Chronicles of Becoming

At best, my plans, if I can even call it that, were interrupted. Months after what I thought was the biggest season of my life, I found myself going on an adventure I could not have planned for even if I wanted to. A million questions swirl in my mind but most notable of all is the realisation that I’m not the same person I was when I started, I can’t even find that person now.

My service year unlike the vast majority of Nigerian youths was not something I anticipated. In fact, I clamoured for the program to be made optional instead of compulsory and my first couple of days in the orientation camp seemed to validate my sentiment. After I dragged my feet to the first Sunday service however, my life changed forever. I learnt that apparently the NYSC scheme was a prophecy fulfilled as a means of taking the gospel to the nooks and crannies of the country.

The first thing I thought when I heard that was “kai, someone can’t even hate NYSC in peace.” From that moment I was on board with the whole service year initiative. This is just one of the instances where NCCF shaped my thinking.

Fast forward to be chosen to become a state executive, the prospect of serving God in that manner was exciting and a privilege that I would never take for granted. However, I would admit that it came with reservations. When I realised that I would have to return to orientation camp and stay the entire duration of 3 weeks in order to shepherd the corp members. I was just wondering if I wasn’t the most unserious person on earth. I mean, I had just been called to the largest bar in Africa and most of my friends were heading to Abuja or Lagos to develop their careers and here was I, planning to leave work for almost a month.

Despite this internal struggle, I was still so convinced that this was exactly the place God wanted me to be. I encouraged myself in the Lord and I threw myself into the work. It was intense and demanding but if I could do it again, I would because for the joy of my Lord Jesus Christ, I count nothing as a sacrifice.

NCCF’s structure is tripartite; an organisation, a fellowship and a family. The hardest part for me was the family aspect. I served as the Assistant General Secretary and for the organisation part, I gladly took on the administrative duties that came along and I would always reply people that asked me, what stress? It sincerely was all fun for me. For the fellowship, I mean I love God and church has always been easy for me.

NCCF as a family is too peculiar. I found myself having to open up at a pace that was faster than I was used to. It was also my first time having to closely relate to Pastors who were also my leaders. I learnt it was not optional for me to love people, this was such a stretching aspect for me that I’m forever grateful for. I will not say that I’ve totally gotten over my peculiarities as it relates to human relationships but I know I’ve come a lot further than where I used to be.

My tenure ended a couple of weeks ago but I still have a couple of months in my service year and that alone presents its own peculiarities. One thing I would say though is that God is sufficient for me and even now I feel His sufficiency surround me like a warm hug. On the surface it feels like the end, and in a way, I guess it is, but God opened my eyes to realise that this is also just the beginning. I have had to contend with the change in pace and dynamisms and also letting people go so they can begin their next chapter too.

I didn’t see it coming but I could not be more glad that it did. NCCF is an imperfect organisation and even now I still struggle with some questions but it sincerely is a place to be. I cannot imagine my service year without NCCF, it sincerely would have made no sense and so, I am eternally grateful for the privilege to serve.

Ends and beginnings are two sides of the same coin. God has taught me (and still continues to teach me) that I should never mourn a season. Instead, I thank Him for His mercies and look to His grace for the next chapter.

I have stood in many privileged circles and I thank God for the privilege to have stood once again in NCCF. I thank Him for the grace to become, I thank Him for everyone I met and have now said goodbye to, I thank Him for my next adventure and I thank Him for joy unspeakable.

These are the chronicles of my becoming.