2023 General Elections: Primate Ndukuba Lauds The Gallantry of Nigerian Youth

Below is excerpt from the Bishop’s Charge

THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWELFTH SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF ABUJA, HOLDING AT ST. MATTHEW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH MAITAMA, ABUJA

THE BISHOP’S CHARGE DELIVERED ON SATURDAY, 20TH MAY 2023, BY 10 AM PROMPT

SYNOD PRAYER/ COLLECT:

ALMIGHTY GOD, YOU RAISED YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST IN VICTORY OVER SIN, DEATH AND THE POWERS OF DARKNESS AND EXALTED HIM TO YOUR RIGHT HAND IN POWER: BE PRESENT WITH US AS WE JOURNEY THROUGH THIS EARTHLY PILGRIMAGE, SPEAK TO US THE WORD OF LIFE AND POWER, CHANGE OUR LIVES THAT WE MAY BEAR TRUE WITNESS TO YOU AND FULFIL THE PURPOSE OF YOUR KINGDOM, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

PROTOCOL:

PREAMBLE: The amazing grace of God has proved to be sufficient for us in every situation in this country. God has stood by every family; He is indeed our Refuge and strength and a very present help in time of trouble, therefore, we will not fear . God has been protecting us from fears of uncertainties of the elections, banditry attacks, devastations and atrocities of our time. He will keep us and deliver us from all evil. God shall turn the captivity of our Nation; He shall once again fill our mouths with laughter and our tongues with singing and give us a testimony that all around us shall say “the Lord has done great things for them.”

We welcome you this holy Convocation of the Diocese of Abuja and especially to St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama, one of our foremost churches of Diocese of Abuja. We are grateful for their generous hospitality and unique organisation for this Synod. May God bless and reward you for your sacrifice!

SYNOD RESOURCE PERSONS:

VEN PROF. TAIYE ALUKO: The Ven. Prof. Taiye Aluko is our Bible Expositor for this Synod. He is the Rector of the Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta. He is also a seasoned servant of God and an erudite scholar, a man who loves God, His Word and God’s people. We have been richly blessed through his teaching Ministry among us in this Synod. May God renew your strength and continually bless the Church through you.

Venerable Professor Taiye Aluko was born on the 29th of March, 1962. He had is primary education from 1968-73. His secondary education was at Anglican College of Commerce, Offa, Kwara State. His H.S.C Education was at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo from 1980-82. He also attended Universities of Ilorin and Ibadan respectively and was promoted a Professor in 2012. He was ordained in 1988 and worked in Kwara Diocese in various Parishes until 2020 when he was appointed the Rector of Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta. He is happily married with two God-fearing children.

VEN. ENGR. DENNIS AJULU: Ven. Ajulu is a very humble servant of God as well as a very committed believer who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a Teacher of the Word of Faith and a man of Prayer who plays a key role in the Ministry of Intercessors in Nigeria. His Education spanned through: Primary School at Christ Church, Uwani Enugu (1961-1967); Secondary School at Government Secondary School, Afikpo (1970-1974); University Education was at University of Nigeria, Nsukka graduating with B.Eng. Hons in Civil Engineering (1974-1979).

Work Experience: He had stints in the following places: Enplan Group Consulting Engineers (1980-1981); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1981-2016) for 35 years, retiring as Group Executive Director, Refineries & Technology. He was also in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as Consultant, Refinery and Infrastructure (2016-2017). He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a Priest of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, having been ordained and served as Priest in Western Izon Diocese (2006-2021). He is happily married to Mrs. Ifeoma and they are blessed with four wonderful and believing children and grand-children. He spoke to us on “Dealing with Faulty Foundations in Faith, Family and Church.” We thank him.

RT. REV. GEOFFREY EKPENISI:  The Rt. Rev’d Godfrey Ekpenisi, a First-Class Graduate of Christian Religious Studies, was born on 26th January, 1969, at Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. He had his Primary, Secondary and Teacher’s Training Education at Asaba before proceeding to College of Education, Agbor and the University of Benin, Benin City where he studied Mathematics. He is also a teacher par excellence and has taught in several schools including Anglican Girl’s Grammar School, Gudu District, Abuja. In 1999, he proceeded to St. Paul’s University College, Awka for a Diploma in Theology and graduated in 2001 with a Distinction. He later returned to the University of Benin, Benin City in 2012 for a Master’s Degree in Educational Studies & Management. In 2015, he again applied and gained admission into the University of Abuja, for a Post Ordination Bachelor of Arts Degree in Christian Religious Studies. He graduated in 2018 with a First Class degree, and was top in the Faculty.

