"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13
KABELO LEKALA
Lead Pastor
Pastor Kabelo Lekala, born and raised in South Africa is married to Claske who is from The Netherlands. Claske is a teacher at The Netherlands International School, Lagos. They have been living Lagos on purpose for 10 years. They are blessed with three beautiful children. Pastor Kabelo completed his Bachelor of Arts in Theology - Biblical and Religious Studies degree at West Africa Theological Seminary. He is passionate about practical ministry and pastoral care, reaching out to the expatriates and Nigerian natives who return from their overseas assignment and looking at settling back in Nigeria.
Pastor Kabelo witnessed NBIC grow from strength to strength over the years, as he started his fellowship with the believers there as a member. He then was elected a deacon, to progressively be afforded an opportunity to use his talents in the pastoral team, where he then served as a pastor-in-training. When Pastor Sam Wadell, then Associate Pastor received a call from the Lord to minister back home in Alabama, USA, Pastor Kabelo assumed the responsibilities of Associate Pastor under the tutelage of Pastor Gary.
It is by the divine grace of God that Pastor Kabelo was ordained and appointed Lead Pastor in 2022 at NBIC. He is enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of NBIC, in as much as he is passionate and delighted to serve the congregation to the community at large.
e-mail: chokes.kabelo@gmail.com
GSM : 0814-236-0617
GARY AND EMMALOU MAXEY
Associate Pastors
Gary and Emma Lou Maxey have been in Nigeria for forty years. They are natives of the US, and prior to their missionary service in Nigeria they spent several years in Mexico and Central America. Throughout virtually their entire time in Nigeria they have focused on the training of African pastors, evangelists, missionaries and church leaders.
As a result, today Very Rev. (Dr.) Gary S. Maxey is best known in Nigeria as the founder of West Africa Theological Seminary (Nigeria’s largest nondenominational seminary).
However, at New Beginnings International Church he is known simply as “Pastor Gary.” He and Emma Lou live on Lekki Peninsula and spend most of their time interacting with the expat community.
Pastor Gary has ministered among Lagos expatriates for the past fifteen years. He is known for sound Bible teaching and his compassionate pastoral skills.
His passion for Christ and the scriptures, his familiarity with Nigeria and other cultures makes him an ideal pastor for the expat community of Lagos.
His wife, Emma Lou, brings to New Beginnings International Church, bringing her own skills in children’s and women’s ministries, as well as her compassion to work with those who have suffered from various addictions.
Gary and Emma Lou raised their four children in Nigeria, and today they are all married and have their own children and are all serving Jesus in their own arenas.
Gary holds a doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois, USA), and has pastored churches in Imo State, Nigeria, as well as in Illinois and Iowa in the USA.
For many years Pastor Gary and Emma Lou have seen that while Lagos has tens of thousands of expatriates, it is virtually the only mega international city without a truly viable international church.
Now God has released them from other responsibilities to make this long-desired goal their number one target.
Website: www.garymaxey.com
Email: drgarymaxey@gmail.com, emmaloumaxey@gmail.com
GSM: 0808-726-6310; 0802-871-8669
VICTOR PRIEST
Volunteer Pastor
VICTOR AND FELICIA PRIEST
Passionate is the word that describes the Priests. It describes the heart set free to pursue that which is truly worthy. Their hearts are indeed captured with the aspiration for Jesus to be ardently worshipped by all peoples. Victor and Felicia are natives of Nigeria from Enugu state. They are privileged to parent two children. (Urudinachi 17 years (boy) and Chidimma 16 years (girl).
They are back in Nigeria as full-time employees at West Africa Theological Seminary Lagos. Both Felicia and Victor are professionals in missiology and education, respectively. Felicia earned her Ph.D. in Theological Studies (Missions Studies) while Victor earned his Ph.D. in Education studies (Education Leadership and Administration) from Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Before studies in Kenya, both Victor and Felicia served as missionaries in Sudanfor 4years. They were engaged in the preaching and teaching of God's Word in local churches, Training Sudanese missionaries in Cross-cultural missions, Discipleship, training Pastors in the Bible schools, ministering to children, and Partnering with the Sudanese Church of Christ and CAPRO in Sudan.
Pastor Victor is an ordained minister of the gospel at New Beginnings International Church Lagos. He serves as a volunteer pastor, while Felicia is a deaconess serving in the pastoral advisory committee.
Email : victorpriest0@gmail.com
GSM : 0903-913-9743
DEACONS
Deacons
The NBIC constitution calls for the annual election of at least six deacons, including a treasurer. At the present time, we have nine faithful deacons, namely:
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Jaco Louw, Treasurer [South Africa]
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Tunde Akindele [Nigeria]
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Jonathan Ballena [Philippines]
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Wally Adeleye [Nigeria]
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Marilou Malabayabas [Philippines]
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Ralph Ferreira [Zimbabwe]
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Charles Church [South Africa]