‘Only way to create desired society’: Toyin Kehinde urges pastors to prioritise missions

The Founding Pastor of Agape Generation International Church, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, has urged church founders and pastors to prioritise missions, saying it is the only way the gospel can gain ground and create the desired society.

Kehinde made the call in a statement on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, announcing the annual Global Mandate Conference — a platform created for missionaries from across Africa to retreat and “refire.”

The cleric, who is the Convener of the Global Mandate Conference, stressed that churches must make deliberate efforts to make missions their primary goal.

He stated: “The task the Master gave us is to go into the world and make disciples of nations, teaching them to observe all that He has taught us. That was the last commandment, but the most important commandment.

“If the gospel is not preached, there is no way people will hear and be converted. It is the preaching of the gospel that produces power and brings liberation to souls.”

Kehinde, who noted that there has been a lull in evangelism over the years, condemned the insinuations that there are “too many churches.”

Kehinde said: “There can’t be too many churches because churches have to do with people, and there are people everywhere.”

“What we have had largely is movement within churches. Many of the churches that boast of growth today get their members from existing churches. That should not be. There are many people who are still unreached with the gospel.”

He further stated that mission work is not limited to rural areas, adding: “Missions can be done even in the city when a church targets a specific people group.

“There are many communities in big cities that are yet to experience the message of the cross. Despite the seemingly large number of churches in the country, the population of those who are saved is still negligible.”

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On the state of the Nigerian church, Kehinde said: “The reason why many have time to argue about doctrines and all sorts is because we are not doing what God called us to do. If the church is mission-minded, we won’t have time for social media debates.”

He urged the church to refrain from “unnecessary bickering on the internet” and face the task of evangelism.

He also warned against the abuse of scripture for personal gain, a development he identified as the root cause of the unending debates currently seen online.

Speaking on the 2026 GMC conference, Kehinde announced that the event will be held from February 19 to 20 at the church’s headquarters in Mende, Maryland, Lagos State.

He said about 200 missionaries from across Nigeria, Africa, and Europe are expected at the conference, themed “Great Power and Great Grace.”

The pastor said: “We are hopeful that this conference will mark a turning point for attendees. We believe that without the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, it will be impossible to carry out the mission of evangelism.

“We were led by the Spirit of God to choose this theme so we could address the subjects of grace and power as they relate to missions.

The Star