Burdened with the call into full-time ministry, Rt. Revd. Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi retired voluntarily from Public Service in 1999 and joined the Church Ministry full time. He served as a priest for 18 years both in the Diocese of Ika and the Diocese of Abuja before his election as Bishop. The Rt. Rev. Godfrey Ifeanyi Ekpenisi was consecrated Bishop on Friday, 16th November, 2018, at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral Church, Kubwa. Since his Enthronement, Bishop Ekpenisi has been working hard to grow and transform the Diocese of Ika. His vision is to grow a strong Diocese and a mighty Ika Nation. His Episcopacy has seen the planting of 18 Churches and the establishment of four new Schools, a Hospital, a Diagnostic Centre, a Garment Industry, a Bakery, a Printing Press, a Water Factory, a Retreat and Resource Centre, Park and Gardens. He is a leader par excellence, an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, and a Builder. The Rt. Rev. Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi is married to Mrs. Evelyn Nkemdilim Ekpenisi, a School Teacher and a graduate of English Language from the University of Benin, Benin City. The marriage is blessed with three children: Miracle Ebubechukwu, Praise Chukwuemeke, and Anita Ifeanyichukwu. We have been richly blessed through the soul-stirring message he preached at the Opening Service of the Synod and as a Teacher and lover of children, he spoke to us on “Boys to Men: Raising the Future Fathers and Leaders.” May God richly bless you, your family and Diocese!

MOST REV. DR. EMMANUEL EGBUNU is one of us in Abuja Diocese as our Bishop. He served among us with great impact in the faith of many individuals and families. Emmanuel Egbunu was born on 4th September, 1960, to Robert & Christiana Egbunu who served as Catechist from the early 1940s and retired as Canon. Both are now with the Church Triumphant. Although he grew up in the vicarage setting, the most important decision of his life has been a deliberate commitment of his life to the Lord Jesus at an FCS Conference in July 1976 at Igbaja, Kwara State. That has kept transforming his perspectives ever since.

He got married to Abiodun Egbunu on 3rd December, 1988 and God has blessed them with godly children who are young adults. Mama Biodun has been a steady ministry partner and encouragement.

Rt. Rev. Egbunu worked with Challenge Publications as editorial staff (1983-1989, NYSC inclusive); St Piran’s Church, Jos (1989-1993). He was made a Deacon on 30th June, 1991 and priested the following year. He became a Canon in 1995 (Jos Diocese), Archdeacon in 2000 (Minna Diocese); Suffragan Bishop, Abuja (February 2003); Diocesan Bishop, Lokoja (November 2004); Archbishop, Lokoja Province (2009-2019). He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English (University of Jos, 1983), Diploma in Theology (Immanuel College, 1991); Cornhill Training in Expository Preaching, Proclamation Trust, London (1993/1994); Master of Arts in Church History (University of Jos, 1997); PhD (University of Jos, 2017). He loves teaching God’s Word with clarity to his people through exposition and is engaged in much writing, both academic and devotional. His hobbies include writing of poetry and songs. Archbishop Emmanuel Egbunu is an erudite scholar and humble servant of God, an accomplished pastor and evangelist. He will be preaching at the concluding Service of Thanksgiving in this Synod tomorrow. God will always stand by you and all yours.

OUR HOSTING CHURCH:

A brief history of St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama

St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama, started early in 1998 from the living room of the late Ven. (Prof) Akin Akindoyeni who was the first Vicar of the Church. This gathering of a few Anglicans to establish a Church in Maitama district, was in line with the programme initiated by then Bishop of Abuja Diocese, the Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola for the planting of new Churches in every community and district in the F.C.T. With gradual increase in membership, the Church moved to the Administration Block of Model Secondary School, Maitama. While in the School, the Church started weekly activities namely, Bible Study, Prayer Meeting and Choir Practice on Saturdays because the School operates from Mondays to Fridays.

