Year Theme 2025

EXPLANATION OF THE ARTWORK FOR THE THEME OF THE YEAR 2025:
BUILDING A GROWING AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHURCH

The concept underlying the artwork for the Theme of the Year 2025 is building together and working together to achieve a growing and high-performance church. The following are the meanings of the images found in the artwork:

1. The buildings in the artwork are a representation of the structures of the Church. Portions of the structures are complete whilst other portions are still under construction. But the totality of the building is still not complete. Structures are important in any building, and without structural integrity, a building cannot be fit for purpose. This is why the building in the artwork depicts various kinds of materials meant to make the building fit for its purpose. Without the appropriate structures, the scripture standards in Colossians 1:28 and Ephesians 4:1-32, and many more, cannot be accomplished. Structures (including equipment and technology) must necessarily come with the right systems, policies, and procedures (based on biblical standards), as well as a well-trained human resource at all levels of the church (that is, leadership and discipleship). These are the different parts of the building: structures, systems, and people. None can stand without the others.

2. The people in the artwork are serving with all their strength (cf. 1 Peter 4:11; Luke 10:27) in lifting or pushing the pieces of the building into place. Once again, buildings are meaningless until they have structural integrity, as well as the systems, and people to put it to purpose. This refers to all the activities we do as members of the church to build it up. These include preaching of the Word of God, prayer, worship, discipleship and counselling of members, evangelistic activities, involvement in church ministries and groups such as youth fellowship, women’s and men’s fellowship, various committees among others. All these activities require the use of strength, be it spiritual, physical, mental or emotional. To build a growing and high-performance church, all members of the church, i.e., the clergy, church leaders, members of various groups and ministries, members of the congregation, all need to apply themselves to the tasks they have been given and work at it with all their strength to achieve God’s purpose.

3. We also see people who have the measuring and alignment tools, which they are using to gauge to ensure that performance is up to the required standard and specification. It is generally said that,
“what you do not measure, you cannot improve.” As a church, we have leadership at all levels to ensure that the right thing is done and that everyone is contributing their part as they ought to, not as they feel like. These leaders help to smooth rough edges and guide the building process (that is, structures, systems and people’s discipleship process). Leaders are to do this with humility and love as well as be a good example for others to follow.

4. The artwork shows people who are learning or being taught. The Bible teaches us to love the Lord our God not only with our heart, soul and strength but also with our minds. Loving God with our minds means learning and applying what we have learnt. Spiritual benefit can only come with knowledge, and knowledge comes through teaching and learning. The Bible says in Proverbs 19:8, “Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper.” (GNT). Growing and becoming a high-performance church requires continuous learning and capacity building. This includes all members of the Church, that is, the clergy and non-clergy, through learning the Word of God and applying it to our lives. It also includes capacity building in the form of training programmes and workshops to enhance our knowledge in how we can each build and grow personally and together as a church. This in turn will enable us to operate efficiently and effectively, as a church, and help us to affect the communities around us to the glory of God.

5. We also see a soldier keeping watch. This soldier represents prayer and emphasizes the need for vigilance, protection, intercession, and perseverance. Prayer involves spiritual watchfulness against sin, temptation, and the attacks of the enemy. Prayer is a defense mechanism against spiritual attacks, ensuring the church stays aligned with God’s will and is protected from harm. Prayer is standing in the gap to intercede for the church, communities, and nations. The Bible admonishes us to be watchful at all times, constantly praying and standing in the gap in order to avert the plans of the devil against our growth and for the will of God to be fulfilled in our lives. (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18, Matthew 26:41). Each member of the church should be encouraged to pray for themselves, their families, church leaders, and the church as a whole. We also have to empower our Prayer Tower Groups within the various branches and at all levels to intercede for the Church as we build a growing and high-performance church.

6. The artwork shows a man with the blueprint for the building project. Every building must have a plan, which includes the purpose of the building, the structural design to fit the purpose, different materials that hold it together, and eventually, people who use or inhabit it. Remember, the building is made up of structures, systems, and people. Every building project has a project manager, who, in our case, is the General Overseer, under our Theme for 2025 and beyond. The purpose of the project manager is to ensure that all work is being done right to achieve the desired purpose.