Deeper Life Campus Fellowship

 The DLCF has a divine mandate and mission to win, build and commission students and staff of institutions of higher learning and fresh graduate volunteers (corps members) schemes to be their best for the Master. It is an inter-denominational fellowship, embracing campus Christian who share the same doctrinal belief irrespective of their denominations and affiliations. CLICK HERE to read details.

Campus Pearl Magazine

Breaking The Fence

CONTENT
* Cover Story
* Career Development
* Apologia
* Christian Living
* Missions
* Special Features

The Value of Positive Relationship

Today, it is obvious that human relationships have been perverted and destroyed by all unscriptural and carnal desires devoid of concern for fellow human beings. The positivism expected in true relationships that radiates blessings has given way to all negative and destructive consequences, while frictions in human relationship have displaced true fellowship. Where did man get it wrong?. Definitely it was when Abel, who was the first in the Bible to be called a “Brother” was killed. Cain ceased to be his brother's keeper and was so audacious to ask God, “Am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4: 9). Thus today, instead of true brotherhood, in most of our higher institutions, it is cultism and carnal friendship.

It is my belief that this edition of Campus Pearl will be used of God and His Spirit to bring our scholars (students and teachers inclusive) to the foundation of true relationship which is the pearl of an enduring Christian Fellowship.

Permit me to remind you that our usefulness in God's kingdom and in the society rests on the realisation and acceptance that we cannot be isolated from God and the Body of Christ. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. …That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:18, 25). If it is God's pleasure that humans remain in fellowship with Him and with one another, may you receive grace today to stay in Christian Fellowship. Amen. Click here to subscribe for a full edition and view more publications.

click here to go up

 The Benefit of Positive Relationship

Man was never created to live in isolation. Our human nature reveals that our Maker's desire, design, decree, delight, and demand is that we relate one with another. Such human relationships suggest companionship, amity, comradeship, closeness, familiarity, partnership, friendship and fellowship. It is sad to note however that contrary to the divine design, the Campus community and the world at large is riddled by hostility, rattled by disagreement, roughened by animosity, ripped by enmity, and ravaged by avarice.

One of the privileges of friendship and good relationship is being able to speak frankly. An Arabian  proverb says, "A friend is one to whom we may pour out the contents of our hearts, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away!"

Another privilege of such positive relationship is that of being understood. Perhaps this quality made George Eliot to write: "Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions; they pass no criticisms”. Total agreement and acceptance may not be necessary! As one anonymous writer has said, "The strength and sweetness of friendship depends on sincerity tempered by sympathy."

A third privilege of a positive relationship is the privilege of silence. If one is but a mere acquaintance we feel that we must talk. So we turn to such exciting subjects as the weather, our ailments, and our latest test or examination. But what a joy it is to have a friend that will even understand your silence and not say, "My friend is not my friend anymore because he is not talking."

Friends have mutual interests. They enjoy doing the same kinds of things, and talking about their shared interests. That's why there is such great camaraderie between students, lecturers, woodworkers, gardeners, authors, etc.

Friends are mutually devoted to each other. When you are in trouble, it is not merely your friend's duty but his privilege to stand by. If he is in trouble, you count it a privilege to help.

Such blissful influence of positive relationship was aptly captured by the sweet psalmist of Israel when he said “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down the skirts of his garment; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (Psalm 133:1-3).

“Brethren”…Who are they? Friends, Colleagues, or Biological siblings?  Not necessarily…

”But as many as received, Him to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).

It is the atonement by the blood of Jesus that makes those who believe in Him become sons (and daughters) of God and hence, brethren. Our relationship to God and one another (like parts of the body) brings us into true fellowship.

Believers (brethren) relate or interact in unity, companionship and friendliness to achieve the overall goal of the body to the glory of God. Togetherness is the key characteristic and the essence is …”That there be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. That their hearts might be comforted, being knight together in love…” (1Corinthians 12:25,  Colossians 2:2).

Examine your relationship with other members of the fellowship, in your room, hostel or class for a moment and check whether your relationship is “with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love”. If it is not, then you are destroying fellowship and wielding a negative influence.