In January 2000, Revd Canon Peter O. Okunromade took over the leadership of the young Church as Vicar and in November of same year, the Church had her first Harvest Thanksgiving Service. At the Harvest, members desired and prayed for the celebration of the 2001 Harvest in the Church’s permanent site. Efforts were intensified to secure allocation of land for the development of the Church building. By the grace of God, in May 2001, a large plot of land was allocated to the Church in the highbrow Maitama District with the assistance of men of goodwill like Dr. ‘Bosun Ayileka, then Deputy Director (Planning), FCDA, Alhaji Y.S. Mohammed, then Director (AEPB), Chief O.S. Ogunmola, then Director (Development Control) and Dr. Babangida Aliyu, then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Church had to make haste to commence work on the site to forestall a move to trespass on the land. From the levy of N50,000 paid by each member, over N1million was raised for the takeoff of the project. That was a modest achievement considering the fact that the membership strength of the Church was about 45, including children at that time. The Church Building Committee later set up was headed by Engr. T. Okunrinboye. Arc. Chidi Okoli, who was the then Vicar’s Warden, produced the architectural designs for the Church building, Children Sunday School/ Multipurpose Hall, Vicarage, and other ancillary facilities at no cost to the Church.

On the 22nd of November, 2001, the foundation of the Church was laid and by 21st December, 2001, the second Harvest of the Church was held at the permanent site, under a canopy. That marked the formal movement of the Church away from Model Secondary School, Maitama. Church services were held under the canopy for several months and services continued under one decked portion or another within the Church building while still under construction. Eventually, the Church moved to the covered Church hall area after completion of the roofing. Work on the Church was implemented in stages and through the impressive quiet contributions received from members, who took different items of work each time appeals were made. The Church relied solely on God, who moved men and women, young and old, to give sacrificially. The Church did not seek any bank loan throughout the duration of the project implementation.

St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama (“the Canopy Church” as it was called) was dedicated at 4.00pm on Sunday, 23rd November, 2003, by the then Bishop and Primate of all Nigeria, the Most Revd Peter J. Akinola, DD. Since then, there has been tremendous improvement in the physical outlook of the Church. The Vicarage and Children’s Sunday School/Multipurpose Hall were completed and dedicated on Sunday 22nd July, 2007. The Church has also experienced great management of erosion and other environmental issues that bedeviled her surroundings at inception. Retaining walls were erected, extensive sand filling undertaken, trees and flowers were planted all over the surroundings and the interlocking of the grounds for erosion control, as well as environmental management to add beauty to the Church compound. Toilets, Staff Quarters and Kitchen/Guesthouse blocks also were provided for the comfort of Church members and staff.

Over the years, St. Matthew’s Church Maitama, pursued evangelism and discipleship programmes that helped revive and encourage members in their spiritual journey. She is responsible for the planting of a number of Churches, notable among which are: St Michael’s Church, Berger Quarry, Mpape; Anglican Church of the Pentecost, Mabushi; Gloria Anglican Church, Games Village and Anglican Church, Utako.

PRIESTS IN ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH, MAITAMA

FROM 1998 TILL DATE

S/N Name Designation Date

1. Prof. Ven. Akin Akindoyeni (Late) Vicar Early 1998 – Jan. 2000

2. Canon Peter Okunromade (now Ven. Rtd) Vicar/Supervising Priest Jan. 2000 – Nov. 9, 2005

3. Canon Benjamin E. Idume (now Ven.) Assisting Priest Jan. 2000 – Nov. 9, 2005

4. Revd Emmanuel Ajaegba (late) Assisting Priest Jan. 2000 – Nov. 9, 2005

5. Canon Folusho Taiwo (Late Bishop of Oke-Osun Diocese) Assisting Priest May 2004 – 2005

6. Canon Syrenius Dangana Okoriko (now Ven.) Vicar/Supervising Priest Nov. 9, 2005 – Dec. 10, 2007

7. Revd Silas John (now Canon) Assisting Priest June 2005 – Dec, 2008

8. Canon Folusho Taiwo (Late Bishop of Oke-Osun Diocese) Assisting Priest 2006 – 2008

9. Revd Segun Emmanuel Akinola (now Ven.) Assisting Priest June 2006 – Dec. 2010

10. Ven. Andrus Nnaemeka Ukaejiofo Assisting Priest April 1, 2007 – Oct 2009

11. Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba Vicar/Supervising Priest Dec. 10, 2007 – Sept. 15, 2009

