By Emmanuel Uffot
Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), recently held their South-South Regional Convention in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The 3-day convention which lasted from Thursday November 9 to Saturday November 11 at Ibom Hall Arena along IBB Avenue, attracted participants from the South- South geo- political region of Nigeria comprising Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa.
It was what could be termed a tripod Convention consisting of the main convention, children’s convention and teens convention.
Activities for the main convention in particular began on Thursday with the arrival and registration of participants and ended with evening rally led by the reverred Rev. ( Dr) Uma Ukpai.
Other activities of the 3-day convention which had the theme ” Behold, I Come Quickly” Rev. 22:12 included praise and worship, testimonies, professional workshops, Business Forum, NNC meeting, Ladies Forum, convention luncheon and that of the Royal Fathers.
In the area of exaltation and talks.
Four resource persons delivered talks on five topics during the convention.
The first teaching on the topic ” Behold, I Come Quickly” which was the theme of the convention was delivered by Pastor Sam Akpan, who presides over Refiners House Revival Outreach in Uyo. He also spoke on the topic ” Raising Disciples for His Coming which was the fifth topic lined up for the convention.
Other speakers were, Mrs Eunice Agu, a registered estate surveyor and valuer who is a life member and lady of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship spoke on the topic ” Fulfilling His Purpose in The Home”.
Another speaker was Dr Marie Obazee. The medical doctor who is CEO of Zeemat Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, an NGO on capacity building and microfinance handled the topic ” Your Health Before He Comes”.
Similarly Pastor Sonny Wogu (SAN), a Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and legal luminary spoke on “I know thy works”.
For the children convention held at another section of the same venue, its activities were praise and worship, Bible lessons, memory verses, film show, rallies and teachings while that of the teen convention included, prayers, praise and worships, testimonies, teachings, interactive sessions,drama and rallies.
Rev. Uma Ukpai who was there to add spiritual spice to the convention, also took the participants on life touching exaltation.
Earlier during the opening of the convention, the National President of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International in Nigeria Architect Ifeanyi Odedo in his Goodwill message, said the theme of the convention ” Behold, I Come Quickly” served as a reminder that the Lord know all our works both past and present.
Odedo who is an accomplished entrepreneur in the Real Estate sector heading a renowned architectural firm Arc- Symbol Consultants stressed that God is keeping record of all that we do whether good or bad. He however lamented that inspite of God’s mercies and goodness to us mankind, our love for God is not in commensurate with his love. He asserted that the convention was coming with the message that God is calling us back so that he revive us again, re-fire us and usher us into a new area of grace, righteousness and glory.
Similarly in his welcome address, the Regional Vice-President South-South of FGBMFI Dr Okere Iragunima noted that the last time Uyo hosted the convention was in 2013 and emphasised that since then a lot has happened to the organisation.
Also dwelling on the convention theme ” Behold, I Come Quickly” he said it draws the attention of mankind to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. According to him, that is the critical role FGBMFI has taken up to bring men out of darkness and bondage into freedom.
In the same vein, the Chairman Convention Planning Committee Mr Ufanabasi Elijah while welcoming participants to the convention and Akwa Ibom State, said the fact that the state is called the Land of Promise has manifested in God’s mercies and love to the state through the rapid development and peace prevalent in the state.
Like other speakers, he underlined the fact that the theme of the convention was critical to the practice of Christianity. Mr Elijah said it was the hand of God that manifested itself in revealing the theme to the Convention Planning Committee and urge participants to pay great attention to the messages, preachings and teachings to reap the good reward of attendance.
Goodwill messages came from Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International South-South District 1 Port- Harcourt, Rivers State, District 2 Akwa Ibom, District 3, Edo, District 4 and the wife of the South-South Regional Vice-President Hon. Justice S.O. Iragunima ( rtd).
Engineer Williams Williams of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International District 2 Akwa Ibom State, who was a member of the Convention Action Committee in charge of venue and decoration is grateful to God for a successful convention hosted their District after months of planning.
Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, founded by Demos Shakarian, Armenian American dairy farmer, began in Nigeria in 1980.
The International religious organisation is said to draw membership from Presidents, kings, prime ministers, members of parliament, senators, judges, top military personnels, captains of industries, Businessmen, professionals, office workers, factory workers and young uprising youths.
Since the organisation birth in Nigeria in 1980 when it had its first convention, the Fellowship is said to now boast of 3500 charters.
According to the organisation its vision is to harvest millions of people to God through the out pouring of Holy spirit, while it’s 6- point mission are, to reach men in all nations for Jesus Christ
– To call men back to God.
– To help believers to be baptized in the Holy spirit and grow spiritually.
– To train and equip men to fullfill the Great Commission.
– To provide an opportunity for Christians Fellowship and to bring greater unity among all people in the body of Christ.
The body which is reputed to be the largest network of Christian businessmen world wide has charters in no fewer than 160 nations.
