into the centre. For ex-inmates, people usually do not trust them as soon as they come out of prison. Most of their family members may not want to identify with them.
As such, prison ministry workers should try to put them in the rehabilitation centre and continue the discipleship training they had begun with them while they were in prison. At the centre, they should be nurtured well until they become mature.
Apart from the Christian training they have, they should also be allowed to learn a trade of their choice, and they should be given some money after the materials they would need to continue with the trade they have learnt.
With this kind of assistance, many of them have been properly reintegrated into society and are now living as children of God. Some of them even go with the Prison Ministry workers to encourage inmates.
What should be our support for the centre?
Believers in Christ are expected to visit them, give them gifts, either in cash or kind. These items would not be handed over to them directly but to the caregivers. Churches can send delegates to worship with them on a rotational basis.
This would boost their morale and make them know that Christ loves them as well as other Christians. The centre needs a lot of money and other resources to function. God is depending on all of us to fulfil this mission.
Conclusion
The Lord is depending on you as His representatives on earth to join Him at work in missions and evangelism. Do all you can to participate in this divine responsibility, and your reward will be great.
2. Vocational Education Training (VET)
An adage says, “If education is costly, try ignorance.” In essence, nothing can be compared with education. With education, even if one is unemployed, one can lay his/her hand on something based on the education he or her has received.
But in case this does not work, all hope is not lost because there is the opportunity of learning a trade or going for vocational training.
What is vocational education training?
Education is vital in life. Both formal and informal kinds of education are needed to help people grow to self-reliance.
Education would afford whoever has it the opportunity to live and relate well in society; he or she would earn a living through a chosen profession or learn a trade through vocational training.
Vocational training is the training for a specific career or trade. It focuses on the practical application of skills learned and is generally unconcerned with theory or traditional academic skills. A large part of the education in vocational schools is hands-on training.
Vocational training thus provides a link between education and vocation. It is usually provided at the high school level or in a post-secondary trade school.
Benefits of vocational education training
Vocational Education Training programmes at both the secondary and post-secondary levels vary in their quality and effectiveness. While graduation from a good vocational programme or trade school can greatly improve one’s employment outlook, there are other ways of getting specific occupational training.
Apprenticeship, military service, community colleges, and distance learning courses all provide opportunities to improve job skills and employment possibilities.
- It gives opportunity for those who do not have formal education, such as ex-inmates, children from orphanages, low-income earners, widows, widowers, etc.
- It provides the opportunity for them to learn any trade of their choice, such as carpentry, woodwork, fashion designing, catering, hairdressing, bricklaying, automobile repairs, panel beating, etc.
- It enables individuals to be able to settle down and take up their responsibilities i. e., marry, bear children, feed them and send them to school without tears.
- “An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop”,, goes a saying. When people are engaged, evil thoughts would not occupy their minds, and so they would not do anything funny again.
- When they are fully rehabilitated, it will be easy to reintegrate them with their families since they will not become a burden to them.
- It is also a way of putting smiles on the faces of those whose present wages are not enough to cater for their expenses.
Promoting vocational education training
There are a number of ways to promote education while participating in missions. Members of the church can promote education in the following ways:
- Adopt some of the less privileged and send them to school.
- Give them the used textbooks that your children used while in school.
- Offer a scholarship to aid the education of orphans, motherless, or fatherless children.
- Help the less privileged to have access to literacy.
- Sponsor young people to attend technical colleges to learn a trade.
- Encourage children who are academically sound to attend vocational education training.
Conclusion
There are many options available for obtaining occupational skills. Vocational education training, offered in high schools and post-secondary trade skills, is still a good choice.
Other excellent alternatives include apprenticeships, community college programmes, the education and training offered by technical schools, and distance learning courses. Get involved in vocational education training for the good of our nation and its people. I pray that God will help us all to be able to assist the less privileged.
3. Visitation
Human beings are social beings who cherish togetherness. One of our old choruses says, “The more we are together, the happier we shall be.” Whether visiting people in their homes, in the hospitals, or in their offices, the simple act of connecting with others is filled with powerful possibilities.
The act of love and friendship is an inroad to hearts and lives that creates trust, value, and incredible potential for ministry. Visitation makes people know that you care, and it encourages newcomers to become stable and productive members.
As a denomination, we have trivialised visitation, which otherChristiansn. Fellowships have taken advantage of, nd as such, lured many of our members away. What can we do and how can we go about it so as to improve on our brotherly love?
What is visitation?
Visitation is an act of going to members’ houses or places of work (if permitted) with the aim of identifying with them. It is getting to know them, understanding and addressing their needs; providing, encouraging, counselling, and assisting, and expressing through word and/or deed the constant love and care of God.
It captures the true essence of the kind of commitment expected of those involved in the Visitation Ministry. As a warm and vibrant church, it behoves us to ensure that every new convert, guest and existing member has a sense of belonging.
Why should we visit?
Over the years, there have been stories of people who had needs and nobody showed concern or people who attended a church for two years and the pastor never visited them. These should not be heard of in a healthy church; the pastor may not be able to go to everyone’s house, but a well-trained visitation team can be there for the church.
Therefore, whoopee that by having a Visitation Ministry, the church can be equipped to meet all the requirements for visitation. These are reasons for going out for a visitation.
- Opportunities for evangelism
- To show that the church is concerned
- Ministry opportunities
- Follow-up
- Meeting needs
- Identifying with members
Who should participate?
Anyone willing to be involved should have a genuine love for Jesus and people alike.
Who should target?
Perhaps not everyone thinks he/she need aaa vitamin bBbut the people who need a visit should be loved and cared for especially. Newcomers should have the opportunity to meet with other family members who are connected with Christ and his church. The commitment we show to them will be a great witness. The following categories need our visitation.
- All visitors
- Decision-makers
- Event attendees
- Non-attending church members
- Regular members
- The bereaved
- Pastors
Visitation as a tool for evangelism and missions
Visitation is a great tool for evangelism and missions. Our Lord used it many times while He was on earth. Remember the time He visited Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 129-3 ) and Jesus’ home (Mark 5:22ff, etc.). The church should take advantage of this tool and revisit its caring ministry.
- Visitation is an essential tool for evangelism and gospel propagation. Therefore, the church should plan well for it and use it to gain and retain members.
- Apart from the pastor’s visit, the church should have a visitation team.
- Divide the visitation team members according to the areas listed.
- Make sure that visitation is done regularly.
The benefits of visitation
- It strengthens the relationship among members.
- It helps members to know one another intimately.
- It improves the caring ministry of the church.
- It exposes the church to the challenges of its members.
- It increases membership enrolment.
- It helps to meet the particular needs of members.
- It helps members to be committed to the church.
- It also helps evangelism because as they come to visit, people around would notice them.
- It is also a way of helping the poor.
Conclusion
The Visitation Team of a church should be vigorously committed to the task at hand. They should ensure regular contact with members and non-members through phone calls, email, social media and visitation.
They are also required to spare a few hours during the week for visitation. May God help us to be burden bearers for one another. You can read further on this page.
