printed 20 December 2024
Learn for 4 minutes
Among the many most up-to-date ministers to be ordained within the Church of Scotland, Rev Adze Gojim-Iboni has actually traveled the longest, from Nigeria to Scotland – detouring to India alongside the way in which.
His ordination at Renfrew North Parish Church, the place he accomplished his probationary interval and is now assistant minister, was a global affair.
Whereas relations together with her husband Chukwugozim Ebonye, daughters Zara and Zuri and her mom and mother-in-law had been in a position to attend in individual, others together with her father Dr. Austin Moji logged in from the south and watched on-line with extra family and friends in Africa, India, Eire, the US Across the US and UK. His dwelling church in Nigeria additionally held its personal thanksgiving service for the event.
“It was nice,” stated Ms Gojim-Ebonoye.
“You include pleasure, however there’s additionally an nervousness, particularly if you’re being requested questions and also you’re questioning if you are going to make a mistake. But it surely was such a tremendous time, it was simply stunning.”
Raised within the Anglican custom, Kirk met Ms Gojim-Ebonoy when she left Nigeria in 2008 to check Human Useful resource Administration at Glasgow College and started attending Wellington Parish Church.
Changing into extra concerned with the church, he grew to become household pastor at Killermont Parish Church in Bearsden.
Talking at her ordination service, Clyde Presbytery Clerk Rev Robert Hamilton revealed that though family and friends inspired Ms Gojim-Eboni to coach to develop into a Minister of Wards and Sacraments, it was not till a dialog over a cup of espresso in 2018. That “penny dropped” and he promised to go to a vocational convention and start the discernment course of.
In addition to finishing a divinity diploma, he had sensible church expertise at Cadre Church with Rev John MacGregor, Temple-Anisland with Rev Fiona Gardner and Bearsden Cross with Rev Graeme Wilson.
He additionally labored with Chaplain Rev Jeanette Peet at Glasgow Royal Infirmary earlier than a three-month placement with the Church of South India (CSI) Diocese of Madurai-Ramnader.
Training from India
Ms Gojim-Eboni was impressed on a go to to India by Carol Finlay, Church of Scotland’s Congregational Engagement Supervisor, who touched on the advantages of working with Kirk’s international ministry companions and companions equivalent to CSI.
“The Church of South India is considered one of our companion church buildings and is a logo of universality,” he defined.
“If we, as a Church, discover union and connection so tough, how can this Church, which has totally different doctrines and sects and even languages, come collectively to kind the Church of South India? I believed that what I had discovered from them, I in Scotland Can use in my ministry.”
Having briefly visited India practically a decade in the past, he arrived in India on 27 September 2023 – coincidentally CSI’s 75m Anniversary – For his sitting at Madurai Cathedral, the place he’s minister of cost, Rev. Ebenezer Joshua and his spouse J. Hosted by Beulah Jane
Whereas residing in a scholar hostel, Mrs. Gojim-Ebni grew to become deeply concerned in church actions in Madurai and past.
“I’ve visited previous individuals’s houses, residential houses and a college for youth with bodily and psychological disabilities, social outcasts (equivalent to ex-convicts) or houses for these in marital disaster who want safety from their husbands or households.” stated
“CSI owns many colleges; elementary by way of tertiary, and I had the privilege of working alongside their chaplains, main companies and Bible research for each college students and lecturers, together with interpreters in some circumstances. It was very attention-grabbing.
“Church buildings serve communities, and these will not be essentially Christian as a result of Christians are solely 4 % of the nation.
“One essential factor I discovered is that each church has its personal issues. It is available in alternative ways.”
After returning to Scotland in December, he started his probation at Renfrew North with the Rev Philip Wallace earlier within the 12 months.
“That is the very best factor that would have occurred to me. The individuals at Renfrew North congregation are loving and caring, however very simple. You might be assured that if somebody tells you one thing, they’re honest and it has elevated my religion in them,” stated Mrs Gojim-Ibn.
“I have to say that my placement has been high-quality.
“You need to do placements in numerous church buildings and areas so you may study and expertise the distinction in ministry. Every place is so totally different and so distinctive, nevertheless it’s all about this.
“For my time with John McGregor, which was on the coronary heart of Covid, he made it doable for me to study not simply how a minister works and what he does as a minister, however how he lives his life. Then I went to Fiona Gardner, who’s from the Union. Going by way of challenges, however he’s very resilient and cheerful.”
He additionally beloved his time as a chaplain at Glasgow Royal Infirmary however determined he was not referred to as to the chaplaincy. As a substitute, his ordination and probation, in addition to 10 years as household pastor at Kellermont, strengthened the attraction of parish ministry.
“These made me notice that I used to be referred to as to parish ministry, however conditioned my thoughts on what I wished from parish ministry.
“It has been expertise working in Renfrew North and so they’re very completely satisfied for me to be there as assistant minister till I get my very own obligations – and I am completely satisfied to be there.”