Do not live in selfish isolation and “hide not thyself from thy own flesh”( Isaiah 58:7).

Fellowship is both natural and practical when there is positive relationship among us. Members of the natural body do not wait until other parts do their job. If they do, then no one will ever get started to give us the benefits of fellowship. But this is the selfish attitude of some people today. They wait to be loved before they show love, be cared for, before they care in return. You do not need to wait for others before you obey God's instruction and carry out the responsibilities of fellowship.

Long ago, Benjamin Franklin wanted to enlist interest to the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his house. He kept the glass polished and carefully trimmed and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. The lamp helped the people see the pavement ahead; made them feel more secure at night. Others began placing lights in front of their houses. Soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lights. Such is the power of influence, in our relationship with others.

There are quite a number of responsibilities in any relationship. There is however ONE responsibility that is not merely an advice but a commandment.

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Jesus the Divine Law-giver, made this pronouncement. LOVE is the fundamental ingredient for any positive relationship. He makes no excuse for hatred. Don't wait for others to obey it before you do; after all you did not wait for all others to get saved before you responded to God for salvation.

Some people wonder that in the church whose members have been commanded to “be as perfect as your heavenly father is perfect”  the scriptures still  says in Ephesians 4:2, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”

 Yes! They are perfect in heart but not in knowledge or else they become God! They may unintentionally do things you don't expect but rather than grumbling, murmuring, complaining or speaking evil, you should tolerate and endure it….”And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

Some people's problem is that they think there is nothing to forgive in their lifestyle. You must know however that day by day, events will arise to prove whether or not, you are ready to be kind when others are unkind, love when others are unloving, be gracious when others are not gracious.

At home , things will happen that will show whether you will be tender, loving, gracious, benevolent or you will become so callous, harsh, hard, intolerant, difficult to live with, and difficult to please. God still forgives us today even after forgiving us at salvation. And so rather than use the dagger of destructive words when you discover others' faults, be kind in your comments both within and outside the church.

We are to love one another with a pure heart fervently. This goes with unpretended smile and hospitality, void of suspicion.

Giving is another responsibility in our relationship. Such was demonstrated by the early church and was recorded about them “… but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). The process of giving and receiving maintains the spirit of fellowship.  Selfishness is the attitude that makes you want to just keep receiving and not giving at all. Such attitude destroys the spirit of fellowship. When you accommodate someone and soon begin to regret you did, it shows that you are impatient to learn how to bear and forbear. Taking a decision not too lend believers money just because another believer disappointed you, does not conform to Christ's teaching.

In true fellowship, there is no position seeking, envy, nor jealousy; rather “… in honor preferring one another”     (Romans 12:10).

Broken fellowship with God will affect our relationship with our fellow men. Wrong fellowship with our fellow men rubs us of full fellowship with the Almighty God. Church or secular activities that make us so busy that we do not make time to seek one another, is not approved in God's Kingdom. Rejoice with them that do  rejoice,  and weep with them that weep.

What then are the blessings in fellowship and positive relationships?  James 5:16 says “Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye might be healed…”

True fellowship brings healing to the body and to the soul.. Such positive relationship will fulfill the desire of Christ when he stated, “ That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee , that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”  (John 17:21).

We have been called not to disunity but fellowship.

click here to go up

Heroic Achievements through Relationship

It is a fact that no true success can be achieved without relationship. Sound relationship is often the silent building blocks of true success. Truly successful men like Lincoln and Roosevelt were notable for their achievement in politics, governance and reformation because they were men noted for their extraordinary capacity for positive relationships. On the other hand, men like Carl Max and Adolph Hitler, J.D Rockefeller of the infamous standard oil monopoly were not only detested for their ungodly philosophy but were also known to be failures. They ended their lives in misery and suicide. 

