The Glorious Return

Some good things happened to me at Nsukka. Recently my campus fellowship then had a re-union. I could not attend but I sent my greetings.

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Bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the Lord your God! (Isaiah 60)

The time spent in the university represents a critical period of one’s development. A lot of things can happen to a person -good or bad.

For me, Methodist Campus Fellowship was one of the good things that happened to me at Nsukka. I was blessed and I am still blessed in many ways by the fellowship. Ours was relatively a small congregation in terms of number but the blessings were abundant such that it is hard for me to explain or describe here. I know you all know what I am talking about here because you are or you were once there. There is just this polish that fellowshipping gives to your life within and outside the university.

The current generation of MCFites anticipated this reunion. The reasons are many. They recognize the contributions of previous generations to the glorious family they have today. Another reason is that they are sure that they want to build according to pattern. It is a way of the past connecting with the present to make sure that the future is shaped in a way the mandate states. They also want to be accountable. This should give every alumnus a sense of responsibility. The responsibility is that the younger generation looks up to you as mentors and believes that even though you graduated and moved on to other things, that you are still standing by the grace of God. That calls for serious introspection.

The needs of students vary. Their potentials do too. They have a lot of creative energy, passion and visions. From time to time, they need to sit down with those who applied their hearts to the teachings of Jesus Christ while in their shoes. They need to cross fertilize their ideas, visions and talents with the experiences and wisdom of the older generation. They want to share their testimonies, and they want to be inspired by yours.

There are many openings for involvement in this critical phase of their lives. Opportunities for working together in spreading the name and fame of Jesus Christ abound. Most times, because of the busy nature of our lives, it is common to think of only involving ourselves financially. It is not safe to say that financial support is not necessary. Of course one must not forget that they are students and their accesses to financial resources are limited. So,one must give as one is led. From time to time, funds and superb organizing are needed to engage in meaningful projects for great impacts. However, we must not make the mistake of limiting everything to money. We must develop a sense of ownership for the fellowship. We must invest time in the lives of the younger generation. That is why you needed to travel all those miles to Nsukka.

As university students, a lot of things will be grappling for attention. I don’t mean negative things. I mean positive things. Yes, they may be under the graces of parents and relatives and sometimes scholarships for their fees and sustenance. However, do not forget that they are thinking about how to get good jobs when they graduate. They are thinking of having happy family lives. They want a beautiful future. They want divine intents and purposes to be fulfilled in their lives. Those are noble dreams. The reports they receive about the difficulties outside are grossly exaggerated. They ask themselves daily, will dreams linger? So they want to believe your own report. They want to be successful even as they serve Jesus Christ exclusively.

Apart from the interactions, sharing of hearts, networks that will be built, new friendships that will be made, worship experiences and great sermons that will be part of this reunion, sometimes the younger generation will just want to sit there and stare into your eyes and say to themselves, if they made it, I too can. So you have to be the mentor you wish you had.

One may be tempted to make this argument: I have just graduated, I am serving, I am still looking for a job, and then why did I have to save the little money I had to attend? The reason is simple. Sometimes, in life we go through the struggles first before we get the victories. In MCF, we do not just share success stories, we share our ‘struggle-stories’ too. The good thing is that no one’s story is more important. Everyone’s story encourages. We recognize that the struggles are for a while. So we tell each other about God’s hand in all our endeavors and his graces which are sufficient in all our struggles.

I am thankful for the joy that God has given to the present generation to do exploit in his vineyard. They have used time and energy to organize a great reunion. You have also travelled many miles to attend. Everyone will be very tired and weak after the reunion but we all will be refreshed in ways we cannot explain. You will be blessed because you attended. Nothing can be more rewarding than gathering together to share the joy of the Lord. The reunion will be glorious and I wish you all a great time on those soft green hills of Nsukka. Felicitations!