AACC General Secretary’s Easter Message

Lent has been a period of profound spiritual nourishment and thanks be to God for the growth we have experienced during the fast. This year’s Easter finds us at a time when we are deeply troubled by the conflicts in some African countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, the Sahel region, Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. We are concerned about the suffering of so many people.  All these problems are human-made, due to corruption, selfishness, and other forms of ungodliness common among many people entrusted with power and authority.  

Nevertheless, as we look at the cross, we see the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord, who emptied himself and denied all the privileges and rights for the sake of the people he loves.  I have been inspired by meditation on Philippians 2:3-8. May the Love of Christ compel us to be of the same mind as Christ himself, who despite being in the very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but rather he “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave…humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -even death on the cross.”  May each leader of a church, a political party, a country, or an organization look at Christ on the cross and hear the Bible saying: “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” “Do not look at your own interests, but to the interests of others.” 

Senegal’s recently concluded peaceful presidential election has indeed affirmed to us that if we act with a common mindset, prioritizing the well-being of all people over selfish interests, we can realize and keep the peace we desire for our churches and countries. My prayer is that as we reflect on the sacrifice that Christ made for our salvation, we are inspired to embrace the humility that Christ portrayed through his works on the cross and allow the Spirit of God to cleanse our lives of all forms of selfishness within which actions that destroy our peace and unity, threaten the wellbeing of God’s creation and undermine the dignity of God’s people are rooted. 

I wish you a very happy and blessed Easter Holiday.