19 February 2025, Demsa, Adamawa State, Nigeria: Women's choir performs as people gather for the 100th annual convention of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
LWF President Stubkjær attends ‘historical gathering of unity, resilience, love, and courage’
(LWI) – The 100th annual convention of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) opened on 19 February with worship, music and song as tens of thousands gathered under the theme ”You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Attended by Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark and a range of other ecumenical guests from the continent of Africa and beyond, the event is set to bring together up to 100,000 Lutherans from around Nigeria for Bible study, prayer, discussions and cultural events on 19-23 February.
LCCN Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa addressed the opening service on 19 February – taking place at the churches’ Covenant Ground not far from Numan, birth site of the LCCN and to this day the location of the church’s headquarters – welcoming participants to a “historic centennial gathering, which symbolizes our unity, resilience, love, and courage in the faith.”
“As we celebrate this centennial, we reflect not only on our past but also on how God has sustained us. We honor those who laid the foundation of our church,” the archbishop continued.
Touching theme of this year’s convention, he added: “Our mission remains clear: to serve and proclaim the Gospel in Word and deed, in every corner of life, bringing justice, compassion, and hope to a broken world. As we move forward, we focus on the heart of our calling including mission and evangelism, education and theological education, advocacy for justice and peace, addressing gender-based violence, community development, healthcare, and stewardship of God’s creation.”
“The Church must reaffirm and build stronger ties with our mission and ecumenical partners and all those who share our commitment to justice and peace. We are called to walk together with those of different faiths, fostering mutual understanding and working for the common good (Micah 6:8). By doing so, we demonstrate the power of the Gospel to unite us in the face of division and hostility, building a world of justice and reconciliation. Together, we can continue the work of Christ, bringing light to the world and sharing the hope of His Kingdom,” archbishop Musa said.
A marching band makes its way through the crowd as people gather for opening service of the 100th annual convention of the LCCN. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark (mid-right) and Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa (right) pictured as people gather for opening service of the 100th annual convention of the LCCN. Also pictured, Bishop Tamás Fabiny of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (mid-left) and Katalin Fabiny (left). Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
A global communion, learning from one another
Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, who attends the convention both as LWF President and a representative of the country whose missionaries first laid the foundation of the LCCN in the early 20th century, placed particular value in experiencing the centenary as part of a group of international guests from the global LWF communion. “Our welcome here has been quite overwhelming, to be received by archbishop Musa and all the other bishops, and to be here in an international group. To come to Nigeria and meet people from Hungary, from Denmark, from Germany, the United States, from everywhere. That's how you get a sense of what it is to be a communion.”
Addressing hundreds of LCCN pastors gathered for a conference on the eve of the centennial convention, Stubkjær reflected: “Christianity is not something local, but it is global. Christianity is a faith that goes through borders, and we can learn from each other, all of us.”
“As a communion, we draw much inspiration and joy from the LCCN as truly a church where preaching is strong, and where Christian mission and evangelism is paramount,” he said.
Bishop Tamás Fabiny of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary reflected at the centennial’s opening service on the experience of praying together with a shared Lutheran identity across cultural and geographical differences. While we are culturally different, he said, “we are very happy to all be people of reformation, where hymns and singing in general is very important. It is wonderful to experience this joy on the face of the people.”
Women's choir performs as people gather for the 100th annual convention of the LCCN. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Christina Kwade from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, a youth delegate attending the convention with the German National Committee of the LWF, also saw connection points between her own context and, in particular, young people in Nigeria.
“This opening day has given me so many impressions, so many things I haven't seen before. I still cannot imagine how many people are here, but it feels great and very welcoming. In the next days, I'm hoping to get to talk to some of the youth because they have so many challenges and other thoughts that I can also learn from and bring with me back home. And on some levels, they're also the same discussions that we have, of intergenerational justice for example,” she said.
“Coming here, I see a church that is growing and a church where the Holy Spirit is really working, a church that wants to go out also in society with the Gospel and also with the proclamation of our Lord Jesus Christ and also with the Diaconal help to help the people in need,” LWF president Stubkjær concluded on the opening of the 100th convention. “I see a very vibrant church here, a church that wants to be relevant also in the society.”
