The Shepherd’s Flock International Church (TSF) will host its 2025 5F conference for a balanced and impactful living where the church yearly addresses issues relating to Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness and Future, starting from October 10-12 2025 online and onsite. This is coming on the heels of the church’s recent scholarship awards to some pupils and students on the platform of The Reverend Tony Akinyemi Scholarship Foundation (rTSF). In this interview with Christian Benefits, Rev. Tony Akinyemi, the Lead Pastor, speaks extensively on the two programmes as parts of The Shepherd’s Flock International Church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) yearly tranformation programmes. Excerpts.
To start with, The Shepherd’s Flock International Church (TSF) on the platform of Rev. Tony Scholarship Foundation recently awarded scholarships to some pupils and students. What informed this yearly scholarship awards by your foundation?
The Reverend Tony Akinyemi Scholarship Foundation (rTSF) was established in 2010 by friends of Reverend Tony Akinyemi to mark his 49th birthday. It was borne out of their deep respect and honour for a man who had doggedly fought his way through lack and poverty to achieve educational excellence. Coming from a humble background, Reverend Tony understands, firsthand, the pain and insecurity of a brilliant child whose parents cannot afford to send him or her to school because he had been there himself. His friends, inspired by both his journey and his passion for helping others, created the foundation to ensure that brilliant students would not be held back by financial barriers. That simple gesture has since grown into a lasting legacy of hope and transformation for hundreds of young people across Nigeria.
Since when did the exercise start and how will you describe its impact on both TSF and the beneficiaries over the years?
The first set of scholarships was awarded in 2010. The foundation was officially registered in 2011. For the past 15 years, rTSF has remained consistent in its mission of giving hope through education. The impact has been profound. On TSF, it has reinforced the Church’s calling to serve humanity in practical ways beyond the pulpit, while for beneficiaries, it has opened doors to academic advancement, mentorship, and life-skills training. Many of these students, who might otherwise have abandoned their dreams, are now graduates, professionals, and leaders contributing positively to society and nation-building.
At the last count, how many students have so far benefited from the scholarship over the years?
To date, the foundation has sponsored more than 400 students across Nigeria. These beneficiaries have received not just financial assistance for tuition, but also guidance, mentoring, and moral support to become well-rounded individuals equipped to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Who are the main targets of the scheme and how can the targets access the scholarship as beneficiaries?
The rTSF scholarship is designed for brilliant but financially disadvantaged students who might otherwise be denied the opportunity to further their education. It specifically targets secondary school pupils in public schools and undergraduates in government-owned tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Each year, the foundation announces its application window through its official website and partner channels. Interested candidates are expected to submit their academic records, proof of admission, and evidence of financial need. Shortlisted applicants are then invited for further assessments such as tests or interviews, after which successful beneficiaries are selected. The entire process is merit-and-need based, ensuring that those with both academic promise and genuine financial challenges receive the support they need.
Coming on the heels of this year’s scholarship awards is TSF’s annual 5F Conference, from October 10-12, 2025. What’s this yearly meeting all about?
The 5F Conference is a holistic experience for a balanced and impactful living. It addresses life’s core important Five F’s (5F), namely Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, and Future, with relevance to the concerns of this generation, globally. For example, Faith speaks to building an unshakable foundation in Christ in a time when skepticism, moral relativism, and secularism dominate culture. Faith in Christ is the sure anchor. The conference emphasizes strengthening personal relationship with God through prayer, word, and worship (Hebrews 11:6). It empowers believers to walk in boldness, holiness, love, and conviction, standing against societal compromise, and living by faith as a testimony of God’s reality in everyday life (2 Corinthians 5:7). The impact is a faith-driven generation that not only professes belief but demonstrates it in action, transforming communities and nations for Christ.
The Family thrust seeks to restore God’s blueprint for society. The family institution is under attack worldwide through broken homes, identity confusion, and eroding values, and Christian families are not left out. The Family leg of the conference emphasizes rebuilding of the family as the first ministry and training ground for discipleship (Deuteronomy 6:6–7), strengthening marriages, parenting, and intergenerational bonds in line with God’s word (Ephesians 5:22–25), and raising families that reflect Christ-centered love and serve as models for community transformation. The impact of this is strong families that nurture godly character, reproduce kingdom values, and provide stability in a fragmented world, providing a nurturing and empowering platform for children to grow in and become the best that they can be in life.
The Finance leg focuses on Kingdom stewardship and economic empowerment. Finance is often a point of bondage, yet the Bible teaches that God gives us power to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). In a generation facing unemployment, inequality, and poverty, the finance pillar empowers believers to understand Biblical stewardship of resources, develop financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and generosity to fund kingdom work, and helps participants break cycles of poverty and dependence by applying godly wisdom in wealth creation (Proverbs 10:22). The impact of this is a financially empowered Christian generation that funds missions, supports the needy, and demonstrates that wealth can be used for God’s glory.
Fitness focuses on honouring God with our bodies. The Christian faith teaches that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). In a generation plagued by stress, addictions, and unhealthy lifestyles, the fitness focus brings balance by encouraging physical health as part of spiritual stewardship, promoting mental and emotional wellness to withstand the pressures of life, and integrating spiritual discipline (fasting, prayer, rest) with physical well-being. The impact is a holistic generation, fit to serve God, fulfill divine assignments, and live vibrant lives as witnesses of Christ.
Finally, the FUTURE component invites us to embrace the natural and divine principles of purposeful living, seen through the lens of eternity. In a world filled with uncertainty, changing values and rapid technological advancement the Christian faith calls us to anchor our future in God’s promises. The 5F Conference seeks to remind believers that God has a unique plan for every life (Jeremiah 29:11). As followers of Christ, we are called to be the salt and light of the world, influencing the future of nations (Matthew 5:13–14). True vision, innovation, and leadership must arise from kingdom-minded stewardship. Our mission is to equip a generation to pursue excellence in education, business, governance, and innovation—while remaining grounded in their eternal identity in Christ. Everyone is encouraged to prepare for the future—not only in this life, including retirement, but also in light of eternity. As Scripture reminds us: What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? The 5F Conference is not just for The Shepherd’s Flock International Church, but a kingdom mandate. It raises leaders who integrate faith with practical living. It offers a counter-narrative to secularism by proving that the Christian faith speaks to every sphere of life. Across the globe, it builds a unified Christian generation that is whole, future-focused, faith-grounded, healthy, family-rooted, and financially wise. The 5F Conference equips this generation to live out Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” It empowers believers to live balanced, impactful lives, showing the world that Christianity is not just a Sunday practice but a life-transforming way to engage the future, strengthen faith, care for the body, build strong families, and steward resources for kingdom impact. The conference will hold online Friday October 10, 6 pm and Saturday October 11, 2pm and Onsite Sunday Ocrober 12 at TSF worshiptorium 8.30am, 18, Sogunle street, off Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, behind Etiebet’s Place, Abule Onigbagbo, Ikeja, Lagos (the Interview continues.)
