CHM Nigeria 19th annual conference was held on the 5th of December 2020 in Lagos in a now familiar socially distanced setting and zoom-enabled like most meetings this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of the conference was ‘in a time like this’ it was officially declared open by the chairperson of CHM Nigeria and Vice President of CHM Africa, Deaconess Joyce Akinola who encouraged the volunteers by thanking them for their efforts this year in spite of the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The chairman of the occasion Barrister Kehinde Akinwunmi in his speech likened the work of CHM Nigeria to that of the friends of the paralytic man in the gospel of Mark who broke the roof to bring him to Jesus (Mark 2:3-12). He charged the volunteers to continue their enviable and priceless service to the Nigerian society praying as he did that The Lord will continue to enable them and bless all their efforts.
Revd Sam Ajibola, CHM International President in his speech via zoom from the UK as he was unable to attend in person, declared the word of God to the CHM international that He will continue to be with us as He is a good shepherd. He thanked the volunteers in CHM Nigeria for giving their time to be used by God.
The medical topic for the day ‘Guarding your mental health’ was eloquently delivered by Dr Oluwafunmilayo Omisakin, a consultant psychiatrist in Lagos. She stressed the importance of avoiding mental stress and breakdown by paying attention to the various aspects of our mental well-being like emotional well-being, social well-being, cognitive well-being, biological well-being and of course spiritual well-being.
She also used the opportunity to burst the myths about mental health stating that mental ill-health is not tantamount to madness like many see it. But a form of ill health which manifests itself in the form of mental health breakdown. She concluded by reminding the conference that there is no health without mental health.
There were also testimonies of healings that The Lord has performed in the life of many this year.
See photo gallery here