It has been observed that there are more churches in the cities than rural areas. It has also been noted that more pastors prefer to set up their ministries or go for evangelism abroad than stay in their locality to spread the gospel. Why some argue that there are more people in the cities than urban centres, others claimed that biblical injunction did not talk about border line for evangelism. Some people also insist that maybe those pastors who prefer cities or abroad for their ministries or ministrations must have had more reasons to justify their choices other than evangelism.

But for real, what did the scripture say about where to evangelise? The book of Mark 16: 15-16 remarks that: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

All these issues were discussed in this piece by respected clergies, home and abroad, when INDEPENDENT’s Believing sought for their opinion.

Yemi Adebisi and Chinyere Abiaziem present the report.

According to recent reports she recalled how she founded the mission and how her team discovered naked indigenes of Koma Hills in Adamawa State, Nigeria living in caves 20 years ago.

She spoke at the 20th anniversary of the mission agency, which attracted delegates from Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote D’voire, South Africa, Congo, United Kingdom and United States of America, among others. Jibuike told of how the team of 12 missionaries climbed a mountain of about 5,500 feet high above sea level for 14 hours to discover the indigenes wearing leaves as clothes in the 21st century.

“At the early stage of our missionary support efforts, I was giving whatever I had with the contributions from my husband to the missionaries that came to my house for support until the Lord told me that He wanted me to experience what missionaries are suffering on mission fields. This led me to my first trip to a village in Adamawa State in 1997.

“From there we moved to the Koma hills, which took us about 14 days. We found naked people who dressed in leaves and we stopped to minister the word of God to them. These people lived inside caves and under hills and rocks. When they saw us dressed in clothes they ran back into their caves and bush.

“As they were running away from us, the Lord put an idea on my mind that we should dress in leaves like the people. We were 12 missionaries on that trip. Immediately we all dressed in leaves like the people, they started coming out of their caves and bush to receive us. We had to climb a mountain of about 5,500 feet high above the sea level for about 14 hours; reaching and covering about 16 villages in Koma village,” the missionary narrated.

Continuing she said SUMA has touched several other lives and communities across nations in its task of rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying.

She made it known that her team and her have also taken their mission activities to Benin Republic, Cote D’voire, Congo and South Africa, among other Africa countries with impacts in the UK and the USA.

“We have different departments in SUMA for specific mission assignments. Our present focus are the under bridges to reach out to beggars, area boys and girls and other destitutes. We want to visit people that feel there is no hope for them; people that circumstances of life have pushed to become destitutes,” Jibuike added.

Following Jibuike’s story, one would ask if the naked indigenes of Koma Hills would have been discovered if not for rural evangelism?  Well this question brings the subject on the reason why some preachers stay away from the villages. Could it be for the fear of bewitchment or poverty?

Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi, National Coordinator Global Outreach Day Nigeria

The first thing is to be where God has called one to be even as a preacher whether the village or the city. Our mandate as given by Christ is to go into the world to preach but some prefer places where they would be better rewarded and exposed.  We need to start with our immediate environment, our family, our work places, our colleagues from which we spread the word of God further. The most important thing is to go to the unreached because they are the ones with greater needs for salvation. It is where God wants us to be that we should be. I am not condemning those who travel abroad for ministerial works for one reason of the other but the most important thing is that we heed to God’s instruction on where to go or be in reaching to the unsaved.

Prophetess Folashade Alao, Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim (C and S) , The Holy Mount Of Salvation

Those who started Christianity did not start in the city but in rural areas. As preachers it is of great essence that we put away selfish interest in doing God’s works. God’s interest should be our own interest. It does not matter if the environment is sophisticated, civilised or not. What matters is that we are doing the work of God with genuine hearts and not exploiting people. There are some preachers who even go to exploit poor people rather than relieve them of poverty.  Let me also add that I do not believe you are called by God if you only want to stay in an environment where you can get million of money.

Pastor Tunde Akinyemi, Director Of Operations, Africa, Kingsword International Church

I do not know if there is any statistics to ascertain that most preachers prefer to go abroad or stay in urban areas but if that is the case, it is not farfetched because preachers are also humans and desire  greener pasture just like every other person be it an accountant, lawyer, medical doctor, etc.

On a deeper spiritual leading, it could be that people or preachers who are guilty of this are not aware of their calling. I know for certain that there are people who have ministries in the villages same with those in urban areas who are doing well in terms of fulfilling purpose. It is not about staying in a rural or urban area but about finding fulfillment. Some are even frustrated abroad just because God did not send them there. If I am to advise I will say go where God has sent you whether it is an urban or rural area. To encourage preachers in rural areas, I like to say that you are in a rural area does not mean you would end there.

Apostle  Asuquo  Idio, General Overseer of the New Covenant Christ Mission and President of Believers Liberty Foundation Africa (BELFA)

I do not buy the idea of concentration of churches in urban areas because if we continue to do so how would those in the villages have the feel of God’s words? Though some persons were already based in the city or abroad and never had it in mind to be preachers before God’s call came. For such persons, you do not expect him or her to go to the village.  I for one I’m planning on planting a church in my home town in order to bring in souls to God’s kingdom. I pray God releases more of his unction as we preachers obey his will.

Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Chairman South west Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN)

There are more people in urban areas than in rural areas which is what some churches that are after money and crowd capitalise on to have more churches in the cities. I must say that the souls in the villages are as well important as those in the cities so I believe Churches should not neglect the unsaved available in rural areas.