Ayomide Awe
Medical professionals and former members of the Mount Zion Christian Faith Assembly at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have challenged Christians and professionals to translate their faith and personal convictions into meaningful contributions to society.
The call was made on Friday at the 28th Annual August Reunion Retreat of the chapel, where participants stressed the need for unity, personal responsibility, reflection and renewed commitment to service.
The three-day retreat, holding from August 28 to 30, is themed, “Time to Walk With God.”
The gathering brought together medical professionals, former trainees and members of the chapel, including professionals who have since established careers in different parts of Nigeria and abroad.
Speaking at the programme, the Acting Provost and Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr Sunday Amosu, described the reunion as an important part of the institution’s history, saying its impact had extended beyond the chapel to the lives and careers of people who passed through Aro.
Amosu, who is also a member of the chapel, recalled that he was among the four men who laid the four foundation corners of the chapel building.
He said the reunion provided an opportunity for members to reconnect, reflect on their lives and renew their commitment to God and service.
“Whenever you bring Jesus to a place, there will be a difference. There will be a movement in the three days because God will come in diverse ways, and we believe after the meeting, our lives will not remain the same,” he said.
Amosu noted that many children and former members who participated in the fellowship had gone on to different parts of the world, adding that the reunion offered them an opportunity to return, reconnect and reflect on their responsibilities to their families and communities.
He urged Christians and professionals associated with the reunion to embrace unity and diligence, stressing that the positive influence of the gathering should extend beyond the chapel.
Also speaking, a former member of the chapel, Dr Sesan Ajayi, who is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, said the reunion offered former members an opportunity to reconnect with the institution that played a significant role in their formative years.
Ajayi, who served as the chapel secretary and Sunday school teacher while working as a resident doctor at Aro, said he was returning to the chapel for the first time since the completion of its new building.
He commended the growth of the chapel and the institution, describing Aro as an institution that had produced professionals making contributions across the world.
“Aro is a well-known name globally and it has produced a number of professionals, doctors in different countries. It has been a great institution creating great people,” he said.
However, Ajayi challenged professionals and members of the Christian community to go beyond religious rituals and examine the extent to which their convictions were reflected in their conduct and contributions to society.
He warned that people could become accustomed to religious activities without experiencing the personal transformation required to make a positive difference in their communities.
According to him, the true measure of personal conviction should be its impact on society, including politics, business, professional practice and other spheres of public life.
Ajayi said professionals should not limit their responsibilities to achieving personal success but should also consider how their knowledge, positions and values could be deployed for the common good.
The Chaplain of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Pastor Anthony Ogbebor, explained that the annual reunion had evolved from a small fellowship into a major gathering aimed at reconnecting professionals who passed through the institution.
Ogbebor said the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, was not only a clinical facility but also a training and research institution that had attracted different categories of health professionals over the years.
He explained that many professionals became members of the chapel during their clinical postings, creating a community that continued beyond their departure from the hospital.
“We started as a small fellowship, but as we began to grow, the church also grew and the number of people increased,” he said.
According to him, the idea of the annual three-day retreat was conceived to reconnect former members, understand how they were faring and encourage them to remain connected to the values they acquired during their formative years.
Ogbebor said the theme of this year’s retreat was particularly relevant because many professionals who had progressed into demanding careers often had little time to pause and reflect on their lives.
He said “Time to Walk With God” was a call for participants to slow down, reassess their priorities and examine the direction of their lives.
The chaplain cautioned that professional success and educational advancement could sometimes make people overly dependent on their abilities, leading them to neglect reflection and the values that guided them during their formative years.
He said the retreat was designed to help participants regain balance and remain grounded despite their professional achievements.
Ogbebor further urged former members not to lose sight of the values they acquired at Aro, stressing that life should not be approached as a competition.
The retreat features worship, teachings, fellowship and other activities, with participants drawn from different professional backgrounds and locations.
The organisers said the 28th edition was designed not merely as an annual reunion but as an opportunity for renewal, reconnection and reflection for professionals whose careers and responsibilities had taken them to different parts of Nigeria and the world.
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