12. Revd Emmanuel Imaekhai (now Canon) Assisting Priest 2009 – 2012

13. Ven. Michael Oluwarohunbi (now Bishop of Yewa Diocese) Vicar/Supervising Priest Sept. 15, 2009 –Jan. 6, 2012

14 Canon Chima Okorie (now Ven.) Assisting Priest Nov. 2010 –Jan. 6, 2014

15. Ven. Davidson Ozuzu (late) Assisting Priest Feb. 2011 – March 2012

16 Revd Yakubu Maigaya (now Canon in Ikara Diocese) Assisting Priest Feb. 2011 – March 2012

17. Ven. Dr. Sola Igbari (Rtd) Vicar/Supervising Priest Jan. 6, 2012 – Jan. 6, 2014

18 Revd Samuel Akale (now Ven. in Kubwa Diocese) Assisting Priest Jan. 6, 2012 – Jan. 6, 2014

19 Ven. Benjamin Ewomazino Idume Vicar/Supervising Priest Jan. 6, 2014 – July 14, 2017

20 Canon Blessing Duru (Late) Assisting Priest Jan 6, 2014 – Dec, 2014

21 Canon Moses Bukpe Tabwaye (now Bishop of Gwagwalada Diocese) Assisting Priest Jan. 6, 2014 – Apr 20, 2015

22 Revd Thomas Chechet (now Canon) Assisting Priest Jan. 6, 2014 – 2015

23 Ven. Dr. Nnamdi IK Okpuno Assisting Priest June 2014 – June 20, 2017

24 Ven. Godfrey Ifeanyi Ekpenisi (now Bishop of Ika Diocese) Assisting Priest October 2014 – Dec. 2015

25 Canon Sadi Danbaba Assisting Priest June, 2015 – June 20, 2017

26 Canon Ndubuisi Kenneth (Ven.) Assisting Priest June, 2015 – June 20, 2017

27 Ven. Ifeanyi Vincent Akunna Assisting Priest June 20, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2020

28. Ven. Emmanuel Oludare Otoki Vicar/Supervising Priest July 14, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2020

29 Revd Thomas Cyril Marcus Assisting Priest June 20, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2020

30. Ven. Ephraim Mawo Akanya Vicar/Supervising Priest Jan. 2, 2020 – Dec. 30, 2021

31 Canon Dr. Kayode Emmanuel Abegunde Assisting Priest Jan. 2, 2020 – Date

32 Revd Jerry Peter Markus Assisting Priest Apr. 12, 2020 –Date

33 Canon George Agun Assisting Priest June 1, 2020 – Date

34 Ven. Festus Uzorka Nwafili Vicar/Supervising Priest Dec. 30, 2021 – Date

35. Ven Amb Tiwatope Elias-Fatile Assisting Priest Jan 2, 2023

DIOCESAN MINISTERIAL FOCUS:

The Vision of the Diocese of Abuja states “The Diocese of Abuja [Anglican Communion] shall be a Diocese where all people from East, West, North and South are comfortably at home, taught to know and serve the LORD with zeal, promoting orthodox Biblical Christian Faith, to grow unto maturity in our LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with eternity in view (Psalm 133:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:4-8).”  Our passion is that “Every Anglican, be a Committed Christian, and every Christian a Witness to Christ Jesus.”

Mission and Evangelism shall be the foremost task of the Diocese in obedience to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging the faithful, deepening the faith of members, proclaiming Christ faithfully in reaching out to our neighbourhood, resulting in Church planting. Intentional Discipleship, nurturing the faith of all members through the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Worship and Witnessing.

Family-Focused Ministry will be intentional as a way of building the Household of Faith, the Church and the Society. The Diocese of Abuja is a Cosmopolitan, Heterogeneous and Conservative Diocese that has a God-given Mission to the Nation and the world. The Diocese of Abuja is home for all Anglican faithful and other Christians who share our Orthodox Faith in the Triune God, and Salvation through faith in the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, confirmed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The Diocese of Abuja holds firmly to the Authority, Infallibility and Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, for all things necessary for Salvation and as the final authority and standard in Doctrine, Morals and Christian living and actions. This Diocese exists to propagate the Gospel and bear Christian Witness in obedience to the Great Commission and Commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As God’s Redeemed people and Family, every person finds home in every congregation no matter one’s ethnic origin, and we consider each other’s concerns as a family of God in our worship and service, such that each person will encounter the Lord Jesus Christ and be blessed by God through the Word, Worship and Sacraments of our Redemption. We encourage every member to be a faithful Steward of the gifts and blessings of God.

