(232news.com)
Remarks by Andrew Keili on the launching of the Fourah Bay College Chapel Building Project Fund on Thursday 8th June, 2023 At The FBC Multi-Purpose Hall
CHARGE
May I deliver this charge in the name of the Son, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father, Amen.
Let me begin by thanking the organizers and all of you for attending this launching of the chapel building fund for the new Fourah Bay College chapel. A new, more modern edifice will replace the historic chapel which is now in a state of disrepair after serving generations of people who attended this college and to whom the chapel became a spiritual home. The Building Committee has chosen an apt theme for this launching, taken from the book of Nehemiah- Nehemiah 2: 29- “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build”.
We learn from the book of Nehemiah that the security of Jerusalem was not established and the city wall remained in ruins. We learn about his exhortation to his fellow Jews when he says- “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” The Building Committee in the same way extends an invitation to us all- “The old chapel lies in ruins, the walls are falling, the roof is leaking, it is getting flooded and it has gotten too small for a college of this size. Come let us build a new chapel, and we will no longer be in disgrace”.
Nehemiah tells us that when he heard the news about Jerusalem, he sat down and wept. Later, the wall, that had laid in ruins for over 100 years, was rebuilt in 52 days by a man who had vision, passion, a plan, and others who were willing to work alongside of him.
There are object lessons for those who have undertaken this mammoth task. The king had granted each of Nehemiah’s requests and Nehemiah was off to Jerusalem. Nehemiah tells us that he spent three days in Jerusalem before he set out at night, with just a few people, to take stock of the destruction. Nehemiah now had a plan. Like Nehemiah the Building Committee has surveyed the landscape, taken stock of what is needed in order to reach the goal they have set and put their plan into action.
There are obvious lessons the committee and we the many stakeholders present here today can learn from Nehemiah’s endeavour.
- Nehemiah Surrounded Himself With Others
He spoke to the Jews, the priests, nobles, officials, and others about the situation. Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and restoring the security of the city was a job that was too big for one man. Nehemiah needed help to achieve the goal that God had laid on his heart. A leader realizes that work is a team effort. The Building committee cannot undertake this venture alone. We all have to help out. They will reach out to a lot of people for help and have started doing so with this fundraising launch. Many of us will also be called upon from time to time to provide assistance of various sorts.
- Nehemiah Avoided Distractions
Just as Nehemiah had Sanballat and Tobiah trying to distract him from doing what God had given him to do, so we have our own version of Sanballat and Tobiah who will try, either knowingly or unknowingly, to distract us from doing what God has given us to do. The Building committee is going to have to say, “No” to the “lesser” things. Sanballat and Tobiah wanted Nehemiah to stop his work and come and meet with them. There will obviously be critics. Some may be genuine and others not. When Nehemiah encountered opposition, he called together the people and told them not to be afraid and to keep persisting toward the goal. I however do not think there is anyone who would overtly want to kill such a laudable project. We can however kill it with our apathy either as decision-makers on whom the organisers depend or by our reluctance as stakeholders to provide funding for the project.
- Don’t Let Failure Derail You
Many years before Nehemiah ever arrived in Jerusalem; the Israelites started working on the temple but stopped as soon as they faced opposition. Nehemiah never gave up-he was successful in reaching his goal. In just 52 days the wall that had been down for more than 100 years was rebuilt. The Building committee should not quit when they run into obstacles or face setbacks. Nehemiah also teaches us that as things change, the plan may need review and change. As problems were reported to Nehemiah, he addressed the issue by making other plans. Problems are bound to occur and demand that the plan be revisited.
We have talked about following the example of Nehemiah in executing this project. Modern projects like this however demand considerable funding. In this case, we are talking about $400,000, which needs to be raised from a multiplicity of stakeholders including us present here today. Amongst us, we have Christians and Muslims who may be university officials, people from the private sector, people who attended this college, clergy-all kinds of stakeholders with varying levels of importance and influence. We can all put our shoulders to the wheel to accomplish this task over time.
But Why Should We Fund Such A Venture?
A major reason is what it has been and what it could continue to achieve. The old chapel which now lies in ruins has been the place to praise, bless and preach; to sacrifice, intercede and thank; to sing hymns, bow and genuflect; to honour and commune. People have found rest, comfort, encouragement and God in this place. The new chapel will not only host services but will be a place where people will fellowship with one another and a place of refuge for those in need. Here the most extraordinary things have occurred. Such exceptional events deserve an exceptional place.
Secondly, we who are gathered here today have received from the hand of the Father many blessings. We must never lose sight of the fact that God has honoured us so very richly. We should deeply appreciate his kindness to us and help build his house.
Thirdly, although the Church is more than brick and mortar, we need to have a place where people in this college community can meet to engender spiritual growth. The People of God are more truly the Church than the chapels they build; the community of FBC far more than the planned building. God built His Church on Jesus, and Jesus on Peter, not on a concrete slab. We should look at this event as an invitation to each of us to assume our identity as members of God’s household while on earth and as destined to heaven in the end. We also need periodic spiritual renovation.
We should all contribute. In Paul’s letters, we see that “fundraising” is not only legitimate for the church, but it’s also a corporate undertaking. Paul says “let everyone” contribute. Paul further answers the question “How much do we give?” Believers should give “as God has prospered him.” What matters most to God is that we give with a genuine cheerful heart (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). We also learn that it’s fitting for believers to save up so that they are able to give. Paul tells the Corinthians to “lay by him in store” on a weekly basis. Giving involves planning and sacrifice.
I decree that this day, we are going to contribute meaningfully to this laudable project in our various ways- each giving as God has prospered us.
Like Nehemiah said, the God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build. We will build this chapel which has been the place to praise, bless and preach; to sacrifice, intercede and thank, which now lies in ruins. The God whom we serve, and under whose protection we are, will supply us with everything we want, and we shall succeed in this undertaking.
May the Lord continue to guide us and show us the path forward in life. May God be with us all and may He remain with us, now and forevermore. Amen.
