NEW YEAR MESSAGE
As we stand at the portal of the New Year and cast a glance around we recognize that there is a great deal to thank God for as individuals, as a Nation and as the Church of God. We must thank God for our lives as individuals, for collective peace and giant strides at various levels of national endeavour evidenced by an atmosphere of calm in our industrial sector the academic institutions and in religious affairs. In the Christian Church, the various denominations: the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Aladura Church, the Methodist Church are providing leadership for the continent of Africa and are also carrying increased responsibility within the Church universal.
There is also in the same breadth a lot to hope for in the year ahead. The successful implementation of the ongoing reform holds the promise of a better and sound economic future whilst the political reform which consolidates the interdependent nature of our diverse make-up as a nation will make for a more peaceful environment with election rigging becoming a punishable crime!
We must also quickly register our utmost displeasure with and condemnation of the ongoing raving madness in the political arena. The unfolding scenario is disgusting, and most disturbing and certainly most unnecessary. It is a great concern to all people and the nation at large.
The feverish warming up to 2007 elections which preoccupies the political class to the utter exclusion of anything and everything is not only dangerous but counter productive. Many are wont to count their chickens before the egg is hatched, playing god and behaving as if tomorrow is in their hands.
Rather than concentrating on effective management of State, there is consumed preoccupation with the race for 2007 forgetting the wise words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:11 “the race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the skilful …”
There is need to warn all people to stop playing god as our tomorrow is in God’s hand and in the words of James 4:14 & 15, “…yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say “if the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that”.
In this New Year, 2005, let us all concentrate our best efforts and talents at dealing with the issues at hand, namely: good governance – political tolerance, provision and adequate maintenance of all essential infrastructure, the need to radiate love of God, to ensure that justice, equity and harmony prevail and taking care of the less privileged.
We remind our politicians that the assurance is there that if they govern well today and perform their assigned responsibilities creditably, their achievements will speak in glorious terms for them tomorrow.
We must never forget that we are here only temporarily and as we come into the New Year, we are reminded “we are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes …” Let us not allow our temporary sojourn here on earth to deny us of eternity with God. As we journey on, we want to make sure that NOTHING in all the world, politics, power, money, vaulting ambition etc. will hinder our goal to make heaven.
I wish you all a fruitful positive and peaceful New Year.
The Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola, CON., DD.,
Primate of All Nigeria and the National President of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Friday 31 December 2004
Monday 29 November 2004
Church of Nigeria publishes list of Nigerian Anglican Churches in America
Church of Nigeria publishes list of Nigerian Anglican Churches in America
By Peter Onwubuariri
Nov. 29, 2004 - In its bid to encourage Nigerians in the US to stay away from churches that promote homosexual union, The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has made public the list of Nigerian Anglican Missions in America.
This is coming on the heels of last October announcement in the US by Nigeria’s Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola of the formation of a network of churches for an estimated 250,000 Nigerian Anglicans resident in America.
Missions registered with the Missioners Office
All Saints Anglican Church, 849 Stuyvesant Avenue, Irvington, New Jersey 0711. Priest-In charge: Ven Dr. Paul U. Ekezie, Rev. Joe Nwachukwu (assistant); Rev. J Irona (associate).
The Anglican Chapel of Resurrection, Indianapolis. Priest in charge: Ven Seye Fagbamiye.
Christ’s Ambassadors Anglican Church, Oklahoma City. Priest in Charge: Rev Nathan Kanu.
All Saints Anglican Church (Chicago Land), Dolphin Lake Club House, 183rd Governors Highway, Homewood, IL 60430. Priest in Charge: Rev. Gbenga Olajide.
Christ Anglican Chapel, 9817 Bissonnet Blk, M. Houston, TX 77036. Priest-in charge Rev. Felix Anyasor.
St Peters Anglican Church, 3617 Abram Road Dallas, TX. Priest in charge: Rev. Canon Okereke; Rev Ugochukwu Okoroafor (assistant).
Holy Faith Episcopal (Anglican) Church Hall, 260 N. Locust Street, Inglewood, CA 90301. Priest in charge Rev Canon Christian Odoemena.
The Vineyard Ministries (Center for Immigrants and the Poor) 1140 Teller Ave., Bronx, New York 1456. Priest in charge: Rev Canon M. Joe Omeokwe Ph. D.
The Church of the Saints (Anglican), 2639 Barrette Street, Richmond, CA. 94804. Priest in charge Rev Dr. Moses Akinlawon.
St Mark’s Anglican Church, Atlanta, GA. Priest in charge: Rev Canon Alex Ibezim.
