May 4, 2002, will continue to be remembered in the history of missions in Africa and by all those who knew and worked with Rev. Clement Anegbe. That was the day he took off for Bassam, Cote d'Ivoire, for a mission consultation to deliberate on finishing the unfinished task. Little did he know that he had finished his aspect of the task. On his way to Bassam via Lagos, he boarded the ill-fated EAS airline, which crashed in Kano.
The news
shocked many of us who had a last-minute chat with Clement before he embarked
on the journey. Though he preached prophetically, announcing that there
was a vacancy to be filled in his local assembly, little did anyone know then
that the vacancy was his office, which he would soon leave. Before his exit, we
extensively discussed the project at hand, which we both coordinated. The MissionAfricjournal where he served
as the Managing Editor; the Agape Network, where he served as the Chairman,
Accountability & Disciplinary unit; his mission field at Zaranda Anseli,
where he wanted us to second to him as an interim missionary, his work at the
Evangelism and Mission Commission of AEA, his plan to finish the Jubilee
Ministries office complex, etc. Indeed, a giant vacuum has been
created. This is beyond a vacancy.
Clement was
a multi-dimensional minister of the Gospel. His selfless service and
lifestyle will make it difficult to get a replacement for him quickly. He
has affected so many lives in so many ways. This was quite glaring in the
wake-keeping night and the funeral service, which was attended by hundreds of
persons from different spectrums of ministries. Most of them, including
the bishops present, attested to how he raised and trained them in their
spiritual infancy and stood with them until they became what they are today.
They referred to him as a father in the ministry.
For us in
Grace Foundations, this temporary parting is quite shocking. We are
familiar with all the consoling theology of death. We know Clement has
gone to a better place, but it seems too soon. It is physically painful,
and we cannot pretend about it. God's judgment is, however, not subject
to debate. He is always right. There are many questions we cannot
get answers to in this world. When the trumpet sounds, we will understand
it better by and by. It will be a pretense to say we can stop shedding
tears so soon, but we know God took Clement away. It is not the
devil. Not at all! If God chose to save him in the crash, it would
have been a light thing. We have no grudge against God at all. His
decision is the best. We thank Him for all that He has done. After
all, it is not how long a man lives that matters but how well. Jesus
lived for just over 30 years. Clement was over 40 years old.
The last
minute of Clement's life on earth has remained an encouragement and a challenge
to us all. One of the survivors of the air crash testified of how Clement
removed his seat belt and announced to his fellow passengers that he prayed
when the plane started misbehaving, and God told him that they would not
survive the crash. Instead of sitting down to think of his family and the
various cares and challenges that would emanate from the crash, he preached a
brief but compelling message urging the people to get ready to meet their
Maker. After that, he offered them the opportunity to pray, and as if he
was not satisfied with how they were praying, he led them to pray for
salvation. Just after they said Amen, the plane
crashed. What a glorious exit! He went to his Maker with bundles of harvest in
his hands. Most of those who died in the crash, whether Muslim or pagan, are
today in heaven courtesy of Clement's last-minute ministry effort. To God be
the glory.
Who exactly
is this man called Rev. Clement Anegbe? Born on December 1, in the year of our
Lord, 1955, Clement Anegbe hails from Iriukwe – Agenebode, Etsako Local
Government Area in Edo State. He was, however, born and brought up in
Lagos, Nigeria. Clement attended St. Finbarrs College, Akoka, Lagos, between
1969 and 1973. He was a beneficiary of a Private Scholarship given by a
prominent business tycoon, which he enjoyed throughout his studies at St.
Finbarrs. He graduated with a Division One at the West African School
Certificate Examination in June 1973. He had a stint working with Union Bank as
a Counter Clerk before proceeding to The Polytechnic in Ibadan. He was a
distinguished scholar, winning many awards, and his final year project was
rated as the best in the department.
While at The
Polytechnic, he encountered the Lord Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Saviour
through a special revelation in December 1976. Since that experience and
decision, he has consistently followed the Lord and was fully committed to the
course of the Kingdom. After he graduated from The Polytechnic, he was posted
to Gombe (then a local Government in Bauchi State) for his National Youth
Service. He served with Nasara Motors – an automobile engineering
company. After the service year (NYSC), he secured immediate employment
with the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, as a lecturer in the
Department of Metal Work and Technical Drawing. Within a short time, he
rose to become the Head of the Department.
