By Waheed Ogunjobi, Abeokuta
The Presiding Bishop of Covenant Lifeway Church, Bishop Dr. Richard Ige, has charged Christians, particularly ministers of God, to embrace unity as a major weapon for Kingdom advancement, warning that disunity is eroding the Body of Christ in Nigeria.
Bishop Ige gave the charge on Thursday October 1st, 2026, while speaking on the theme "The Power of Unity"at the historic Onlline inauguration of the Christ College of Theology, Deliverance and Miracles Alumni Network.
The event, which coincided with the birthday of the Founder of the College, Pastor Dr. Rufus Adebayo, drew alumni, lecturers, students and ministers from different parts of the country, especially those that can rightly be considered Pastor Adebayo's disciples.
In a welcome address, the Initiator and Coordinator of the Alumni Network, Chief Chaplain Dr. Sarah Aladeselu JP, said the inauguration was born out of a burden to bring all of Papa's children together as one family.
"It started with a burden in my heart. I began to think about the countless sons and daughters who have passed through this great College... How can we bring all Papa's children together as one family? How can we appreciate the spiritual investment, sacrifice, prayers, teachings, and fatherly love that our beloved Papa has poured into our lives?" she said.
Dr. Aladeselu explained that while attempts had been made in the past to establish an Alumni Association, the current effort is to renew, strengthen and build a structure that will stand for generations to come.
"This Alumni Network belongs to all of us - past, present and future students. It is not simply an association. It is a family. A family where we can fellowship together, pray for one another, support one another and be our brother's keeper," she noted.
She described the inauguration as a beautiful birthday gift to the Founder. "What a beautiful way to celebrate our Papa! We are bringing his children together. We are saying: Papa, we appreciate you, we honour you, we thank God for your life," she said.
She therefore called for commitment to make the Network a living family that remembers, loves, supports, prays and stands together.
Delivering his lecture, Bishop Ige told the alumni that though they have graduated from the School of Theology, they have not graduated from the work of Christ.
Alluding to the unity of the Holy Spirit, he said working in unity does not mean having the same assignment. "There are different assignments but one body. Different people can manifest different aspects of the work of God - as pastors, youth workers, evangelists, teachers," he said.
He warned against competition in the Body of Christ, describing it as the bane of Christian ministry in Nigeria.
"We must avoid the thought of being competitors in the Body of Christ. No one's work affects the other. The Church has treated itself as a divided kingdom and a house divided against itself cannot stand," he stated.
According to him, "There is power in unity, there is strength in unity, there is progress in unity and you cannot have unity without loving the other party."
Bishop Ige emphasized the need to respect elders in ministry, adding that though ministers may not agree in principle on everything, "it is one faith, one ministry and one God we are all serving."
"Unity multiplies reach. One church can reach a community and a larger church can reach a generation," he said.
To make the alumni network strong, he suggested an end-of-year or early-year retreat, noting that it would foster mutual support. "A strong alumni network should ask: What can we do for you? We are praying for you and with you," he said.
He lamented that majority of those promoting Isese today are children of ministers and Christians, calling on the alumni to appreciate one another's gifts and share resources including educational materials, deliverance strategies and church administration knowledge.
He charged them to put away differences and embrace collaboration. "The Kingdom needs unity and not competition. The alumni network of Christ College of Theology can become a kingdom bridge," Bishop Ige said.
Rounding off, he gave practical steps for sustaining the network: "As an alumni body, learn to pray together, pray for one another's ministry, pray for our father in the Lord and celebrate one another. When one alumnus succeeds, let's celebrate them. When someone has a ceremony, let's be there."
"Let's mentor one another, collaborate, plan and execute projects together. Don't do it alone. Let's communicate. Let's make it a place of interaction, not a platform for dirty information or junk. Let it be a meaningful platform for the Kingdom. Resist gossips that can kill an alumni platform. Let's have generational impact in mind. It is bigger than our individual names. Let's move from competition to collaboration, from suspicion to trust," he charged.
The inauguration ended with prayers for the Founder and for the growth of the Alumni Network, with the theme: One College. One Family. One Vision. One Kingdom #..
Well said sir
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