The President of the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), Rev. Daniel Y.C. Mbaya, PhD, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of his excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently address the worsening economic hardship in the country, particularly the imbalance that continues to deepen the suffering of the poor while the wealthy grow even richer.
Rev. Mbaya made this passionate appeal during the official granting of autonomy to the newly established District Church Council (DCC) Kali, which was carved out from DCC Bikama. The event marked the first DCC autonomy organized by the EYN President since his return from the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren in the United States.
In his address, the President expressed concern over what he described as “the unbalanced scale of the economy,” questioning the logic behind declining prices for local farm produce while the cost of essential commodities and farming inputs continues to rise.
“The drop in food items in the market is becoming unfair,” he stated. “If the price of a bag of maize drops, why should fertilizer become more expensive? If Nigerian rice is now cheaper, why are prices of processed foods like indomie and spaghetti increasing? If these issues are not urgently addressed, this country is heading toward greater hardship in the coming years.”
He urged the federal government to strike a balance that allows all citizens to benefit from the nation’s resources and experience the goodness of God within the country.
Spiritual Vision and Mission of the Church
Before the autonomy ceremony commenced, Rev. Mbaya pronounced blessings upon the prospective DCC Kali, praying that the church will become a center of spiritual, numerical, and material growth for the community. He reiterated the vision of the EYN Church to be “a united loving Church deeply rooted in the Word of God, spiritually, numerically, and materially prosperous.”
He also used the occasion to formally announce the change of name from the “Directorate of Evangelism and Church Growth” to the “Directorate of Mission.” According to him, this change means all evangelism and church growth responsibilities now lie with the DCCs and LCCs, while the Headquarters will focus on international missions. He urged every DCC to appoint District Evangelism Coordinators and every LCC to do likewise, to ensure coordinated efforts in spreading the Gospel within Nigeria.
Notable Attendance and Messages of Encouragement
The event was graced by several key leaders of the EYN denomination, Rev. Nuhu Mutah Abba, EYN Vice President, and his wife Mrs. Rhoda Nuhu, Rev. James K. Musa, EYN General Secretary, and his wife Mrs. Kauna James, Rev. Amb. Timta Luka Musa, EYN Administrative Secretary, Rev. Bitrus Y. Duwara, Director of Relief and Management along with the District Head of Zah, Yusuf Zira, and many pastors from across the region. Their presence added weight to the significance of the occasion.
In his goodwill message, the EYN Vice President, Rev. Nuhu Mutah Abba, quoted from Psalm 133 and expressed joy at seeing the vibrancy of the youth in DCC Kali, stating, “Seeing youth here very active in church programs means this DCC has a great future, and their impact will be felt not only in Nigeria but across the world.” He emphasized the privilege of life and encouraged all members to build cordial relationships among themselves.
Edification and Multiplication: The Two-Fold Purpose of the Church
Delivering the sermon from Acts 9:31, the EYN General Secretary, Rev. James K. Musa, outlined the two-fold purpose of the Church: edification and multiplication. He explained that once a church is established, its primary mission should be to build its members spiritually and emotionally. He challenged the congregation, particularly leaders, to examine whether their leadership is transforming lives.
“If you are a President, DCC Secretary, or Resident Pastor, can you confidently say you have impacted the lives of the people under your leadership? If not, we have failed in our calling.”
He warned against the tendency to see the Church as personal property and cautioned that such attitudes attract God’s curse. On multiplication, he said any church that is not experiencing growth is already dead. “The competition God desires from us is in the number of souls we win, not in material things,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging the congregation to self-evaluate and determine whether they are fulfilling either of these divine purposes.
Donations and Support
The ceremony also featured generous donations of cash and properties in support of the newly autonomous DCC Kali. Members, church groups, and well-wishers presented gifts to aid the administrative and spiritual development of the new DCC.
As DCC Kali begins this new phase, the prayers and declarations from the EYN President and other leaders offer strong spiritual and structural foundations upon which the Church can thrive and shine as a light in the community.
