Gateway Bible College upgraded to award degrees
St. Joseph’s Chosen Church of God, SJCCG, Edo State, has reached advanced stage in transforming its Gateway Bible College to a degree awarding institution. Towards this end, the church has acquired some 207 hectares of land in Obadan in Edo State, which is in excess of what the National University Commission requires to approve a university’s establishment.
This was disclosed recently by the visitor, Apostle Hayford Alile and chairman of the college’s Board of Management, Elder (Dr.) Clement Alile at the 16th Matriculation and 15th convocation ceremony in Benin City, where 24 students graduated and 42 men and women matriculated for the two-year programme.
Said the Spiritual Leader: “We are living in an era, when Christianity has lost its moral mandate and mission; a season when the gospel message, the good news of the kingdom is audaciously perverted. What we have in abundance today is the excessive marketing of flesh and carnality on the pulpit disguised as unction, the predominance of bizarre reverberations, a false gospel, and the preaching of another Jesus Christ.
“This new unwholesome trend has eaten deep into the fabrics of our Christendom. To this end, the present day church is dying due to lack of sound Bible teachers and strong church leaders with indelible character. There is no doubt that the Christian faith is struggling with its values, respect and dignity.”
Elder Alile, a pioneer Secretary to Edo State Government, SSG, and Head of Service, HOS, averred that the theological college was marching on towards actualising its vision and mandate.
“We have made great strides towards the mandate of transforming into a University at Obadan. The processes are ongoing and I must say that the Board remains undaunted and relentless in actualising this mandate,” he said.
According to him, efforts have been made to have the college’s operational efficiency through the procurement of computer peripherals and other office equipment, stressing that when the university is established, the Gateway Bible College would be a faculty with a dean or a College of Religious Studies with a provost.
“The establishment of a university is not an overnight thing. It’s a process. There must be a steady plan, recognition by the National Universities Commission and the Corporate Affairs Commission. We are processing all this,” he stated, adding that there must be consultants working on physical and curriculum planning, recruitment of staff locally and abroad, as well as sourcing for funds.
He noted that the NUC is already aware of the church’s intent, and that all it needs among other requirements, is about 100 hectares for future developmental purposes.
While congratulating the graduating students, Elder Alile said: “God through this college, has equipped you as ‘man for the ministry.’
Therefore, we charge you to be good ambassadors of Jesus Christ and our beloved Bible College.”
Also speaking, the Rector, Jacobson Joseph Amaefula said there is no better time to answer the call college than now “when the elderly ones are waning, when many jobless ones are calling God, rather than being called by Him for the purpose of serving own belly and making merchandise of God’s word. Now your horizon is enlarged! Your generations are looking forward to see your vision and to interpret your prophecy because the old men are retiring to dreaming dreams.”
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