Someone rightly defines success as “realizing God's desires for me and responding obediently to reach my maximum potential to please him and benefit others. The “others” in our quest for excellence and success in life forms the fulcrum of this discourse. Winston Churchill, the great politician and statesman underline the essence of relationship in success when he says, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. And John Maxwell, the popular motivational speaker poses a profound question, which every one should ask himself, or herself  AM I a CONTRIBUTOR or a CONSUMER? 

- What do I seek to do more- to give or get? - What gives me greater joy- to give or get?

In all human institutions, teamwork, unity, cooperation has always been emphasized to be the bedrock of progress. No other field of sports illustrates this better than team sports such as football. A coach was once quoted (while emphasizing the importance of working to help others succeed) as saying that: “ I'm just a plow hand from down home, but I have learned how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm down others, until finally they've got one heartbeat together, a team…”

The secret of successful achievement thus lies in stretching forth the hand of fellowship to lift a fellow man or woman across the valley of mediocrity, failure and average to the mountain of success. No matter the discipline or profession you are pursuing in life there are course mates, colleagues and contemporaries that you come across daily, discuss issues with, share lecture rooms, hostels, offices with. Many times because  there is always the tendency to believe (quite wrongly) that you can succeed alone. That you have all it takes in life to be what you want to be. In fact, the spirit of competition, carnal comparison, and pride drives others to do some ridiculous things that will seek to put others down in order to lift themselves up. Such people forget that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. 

Several years ago, Pope Paul I, while speaking in Bombay, India said “Are we not all one in this struggle for a better world in this effort to make available to all people those good which are needed to fulfill their human destiny and to live lives worthy of the children of God”. An author in one of his writings once tells the following story about a man whose seven sons were always quarreling among themselves. 

One day he called them together  that he wished to demonstrate just what their lack of cooperative effort meant. He had prepared a bundle of seven sticks that he had carefully tied together. One by one he asked his sons to take the bundle and break it. Each son tried, but in vain. Then he cut the strings and handed one of the sticks to each of his sons and asked him to break it over his knee. After the sticks had all been broken, with ease he said: “When you boys work together in a spirit of harmony you resemble the bundle of sticks, and no one can defeat you; (i.e. no failure) but when you quarrel among yourselves anyone can defeat you one at a time. The author then says that the lesson in the story can be applied to the people of a community, the employees and employers in a given organization, to a nation, and by extension to students studying a particular course. 

Bremer (1966) asserts “Success in this world is always a matter of individual effort, yet you will only be deceiving yourself if you believe that you can succeed without the cooperation of other people. Success is a matter of individual effort only to the extent that each person must decide, in his or her own mind, what is wanted. This involves the use of 'imagination'. From this point on, achieving success is a matter of skillfully and tactfully inducing others to cooperate. 

The joy of having friends that will help us along the way of life is summarized below: “It means a great deal to have enthusiastic friends always looking out for our interests, working for us all the time, saying a good word for us at every opportunity, supporting us, speaking for us in our absence when we need a friend, shielding our sensitive, weak spots, stopping slanders, killing lies which would injure us, correcting false impressions, trying to set us right, overcoming the prejudices created by some mistake or slip, or a first bad impression we made in some silly moment, who are always doing something to give us a lift or help us along” or slip.

“Those who appreciate us, who help us to build up instead of destroying our self-confidence, double our power of accomplishment…” Who can estimate the value of such an uplifting influence? queried  Bremer (opt cit). Our best friend never embarrasses us by making us feel our inferiority or weakness. On the contrary, he always gives us a lift upward, a push onward. It is therefore difficult to estimate or quantify what can be achieved through proper relationships, friendships and cooperation. The law of reciprocity however works in this situation. As much as we desire the benefits that can be derived from others who can help us to achieve our goals, fulfill our dream, reach our destiny, we must be willing to help others as well. This is because by helping others to succeed you will be helping yourself to succeed. Zig Ziglar, an American motivational speaker and author says that we can get everything in life we want or need if we help enough other people get what they want. 

