22/06/2026
Indeed, the Church belongs to the Lord. He has declared, "I will build My Church," and nothing can stop, hinder, or frustrate His purpose. I strongly believe that God cannot compromise His Word or allow it to fall to the ground.
With this understanding, we should carefully consider and reflect on three important realities:
1. The Lord of the Church
2. The Church
3. The Mission of the Church
The statement, "I will build My Church," signifies ownership and possession. The Church belongs to Christ and to Christ alone. As the Owner, He alone knows how it should be built, what should be used, what should be permitted, and what should be excluded from the divine blueprint.(Matthew 16:18)
Throughout the Old Testament, God ensured that Moses, David, Solomon, and others followed the pattern He revealed to them in building places of worship. Nothing was left to human imagination or preference.(Exodus 25:9, 40; Exodus 26:30; 1 Chronicles 28:11-19; Hebrews 8:5)
This raises an important truth: no God-given pattern, no God-approved building.
How reasonable would it be for someone to construct a building without obtaining clearance from the owner or understanding the owner's specifications? Likewise, the Church must be built according to God's design and not according to human wisdom, culture, trends, or personal ambitions.
Having established that God Himself is the Owner of the Church, let us now consider the Church itself.
Without delving into the various definitions offered by theologians and scholars, we may simply describe the Church as the community of believers gathered for divine worship and fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.(Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3)
The Church manifests the beauty, glory, and presence of God. As we worship Him, we receive divine direction and guidance. Consequently, there comes a season of refreshing, renewing, and reawakening—the three Rs that strengthen God's people for service.
It is within the Church and through the Church that we engage in mission. This is the Church's ex*****on role. The Church is not designed to be fixed, stagnant, or inward-looking. Rather, the Church moves, reaches out, and advances God's Kingdom.
In the midst of darkness, light is most appreciated. Through missions, the Church illuminates what is hidden, reveals the truth of Christ, and makes known the saving grace of God to a world in need.
Mission is God's vehicle for reaching the lost, restoring the broken, and proclaiming the Gospel to every nation, tribe, and tongue.
The question before us, therefore, is this:
Who are the labourers ready for the work?
As Jesus declared, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few" (Matthew 9:37). The mission remains urgent, the harvest remains ripe, and the Lord of the harvest is still calling men and women to partner with Him in Kingdom expansion.
Rev. Chiemeka Uchegbulam
