Grace & Light’s annual National Leaders’ Conference on Social Righteousness continues to grow in reputation and size, this year attracting 110 religious and business leaders from across Nigeria.
Social righteousness is a topic they recognise as at the heart of Nigerian life and that they want to discuss with each other, sharing experiences and practical responses.
Discussions built on the earlier conferences in 2017 and 2018 when delegates accepted change starts with them and committed to beginning to role model social righteousness in their communities.
Over four plenary sessions, keynote speaker Rev Les Issac OBE, founder and CEO of Ascension Trust and of Street Pastors, challenged people to remember where they come from, be an authentic Christian wherever they are, drop pride and imitate Jesus.
In all the evaluations at the conference end, delegates said Les’ passion stood out along with his positivity in overcoming adversity, which he shared in his personal testimony. The conference was again held in Jos over three days in mid-September.
Twice as many delegates attended this year compared to 2017 and 2018. Half were church leaders from many different denominations, 16% were secondary school head teachers, university and bible college lecturers, 14% were medical professional and civil servants, and the remaining 20% leaders from business and NGOs.
International coordinator Tassie Ghata said, “Delegates left saying they will be deliberate in mentoring others, role modelling Christlikeness, insisting on excellence, and behaving consistently in their private and public lives.
“We were pleased to hear what we shared during the conference has changed their understanding about social righteousness, their attitudes and they intend to change the way their behave.”
Please pray for leaders as they return to their congregations and organisations, that they will be able to maintain the commitments they made during the conference.
[l-r] Julaine Hedman and Les Issac of Ascension Trust with Mark Hopkins, Grace & Light chairman
