“True leaders don’t invest in buildings. Jesus never built a building. They invest in people. Why? Because success without a successor is failure. So your legacy should not be in buildings, programs, or projects; your legacy must be in people.”
– Myles Munroe
Yesterday marked the 4th year anniversary of the death of my very dear friend – Pastor Joshua Adah. He had just turned 40 a few days before his death. I remember that week so vividly. I had asked him to come to Abuja, Nigeria (where I lived then) on his way to his home base in Murkuni, Taraba State (travelling from Lagos). It was the new year and I wanted us to plan and strategize for the school he founded for orphans and vulnerable children. After a weekend of planning, he left by road to Taraba state (via Kogi state to visit his parents).
It was strange that after a few days, he had not called me to let me know of his safe arrival to his base. However, I assumed he was spending quality time with his parents in Kogi State. Again, it was very unusual, he still had not called me on my birthday (27th ). It was the day after my birthday that I learnt this brilliant young missionary had been killed on his way to Taraba state, after his vehicle developed a mechanical fault! That was the end of his life on earth… just like that! Gone!
While his death was a tragic and untimely to those of us he left behind, the work he started still continues – the school (in the middle of nowhere) continues to thrive. When I visited the school on the 1st anniversary of his death, a close friend suggested I get security protection, as it is in a very remote part of Nigeria. The school is now managed by my now dear friends – Dapo & Hannah Azeez (By the way – his wife – Hannah is a 1st class Accounting Graduate!). The school graduated their 1st set of secondary school students last year. All the children are fed, housed and educated by the organization Joshua and his wife, Ngozi founded. These four individuals do not originate from Taraba State, but have essentially given up their lives and the luxuries of life to help transform some neglected Nigerian communities through the power of education.
As you continue to plan your new year, I write this story, to challenge you to think about how your life on this earth can count beyond taking care of bills, educating your children and endeavoring to live your best life thus far. But you don’t stop at just thinking about what you can do. You can also take action- schedule time in your diary, give some money (no matter how small), organize some CSR initiatives at work. There are several things you could do (if you are not already doing so). And if you are already doing something- what else can you do?
Some of the things you could do include – visit and be a blessing to local orphanages, support an indigenous missionary (if you are of the Christian faith), pay the school fees of a child whose parents cannot afford to, visit the sick, help reform a destitute etc. As you can see, the list can go on and on.
I currently organize and support several similar initiatives. As we mark the 4th anniversary of my friend’s death, I invite you to consider partnering with this school. You can send me an email if you will like additional information.