By Dayo Emmanuel
Christian media organisation, Journalists For Christ (JFC), Saturday held its virtual monthly fellowship for the month of July.
The fellowship held on Zoom brought together media practitioners and members to reflect on career growth, ethical dilemmas, and spiritual purpose within the journalism profession.
The event featured guest speaker Pastor Patrick Aigbokhan, a former crime reporter and media consultant, who delivered a keynote presentation centered on the theme: Maximising Journalism Career Through Vision.
Addressing participants during the meeting, Aigbokhan emphasised that having a defined vision is the primary force that sustains a journalist through professional challenges and societal pressures.
“Your vision keeps you in motion in the midst of commotion. Your vision is a strong force that keeps you connected with your present and your future. And it makes you inseparable with your dreams, your goals, visions, and aspirations,” he said.
Drawing from the Scriptures, Aigbokhan cited Habakkuk 2:2–3
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
He explained that vision allows professionals to keep their ultimate goals in perspective regardless of present obstacles.
According to him, entering the media profession requires clear self-examination regarding long-term legacy, principles, and societal impact.
“When you get into your career as a journalist, you must first of all ask yourself a question: What do I want to become with this profession? Why did God bring me here? What do I stand to achieve? What legacy do I want to leave after I have resigned as a journalist?”
Aigbokhan charged participants.
Highlighting practical realities within newsrooms and beat coverage, Aigbokhan cautioned journalists against compromise, financial enticements, and the “brown envelope” syndrome.
Recounting personal experiences from his reporting days, he urged media practitioners to value personal integrity and spiritual standing above monetary gains or compromised stories.
“The reason some of us are scared of writing the truth or saying the truth is because we have been pocketed,” he observed, urging journalists to maintain high moral standards even when facing economic hardship or newsroom politics.
He cited 1 Peter 2:9 as a reminder of the believer’s identity in the workplace:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Jeremiah 29:11 also reassured participants of divine direction for their careers:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Following the keynote talk, leaders and participants shared reactions, experiences, and reflections on navigating career choices.
The Chaplain of JFC, Pastor David Alabi, noted that the fellowship served as a timely reminder of divine direction in media practice.
“Today’s fellowship is quite insightful and it’s a reminder for me of certain things that the Lord has spoken to me at one time or the other, and things I’ve interacted with,” Pastor Alabi stated.
Continuing, Alabi said, “As he highlighted, a vision, particularly a vision that is captured from the Lord and of the Lord, is what will keep us steady when all the storms that are inevitable come our way in the media.”
Responding to questions about managing professional identity while serving in faith-based organisations, Pastor Tosin Makinde of the Nigerian Baptist Convention sought clarity on balancing unseen contributions with public recognition.
“People would come around and give testimonies that because of this exposure we heard about our problems, the government has done this for us… and sometimes, one will feel like being forgotten and then how do you reconcile it?”
Makinde asked. “So, how do I align and try to construe yourself, and believe that you don’t have a problem?”
Responding to the query, Aigbokhan emphasised divine timing, referencing two key passages of Scripture.
First, he cited
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
He added a reference to John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Providing more perspective, the guest speaker said, “There is a time of God in everything. It’s not about what others are achieving. There is a kairos season in one’s life, and there’s a chronos season. Go back to the drawing board with God: ‘Lord, You gave me this vision… where do I go from here?'”
The President of JFC, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, commended the speaker for the presentation and urged members to periodically reassess their vision with God.
“I think today’s messages have been very powerful, and like we prayed, that God will… I like the word about going back to the vision, you know, and asking God: ‘Did I miss it? Is there something I’m not doing? Is there what I need to do?'” Otufodunrin said.
Sharing a personal testimony about his transition after leaving The Punch newspaper, Otufodunrin reflected on the importance of obedience when career paths take unexpected turns. “When I left The Punch Newspaper, what I wanted to do was to be on my own, and everything looked set that it was working. But at some point, things were not what I wanted, and I was very reluctant to go back and work in the media,” Otufodunrin shared.
“But now I’m looking back, for another 13 years I went back to work, and I just thank God. Sometimes God is leading us to do things that we think we should not do, but if it’s God that is leading us, it must be obedience. So, once again, Pastor Aigbokhan, thank you for that presentation.”
The virtual meeting concluded with prayers as participants were updated on necessary announcements from the JFC Secretariat.
