The Four Day 2nd Session of the 21st Synod of the Niger Delta Diocese (Anglican Communion) held at St. Michael’s Church, Buguma in Asari-toru Local Government Area from Thursday 25th through Sunday 28th April, 2013 has ended with a charge on Christian over the world to rise up to the challenges of making disciples for Christ.
The Synod, highest decision making body of the Anglican Communion in a Diocese has taken critical decision to grow the Diocese through intensive, concerted and deliberate evangelism aimed at expanding the Christendom.
The Rt. Rev. Chidi Collins Oparajiaku, Bishop of the Diocese of Ohaji/Egbema who was the Guest Preacher at the Synod urged Christians, particularly Anglican faithful to take the challenge of showing the power of God for men to respect God.
Speaking on the theme of the Synod entitled “Go and make disciples” taken from St. Matthews gospel Chapter 28: 19-20, Bishop Oparajiaku hinted that false prophets Bar-jesus would multiply with the antics of deception if the Church refuse to go and make disciples.
According to the Bishop, the Church must rise up now to avoid further springing up of fake prophets and show the power of God for men to respect honour and turn to God. He noted that God had always equipped those who are ready for the commission and will not fail this time to equip as many as are ready to make disciples.
The Bishop stressed that the mark and power of equipment is not for drawbacks but for those ready to make disciples.
Bishop Oparajiaku further call on the Anglican faithful to establish churches in their homes and desist from being Anglicans only in the village but other denominations in the cities. He challenged all to be faithful Anglicans by proof of their faith, noting that some people are only Anglicans in the village because they refused to brace up to the task of making disciples hence their membership of other denominations in the cities.
The guest preacher insist that converts must be made from the heathen and not within churches.
The preacher who further grouped the theme into three sub-headings; the goers, the givers and the growers charged the people to identify themselves with either of the group.
Meanwhile the Niger Delta Diocese (Anglican Communion) has advised the federal government to tread cautiously in its proposed granting of amnesty to the Boko Haram. sect, saying that the group had been in the business of maiming and killing people as well as attacking churches.
Reading the communiqué at the end of the synod session, the Diocesan communicator, Sir Chief Olu Fubara, urged the federal government to expediate work on the East/West road as well as construct coastal roads to link up to the coastal areas.
The synod commended the effort of the federal government in improving power supply but said that more work needs to be done in this area.
The 21st synod, urged the federal government to work harder on corruption which has become a cankerworm eating at the very fabrics of the nation, asking that the EFCC be strengthened to seriously tackle the issue of corruption in the country.
Commending the Rivers State Government on its execution of developmental projects and maintenance of security in the state, the synod applauded Governor Chibuike Amaechi on the appointment of its members to key positions into the state government, particularly, on the appointment of the Diocesan Treasurer Barr. Samuel LongJohn as the Head of Service in the state.
The synod however, used the forum to appeal to the Rivers State government to build deserving jetties at the Bille/Bonny/Nembe water front, decrying the present status of the waterfront.
Year 2013 was declared as the year of evangelism and making disciples everywhere and anywhere one finds him or herself.
In his presidential address at the event, the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ralph Cornelius Ebirien, said that it is important that the church build up Christians and send them to make disciples, adding that it is also imperative that the church prays for the people they have sent.
He appealed to the members of the church to assist in providing equipment for evangelism, reminding them that “Givers never lack.”
The Bishop then charged the congregation to go out and make disciples as they had been told.
Ministering on the theme “Go ye and make disciples,” the visiting clergy who is the pioneer Bishop of Ohaji/Egbema Diocese, Rt. Rev. Chidi Collins Oparajiaku, admonished the church to cease concentrating only on the internal affairs of the church, so that they can go and make disciples.
Lecturing on “Christian Giving”, Rt. Rev. Oparajiaku, said that love and giving are inseparable, adding that “when we refuse to give, we rob God and we rob ourselves of prosperity.”
Also lecturing on the topic “Mission and Evangelism,” a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Steve Organ, said that external distractions had hindered the church from evangelizing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and asked the church to refocus on evangelism which was their primary work.
In his goodwill message at the synod, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari kingdom,. His Royal Majesty, King Prof. T.J.T. Princewill, Amachree XI, urged the church to caution their members against desecration of the tradition of the land in the name of church, adding that the Kalabari kingship had always been in support of the church.
The highlights of the synod were the courtesy visit on the Amanyanabo of Kalabari kingdom by the Bishop and his officials, performance of the Kalabari traditional dance and the hosting of crusades by the Diocese, which ushered in many converts to the Anglican fold.
The event was graced by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), Archbishop of the Province of the Niger Delta and the Bishop of the Niger Delta North Diocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey, other visiting Bishops of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Tubokosimie R. Abere of Okrika Diocese, Rt. Revd Clement N. Ekpeye of the Diocese of Ahoada, Rt. Revd Solomon Gberegbara of Ogoni Diocese, Rt. Revd. Dr. Blesing Enyindah of the Diocese of Ikwerre and Rt. Revd. Fred Anga Nyanabo of Northern Izon Diocese, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, the chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree, and other dignitaries from across the state and beyond. ###
