By Jako Keke, August 10, 2026.
The Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church Nigeria Episcopal Area, Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel, has distributed 48 motorcycles to District Superintendents (DSs) from the Church’s five Annual Conferences in Nigeria, in a strategic move to strengthen grassroots evangelism, pastoral outreach and mission work across the country.
The distribution, which took place in Jalingo on Monday, is aimed at addressing transportation challenges confronting ministers, particularly those serving in rural communities and difficult terrains where conventional vehicles are often unable to reach.
Bishop Ande, while handing over the motorcycles to the District Superintendents, charged the beneficiaries to regard the vehicles not as personal benefits but as essential missionary tools entrusted to them to expand the frontiers of the Church.
He urged them to deploy the motorcycles strictly for their intended purpose by reaching remote communities, establishing new congregations, strengthening existing churches and winning more souls for Christ.
“Go in your might. Conquer the lands under you for the United Methodist Church. Plant churches, win souls, and make the Lord proud,” the Bishop charged.
The gesture has been widely welcomed by District Superintendents, who described transportation as one of the major obstacles to effective ministry in their respective districts.
Speaking on behalf of District Superintendents of the newly inaugurated South West Nigeria Annual Conference, the District Superintendent of Sunkani District, Rev. Markus D. Jauro, said the motorcycles would provide significant relief to ministers working in areas with poor road access.
Jauro explained that some villages within the districts are inaccessible by vehicles, making regular pastoral visits difficult.
“This is a great relief for us. There are villages that are sometimes not accessible with vehicles. This motorcycle will make it easier for us to reach our people and extend the ministry of the church,” he said.
Similarly, Rev. Hassana Raymond, District Superintendent of Haske District, who spoke on behalf of the Central Nigeria Annual Conference, expressed appreciation to Bishop Ande for addressing what she described as a practical need affecting ministers on the field.
She said the gesture would encourage District Superintendents to approach their responsibilities with renewed commitment.
“My travel burden is now less, and I assure the Bishop of results,” Raymond said.
From the Northern Nigeria Annual Conference, Rev. Antiya Ishaya described the initiative as unprecedented in his more than two decades of ministry.
“I have been in the ministry of the Church for over two decades, and this is my first time seeing a Bishop respond directly to the exact needs of District Superintendents,” he said.
Ishaya said transportation had remained a major challenge for ministers who routinely travel through remote and difficult terrains, adding that the new motorcycles would significantly improve their mobility.
“Today, we can boldly say that our travel burden has been lifted. We are very grateful to Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel for this gesture,” he added.
Also speaking on behalf of the North East Nigeria Annual Conference, Rev. Monday Marwa said the intervention was directly aligned with the missional needs of the Conference.
“Many of us are going through travel hardship, but we see this gift as a response to this need. We are grateful to Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel,” Marwa said.
The Dean of Cabinet of the Nigeria Episcopal Area, Rev. Eli S. Sule, described the distribution as a significant intervention in addressing one of the Church’s central mission needs.
Sule expressed satisfaction with the response of the beneficiaries and urged them to translate the improved mobility into measurable missionary achievements across their districts.
“Today, the bishop has responded to one of the central mission needs of the Church in Nigeria. We are glad that the District Superintendents are happy with the Bishop’s gesture,” he said.
He directed the beneficiaries to demonstrate the impact of the motorcycles through tangible progress in evangelism, church planting and pastoral outreach.
According to him, the Episcopal Area would expect progress reports from the various districts as the motorcycles are deployed for mission activities.
Sule also encouraged District Superintendents who were not beneficiaries of the first batch to remain committed to their assignments, assuring them that opportunities for additional distributions would arise in subsequent phases.
The initiative represents a major investment in grassroots ministry by the United Methodist Church Nigeria Episcopal Area, with the potential to improve the frequency of pastoral visits, facilitate evangelism and enhance the Church’s presence in underserved communities.
Beyond easing the travel burden of ministers, the intervention is expected to contribute to stronger community engagement and the expansion of the Church’s mission in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Bishop Ande, in his concluding message, urged the District Superintendents to make the best use of the mobility provided and ensure that the intervention produces visible results.
The distribution, therefore, signals a renewed push by the United Methodist Church to remove practical barriers to evangelism and deepen its presence at the grassroots, with the Bishop calling on ministers to carry the Gospel to communities “near and far.”
“The mission advances. The Church moves forward. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” Bishop Ande concluded.
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