STEWARD MINISTRY
Just like the first Christian Community founded by the Apostles, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal pay special attention to the physical and emotional wellbeing of her members, and ensures that all necessary arrangements are put in place for her members to conveniently encounter God in the word, prayers, praise and worship. Thus, the task of planning, preparing, arranging, monitoring, and facilitating her activities are often entrusted to the members of the Steward Ministry.
The Steward ministry is at the heart of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and it is made up CCR members who are supportive, welcoming, trustful, reliable, friendly, enthusiastic about service and sensitive to the needs of others. They are individuals who deploy God’s gifts (their time, talent, treasure, bodies, friendships, natural resources, and beauty) to the Service of God. It is pertinent to know that a true call to a life of commitment and service can only come to an individual through the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation, for the Spirit empowers us to like Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. Stewards are called to imitate Jesus’ life and His love.
At prayer group level, the members of this ministry caters for the physical needs of members, arrange venue for fellowship, crusades, conferences, camping and workshops, contact absent members, welcome new members, and look after the wellbeing of all members. They also ensure the security of the venue used for our Charismatic events. The role of the Steward Ministry enables our community to be filled with grace, love, and unity.
Membership
Membership of the ministry is after successful completion of the Life in the Spirit Seminar
PRAISE & WORSHIP MINISTRY
Whenever the members of CCR come together into God’s presence, the task of leading praise and worship is assigned to this ministry. The Renewal deploys praises and thanksgiving at her gathering since this is a form of prayer that recognises most immediately, that God is God. While thanksgiving brings us through the gates of God’s throne, praise brings us straight into God’s court (cf. Isaiah 60:18).
The fact that praise and worship is an essential element of our Charismatic gathering (for fellowship, workshop, meetings, conference, training, etc.), shows the importance of this ministry within the CCRN.
The ministry is tasked with leading our worship during prayer meetings, crusades, conferences and conventions. They skilfully combine biblical truth with music to magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, thereby motivating the gathered members of the renewal to join them in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God and seeking to live all of life for the glory of God. The entire activities of the ministry is aimed at leading people into God’s presence.
Members of the ministry anchors the time allotted for praise and exuberant songs, and lead others into deeper worship or singing in the Spirit. It is expected that members of this ministry be gifted with voice or skills in playing musical instruments.
Membership
Membership of the ministry is after successful completion of the Life in the Spirit Seminar
INTERCESSORY/HEALING MINISTRY
Intercession, being at the heart of evangelisation and mission, is well rooted in the Catholic tradition. It concerns all Christians, not just those who are members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. As St. Paul enjoins the Ephesians Christian community to, “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:18). Meanwhile, in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Intercessory Ministry is specially carved out to show commitment to this sacred duty.
Their role in the CCR is to pray, not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others – specifically for the Church and for the world at large. At prayer meetings, members of this ministry anchors the period allotted for praying for intercessions and particular needs of people.
This ministry members are expected to be committed to growth in holiness, love for personal prayer, the scriptures, sacraments and fellowship, and a continuous disposition to an intimate communion with God.
Membership
Membership of the ministry is after successful completion of the Life in the Spirit Seminar
TEACHING/EVANGELICAL MINISTRY
By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, we are called to evangelise and proclaim Christ to the world. The goal of the Teaching Ministry is to proclaim the word of God which is the basic message of salvation.
“There is no true evangelisation if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, No.22, 1975).
Members of the teaching ministry teach about the PERSON and MESSAGE of JESUS CHRIST, who is both the messenger and the message. It has the evangelical arm as part of the ministry because of the call to evangelisation.
At prayer meetings, members of the ministry anchors the period allotted for reading inspired texts from the scripture, and sharing of a personal sense from the Lord. It’s their role to admonish, instruct, preach or teach within the community.
Teaching ministry educates, edifies and continuously feeds the body of Christ with the Word of God. They also meet to organise topics and to make adequate preparation for teaching, one-on-one evangelism, as well as public outreach. It is also the duty of the ministry to handle teaching in the bible study of the community.
The tools of the Teaching ministers are: The Bible, The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), Vatican II Documents, Papal Teaching, Writings of the Early Church Fathers, and other Publications of the CCR with nihil obstat and imprimatur.
Membership
Membership of the ministry is after successful completion of the Life in the Spirit seminar
NEW COMERS CLASS
When you first make contact with us at our weekly fellowship, you will be welcomed at the end of our program and subsequently advised to take part in our beginners class which will help in building up your faith.
2 Timothy 2:15, St. Paul advised Timothy thus: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth”. It is a common trend for people to desire to associate with success. In a world like ours where there is gross compromise, pretence, deception and worldliness, found even amongst Christians, it is therefore imperative to establish a system where those who want to live like the disciples of Christ, will have to go through a period of training that will prepare them for the life of a true believer.
In order to present ourselves approved as God’s elect, it has since been the tradition of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal that anyone who wishes to be a full member of the group, must have to go through some formation stages before emerging as a bonafide member of the community.
Such persons will have to be enrolled in the NEWCOMERS CLASS. In this class, special programs which includes bible and moral teachings as well as the Catholic faith, prayers, etc, are organised on every third Monday’s of the month to enable them to understand the principles, doctrines, rules and regulations guiding the Church and the renewal. Every member must be a practicing Catholic who is ready to abide in the teachings of the Church.
The duration of this program is a minimum of 12 months and at the end of the program, if the individual satisfies the whole requirements, he/she will be put forward to take part in the Life In The Spirit Seminar.
Life in the Spirit Seminars
This is an eight week program designed by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal aimed at reawakening the Holy Spirit in the life of the participant and to qualify the individual to become a full member of the group. To get baptised in the Spirit, is the gate to a life in the Spirit.
As you are in the process of becoming a full member of the prayer group, you have to participate in this eight week program. You are encouraged to do so as the seminars will help you in the following areas:
*To establish and deepen a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
*To experience the action of the Holy Spirit in your life
*To be a part of the Christian community where you obtain constant spiritual and moral support
*To grow in union with Christ; improve your prayer life, increase your thirst for the word of God and enhance your understanding of the scriptures and also increase your commitment to the service of God
*To broaden your understanding to the realisation the amount of the power of God in you and your authority as a child of God.
Baptism in the spirit is the beginning of life in the Spirit. Baptism in the spirit is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end – life in the Spirit. Baptism in the Spirit is a grace that can be retained or lost easily depending on how we respond to the new experience. If we start living a life dedicated to the Holy Spirit (Life in the Spirit), the Holy Spirit will continue to abide in us. But if we relapse into a life of sin and ungodliness, we become worse than an unbeliever. Hence, life in the Spirit is to live a life of continuous obedience and surrender to the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
There is so much the Holy Spirit has in plan for you, so as you go into the seminar, do it with zeal and hunger for the Holy Ghost and the Pentecost experience will be yours.
The Holy Spirit loves you and He wants to make you His best friend!