Being a young Christian, I am constantly reminded that ministerial assignment is not showing and tell adventure. My calling requires training and mentorship in discipleship and leadership. Paul, an Apostle of Christ, recognized that every Timothy must learn the art of becoming a good soldier of Christ. The focus here is to rectify the deceptive mindset prevalent within contemporary Christianity. Young men and women are launching into the vast ocean of ministry life without thorough preparation and consequently making a shipwreck of not only their destiny but also of those who follow in their footsteps. Ministry is not a bed of roses, get rich quick expedition, but a calling fit for a good soldier. God sends us to proclaim liberty to the oppressed and freedom to those in captivity of Satan. A true disciple of Christ is the one whose life's vegetation has been pruned by the cross and mowed clean by training and mentorship of seasoned leaders. It is required that good soldiers of Christ pleases Him who enlisted them. Apostle Paul warned of the consequences of failure to do so. In I Timothy 2:1-4, he reiterated the four cardinal marks of a Good Soldier of Christ. They have been "ENLISTED" as Soldiers of Christ and his kingdom. They must "ENDURE" hardship as a Good Soldier of Christ. They are "ENGAGED" in spiritual warfare-the battle between good and evil, light and darkness. They must not be "ENTANGLED" with the affairs of this world. If they do, the one who enlisted them will not be pleased. A good soldier bears impeccable testimony like Apostle Paul, who said in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Pastor Adegboyega Talabi was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He graduated from college with HND (an equivalent of BSc. Applied Science) in Quantity Surveying 1985. He migrated to the United States of America with his wife, Pastor Mabel Talabi, in 1988. Pastor Talabi went on to bag a Master of Arts degree in ministry from Moody Theological Seminary Chicago in 2005. In 1993, Pastor Talabi and his wife, Pastor Mabel Talabi, led a pioneering effort in church planting in Chicago and established more churches in the United States of America and Canada. Pastor Talabi is the Regional Overseer of Christ Healing Evangelical Church in North America and the Lead Pastor of Christ Healing Evangelical Church South Holland, Illinois. He is the president of One Night with the King Crusade Ministry, an inter-denominational ministry reaching the lost for Christ. He is passionate about discipleship and equipping the saints for effective ministry. Pastor Talabi loves travels and adventures. He is married to Pastor Mabel, and together they have four beautiful children, Ife, Faithful, Tutu, and Michael. Adegboyega A. Talabi (Lead Pastor) Christ Healing Evangelical Church (Chapel of Praise) 15821 Greenwood Rd. South Holland, IL. 60473. Tel: (708) 201-1192 /773-858-7738 (www.chapelofpraise.church)
