Diocese of Jos celebrates 25th Anniversary
By Susan Essam and Peter Onwubuariri
CONN/030105
Abuja, Jan 20, 2005 - The Anglican Diocese of Jos held its 25th anniversary at St Luke's Cathedral Jos, on January 10.
The event included the launching of the diocesan booklet containing photographs of the past and present Bishops of Jos namely The Rt. Rev Samuel Ebo (1980-1984), The Rt. Rev T.E Adesola (1985-1991) and the Rt. Benjamin Kwasi (1992- ), as well as a special Holy Eucharistic service.
Bishop Kwashi used the occasion of his sermon to announce the preferment of seven canons into the position of Archdeacons, as well as to kick-start the diocesan theme for 2005, Walking in the Light.
The preferred canons and their new areas of supervision are Rev. Canon Austin Eboh as Archdeacon of Pankshin Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Chijioke Nlem as Archdeacon of Jos Central Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Emmanuel Nyitsse as Archdeacon of Jos South Archdeaconry and Rev. Canon Jwan B. N. Zhumbes as Archdeacon Special Duties.
Others include Rev. Canon Stanley Fube as Archdeacon of Vom Archdeaconry, Rev. Canon Olumuyiwa Ajayi as Archdeacon of Cathedral Archdeaconry and Rev. Canon Henry Okozi as Archdeacon of Bukuru Archdeaconry.
Rt. Rev Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos
On their preferment, the Bishop extolled the clerics as those who have made themselves available models in the service and ministry of the gospel.
“They have shown themselves honorable, trustworthy, willing and able to serve without counting the cost, and so we bring them before you for prayers and for support as they lead this Diocese in the next phase of our mission enterprise,’’ he said.
Reflecting on the strides of the Diocese of Jos in the past twenty five years, the diocesan said "we must thank God that Jos Diocese may not have been where it should be, but definitely we have moved forward.’’
Moving forward has brought the carving out of five more dioceses from the Old Jos diocese including Yola (1990), Makurdi (1990), Jalingo (1996), Otukpo (1996) and Lafia (1999).
Moving forward has also brought pains and gains as well. Some paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The Bishop acknowledged one of such as Bishop Adesola’s wife, who died in the `midst of huge responsibility’. The Bishop retired short after that incident.
He (Adesola) was one of the pioneer Bishops. He carried on from where Bishop Ebo stopped and he would be fondly remembered for splitting the Diocese into three in 1990, with Makurdi Diocese and Yola Diocese becoming missionary dioceses, leaving Jos with an area covering the present Plateau and Nasarawa States.
Looking ahead into the year, the Bishop stated that the focus of the clergy school, the synod and the entire ministry of Jos Diocese would be spurred on by the theme,
Walking in the Light.
His words: To be light means to preach and to teach what we believe and to live out what we preach and teach in the society. It also means that we must be honest in financial matters, in dealing with each other, regardless of sex or race or tribe for that matter.
On the relevance of the theme to the nation, he challenged believers to lead the campaign for truth and justice in the country but warned “it may cost our life; it will be lonely; it will be tough, rough and difficult, but what is our life worth now other than investing it in the eternal truth”.