Confirming the list, Director Communications of the Church of Nigeria, Canon Tunde Popoola said the church decided to publish the list in order to encourage Nigerians resident and visiting the US to worship regularly at any of the centers.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Church in 2003 severed links with the US Episcopal Church (ECUSA) for consecrating Canon V. Gene Robinson, an openly declared gay, as the Bishop of New Hampshire.
By Peter Onwubuariri
Nov. 29, 2004 - In its bid to encourage Nigerians in the US to stay away from churches that promote homosexual union, The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has made public the list of Nigerian Anglican Missions in America.
This is coming on the heels of last October announcement in the US by Nigeria’s Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola of the formation of a network of churches for an estimated 250,000 Nigerian Anglicans resident in America.
Missions registered with the Missioners Office
All Saints Anglican Church, 849 Stuyvesant Avenue, Irvington, New Jersey 0711. Priest-In charge: Ven Dr. Paul U. Ekezie, Rev. Joe Nwachukwu (assistant); Rev. J Irona (associate).
The Anglican Chapel of Resurrection, Indianapolis. Priest in charge: Ven Seye Fagbamiye.
Christ’s Ambassadors Anglican Church, Oklahoma City. Priest in Charge: Rev Nathan Kanu.
All Saints Anglican Church (Chicago Land), Dolphin Lake Club House, 183rd Governors Highway, Homewood, IL 60430. Priest in Charge: Rev. Gbenga Olajide.
Christ Anglican Chapel, 9817 Bissonnet Blk, M. Houston, TX 77036. Priest-in charge Rev. Felix Anyasor.
St Peters Anglican Church, 3617 Abram Road Dallas, TX. Priest in charge: Rev. Canon Okereke; Rev Ugochukwu Okoroafor (assistant).
Holy Faith Episcopal (Anglican) Church Hall, 260 N. Locust Street, Inglewood, CA 90301. Priest in charge Rev Canon Christian Odoemena.
The Vineyard Ministries (Center for Immigrants and the Poor) 1140 Teller Ave., Bronx, New York 1456. Priest in charge: Rev Canon M. Joe Omeokwe Ph. D.
The Church of the Saints (Anglican), 2639 Barrette Street, Richmond, CA. 94804. Priest in charge Rev Dr. Moses Akinlawon.
St Mark’s Anglican Church, Atlanta, GA. Priest in charge: Rev Canon Alex Ibezim.
Confirming the list, Director Communications of the Church of Nigeria, Canon Tunde Popoola said the church decided to publish the list in order to encourage Nigerians resident and visiting the US to worship regularly at any of the centers.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Church in 2003 severed links with the US Episcopal Church (ECUSA) for consecrating Canon V. Gene Robinson, an openly declared gay, as the Bishop of New Hampshire.
Thursday 25 November 2004
Archbishop Peter Akinola’s Christmas message
Archbishop Peter Akinola’s Christmas message
The Christmas festivity is here with us again with all the feverish preparations for travel, holiday, exchange of gifts, caroling and all manner of celebration. However, it must be realized and understood that we need to make it a period of reflective evaluation of our lives as individuals, our nation and the society at large.
When we x-ray our country today and ourselves as individuals we find striking prevalence of selfishness, greed, avarice, brigandage, pomposity and extravagance. There is also a mad rush to join the bandwagon as no one wants to be left behind. All attempts at sanitizing the situation and curtailing the ravenous appetite for self-aggrandizement continue to be futile.
This Christmas, the focus must be on the reason for the season – Jesus Christ our Saviour the standard.
Jesus Christ left His heavenly glory, majesty and splendour, emptied Himself of all and came down as man in lowliness. Born in a manger for a life of service, in humility to save mankind from eternal destruction and to give a model by which man can be right with God living an acceptable life for the common good of all.
The central lesson for this year’s Christmas therefore is Divine Condescension (God coming down to our level) the greatest symbol of humility. All Nigerians must learn from Christ and be determined to imbibe the lesson of divine condescension.
Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans enjoins the Roman Christians and now us in Romans 12:3 “For I say through the grace given unto me, to everyman that is among you not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
In this context we must think of what is best for the nation, society and our neighbours instead of slavish preoccupation with what we think is best for us as individuals. We must never forget that if Christ had been so inclined, he would not have come and there will be no Christmas to celebrate.
We call on all leaders, in particular, which includes everyone who holds a position of responsibility or who have position of privilege, to voluntarily and willingly let go instead of holding tight to the power, trappings and grandeur of office and let God use them for the emancipation of the downtrodden and under privileged masses amongst us.
Divine Condescension teaches us that we need not hold on tenaciously to power, influence and position in a mindless, sadistic and desperate manner, but we must exhibit humane and zealous commitment to the liberation of the under privileged. This is time to work relentlessly for the struggling masses for their emergence and growth. We must consciously work for the growth of others, as that is what Christ came to do for humanity.
