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A Joy to Serve and Learn from The Global Church || Reflections on Crosslinks SBT in Abuja 2024 and looking ahead to 2025

A Joy to Serve and Learn from The Global Church || Reflections on Crosslinks SBT in Abuja 2024 and looking ahead to 5th to 11th October 2025

By Rev. Andrew Irwin

Last year, I had the honour (and, yes, the heat) of joining a Crosslinks Ireland team on a mission to Abuja, Nigeria, alongside Rev Richard Balmer (Director of Crosslinks in Ireland), and David Gibbs from Grace Church Wanstead. We were invited to collaborate with the Diocese of Kubwa and the Diocese of Zaria to establish a new School of Biblical Training (SBT), aiming to support clergy and Lay leaders in their engagement with God’s word and its application. It’s quite the trip from Belfast, but we managed to arrive (relatively) in one piece, touching down at about 4 am and somehow preaching in three churches at 8 am. With around 30 clergy and lay leaders in the room, all eager to dive into the Bible and learn more about the Church of Ireland.

Crosslinks SBT: Sharing the Load (And the Laughs)

The purpose of an SBT is simple but vital: to equip church leaders with skills to preach and teach effectively. Richard and David led the more practical sessions, focusing on how to interpret and preach the Bible in light of the overall storyline and keeping Jesus at the centre.

I delivered each of the morning devotions, working through 2 Timothy, a letter that urges ministers to keep their heads up and stay the course, both as an example of how to handle the text and encouragement in their preaching. Then in the afternoons, I opened up passages in Mark’s Gospel as both example and challenge, letting his blunt and urgent storytelling remind us that our job is to let Scripture speak, without us getting in the way too much.

Schools, Hospitals, and Holistic Ministry in Kubwa

Beyond the training sessions, we toured the Kubwa Diocese’s remarkable outreach. Yes, they are preaching the gospel, but they’re also running schools and building a massive 400-bed hospital beside St Andrew’s Church in Kubwa. The energy of the classrooms and the scale of the hospital project were humbling. This diocese takes the call to reach the city with the gospel seriously, doing so through both practical and spiritual means. A challenge to the mission and work that we are called to back in Northern Ireland.

A Lesson in Global Partnership

The whole experience gave me a deep appreciation for what global unity and partnership look like in practice. The Nigerian church is resilient, resourceful, and full of joy. Their faith is lived out in ways that should both challenge and inspire us here in Ireland, where ministry can sometimes feel too insular. Where they lack a way, they step out in faith and trust that God will make a way and provide them with the resources they need. Too often, in our own settings in Belfast, we are overwhelmed by the challenges without the faith and trust that God is bigger than those we will face. The practical lessons of service and local mission continue to challenge me to this day as I live and serve in Belfast and prepare to go back to Abuja.

Looking Ahead: Back to Nigeria

That was last year. But God willing, we will soon be back again. This October, I will once again join Richard and David on a long flight through the night from London to Abuja to continue the work we began with the same group of clergy from both dioceses. This time, we will be opening Philippians together to wrestle with Paul's vision of God, life, and ministry. Additionally, for their encouragement, we will also be spending time in my favourite pastoral epistle -Titus. The hope is not just to repeat what we did, but to build on it; To strengthen friendships, deepen skills, and walk with our Nigerian brothers and sisters as they lead the church in contexts far more demanding than ours.

I'm excited to dive into the second year of this three-year cycle. We’ll be with them for one more year after this. Pray that this three-year training cycle will equip leaders for a lifetime of ministry. Please pray that these sessions would encourage, challenge, and resource them for the work ahead.

A Quick Ask: Pray for Nigeria (And Maybe a Little More)

Please continue to pray for the Anglican Church of Nigeria, especially the Diocese of Kubwa and the Diocese of Zaria. Pray that they’d remain steadfast in faith and bold in witness. And consider whether you can support practically. The resources we have here can make a world of difference there. If you would like to support the School of Biblical Training in Nigeria, please contact: The Crosslinks office in Belfast, ireland@crosslinks.org or the Team at St Paul & St Barnabas via hello@spbbelfast.org.

Bringing It Home: Inspiration from Abuja

Since getting back to normal, I have been encouraged and remain grateful for the partnership we share. The Anglican Church in Nigeria has shown me what it means to both proclaim the gospel and live it out. They have a beautiful vision of holistic gospel ministry and outreach, especially in contexts where resources are lacking. Every day, they strive to share the Good News, meet people’s needs, and persevere with joy in Christ, for the Glory of Christ. As we return this October, may we continue to learn from their faith, and may their example keep shaping our ministry here.

If you’d like to help, gifts given via St Paul’s & St Barnabas will go directly towards Crosslinks SBT costs in Nigeria—training materials, in-country travel, venue and catering—so clergy and lay leaders in Kubwa and Zaria are better equipped to preach Christ. Thank you for partnering with us.

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