The Prelate and Moderator of the Presbyterian church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Rev. Ekpenyong Akpanika, has urged Nigerians to revert to God rather than brood over the ailing economy of the nation.
The Prelate maintained that it has been God, not the economy of the nation that has continued to sustain the citizens of Nigeria.
Akpanika gave the admonition on Sunday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
He spoke at the dedication service of an ultramodern Church Cathedral of the Azuiyiokwu Model Parish of the church.
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The man of God who expressed optimism that God will not fail Nigeria, urged Christians to always put their faith in God as they plan and work for their daily bread.
Akpanika stated: “God is our shepherd, so it’s not the economy of this nation that is sustaining us.
It is the grace and mercy of God.
“As many as put their trust in the Lord, God has a way of helping them
“So, as many that put their faith in God, and continue to believe in him, God shall supply all their needs according to his riches in glory.
“One thing I know for sure is that God will not fail us.”
Earlier in a sermon titled “the 7 Ps to success”, the Presbyterian church helmsman explained that identifying one’s purpose in life was a key to success.
Drawing inference from the story of Elijah and Elisha in 2Kings 2: 1-15, he further identified preparation, persistence and prayerfulness as steps leading to promotion.
He added: “while the world is like solid food, prayer acts as water to soften it.”
The Prelate described the Azuiyiokwu cathedral as beautiful and glorious and prayed God’s blessing upon the parishioners who he said have made enormous sacrifices to get it done.
Speaking to newsmen, the Moderator of Abakaliki Synod and the Minister in charge of the Parish, Rev. Chidi Igwe, expressed joy and gratitude to God for using him to complete and dedicate the cathedral started some years before his posting to the church.
“It is not easy to dedicate a church that was started some years back, and you come in, complete it and it’s being dedicated.
“It gives joy when you labour and have a finality to it as we are witnessing today.”
Some of the past Ministers of the church who spoke to newsmen, including Reverends Alozie Iroanya, Michael Eze and Job Chukwu, thanked God for keeping them alive to savour the joy of the official dedication of the cathedral which they superintended its affairs some years past.
They commended the parishioners for their selfless contributions which enabled the completion of the cathedral.
Speaking on behalf of his members, the Church building committee chairman, Cyprian Okiri, said taking the building which construction lasted over 15 years to completion was both tough and challenging.
He identified divergent interests of some key players and paucity of funds as some of the challenges his committee encountered.
Okiri said: “This church, if you look at the membership, you will wonder the magic in raising the fund for such a gigantic project.
“There wasn’t much support from other people, except the former Governor, David Umahi, who got interested and compensated the church with some money over encroachment into part of the church land during one of the flyover constructions.”
Other parishioners who spoke, including the Clerk of session, Elder Jane Arisi; Agnes Eche, and the designer of the cathedral, Architect Ikwuo Chima, described the cathedral as a dream come through.
They commended the present and past Ministers of the church as well as the building committee for their focus, diligence and prudence which cumulatively birthed the huge place of worship.
Chima said: “Design is all about creativity, and creativity is a gift from God which can come from intuition or other ways.
“The design of this Church came as a result of what was already existing.
“I needed to incorporate what was existing, the expansion work on the old smaller church hall in which the block was already being raised.
“I didn’t want to waste all the efforts of the church, so I had to design the cathedral in such a way as to integrate part of the already existing expansion walls.”
The dedication service featured appreciation awards to past Ministers of the church, posthumous awards to some late members as well as prayers for the church and the nation.
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