Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged churches to prepare Christians for responsible citizenship by promoting integrity, competence and accountability in their personal and professional lives.
Musa made the call on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the Kingdom Lifestyle Conference Series IV, organised by Jesus World Changers Apostolic Mission (JWCAM), also known as The Market Impact Church, in Lagos.
The conference was themed “Overcoming the Conflicts of the Worldly Systems: Living and Entrenching Kingdom Lifestyle in Our Place of Assignment.”
The minister said the church had a responsibility to raise Christians who would demonstrate their faith through their conduct, professional competence and contributions to national development.
He stressed that Christianity should go beyond church attendance and religious declarations, saying believers must reflect Christ-like values in their everyday activities.
“Our lives must be an example of the Bible people read. Our actions and inactions should tell someone if we are Christians or not,” he said.
Citing the biblical account of Daniel, Musa said Christians could maintain their integrity while working in complex political, administrative and professional environments.
He noted that integrity must be accompanied by competence and hard work, warning that religious commitment should not become an excuse for poor performance.
“Kingdom living should never be an excuse for mediocrity or poor performance. The church has a responsibility to raise Christians who are not only spiritually strong, but also professionally competent,” he said.
Musa also urged Christians to participate more actively in politics, arguing that their involvement was necessary to influence decisions and contribute to governance.
He challenged church leaders to encourage their members to join politics rather than remain outside the process.
“Whether politics is dirty or not, get in and clean it up. If you are not in politics and cannot make decisions, the constitution will not protect you. If you are in, you can make a difference,” he said.
The defence minister further called on Christians in government, the military, security services, education, healthcare, business, media and other sectors to demonstrate integrity and professionalism in their respective fields.
He said Nigeria’s transformation required collective efforts, adding that the church had an important role to play in national development by raising responsible citizens.
According to him, positive transformation begins with individuals and extends to families, communities, institutions and the wider society.
Musa also expressed concern about the upbringing of Christian children, saying many were growing up without adequate knowledge of biblical teachings despite attending church.
He urged parents and church leaders to pay greater attention to children’s moral and spiritual development, particularly amid distractions from social media and television.
He added that lasting national security could not be achieved through weapons alone, but also depended on strong values, responsible families and effective institutions.