The Vocations Director of Abuja Archdiocese, who doubles as Deputy Director of the Gaudium Et Spes Institute Asokoro called upon Christians to share their faith with others as an expression of their gratitude to Jesus Christ, who he said “died for us without consulting us. Sharing our faith is a way to show appreciation for this gift of salvation.”
He challenged the people of God to be involved in the affairs of the Church, participating in her initiatives, including land acquisition for purposes of facilitating public worship.
“When contributions are raised for the Church, it should not be something we hesitate about. It should be done cheerfully because God loves a cheerful giver,” Fr. Atep said in his explanation of different ways of sharing faith and living a missionary lifestyle.
“We have many pastoral areas without land to build churches,” he further said, adding that church infrastructures “are not ours but for Christ and the community. Instead of selling plots of land to other denominations, Catholics should prioritize supporting their own parishes in need.”
The Nigerian Catholic Priest challenged Catholics to reflect on their missionary mandate, saying, “When your parish is in need, and you fail to support its growth, are you truly living out your missionary commission?”
“To be effective missionaries, we must witness through our thoughts, words, and actions. My lifestyle as a Priest, and your lifestyle as a lay faithful, are crucial in attracting others to the Church and glorifying God,” he said.
The Vocations Director of Abuja Archdiocese emphasized the approach of sharing faith through a lifestyle that conforms to Christian values, saying, “If we live out our faith authentically, people will be drawn to the Church through our witness.”
For Fr. Atep, the media in general and social media in particular are a powerful tool for spreading the Gospel.
“Many Priests are active on social media, but the content must be relevant and engaging. The younger generation lives online, and we must meet them there,” he told ACI Africa, and lamented, “Outdated content on Church websites is a missed opportunity. If we’re not updating our media regularly, how can we evangelize effectively?”
Fr. Atep went on to say that the sharing of Christian faith is based on the fact that it is a gift. He explained, “Faith is a gift, and when you receive a gift, you are not worthy of; it inspires gratitude. That gratitude should compel you to share it with others.”