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God lived and modeled this principle for us. Throughout the Gospels we note that He gave Himself to others when it was not convenient, it was time consuming and it seemed to be an interruption. Jesus instructs us to plan others above our desires and ourselves. We are commanded to bear one another's burden, to go the second mile, to turn the other cheek. All of these lessons teach us that as we place others' needs above our own, our needs and desires will eventually be fulfilled. We must always be ready to lend a hand; as we help our brother's boat across the river and lo, our own also has reached the shore. Woodrow Wilson, the man in whose honour generous fellowship programmes have benefited many scholars across the globe was once quoted as saying: “I not only use all the brains I have but all I can borrow”. “A single bracelet does not make a clatter” and one hand cannot tie a bundle.” We can achieve a lot in life when we establish the right relationship with the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our partner in successful achievement, and second with people that have the same vision, goal, dream, ambition and desires to succeed. Three, we must be willing to make sacrifices in order to help others succeed.

Charles R. Swindoll (1960) gives us three essential ingredients of getting closer in order to grow stronger and achieve great things in life. First, there must be an admission of need for others. This means that you must set aside that self-sufficiency and isolationism tendency in you. 

Second, there must be the cultivation of deeper relationships. This takes time, effort and a spirit of willingness. 

Third, there must be a firm commitment to assimilation, see yourself as part of a whole. Appreciate the gifts of other people and their personalities. Do not see yourself as an island get involved, get assimilated. Cooperative efforts can achieve a lot for the individuals and for corporate bodies (e.g. fellowships). The scripture supports this principle of cooperative efforts and endorses its benefits when it states that:” …the liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself .” 

The sea that receives and does not give (flow) out stagnates and stinks. 

Text: I Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:2; Proverbs 11: 24, 25. 

References:
Bremer, S.N. (1958)
Successful Achievement Vol. 4 Kentucky U.S.A: Successful Achievement Inc.

Maxwell John (1989)
“Principles that Guide my Life,Seven Secrets of Successful People” In Equipping Church Leaders for the Nineties.

Swindoll, C.R. (1960) 
Dropping Your Guard  Texas: Word Books.

click here to go up

Latest Invention – The Tomato Planter System

Tomato plant vines sprawl as they grow, requiring time and attention to keep them properly staked above ground. These ingenious planters, which look nothing like bundt cake pans, take the toil out of growing tomatoes by elevating the planting bed and allowing your vines to grow downward from a hole in the bottom. The hanging vines need almost no attention and ensure that tomatoes ripen in the air where they won't rot. Thus you don't have to worry about tomato cages or stakes because the plants grow upside down with our PosiGrav™ gravity system. These compact planters can fit in any space with maximum sunlight, weed free.

Source: http://holisticforgeworks.com/production_floor/

Editorial Comment: 

If tomatoes can now grow in the air, though upside- down, out of their natural habitat, with maximum sunlight and free from weed, it won't be too long, the Blood-washed Saints of Christ will soon be out of here, out of this natural sin-polluted world, in an upward flight (not downward like that of tomatoes), free from all carnal weeds, to be with Christ in the air. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:17).
 

click here to go up

The Brotherhood of Man

The Basic Definition

Brotherhood  has been defined as “relationship between brothers”, “association of people with a common interest”, and “community of feeling between human beings”.

Taking a look at the three definitions above, brotherhood presupposes a common parenthood and  blood relationship. The whole idea of brotherhood brings to focus commonality of feelings and interests.

Brotherhood was originated by God as instituted from the first human parents  Adam and Eve. That is instructive: that there is no brotherhood without fatherhood or parenthood.

Unfortunately, after the fall of Adam and Eve, the first crime, and of course, sin, was against brotherhood: Cain killed his brother, Abel. Thus God asked the first murderer, “Where is Abel thy brother?”. There were no two Abels, so God could have just asked, “Where is Abel?”. But God referred to Abel as a “brother”. In fact, Abel was the first person to be called “brother” in the Bible.

Moreover, Abel was called “a keeper …”, the title and vocational virtue that Cain rejected identifying with, as he queried: “Am I my brother's keeper”. Thus from God's original purpose, Brotherhood is a life-preserving relationship; it keeps life.  Abel was a Keeper, but the one that killed the first brother in human history questioned “Am I my brother's keeper?”. What a revelation!

