When a shepherd of shepherds begins to call for expectations of apostolic ministry good things happen.
Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Nigeria is one of those amazing African Anglican Christian leaders who is demonstrating what an active, strong Church looks like. Though he is suffering from cancer he is still carrying out his vision of evangelizing his nation for Christ.
With his wife, Mama Gloria, the Archbishop is indefatigable in his laser-focused campaign of preaching Jesus Christ as Lord to the people of Nigeria. It is a place where conversions from animism, Islam, and religious folk customs and superstitions are not uncommon, where Satan and his foul demons often display their last dying gasps of hatred and infernal mischief on poor human beings. However, the power of the Gospel is overcoming the lesser power of the devil.
I received word just today that Archbishop Ben has given a strong charge from his bed of suffering. His charge so reminds me of the great J.C. Ryle who regularly charged those in the Liverpool diocese to remain untiring in their apostolic activity for the sake of Christ. Here is Archbishop Ben’s message:
“I want the Bible taught with clarity, integrity, and conviction.
Letter from Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America dated 28 September 2020.
I want the Bible lived out in real life, changing lives and communities everywhere.
I want truth, righteousness, and justice to be common in the life of the church, amongst believers, and extended to the world.
I want the mission of the gospel to be a living experience of the church, insisting on conversion, experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit as a mark of discipleship.
I want this ministry to children, youth, widows, orphans, aged, and helpless to be a regular mission of the church.
May the Word of God spread with speed.
May the Gospel of salvation be preached to the world. May the Spirit of God fall afresh on us.
May the name of the Lord alone be glorified.“
I read this godly man’s message and I am stirred to both prayer and action! As a seminary, let us do all we can to preach Christ, to train our students in the Word of God and in the best examples from the Church how to conduct a vibrant ministry.
Our Vision and Mission statement declares that Erskine Theological Seminary exists to prepare men and women to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. As we watch the world in its misery go further from God and wonder why they suffer the affliction of anarchy and violence, let us rise from our places with the message of Christ Jesus. Christ remains the only answer to the problems of this world. Let us send our students out with a fire that they caught from this place, a fire of the Holy Spirit, a fire that burns brightly with courage and commitment to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.