Education and human development and empowerment shall be pursued as part of the Mission task of the Church and a means of equipping citizens for relevance and contribution to the overall good of all in the community. The Diocese of Abuja has a special calling to engage the citizens, Government and community leaders in discerning the purpose of God in governance. We believe in the power of the Word of God to change lives, transform communities and give meaning to life. This we shall seek to do through our strategic engagement in the socio-political work of the Church.

Building institutions and infrastructure for the Mission and ministry of the Gospel wherever God has given us to serve is our focus. Building lives through the ministry organs of the Church, helping people to find God’s purpose and living their lives fulfilling it is pour commitment.

Investment is vital in the overall growth of the Church: Strategic Investment shall be pursued as means of sustaining and funding the work of the ministry of the Gospel. Every Investment will be managed with prudence for the benefit of the Church.

Sustaining and improving the welfare of the Clergy, Pastors and members as means of encouraging them to engage and give their best in the service of God and humanity remains our mandate.

NATIONAL ISSUES:

The 2023 National Elections: The National Elections of 2023 have come and gone and we thank the Almighty God for preserving this Nation in peace. We congratulate the citizens of this country for their resilience and patriotism, especially the young people. The change in the political landscape in Nigeria is evident. It shows that the birth of the New Nigeria where every citizen is free and impunity in public and private sphere is eradicated, is actually possible. The conduct of the elections have also exposed the loopholes in our system and areas of further legislative work in order to get us on the right democratic path.

We congratulate all our political parties and the political contestants in all the parties. The spate of intimidation of opponents and electoral violence, especially in the bid to rig elections results must be criminalised. The level of incompetence and paralysing of the implementation of the Laws guiding the conduct of the elections must be mitigated.

We must congratulate all those declared winners in the past election and encourage them to be magnanimous in victory. This is a call to duty and a service opportunity to our citizens and above all, it is an opportunity to make a difference in the service of God and Humanity. Write your names in the Annals of History, positively. Those who did not win are encouraged to be calm and peaceful for the sake of the good of our citizens. We thank all Nigerians for maintaining peace and do encourage all aggrieved persons to seek redress in the Courts of Law and Electoral Tribunals.

Once again this is the time to test the resilience of our Legal System as indeed the enduring hope for Justice, Equity and fairness for all citizens. The Judicial Officers and lawyers must not disappoint God and the common man. We look forward in great expectation to a new dawn for our Nation Nigeria. At such a time as this, we call on every citizen to join hands and let us rise up and build together. We call on God’s people to keep watching and praying for the incoming administration.

THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS: Having interacted with political actors, the Anglican Communion demands of the President-Elect and his Team, the Governors-elect and the National and State Legislators that emerged victorious at the Polls to give due diligence to the following, namely:

1. Security of Lives and Property: Nigerian citizens demand that Government put high priority on the security of lives and property of citizens by providing adequate security for all citizens. The present state of insecurity and attacks on Christian Churches, Communities and indeed the citizens of this country, is worrisome. The security of lives and property of citizens will foster economic growth of the country.

2. Education of young Nigerians: The Government should ensure that education of our children at all levels is given top priority, as this is the best legacy our country can bequeath to her youth.

3. Health-care Delivery: The Government should improve the Health-Care Delivery System, so that the current Medical Tourism among top Government Functionaries and privileged few can be completely eradicated or reduced. We have the capacity to provide and be a destination for Health Tourism, at least in Africa.

4. National Economy: We have great apprehension over the Rising Inflation, Debt Servicing burden, Fuel Subsidy and fear for the future of Nigeria. Alleviating the suffering of the masses should be the priority of the Government, hence the Church demands adequate provision of education, economic empowerment and job creation/employment opportunities for the teeming youths and citizens. The provision of grants and loans for indigent people as a social safe-net for the citizens will offer every citizen the opportunity to contribute to the development of the country they call their own.

5. Rule of Law and Enforcement: The Church frowns at the negligent attitude of the leaders and lack of political will to enforce the Rule of Law. We therefore advise the Government to maintain the Rule of Law and uphold civil rights, justice and equity. The Judiciary should be made to serve the citizens in matters of Justice and Equity. Decentralizing the Police Force and creation of State Police will help to improve on Security and maintenance of Law and Order.

