The evangelisation and mission activities of the Church are being challenged by all sorts of factors in the world of today. A world that has qualified relativism; man and his desires are supposed to be the measure of what is good, what is right and so good; the word of God and His Church are not counted as anything, especially in the Western world. The Church exists for not only nurturing our faith as members and guiding us on the way to heaven, but also so that we can bring those who do not yet believe to the knowledge of Christ, as given to us in the Church founded by Christ on the rock of St. Peter.
So as a local Church in the Archdiocese of Lagos, we are challenged to constantly review the way of evangelisation. All parishes are supposed to have an evangelisation community that has the task of thinking of new ways of carrying out the mission of bringing the good news to those who have not yet received it. Our organised effort at Mission and evangelisation is part of a universal effort that is complete when we do it well, carry out our own efforts. It is like a jig-saw puzzle; it is never completed until all the parts are put together and fit together.
Today, we are all reminded that each of us is called to mission individually and personally. On the day of our baptism we were made priests, prophets and kings. As prophets, we are called to bring the message of God to all people; each of us is called to take responsibility for bringing the gospel of Christ to others. In our different ways, let each one take responsibility for bringing others to the knowledge of Christ and His Church.
Among the resolutions that I make at the beginning of each year is to help in bringing at least one person to know Christ as a member of the Church. For instance, make conscious effort to be an instrument by which at least one person will be converted to Christ in the Catholic Church. By witnessing to Christ in our individual ways, we can help in bringing others to knowledge of Christ in the Church. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins is the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