Sin against Brotherhood

Now, a very instructive lesson from the parable of the prodigal son above is that self-dependence and all tendencies towards carnal freedom destroy brotherhood as demonstrated in the younger son. He wanted to be free and so demanded for a share of his father's inheritance. While he methodically absconded from under the leadership of his father, he equally abandoned the wonderful brotherhood relationship he had with his elder brother. But, though it was almost spontaneous to get reconciled with his father, the prodigal son didn't find it easy to win back the love of his brother. No wonder the Bible warns solemnly (Proverbs 18:19):A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Could the above passage be explaining the reason why people who have been living together for years as brothers, the moment they engage in oppositions and crisis against themselves find it difficult to quickly settle?. Such are the scenarios  we see in most inter-tribal and ethnic wars around the world today, and Nigeria easily presents ready examples.

The Bible, likening the contentions of offended brothers to “… the bars of a castle”, is a great revelation to the dangers involved when brotherhood crisis takes the stage. A castle is a stronghold or a fortress whose bars are almost impenetrable. Thus today, man becomes an irreconcilable being to his fellow men when contentions and misunderstandings are allowed to destroy the originally given fellowship. Just as a bar prevents access, Man becomes unnecessarily protective, barricading his fellow men out of his reach when he loses his brotherly fellowship. However, the irony is that the contentious or offended brother that raises bars around himself like a castle, to keep away or remain without his fellow men, equally keeps himself within a captivity though he might be living in a castle. It is therefore instructive that whatever that does not encourage profitable brotherhood equally destroys freedom, keeping one party within the bars of bondage and keeping the other party outside human protection and shared security.

Brotherhood: a weapon against Fellow Adversaries
In God's original intention, brotherhood should be a weapon against adversity: "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

Brothers are not expected to be adversaries to one another. They are born to fight together against the adversities of one another. There is much to the implications of this divinely revealed instruction. To obey and practice this instruction is to fight against all forces that engineer wars among neighbouring communities. Definitely the divine instruction also provides resistance against any temptation to join cultism, one of the deadliest adversaries of brotherhood today.
Let us see a Bible example of brothers fighting their common adversaries: 2 Samuel 10:6 - 13:
The spirit of brotherhood in Joab and Abishai at this instant against the Syrians and the children of Ammon is very emulating. They united their brotherhood strength to “play the men for their (our) people and the cities of their (our) God”. Till today, true brotherhood becomes a translated weapon to defend the course of our people and preserve our God-given inheritance.

Brothers Isaac and Ishmael - A Counter-example
The picture painted in Isaac and Ishmael is a great lesson for the whole world today. They were brothers, but half brothers. Though they shared the same blood in Abraham, but not the same breast milk in Sarah. Till today, the enmity between their descendants occupies the centre stage of global peace efforts for decade: 
"And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren" (Genesis 16:11, 12).
They are close geographically but far apart in almost everything else. The picture painted in Ishmael by God is quite instructive. He was predicted to be a “wild man” and yet to dwell in the presence of his brethren (or brothers). He was predicted to live within the brotherhood environment, but yet would be against everyman, meaning including his brothers. Thus when we find it difficult to sustain our brotherhood, we cannot maintain good human relations outside brotherhood. He that is against everyman as pictured in Ishmael would be against his brothers also.

True Brotherhood  Divine Example and Expectation
Jesus, being the Perfect Example in everything, challenged His observers on who is a member of True Brotherhood (Matt 12:46-50).

Here, His natural brothers and their mother came visiting and stood without while Jesus was talking to the “people” within. Two groups of people were here identified: the group identified as “the people”, partaking of Christ's fellowship and teaching, and the other group identified by someone as “thy mother and thy brethren” who were standing without and desiring to speak with Him.

