By Rev. Filibus Bakari Auta
The Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon Episcopal Area, Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel, has inaugurated the South West Nigeria Annual Conference at Mutum Biyu, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, describing the new conference as a fertile ground for mission, evangelism and sustainable church growth.
Addressing a large gathering of clergy and laity during the inauguration service, Bishop Ande expressed optimism about the future of the South West Nigeria Annual Conference, declaring that its prospects are “promising and bright.”
The Bishop noted that the establishment of the conference, with its headquarters in Mutum Biyu, presents a significant opportunity for the United Methodist Church to deepen its missionary presence, strengthen evangelism and respond effectively to the spiritual and social needs of communities within the conference.
Following the inauguration, the newly appointed conference leadership was formally charged to embrace proactive and committed leadership, work collaboratively for the development of the conference and pursue a robust mission and evangelism agenda that will produce lasting fruit.
“Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing”
Preaching from Psalm 137:4, Bishop Ande titled his sermon, “Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing.”
He began his message with a popular story about a Ghanaian hunter named Kofi, whom he described as a highly skilled hunter and regarded in his community as the “king of hunters.”
According to the story, Kofi once went into the forest determined to demonstrate his hunting prowess. He succeeded in killing a very big elephant. However, because the elephant was too big for him to carry home alone, he returned to the community and called on the people to help him transport it.
As the community members pushed the elephant together, they would occasionally make a sound of exertion. Each time they shouted, “Hmmmm!” Kofi would respond, “My elephant!”
After repeatedly hearing Kofi personalize the achievement, the community members stopped and decided to leave him with the elephant. They told him that since it was his elephant, he should push it home and eat it alone.
Realizing his mistake, Kofi apologized and asked the people to continue helping him. From that point onward, whenever they pushed the elephant, they shouted together, “Hmmmm! Our elephant!”
“The Church Belongs to All of Us”
Drawing a powerful lesson from the story, Bishop Ande challenged United Methodists to reject the temptation to personalize the Church or treat it as the possession of individuals, groups or particular interests.
He emphasized that the Church belongs to everyone and must be built through collective responsibility, unity and shared commitment.
“The church is not for one person. It is for all of us,” the Bishop stressed, calling on clergy and laity to work together irrespective of tribe, social class, position or status.
He warned that fragile relationships, personal interests and divisions can weaken the Church’s witness and undermine its mission.
According to him, when members unite around a common vision, the Church becomes stronger, more resilient and better equipped to advance the mission work of the church and evangelism.
The Kofi story, he explained, is symbolic of the Church’s need to move from “my church” to “our church,” from personal ownership to collective responsibility, and from division to unity.
A Call to Prioritize Eternity
Concluding his message, Bishop Ande urged the congregation to look beyond temporary worldly possessions and achievements and to prioritize the things that have eternal value.
He reminded the congregation that earthly possessions are temporary and perishable, while the things of God and the hope of eternity remain everlasting.
The inauguration of the South West Nigeria Annual Conference therefore marks a significant new chapter for the United Methodist Church, with renewed expectations for stronger mission, evangelism, unity and spiritual transformation across the conference.
The new conference has begun its journey and, as Bishop Ande emphasized, it must be an “our elephant”: a shared mission, a shared responsibility and a shared future.
South West Nigeria Annual Conference this is a new beginning. This is our mission. This is our Church. And this is our future!