Companies, corporations and government lavish a lot of money in buying cards and making Hampers, which are given out at this season. That is fine! But we must go further to work assiduously for a more permanent solution to the needs and aspirations of the down trodden and their development because what Christ came to do for us is permanent and eternal. Whichever way we celebrate Christmas without imbibing the full lesson of Divine Condescension and practicing the same amounts to an insult to Christ – the essence of the season.
I challenge ALL Nigerians this Christmas to identify someone or some group or some community in this country who are in NEED and decide to make a difference in their situation.
We all must make this a new emerging and continuing habit.
May the Lord who has come down leaving everything to save us dwell in our hearts richly.
The Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola, CON., DD.,
Primate of All Nigeria and the National President of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
The Christmas festivity is here with us again with all the feverish preparations for travel, holiday, exchange of gifts, caroling and all manner of celebration. However, it must be realized and understood that we need to make it a period of reflective evaluation of our lives as individuals, our nation and the society at large.
When we x-ray our country today and ourselves as individuals we find striking prevalence of selfishness, greed, avarice, brigandage, pomposity and extravagance. There is also a mad rush to join the bandwagon as no one wants to be left behind. All attempts at sanitizing the situation and curtailing the ravenous appetite for self-aggrandizement continue to be futile.
This Christmas, the focus must be on the reason for the season – Jesus Christ our Saviour the standard.
Jesus Christ left His heavenly glory, majesty and splendour, emptied Himself of all and came down as man in lowliness. Born in a manger for a life of service, in humility to save mankind from eternal destruction and to give a model by which man can be right with God living an acceptable life for the common good of all.
The central lesson for this year’s Christmas therefore is Divine Condescension (God coming down to our level) the greatest symbol of humility. All Nigerians must learn from Christ and be determined to imbibe the lesson of divine condescension.
Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans enjoins the Roman Christians and now us in Romans 12:3 “For I say through the grace given unto me, to everyman that is among you not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
In this context we must think of what is best for the nation, society and our neighbours instead of slavish preoccupation with what we think is best for us as individuals. We must never forget that if Christ had been so inclined, he would not have come and there will be no Christmas to celebrate.
We call on all leaders, in particular, which includes everyone who holds a position of responsibility or who have position of privilege, to voluntarily and willingly let go instead of holding tight to the power, trappings and grandeur of office and let God use them for the emancipation of the downtrodden and under privileged masses amongst us.
Divine Condescension teaches us that we need not hold on tenaciously to power, influence and position in a mindless, sadistic and desperate manner, but we must exhibit humane and zealous commitment to the liberation of the under privileged. This is time to work relentlessly for the struggling masses for their emergence and growth. We must consciously work for the growth of others, as that is what Christ came to do for humanity.
Companies, corporations and government lavish a lot of money in buying cards and making Hampers, which are given out at this season. That is fine! But we must go further to work assiduously for a more permanent solution to the needs and aspirations of the down trodden and their development because what Christ came to do for us is permanent and eternal. Whichever way we celebrate Christmas without imbibing the full lesson of Divine Condescension and practicing the same amounts to an insult to Christ – the essence of the season.
I challenge ALL Nigerians this Christmas to identify someone or some group or some community in this country who are in NEED and decide to make a difference in their situation.
We all must make this a new emerging and continuing habit.
May the Lord who has come down leaving everything to save us dwell in our hearts richly.
The Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola, CON., DD.,
Primate of All Nigeria and the National President of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Saturday 20 November 2004
CCN gets new President
CCN gets new President
The Most Revd. Rogers Uwadi, Archbishop of Umuahia, Methodist Church of Nigeria has been elected the new President of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN).
He succeeds Most Rev Idowu-Feraon, Archbishop of Kaduna Province of the Anglican Communion, who piloted the affairs of the council in the last three years.
The election was made last week at the 26th Triennial Assembly Conference of the CCN held at the National Ecumenical Centre Abuja.
Other elective positions filled include Vice-President, Rt. Revd. Mathew Owodayo, General Secretary, Rev. I.O. Okorie and Elder Christian Etang.
The Most Revd. Rogers Uwadi, Archbishop of Umuahia, Methodist Church of Nigeria has been elected the new President of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN).
He succeeds Most Rev Idowu-Feraon, Archbishop of Kaduna Province of the Anglican Communion, who piloted the affairs of the council in the last three years.
The election was made last week at the 26th Triennial Assembly Conference of the CCN held at the National Ecumenical Centre Abuja.