However to the astonishment of the observers, Jesus there and then handed down to all generations the meaning of true brotherhood. What Jesus simply did was to extend the brotherhood relationship that divided the two groups around Him. While He didn't disown altogether those standing outside as His mother and brethren, He however identified those around Him and within fellowship as His mother and brethren. They were seen just as “people” by others but Jesus certified them as brothers. What was Christ saying? True brotherhood is not segregative, denying others their right to Christian fellowship, unlike the scenario created by the visit of the blood relatives of Christ who demanded to speak with Christ (and so truncating the fellowship of the “people” around Him).

Christ is the bond and centre of true brotherhood. However, Jesus didn't just call the people around Him brothers without acknowledging their attachment to God and His will. Thus today, godliness and Christian transformation and commitment are the basic ingredients of true brotherhood. True Christianity removes tribalism and ethnicity that have destroyed brotherhood in today's society. A society, family or fellowship with Christ at the centre becomes a model of true brotherhood.

In Jesus' response, we again see Him re-arranging the relationships around brotherhood. The reporters of the visit of His relations said:
“… Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee” (v.47).For them, mother comes first before others. But Christ later responded: “ … whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”. (vs 50)Could it be that Jesus was trying to teach us that brotherhood is pre-eminent among all relationships by placing it in the first position?. Moreover, He went ahead to separate the two components of brotherhood  “brothers” and “sisters” instead of joining them simply as “brethren”. One, brethren is a unifying word for brothers and sisters in the old English, teaching us the unity of brotherhood. But then, Jesus splitting them in His response here is equally to teach us how significant each gender is within true brotherhood. There is no true brotherhood when the female gender is seen as insignificant like it was in the traditional Jewish culture where the males never finished their prayers until they thanked God for not being women!. Christianity promotes human significance, especially when free from sins.
Remember again, the first person to be called a “brother” was Abel, the first saint, whose blood-sacrifice was accepted by God. Today, Jesus has become our perfect sacrifice who shed His precious blood to reconcile and unite humanity to God as brothers. To disregard Him is to kill true brotherhood as Cain did. Be a true brother today as you accept Christ!

click here to go up

Network for Mission

Today there are a thousand and one ways of reaching the lost. A look at the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles shows one outstanding overriding method which yielded great results that were recorded in the account of the gospellers. The Lord Jesus and His disciples used this method to reach the unsaved of their times. In their missionary outreaches, we see team work at play. In modern language we might label it networking (for) mission.

The Lord of glory did not do it alone when He was on earth. He appointed the twelve and then the seventy. As God, He could have accomplished the evangelization of Israel without engaging another mortal man. But He did otherwise. He shared his vision of begetting many sons and daughters unto glory with His chosen disciples. He further worked out the strategies with them and sent them out. How much our visionary leaders need to learn from our Saviour!.

Also when He sent the seventy out, He paired them. Doesn't the Lord know that iron sharpens iron? Doesn't at least two in a team provide for complementing each other? Won't the gifted lack one thing which the other will provide? Doesn't the gifted evangelist need the administrator?  Doesn't the outgoing disciple like Peter need the calculative disciple like John?. “Two are better than one and woe to him that is alone”.  But two have a good reward for their toil. Little wonder that Peter and John were found together like Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys. Aside from the case of Philip, all the five gospels show that two are better than one. In fact, the case of Philip in Samaria, with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8: 4-40) is uncertain.

Although his partners were not mentioned, we know that it is very hard to conclude that the Lord used him without engaging another hand during his revival outreach in Samaria. Moreover, we know also that he had daughters who were evangelists. Perhaps they accompanied him in his missionary outreaches in Samaria. Thus the general pattern that we find is that of the missionary team (Acts 13:13).

Another element of networking in mission that is found in the Lord's way of reaching the lost is starting from the synagogue or the “well-side” where the religious are. This is often used as the starting point. Through the religious Samaritan woman at the well, the entire village was drawn to the Saviour. Paul and Barnabas often visited the place of worship and started their preaching there (Acts 13:5,14; 14:1). Although, many religious people found in places of worship may not be righteous, there are some whose hearts the Lord might have prepared for the gospel message (like Lydia) and who will provide great avenue to reach the people in their community.

