NIGERIA TO SEND OUT MORE MISSIONARIES AROUND AFRICA
CONN/681005
3 new Bishops including missionary bishop to Congo consecrated
OCTOBER, 20 2005- The consecration service of three Bishops was held on October 14 at the Christ Church Cathedral Marina Cathedral.
Abidoun Ogunyemi (Damaturu), Ibrahim Markus (Yola) and Abiodun Olaoye (Missionary to Congo) are the latest addition to the House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
New bishops and wives after the servicePrimate of the Church, the Most Rev Peter Akinola presided at the consecration assisted by other Bishops of the Church of Nigeria.
Archbishop of Lagos, the Most Rev Ephraim Ademowo was the celebrant at the Holy Communion while the Bishop of Kebbi, the Rt. Rev Edmund Akanya gave the sermon.
In his homily themed Follow Me, Bishop Akanya who led the new Bishops in a pre- consecration retreat, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to be diligent to their calling.
Taking the text of his sermon from the biblical story of the call of the Apostle Levi by Jesus Christ as recorded in Mark 2: 14, + Akanya reminded the newly consecrated that the early disciples were called out to be with Jesus Christ.
He admonished the Bishops not to loose grip of the instruction to follow Jesus, and warned that the desire for the mundane had made many church leaders to miss the ultimate agenda of the gospel, which is salvation.
Archbishop Akinola announced to the congregation that the consecration was historic because the Church was sending out her 1st missionary Bishop to Congo.
The Primate said the latest action of the Church to send missionaries around Africa was in line with the biblical injunction to send out disciples to all nations.
He revealed that more clergymen would be sent out on missionary expedition around the continent, toward achieving a massive harvest of souls for the kingdom.
Among the dignitaries who attended the service were the Primate of the Province of Congo, the Most Rev Diropka Fidelle, the former Primate of the Anglican Church, the Most Rev Abiodun Adetiloye, traditional rulers and top ranking government officials.