Other elective positions filled include Vice-President, Rt. Revd. Mathew Owodayo, General Secretary, Rev. I.O. Okorie and Elder Christian Etang.
Friday 12 November 2004
Reactions on Archbishop Nwankiti's death
Friends, colleagues and well wishers have reacted to the news of Archbishop Benjamin Nwankiti’s death with deep emotion, which is clearly reflected in the emails we have received and a survey of some Nigerian dailies.
This is a selection of comments on the death of the former Bishop of Owerri (30 years), dean of the Church of Nigeria and first Archbishop of Province 2.
I have fond memories of a graceful and godly prelate who was an inspiration. Every bishop who has problems with his Dean and Chapter could learn much from the graceful and dignified way the late Archbishop dealt with his enormous challenge all those decades ago, when I was a student at Trinity, Umuahia! May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Bishop Tilewa, Bishop of Gambia and Dean of the Province of West Africa (Anglican Communion)
I grew up to meet the fame and the unwavering faith of, and defense of orthodoxy by, the then “bishop Nwankiti of Owerri." He has faithfully raised the bar of commitment, dedication, and sacrifice that measure the authenticity of the calling of every minister of the gospel. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live as long as human life lasts. May his soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.
Fr. Nathan C. O. Kanu (Rector, Christ’s Ambassadors' Anglican Church. Oklahoma city, USA.
The late church father is a man of peace in all ramifications and will be sadly missed. As a young man, I admire his leadership qualities and love to read his books on Anglicanism. May our ever faithful God, grant him peace in His bosom.
Bara Igoniwari Brownt, Cyprians Anglican Church Port Harcourt Diocese of Niger Delta
Our Most Rev. Father in God, Adieu and rest in the bosom of our Lord whom you served so faithfully and so long
Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Former Nigeria Vice-President
My beloved lord, you will always be missed by Mbakwe family. Thank you for what you were for us. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Lady Victoria Mbakwe, Wife of first civilian Governor of Imo State
You have every reason therefore to go with dignity and in peace.
Prof Ernest Emenyonu, Nwankiti’s Biographer (A Good Shepherd) and former Provost of Alvan Ikoku College of Education (AICE), Owerri.
Archbishop Benjamin Nwankiti served his God with humility and simplicity. He was not materialistic and in fact, one of the pride of Anglican Communion worldwide.
Ven. (Dr.) Ebisike, Director Social Welfare, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
The Church of Nigeria news (CONN) reports that the deceased is about now being buried at the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration (CATOL) Owerri in an event being attended by thousands of Christians from around the world and a host of Bishops and clergy.
This is a selection of comments on the death of the former Bishop of Owerri (30 years), dean of the Church of Nigeria and first Archbishop of Province 2.
I have fond memories of a graceful and godly prelate who was an inspiration. Every bishop who has problems with his Dean and Chapter could learn much from the graceful and dignified way the late Archbishop dealt with his enormous challenge all those decades ago, when I was a student at Trinity, Umuahia! May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Bishop Tilewa, Bishop of Gambia and Dean of the Province of West Africa (Anglican Communion)
I grew up to meet the fame and the unwavering faith of, and defense of orthodoxy by, the then “bishop Nwankiti of Owerri." He has faithfully raised the bar of commitment, dedication, and sacrifice that measure the authenticity of the calling of every minister of the gospel. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live as long as human life lasts. May his soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.
Fr. Nathan C. O. Kanu (Rector, Christ’s Ambassadors' Anglican Church. Oklahoma city, USA.
The late church father is a man of peace in all ramifications and will be sadly missed. As a young man, I admire his leadership qualities and love to read his books on Anglicanism. May our ever faithful God, grant him peace in His bosom.
Bara Igoniwari Brownt, Cyprians Anglican Church Port Harcourt Diocese of Niger Delta
Our Most Rev. Father in God, Adieu and rest in the bosom of our Lord whom you served so faithfully and so long
Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Former Nigeria Vice-President
My beloved lord, you will always be missed by Mbakwe family. Thank you for what you were for us. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Lady Victoria Mbakwe, Wife of first civilian Governor of Imo State
You have every reason therefore to go with dignity and in peace.
Prof Ernest Emenyonu, Nwankiti’s Biographer (A Good Shepherd) and former Provost of Alvan Ikoku College of Education (AICE), Owerri.
Archbishop Benjamin Nwankiti served his God with humility and simplicity. He was not materialistic and in fact, one of the pride of Anglican Communion worldwide.
Ven. (Dr.) Ebisike, Director Social Welfare, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
The Church of Nigeria news (CONN) reports that the deceased is about now being buried at the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration (CATOL) Owerri in an event being attended by thousands of Christians from around the world and a host of Bishops and clergy.
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