In these days of denominationalism, Missionaries must relax their bigotry and be willing to gather and share information with others who are not of their field. Perhaps some earlier missionaries who had first reached out to the people (to be visited) might have some useful information to share with the new missionaries. At times, planning together with others is necessary to get greater results than going out with a “holier than thou” attitude. We must realize that the Great Commission is for every member in the body of Christ whether Jew or Gentile, Deeper Life or non-Deeper Life. After all, at the end of the day there shall be just one fold.

Lastly, the entire church was involved as seen in the Scriptures. No case of an individual going out of his/her own volition. As in Acts 13, the church (at Antioch) sent the missionaries with all the necessary supports - prayers, finance, etc. What a great source of encouragement to those on the field that a home body is behind them. This is a great challenge to us today!.

In summary, networking in mission is what we need today to get into every nook and cranny of the campus world with the gospel. The going must be in the name of the Lord as a team, sent by a supportive body, using religious people as the point of contact and networking with other missionaries. Aside from the case of Philip, all the five gospels show that “two are better than one”.

Thank God for the vision of DLCF to take the gospel to all our students in the higher institution in and outside Nigeria. Presently, missionaries are being sent to Southern Africa. Any hope of success lies entirely in the hands of the Lord of the harvest. Aside from readings of our physical eyes that are sometimes misleading, the Lord's assessment is “the field is ripe for harvest”. In addition, much is to be learnt and emulated from our Lord's networking method. DLCF as an arm in the Deeper Life Christian Ministry needs the support of the entire body of Christ to which she belongs. Although, the task is theirs (to an extent), yet it is “our mission” as members of the body of Christ. Prayers, finances, encouragement should be coming in from all and sundry. Reports of the progress should also be shared with the supporters, the whole church so that prayers will be channeled to God aright.

Networking in mission is what we need today to penetrate every nook and cranny of our campus world. Going in the name of the Lord as a team, sent by a supportive body of Christ and engaging all the people that the Lord has provided, will go a long way to tell the world about the Saviour and to disciple them for the coming King. As we follow this pattern provided for us, may the Lord confirm His word as we go. “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it” (Psalms 68:11).

click here to go up

Fellowship in Fellowship

FELLOWSHIP EXPLAINED
Just read through this simple testimony: “In the spring of 1983, I was invited by the Christian Embassy to speak at a retreat in which several  Cabinet members, senators, congressmen, and high-ranking Pentagon officers and their wives were present. … about fifty or more of us  to be refreshed and encouraged. Those in attendance were Christians, but the lines on their faces revealed the marks of pressure, loneliness, stress, and fatigue. There they were, some of the most decisive and important people in America, setting aside a weekend to meet with the Lord, to unload their burdens, to be together as couples, hopefully to find a little relief from their pressure-cooker world. I considered it a choice privilege to be the speaker at that retreat. God's Word met many needs as these courageous and battle-weary men and women opened their lives to the truths of Scripture. The Homestead (the retreat venue) became a haven of renewed hope.

The difference between the group at the first session on Friday and the last session on Sunday was amazing. It was the same people, you understand, but those hours they spent together paid rich dividends.  At first there was distance and formality. But by the time we left one another, there had emerged a beautiful blend of oneness, mutual understanding, a breakdown of defenses, and great openness. By getting closer, we grew stronger.  It was magnificent! As beautiful as our natural surroundings were, they could not compare with the harmony, the love, and the closeness our group cultivated in three brief days.

In all my twenty-plus years of ministry, I don't believe I have ever been among a more influential (yet emotionally battered) body of believers, but even they, when given the opportunity to draw close to others in a context of unguarded honesty and mutual caring, responded like you can't believe. What was it? How did the magic occur?  Why would over fifty high-powered, strong leaders holding some of the most enviable positions in our nation drop their guard and blend their lives together? Believe me, it wasn't the surroundings or the food or the music or the accommodations or the speaker or the weather. It was something only the Spirit of God could have done. I shall not forget that eventful weekend in May of 1983. My only regret is that you were not present to witness it personally. Had you been, you wouldn't be satisfied simply to read about it. You'd want to experience it because there are few things quite as contagious,  authentic, spontaneous and unguarded love in action. It cannot be legislated or manipulated. It can only be demonstrated …” (C. R. Swindoll).