His sojourn
at Gombe brought remarkable dynamism to the spiritual life of the Campus
Fellowship and the Christian Community. In those days when Charismatic
and Pentecostal manifestations were viewed with some suspicion, Clement and his
little band of zealots were used as instruments by God to teach practical
Christian living and uncompromising dedication to the Gospel. Clement married
Julia I. Anegbe (Nee Imoesiri) on November 28, 1982. With Julia, they
labored together to pioneer the Evangel Chapel, Gombe, and Jubilee Family
Church, Jos. God blessed their union with three children: Michael, David, and
Abigail.
Due to his
dedication to duty, in 1985, Clement was awarded a scholarship by the Federal
Ministry of Education to do his Master's degree program abroad. That took
him to Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA. Because of his
scholarly performance, he was able to complete the program within a short
time. His passion for souls and desire to reach his father's land with
the Gospel made him return home immediately, though he had the opportunity to
stay back and pursue his studies to the doctorate level.
By 1992,
divine leading made Clement resign from his work with the Federal College of
Education (Technical) – FCE(T), Gombe. He left the Evangel Chapel to work
in able hands he had trained and moved to Jos to pioneer the Jubilee Family
Church and expand the scope of God's mandate upon his life to take the Gospel
to the nations. His movement to Jos proved to be God ordained, as it opened up
many opportunities nationally and internationally. The spiritual
leadership and mentoring task started in earnest with frequent travels and
preaching engagements coupled with the pioneering of the Jubilee Family
Church. With aggression, he and Julia labored fervently in the work of
the Lord until Julia went home to be with the Lord on June 10, 1994.
Undaunted,
Clement (God's General) continued to press forward. Due to his
involvement in leadership training and discipleship, he was recommended to
attend the Haggai Institute for Advanced Leadership Training in Singapore in
1996. God favored his servant by providing help in the person of Sister
Catherine Ameh-Anegbe (a professor of Science Education, University of Jos) in
the year 1996 to continue the work of preaching, teaching the Gospel, and
raising leaders for the work of the Lord, together. Clement was an
indefatigable man of God, a man of many talents, and a gifted and inspired
teacher of the word of God. He not only distinguished himself in
spiritual things but also in the secular and academic world. He won the
Young Managers' Award in 1987, organized by the Nigerian Institute of
Management under the auspices of First Bank Plc.
Testimonies
and commendations abound to attest to the above fact; here are samples from
Ball State University:
"It is a pleasure to write a letter of
recommendation for Mr. Clement Anegbe. Mr. Anegbe has demonstrated
several characteristics that label him as a leader who will continue to grow
and develop as the challenges change…"
Thelbert L.
Dake,
Professor,
Department of Educational Admin and Supervision
September 4,
1986.
"I have found Mr. Anegbe to be one of the best
students I have ever taught… a hardworking individual…"
Dr.
William H. Middleton
Professor
and Graduate
Advisor
Dept. of Industry and Technology.
"…My perception of him is that he is brilliant
and able to communicate effectively in a manner… his classmates were very
impressed with his insights and commentaries during the class."
Richard
A. Brosio
Professor of
Secondary and Foundations of Education.
"Mr. Anegbe is bright, hardworking, and eager to
do the very best that he can on anything he undertakes… I have found him to be
extremely adept and conscientious in carrying out his work assignments at the
highest level of proficiency."
Dr. Robert
C. South
Professor –
College of Applied Sciences and Technology.
He was an
uncompromising, upright, ardent teacher of the undiluted word of God. He
was a mentor and role model to many young ministers and to many whom he came
across during ministry. Until his call to glory, he was also the Council for
Mission Training in Africa (COMITA) Co-ordinator under the Association in
Africa (AEA). In pursuit of this missionary commission, he set out for a
meeting in Abidjan en route to Lagos. This made him take the EAS flight,
which crashed in Kano on May 4, 2002. Thus, Clement left this life
to be with his Lord and Master, whom he loved so much and had given up
everything for.
We have
missed a General, a Mentor, a Coach, a Teacher, a Motivator, an Educator, an
Erudite Scholar, and a resource person whose vacuum will take a long time to
fill.
For Clement,
to live is Christ, and to die is gain. We shall meet at the Master's
feet.
Adieu, God's
General
Rest on !
