EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria is preparing intending retirees and their spouses for the physical, psychological, emotional and financial transition from working life to retirement at a five-day workshop in Kwarhi, Adamawa State.
The EYN retirement workshop, held from Monday, September 21, to Friday, September 25, 2026, at EYN Headquarters, Kwarhi, brought together intending retirees from the 2000–2004 group and their spouses.
The programme focused on helping participants approach retirement with preparation, purpose and confidence. It addressed health, finances, emotional wellbeing, spiritual growth and opportunities for continued service to the church and wider community.
Retirement is a transition, not the end
Speaking at the workshop, Board Chairman Mr Sunday Dishon Shallhudiki told participants that retirement should not be viewed as the end of life.
He described retirement as “a transition – a major one”, comparing it with the movement from primary to secondary school and Joseph’s transition from prison to the palace.
Shallhudiki said retirees would be moving from the regular rhythm of an eight-to-four working life into a new season that could provide opportunities for continued growth and contribution.
His message reflected the central theme of the workshop: “Physical, Psychological and Emotional Transition from Working Life to Retirement.”
EYN leadership urges retirees to prepare for a new season
The EYN General Secretary, Reverend James K. Musa, represented the EYN President, Rev. Daniel Y. C. Mbaya, PhD at the workshop.
Rev. Musa conveyed greetings from the president and encouraged participants to reflect on Ephesians 5:15–17, which calls believers to live wisely and make the most of their time.
He thanked the organisers and participants for supporting the programme, describing it as an important opportunity to prepare for retirement.
“When we hear the word retirement, many people hear it as an end,” Rev. Musa said. “But I want to tell you today that retirement is not an end. It is a transition. It is not a time to expire; it is a time to refine.”
He said the participants were moving from active public service into another significant phase of life, where their wisdom, experience and legacy would remain valuable.
According to the General Secretary, the participants had served EYN in different directorates, units and stations for periods ranging from 10 to 35 years.
“EYN is grateful,” he said, adding that the church would not forget their “labour of love”.
Rev. Musa outlined four areas in which participants should prepare for retirement: spiritual life, finances, health, and social and mental wellbeing.
He urged the intending retirees to deepen their relationship with God and continue serving faithfully after leaving the EYN payroll, stressing that retirement from formal employment does not mean retirement from God’s purpose.
On finances, he encouraged participants to plan their resources carefully and live within their means. He also advised them to care for their physical health through adequate rest, exercise and regular medical check-ups.
Rev. Musa further encouraged participants to remain socially connected and avoid isolation, saying they could continue contributing as mentors, peace-builders, church leaders and community members.
Rev. Musa said retirement should be understood as a new assignment rather than a withdrawal from meaningful service.
He told participants that God could continue to use them as elders, farmers, mentors, peace-builders and church leaders in their communities.
“Your retirement from the EYN payroll is not retirement from God’s purpose,” he said.
He also stressed that the workshop was not intended to send participants away or suggest that the church no longer needed them.
“The church is not tired of you; it is because the church honours you,” he said, explaining that the programme was intended to help participants retire well.
He added that people who prepare adequately for retirement are less likely to retire into fear and more likely to enter the period with fulfilment.
Rev. Musa assured participants that the EYN President and Headquarters leadership would remain open to constructive criticism and suggestions.
“You are part of the family and you will always be part of the family,” he said.
The General Secretary formally declared the workshop open in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Participants responded with a loud “Amen”.
The five-day programme provided participants with guidance on managing the practical and personal changes associated with retirement, while also recognizing the experience and long service of EYN employees.
Pension Secretary urges staff to keep retirement records accurate
The Pension Secretary, Mr. Ania Simon, also used the workshop to encourage EYN staff to take greater responsibility for the accuracy of their pension records before retirement.
Simon appreciated EYN leadership for supporting the retirement programme and urged staff to maintain closer contact with the Pension Department throughout their working years.
He encouraged staff to regularly check their personal details and ensure that the information held by the Pension Department corresponds with records in their banks, official employment documents and Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA).
The advice is particularly relevant to intending retirees, who need accurate records as they prepare to leave formal employment and begin the next stage of their lives.
Simon’s message placed practical pension administration alongside the wider physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and financial preparation addressed during the workshop.
For the intending retirees, the workshop offered an opportunity to prepare for life beyond formal employment with dignity, confidence and purpose. For EYN, it reinforced the continuing value of experienced members whose knowledge and service can benefit families, congregations and communities beyond their years of formal employment.
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