The testimony above simply gives a living scenario of experiencing “Fellowship in Fellowship”. The word Fellowship means “communion”, “society”, “companionship”, or “similarity” (Encarta Pocket Dictionary). The word occurs only seventeen times in the whole Bible, two times in the Old testament and fifteen times in the New Testament. The first place where the word occurs is  in Leveticus: “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour” (Leviticus 6:2).

The last verse in the Bible containing the word is stated below: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7)

Doesn't that sound interestingly instructive that the first and last places in the Scripture where the word “Fellowship” occurs unitedly make mention of Sin as something filthy and foreign to fellowship. Thus by inference, Fellowship ceases to blossom where and when there is loss of trust. The same verse defines Fellowship as neighbourliness. There is no Fellowship in Isolationism.
This is further explained by the seventeenth-century John Donne, who when only seven days before his death wrote: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if  a promontory were, as well as if a man or of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminished me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

As a follow-up to his defence for fellowship, Swindoll enumerated few essentials of the relationship as follows:

First, there must be an admission of NEED FOR OTHERS.  This means that self-sufficiency and isolationism are set aside.  That's hard to do in our world of super-independence.  And how easily that mindset slips into the Christian ranks:  “Look, I don't need others  just gimme a good sermon on Sunday, a few cassette tapes to hold me over during the week, and my privacy”.  To help you realize how off the wall that philosophy really is, imagine the same idea as I couch it in the terms of a hotshot, independent football player who shows up at practice and yells:

"Hey, coach! Don't bug me with a thick playbook and all this talk about teamwork and pulling together, okay? All I need is a stadium, a big crowd, and the ball. Working with ten other guys is a hassle and learning plays is a drag. Just gimme the ball and have everybody get out of my way. I do better all alone." Let me ask you, how long would that young athlete be around?  You see, in God's sovereign plan, He arranged things so that we would do our best work as team members.  Isolationism won't work.

Second, there must be the cultivation of DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS.  This takes time, effort, and a spirit of willingness.  The larger the group, the more difficult.  As we just discovered when Moses attempted to lead the Hebrews to Canaan, it is easy to pick up a blame on the leader mentality or adopt a cynical view toward God and when we fail to cultivate relationships. Thus there is the need to build bridges to one another.

Third, there must be a firm commitment to ASSIMILATION.   It isn't enough simply to admit we need others.  Nor is it sufficient to say rather loosely, “Oh, yeah, knowing a few other Christians is nice.” No, I'm talking about being committed to getting beneath the surface of superficial talk . . . being interested in and accountable to other believers.

FELLOWSHIP EMBRACED 

Let's take a brief look at the following Scripture (I Corinthians 12:14 -26). The above verses are very clear in the message they convey. However, we see the concept of “membership” in true Fellowship as beautifully painted by Paul the Apostle in his defence for Unity of the Body of Christ. Though membership of the human body is here associated with various roles played by every component, however, it is also instructive that none of the roles can be played outside the body. Fellowship therefore provides the divine platform for our usefulness!. The eyes can only see while they remain in the body; the hands can only carry things while they are joined to the body, and likewise other members. Thus all members share the same resources or fellowship while they remain in Fellowship (in the body). 

Today, you can begin to share the divine resources Christ has reserved in the Church to make your life useful to yourself, the Church and the society at large. But remember again this: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1:7).  No true fellowship or sharing in darkness (devoid of light and transparent lifestyle). Thus there is no fellowship in cultism and secret relationships. Never be enticed to a relationship where you cannot “ walk in the light”. Today, you can begin to relate with others freely and meaningfully in true fellowship as you take the first step of beginning or renewing your relationship with Christ. Yes, you can!

Source: Swindoll, C.R. (1960) - Dropping Your Guard  Texas: Word Books.

click here to go up