Bishop of Western Izon Ordains 50
CONN/320506
May 31, 2006- Patani, Delta State- Nine months after his enthronement as Bishop of the riverine diocese of Western Izon, the Rt. Rev Edafe Emamezi on Sunday, May 7 presided over the maiden ordination of his diocese, ordaining 27 deacons and commissioning 23 missionaries respectively.
In a 5-hour service held at the Cathedral Church of St Matthew Patani, Delta State, Bishop Emamezi assisted by clergy and the legal luminaries of the diocese led the newly ordained and their wives to pledge their commitment to the ministry of the gospel.
The Bishop described the ordained and commissioned missionaries as people with a burning desire to 'penetrate the creeks of the Niger Delta in order to make Christ known, despite of all the inconveniences involved.'
The personality of the newly ordained came from the academia, medical profession, engineering, business managers, Independent oil marketers and top management staff in the oil and gas industry. Two women were among the commissioned missionaries.
Another thrilling episode at the occasion was the ordination of Rev Simeon Ariye, the first indigenous Anglican clergy in the Ijaw-speaking Patani community. His ordination is some 105 years after the introduction of Christianity in the area.
The historic occasion came on the heels of last month's attack on the Cathedral church at Patani by some cult worshippers opposed to Christianity in the area. They destroyed property worth over N3.2 million.
Bishop Emamezi, who could not hide his excitement after completing the marathon service, declared that the ordination marks the consolidation of the vision of the diocese to go and make fishers of men who will eventually transform the communities.
He was quick to recall that in November 2005, the diocese set a target of planting Anglican churches in 116 identified communities located in the creeks and interior of the Niger Delta community.
In response to a question about the number of persons ordained in one single service, Emamezi said: "It is the urgency of the work of missions."
He added: "Jesus said: 'the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few and he asked us to pray specifically to the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers to the field."
"You know that when the harvest is ripe and there is no harvest the fruits will get rotten. That is the urgency. That is the significance of the ordination," he said.
In an apparent show of support for missionary work in the young diocese, dignitaries at the event announced various form of donations. These included scholarships for the clergy, equipment and funds to facility to aid missions in the area. A lot of both financial and material support is however still needed.
Bishop Emamezi announced that a local Chief in the area handled the cost of replacing the damaged equipment in the Cathedral torched by the rampaging traditional cult worshippers last month
Venerable Albert Nedozi of the Diocese of Oleh, who preached at the service, stressed the challenge of being called to work in a new missionary diocese.
He charged the newly ordained to prove faithful to the trust bestowed on them. "There should be no triviality. No compromise. No unnecessary unscriptural agreement. You must be responsible and accountable”.
CONN/320506
May 31, 2006- Patani, Delta State- Nine months after his enthronement as Bishop of the riverine diocese of Western Izon, the Rt. Rev Edafe Emamezi on Sunday, May 7 presided over the maiden ordination of his diocese, ordaining 27 deacons and commissioning 23 missionaries respectively.
In a 5-hour service held at the Cathedral Church of St Matthew Patani, Delta State, Bishop Emamezi assisted by clergy and the legal luminaries of the diocese led the newly ordained and their wives to pledge their commitment to the ministry of the gospel.
The Bishop described the ordained and commissioned missionaries as people with a burning desire to 'penetrate the creeks of the Niger Delta in order to make Christ known, despite of all the inconveniences involved.'
The personality of the newly ordained came from the academia, medical profession, engineering, business managers, Independent oil marketers and top management staff in the oil and gas industry. Two women were among the commissioned missionaries.
Another thrilling episode at the occasion was the ordination of Rev Simeon Ariye, the first indigenous Anglican clergy in the Ijaw-speaking Patani community. His ordination is some 105 years after the introduction of Christianity in the area.
The historic occasion came on the heels of last month's attack on the Cathedral church at Patani by some cult worshippers opposed to Christianity in the area. They destroyed property worth over N3.2 million.
Bishop Emamezi, who could not hide his excitement after completing the marathon service, declared that the ordination marks the consolidation of the vision of the diocese to go and make fishers of men who will eventually transform the communities.
He was quick to recall that in November 2005, the diocese set a target of planting Anglican churches in 116 identified communities located in the creeks and interior of the Niger Delta community.
In response to a question about the number of persons ordained in one single service, Emamezi said: "It is the urgency of the work of missions."
He added: "Jesus said: 'the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few and he asked us to pray specifically to the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers to the field."
"You know that when the harvest is ripe and there is no harvest the fruits will get rotten. That is the urgency. That is the significance of the ordination," he said.
In an apparent show of support for missionary work in the young diocese, dignitaries at the event announced various form of donations. These included scholarships for the clergy, equipment and funds to facility to aid missions in the area. A lot of both financial and material support is however still needed.
Bishop Emamezi announced that a local Chief in the area handled the cost of replacing the damaged equipment in the Cathedral torched by the rampaging traditional cult worshippers last month
Venerable Albert Nedozi of the Diocese of Oleh, who preached at the service, stressed the challenge of being called to work in a new missionary diocese.
He charged the newly ordained to prove faithful to the trust bestowed on them. "There should be no triviality. No compromise. No unnecessary unscriptural agreement. You must be responsible and accountable”.
