I’m Dr. Charles Apoki, and today, I want to dive into a topic many have overlooked in the church: merging spirituality with productivity. Far too often, we limit ourselves to only spiritual pursuits, but there’s a whole world of impact we can make when we put our minds to productive ventures. We can go beyond just prayer meetings and church services to create initiatives that empower our members and benefit the community around us. It’s time to leverage our collective potential to not only support ourselves but also to fuel our missions.
Spirituality Plus Productivity: The Path to Influence
A few years back, I spoke at a conference, and an American missionary said to me, “You don’t sound like a typical African.” When I asked why, he explained that he was used to seeing Africans dependent on foreign aid, particularly for mission work. In their church, however, they funded missions from their 24 men’s fellowship-owned businesses, generating enough money to support missionaries worldwide. They didn’t need outside help; they had empowered themselves.
Similarly, our church fellowships can create avenues for growth and financial stability. We can no longer afford to separate spirituality from productivity; both need to work hand-in-hand. Imagine the difference we could make if men’s fellowships in churches ran their own small businesses. Small cooperatives, real estate ventures, and various enterprises can drive the change we seek.
Forming Cooperatives and Investment Groups
One simple way to empower fellowship groups is through forming cooperatives. Instead of relying on external loans, cooperatives pool resources, allowing members to fund projects and invest in businesses that generate income. For instance, a group in my area bought a piece of land for 13 million Naira. Within a short period, that same land sold for 26 million. This kind of investment, done as a collective, benefits everyone involved and promotes financial growth within the church community.
Churches as Economic Hubs: Event Centers, Transport, and More
Some churches are already doing this by building multi-purpose centers, not just for Sunday services but also for events throughout the week. These halls can generate income that sustains the church’s activities and provides employment opportunities for church members.
Beyond event centers, fellowships can consider transport systems. A group of members can purchase a few vehicles, pool resources, and run a small transport business. These vehicles can either be rented out or put on platforms like Uber to generate a steady income.
Developing Vocational Centers and Trade Schools
The potential extends to vocational training as well. Why can’t our fellowship groups run fashion design schools, laundromats, and after-school educational centers? If each fellowship member contributes their skills, we could build an educational hub, preparing youth for exams or teaching vocational skills. In the same way, a church laundry service can be established, operated from within the church compound, using existing resources to generate additional income.
Embracing the Mindset Shift
For church fellowships to move forward, we need a mindset shift. Too many people still rely on the idea of “miracle money” without considering practical sources of income. God has given us the creativity and skills to create value, not rely on unearned “alerts.” Let’s reject this “miracle money” mentality and instead work with the resources and ideas God has given us.
I see people who travel to colder countries, where the temperature might drop to 0 degrees, yet they still show up for work every day. Here in Nigeria, we have favorable weather, so what’s stopping us from achieving more? We have the capacity to work hard, collaborate, and build systems that support one another.
Real Estate, Cooperative Ventures, and Beyond
Men’s and women’s fellowships can even venture into real estate. There are opportunities everywhere—renting, buying, and developing properties. Or take something as straightforward as Uber; the youth can pool resources and operate cars as a group, bringing in consistent income and experience. These initiatives aren’t just about money; they create responsible, hardworking members who contribute actively to society.
In short, fellowships have more potential than we often realize. We can support the work of God and make church life more dynamic by creating productive, resourceful, and economically sustainable fellowship groups. The days of passivity are behind us; now is the time to become the solution-makers in our communities.
God bless you all.
Dr. Charles Apoki.