6. An All-Inclusive Government: The Church requests that our leaders should make a comprehensive assessment of the policies and procedures of governance to be able to make governance in Nigeria an all-inclusive affair. The Government should ensure that appointment into Political offices is not lopsided or done based on sentiment or sectional interests. We have an opportunity to give a new direction to this country, therefore competence and sacrifice for the good of all the citizens must be priority consideration. The enforcement of the Federal Character and other regulatory policies will help to restore balance and fairness in the country.

7. Infrastructural Neglect should be addressed: We encourage the incoming Government to address the problem of Infrastructural neglect, and see to the full execution and completion of road construction projects, schools and other basic infrastructure and make up for the long infrastructural deficiencies we have suffered in the country. The Church demands that the Government should provide social amenities especially, Electricity, good Public Transport System and Housing for the citizens because this will enhance better life for the citizens.

8. Completion and operation of Critical Industries:  The Government needs to take as very important the development of key critical projects that are strategic for more Economic and Technological Development of the country, especially, the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, our Refineries and the need for Modular Refineries, Textile Industries and other Agro-based Industries. These sectors will engender fast economic growth and employment opportunities in the country.

9. Building a United and Prosperous Nation: The Church yearns for a Rebirth of our Nation through the Leadership that ensures Security of lives and property, a growing economy with a great future, respect for the rights, welfare and equity for all citizens, irrespective of Tribe, Religion, political affiliations and other preferences, but above all, we need a Nigeria where no person is haunted or oppressed.

SYNOD THEME: “SYNODALITY: THE TRANSFORMING JOURNEY WITH JESUS CHRIST” (LUKE 24:13-16, 32-35)

Introduction: Whenever one opens the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, one is amazed at the intensity of faith of the early Christians. The two Books were carefully researched and written as a Manual for nurturing the faith of a convert named Theophilus. Luke referred to the Gospel record as building on what “those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered to us, it seemed good to me also, to write to you an orderly account, most Excellent Theophilus.” The main purpose was that “Theophilus’ and all who read may know the certainty of those things which you were instructed” – The certainty of the Word of God and our faith in Christ Jesus! The Book of the Acts of the Apostles further elucidated the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and early Believers in remaining focused in carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ as He commanded them in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18 and Luke 24:46-49.

The author of the Gospel was St. Luke, one of the companions of St. Paul, who was a Physician, whom Paul called “the Beloved Physician” in Colossians 4:14. No doubt, Dr. Luke was discipled and nurtured in faith by Paul and he could have been a personal Physician to Paul and fellow minister of the Gospel as can be seen in Acts 16:10; 20:6; 27:1, 28:16 in which he used personal pronoun that showed that he was part and witness of the events he was recording.

The word “SYNODALITY is taken from “Synod.” Ordinarily, it is an Ecclesiastical Word which can be defined as “An official Meeting of Church members to discuss religious matters and make important decisions.”  SYNOD is a combination of two Greek-words, “SYN” ‘Together’ and “HODOS” ‘way.’ It means “Together on the Way” or “Walking Together along the Way.” It implies ‘communing together’ and ‘Reasoning’ together or fellowshipping.

One of the earliest names that the Disciples of Christ called themselves was “the People of the Way.” The mandate given to Saul of Tarsus was to go to the Synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of “the Way”, whether men or women, he might bring them to Jerusalem ” Again, in Paul’s Mission in Ephesus, he preached and reasoned with the Jews in their Synagogues concerning the Kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, “but spoke evil of the Way” before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the School of Tyrannus.”  The Riot against Paul and the Gospel was actually against “the Way” as it is stated “And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.”

“The Way” was a reference to Jesus Christ. In John 10:1-30, Jesus spoke of Himself as the True and Good Shepherd and the salvific work He came to accomplish. Jesus is the True Shepherd who enters the Sheepfold through the “Door.” He knows and calls His Sheep by name and they hear His voice and follow after Him; he leads them out and brings them into the Fold. Jesus emphatically said “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the Door of the Sheep.”  I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ” Jesus the True Shepherd is totally different from the Thief and Hireling in purpose for relating to the Sheep, as he said “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ” Jesus is the Loving and Good Shepherd who willingly gave His Life for the Sheep as He said; “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

