National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By Dayo Emmanuel
The West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagos, has concluded its 2025 Missions Convention, a three-day gathering that reignited passion for the Great Commission and the global mandate of Christ.
Held at the seminary’s campus in Lagos, the convention carried the theme “The Great Commission: Fulfilling the Mandate of Christ” and featured panel discussions, prayer sessions, mission exhibitions, short documentaries on missions, biographies of past missionaries, as well as the launch of the WATS Springboard 2026 initiative.
Missionaries from across Nigeria, including representatives of the Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Association (NEMA), the Great Commission Movement (GCM), and others, participated in the event.
The climax was a special panel session where the founder of WATS, Professor Gary S. Maxey, and his wife, co-founder Rev. (Mrs.) Emma Lou Maxey, shared their over 40 years of cross-cultural missionary experience.
This report captures highlights from the convention, with a special focus on the insights and testimonies of the Maxeys, whose lives remain deeply intertwined with the story of missions in Nigeria.
A Life Redirected by Language and Calling
Professor Maxey recalled that his missionary journey began unexpectedly with an unusual passion for the Spanish language as a young man in the United States.
“While most missionaries go to another area of the world and then struggle to learn the language, I learned the language ahead of time, having no idea why,” he told participants. “I owe a great debt to my Spanish teacher, a very dedicated Lutheran who got me excited about learning.”
Over the years, he became fluent in Spanish, preaching hundreds of sermons in the language long before his missionary assignments began. That early preparation opened doors for him in Mexico, where he lived and served among rural communities.
“I was dropped in the bush by missionaries and left there for weeks. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. God showed me clearly that I was not only to preach but to live as a cross-cultural missionary,” he said.
For Maxey, being a missionary begins with two non-negotiables: being born again and learning to listen to God’s voice. “That is why I strongly support our Springboard program at WATS. Short-term missions expose people to God’s voice, and many receive a clear call to full-time cross-cultural service.
Facing Barriers and Building Faith
Maxey also recounted the challenges of entering Mexico at a time when foreign missionaries were prohibited. He and his wife, then young parents with an infant, attempted to cross into the country with their belongings packed in a van.
“At the border, we were denied entry. I was sweating profusely, unsure of what would happen,” he recalled. “We tried a second border post, this time I spoke fluent Spanish, but midway through, a call came from the first station exposing me as someone who had pretended not to know the language. Somehow, by God’s mercy, they allowed us through.”
For the couple, such hurdles became faith-building experiences. Emma Lou, reflecting on those years, noted that she never considered herself “worthy to be a missionary.”
“It is not about worthiness; it is about the blood of Jesus that forgives and enables us,” she said passionately. “Being a missionary is a privilege. We are broken, we are learning, but it is all about Jesus.
From Mexico to Nigeria: A Change of Direction
The Maxeys’ transition from Latin America to Africa was itself a story of divine redirection. Professor Maxey’s parents had traveled to Nigeria in 1978, returning with inspiring reports.
“At first, I felt guilty for being excited about Nigeria because I believed my call was to Latin America,” Maxey confessed. “For two years, I suppressed the desire until one day, a pastor friend said, ‘I wish I could go to Nigeria.’ God used that simple comment to release me from guilt and confirm His call to Africa.”
Unknown to him, Emma Lou had been praying quietly for the same outcome. When he finally voiced his conviction, she readily affirmed it: “Of course, God has already told me.”
The couple accepted Nigeria as their mission field without hesitation, despite uncertainties. “We didn’t even apply to go,” Maxey explained. “My younger brother had applied to Nigeria, and I didn’t want to compete. But in the middle of the board meeting, the mission agency called us, saying, ‘We’ve chosen you instead.’ That was God’s hand.
Establishing WATS in Nigeria
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the Maxeys observed similarities with Latin America. “This looked like Latin America, only with darker skin,” Emma Lou remarked.
Their assignment was clear: to establish a Bible college that would equip men and women for holy living, evangelism, and national spiritual awakening. That vision gave birth to the West Africa Theological Seminary, which today stands as one of Nigeria’s foremost theological institutions.
Professor Maxey summarized his life’s calling in three stages: the call to preach, the call to be a cross-cultural missionary, and the call to teach.
“I foolishly abandoned my books in Mexico, thinking ministry alone was enough,” he confessed. “But God made it clear that I was called to be a teacher, so I pursued my PhD. That training prepared me for what God wanted to do in Nigeria—raising pastors and leaders.
Trials, Cultural Shocks, and God’s Faithfulness
The Maxeys did not romanticize their journey. They recalled difficulties ranging from gas explosions to cultural adjustments with food and language.
Emma Lou narrated how “We had to learn everything from scratch.”
There were also humorous yet profound encounters. On one occasion, their maid tried to extinguish a fire by chanting, “The blood of Jesus, the blood of Jesus.” For the Maxeys, such moments reflected the challenges of living in a new culture, but also the opportunities to teach and learn.
Despite hardships, they expressed unshaken joy. “There is no promotion higher than the center of God’s will,” Professor Maxey declared. “Life is not about what we left behind in America; it is about obeying God.”
Lessons on Missionary Calling
During the panel, the Maxeys emphasized the importance of calling in missionary work.
“This is not man-made,” said Professor Maxey. “You must clearly hear the voice of God. Cross-cultural work is hard, but necessary if we are to reach the unreached.”
He encouraged young Christians not to be discouraged if their calling was unclear. “It took me years, and it came in stages. Keep your heart open, consecrate yourself fully, and God will speak in His time.”
Emma Lou added that missionary work is not about personal ability but dependence on God. “The most dangerous sin is independence from God. Our success is measured by obedience, not by visible results. Some missionaries labor for years without converts, yet they are sowing seeds for future harvest.”
Enduring Legacy and Continuing Impact
The Maxeys’ decades of ministry have left indelible marks on Nigeria and beyond. WATS has trained thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders who serve across Africa and the world. Their books and teachings continue to influence new generations.
“I meet total strangers who walk up to me and say, ‘You’re Gary Maxey. I’ve read your books,’” the professor recounted. “It humbles me to see the impact of simply being faithful over the years.”
For him, success is not measured in numbers but in obedience. “What Eugene Peterson called ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ is what matters. Just stick with it. Don’t give up.”
A Call to the Next Generation
As the convention closed, the Maxeys issued a heartfelt challenge to young believers considering missions.
“Remove the limits from your consecration,” Professor Maxey urged. “Say to God, ‘I’ll do anything, go anywhere, obey whatever You ask.’ That is when God begins to speak clearly.”
He reminded participants that fulfilling the Great Commission requires sacrifice, courage, and readiness to leave one’s comfort zone. “There are still unreached people on earth who require cross-cultural ministry. It is not easy, but it is necessary.”
Emma Lou concluded with a note of encouragement: “Being a missionary is not about being worthy. It is about Jesus. It is a privilege, and it is possible for anyone willing to surrender fully to God’s will.”
The 2025 WATS Missions Convention ended with renewed resolve among participants to live out the Great Commission. Through prayers, testimonies, and reflections, the event rekindled a vision for missions in a rapidly changing world.
For many, the highlight was hearing from the Maxeys, whose decades of obedience demonstrate that mission work is not merely about crossing borders but about living a life of total surrender to God.
As WATS launches into its next phase with Springboard 2026, the message from the convention remains clear: the task of missions is unfinished, and every generation must rise to the call of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
