The Speech of the Founding President-General of the

Association of Professional Chaplains in Nigeria and the Continent of Africa by Extension

On the Occasion of

World Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Week Celebration

From 24^th to 30^th Oct, AD 2021

On behalf of myself, my family and the good standing professional members of the Association of Professional Chaplains globally, continentally and in particular in Nigeria welcomes you all to the commencement and weeklong activities in which we celebrate practicing professional chaplains for providing the needed chaplaincy/spiritual care to humanity in their professional chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

Sunday the 24^th of October year AD2021, marks the commencement of this year’s celebration.

This year’s theme is “Advancing Spiritual Care through Research.” This is a sure proof that chaplaincy has gone beyond uniform, matching and parading to clinical and scientific status that require research for development, advancement, evidence-based practice and effectiveness.

For the information of the general public, this year’s celebration happens to be 36^th of its kind world over since inception in the year AD1985. This year’s celebration is actually a double celebration for APC in Nigeria as this year also marks her 5^th year of existence and functioning of the association.

The celebration is carried out in various ways by chaplaincy organizations and associations both in private and public setting across the world.

Association of Professional Chaplains Inc. globally, continentally and in nations where the association is established or have influence have various activities put in place this year throughout the weeklong of the celebration.

You are all specially invited to participate in this year’s celebration as you extend the invitation to all chaplaincy organizations, chaplains and intending chaplains and also keep up with the updates of various activities in your state as well as online seminars.

This year’s celebration and activities is characterized with broadcasts, postings on the social media, seminars or conferences by states, webinar discussion on topical chaplaincy issues and national WhatsApp seminars to mark the grand finale on Saturday 30^th October AD 2021 by 10.00 am Nigeria time.

Chaplaincy profession is for all chaplains and standout clearly to be a caring profession of repute, providing wholistic care services to all people regardless of their religious affiliation, beliefs, culture, age, social status in life, political leanings, gender and sexual orientation.

I encourage all chaplains to join forces with Association of Professional Chaplains Inc. in Nigeria in this celebration, promoting and projecting chaplaincy profession rightly in the public and in government circles.

Contact APCIN Representatives at regional and states levels or state nearest to you for activities for the weeklong celebration, don’t be left out, join the crew and you never regret you did.

While wishing you a memorable celebration to this year, I wish you all many more years of the weeklong celebration in sound health and prosperity. I say,

Long live Chaplaincy Profession and Practice!

Long live APC global!

Long live APCIN!

Long live the great nation, Nigeria!

Archbishop Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CPC.

Certified Chaplaincy Educator/Founding President-General APC in Nigeria and Continent of Africa.