The uniqueness of Jesus as the Only Saviour and true Son of God is seen in what He says of Himself thus, “I am the Way [hodos], the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” . The Disciples of Christ affirmed their conviction as to who Jesus is in their life and witness by affirming that “Nor is there salvation in any other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  God’s salvation, true knowledge and life can only be found and accessed in Jesus Christ. His Death and Resurrection opened the way and access to the Living God. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus, the New and Living Way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the House of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water…”

The only One that matters is Jesus Christ; He is the Only Way. All believers are the people of the Way. As against the multi-religious, cultural and philosophical voices distracting people from the Only True God, there is the need to emphatically present Jesus Christ the True and Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth and the Life for all Humanity. In the midst of the confusion of our time, Jesus calls us out to follow Him and He comes along and walks along with us in the lonely road of Life in our sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death. Jesus is our True Companion in the Journey of Life and Faith.

Our Synod Theme is taken from the Text and the Context of “Walking along with Jesus, the Risen Lord, as He talked, and reasoned together on His death and resurrection and in the context of the whole Word of God. Jesus the LORD expounds God’s Word to us as we Journey along with Him. One important thing is that those who engage in this ‘communing’ share in the ownership of property, have a sense of belonging together and share in the division of labour and are members of such community.”  As such, the people who are so knit together “converse together with empathy, confidence and compassion and they take counsel or decision together. To commune means to communicate with one another spiritually and contemplate together with each other. It means to receive Communion and share in fellowship.

“Journey” is an act of travelling from one place to another, especially when they are far apart. ” To “Transform” means to change the form of a thing, to completely change the appearance or character of something, especially, so that it is better.”  Someone defined Transformation as “when change itself undergoes change” or is radically changed.” The journey with Jesus Christ brings transformation of character and affects our perception and living. It impacts on the individual, family, and community for good and makes them better to fulfil God’s purpose in life.

SYNODALITY AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANS:

It is said that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was the Birth of the Church. The coming of the Holy Spirit was in fulfilment of the Word of Jesus Christ to the Disciples and indeed the fulfilment of the Promise of the Father to His sons and daughters who were born through faith in Jesus Christ.  The coming in fullness, of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, was to fill the believers and empower them to bear witness to Jesus Christ, starting from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth; or rather starting from wherever you are to immediate neighbourhood and to those who are far and different from you. Mission and Christian witness calls us to cross our boundaries of culture and affinity.

It is vital to note that the coming of the Holy Spirit made the Apostles to proclaim Jesus Christ in power through the Word of God and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. 3000 souls were won to the Faith in Christ Jesus. This marked the beginning of a New Community of Faith founded on Faith and the Word of God and led by the Apostles. This community gave themselves to the study of the Word of God and Doctrines as taught by the Apostles, to Prayer and worship, to Sacramental celebration of Breaking of Bread and mutual care and fellowship. All these took sacrificial giving and support from all and sundry.

It was evident that Apostle Peter was the Leader but others such as James the brother of Jesus, and the 11 Disciples of Jesus also played a key role in the Leadership of the young Christian Community in Jerusalem. The organisation and administration of the young Christian Community was “Synodically governed” because it was always a pattern of consultation of the Apostolic Leadership and all the people or their representatives. All consultations were carried out in the context of Worship, Prayer and the Proclamation of the Word of God. And the decision so arrived through the proof of the Word of God was determinative to the actions, practices and belief as being in the Will of God and Purpose of God’s Kingdom and the prosperity of the Mission of the Gospel.

Every instance of major decision of the early Believers as a Community of Faith followed this pattern, for instance; in Acts 1:12-26, the choice of Matthias as a replacement for Judas, was based on the Scripture  as already prophesied in Psalms 69:25; 109:8. Subsequently, when the problem of the distribution of food to the widows and the needy members arose in Acts 6, this same process of consultation and walking along with God and being guided by His Word and the Holy Spirit to arriving at a Godly decision, was followed. There was always a criterion and Godly qualification for those to serve, and the expected result was to be holy, honouring and glorifying to God. The major issues at stake were never the interest of any group or leaders’ preferences, but the good of the Church and growth of its Mission and the building up of the faith of the believers.

There was always an acceptability by the believers and the commonality was in the Word of God and the goal or purpose of the decision. There was always the Impact of the Synodic Decisions such that Acts 6:7 states “Then the Word of God spread, and the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The very pivotal Synodality of the Early Christians was seen in the major first Council of the Church in Jerusalem in Acts 15: 1-35, over the issue of taking the Gospel to the Gentile world and the decision on the conditions and the place of the Gentile Christians in relation to the Jewish Laws Circumcision and other demands as precondition for being saved. The core issue was preconditions for salvation in Christ Jesus. This dispute arose from the Ministry of the Gospel as Paul and Barnabas were proclaiming in their Missionary journey.

The Apostles and Elders who represented the churches came together to consider this matter. Peter laid the historical development of the Mission to the gentiles as being God’s own initiative with God working through him and other Apostles. This initiative was confirmed by God Who knew the hearts of all men by giving the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius the Holy Spirit, just as the Apostles received on the day of Pentecost. God made no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. Anything other than what God had begun would be putting of a yoke on the believers. Peter’s conclusion was “But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

This was the basis of Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone and for the Glory of God” mantra of the Reformation. The testimonies of the impact of the Gospel among the Gentiles confirmed what Peter had said. This was the foundation of the Ruling of James the brother of Jesus Christ and confirming the Prophecies of old when God would rebuild the tabernacle of David and the ruins and the rest of Humanity, even the Gentiles will seek the LORD and the Gentiles will be called by the Name of the LORD.’’   In this decision, the Sovereignty of God is upheld, the submission to the move of God was to be yielded to by the Church, but Faith in total repentance and turning to God was required of all, whether Jews or Gentiles, but more importantly, given the cultural environment of the Gentiles, there was emphasis on the Holiness of God and the sanctity of Living or walking with God in life and moral conduct thus expressed “Therefore we judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,, from things strangled, and from blood.”  This decision of the Council in Jerusalem was communicated to the churches and Mission fields through the “Pastoral Letters” that were written from the Council of the Apostles, Elders and Brethren. The impact of that letter was such that when they read it in the churches and Missions “they rejoiced over its encouragement” – it brought strength to the Ministers, Teachers, Pastors and Prophets who served in the churches and strengthened the faith of the Believers.

SYNODALITY IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH:

This Council of the early Church formed the basis of the several Councils of the Church throughout History. Often, the Councils were convened by the Christian Emperors and Kings in order to settle the Disputes and quarrels of the Church leadership. In most cases, it was for the purpose of restoring peace to their Empire and Kingdoms since the Church reached out to the ordinary citizens and had the capacity to effect spiritual, social, moral and economic change in the society.

Out of such Historic Councils, the official Doctrines and Statements of Faith have emerged such as the Creeds, Confessions and Catechetical Teachings of the Church. These have remained definitive of the Teachings of the Church. Apart from the historical Councils of the Church, the Universal and National Churches have at one time in history or another had reasons to convene their own Councils and Synods to take decision on matters of Faith, Doctrine, Missions, Morality and Practices in the life of the Church.

It is said that the “Anglican Church is Episcopally led but Synodically governed.” The Episcopal leadership of the Anglican Church instituted the Four Instruments of Unity within the Anglican Communion, namely, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference of the Bishops, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates Council. The Lambeth Conference used to be the Ten-yearly Meeting of the Bishops in the Anglican World, for Study, Fellowship and Consultation and making resolutions as to what they considered to be the guidance of God for the Church’s Life, Mission and Ministry. Some Doctrinal clarity were decided upon. The Lambeth Conference was a Consultative assembly rather than a Legislative one. As such, the decisions were reached in the context of mutual consultation and worship, and the National Churches or Provinces were at liberty to implement such decisions, or not.

The Archbishop of Canterbury works through the other Instruments of Communion to implement the decisions. The failure of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Instruments of Unity within the Communion in bringing into effect the years of Consultations and Resolutions on issues of Human Sexuality and in line with the age-long guidance and authority of the Word God, and in allowing the heretical rascality in which the Church is led away in error and rebellion against God, is the root of the present confusion and the necessity of the Orthodox move to maintain and contend for the faith once for all delivered to the Saints.

In 2008, in response to the intransigence and arrogance of the rich affluent but disobedient Anglican Churches or Provinces of TEC, Canada, and most recently, the Church of England by their teaching and approval of Homosexuality not only as a practice of the church contrary to the Teaching of the Bible but worse as allowing those who practice this abominable practice to be in the Leadership of the Church, by the leading of God, the Global Anglican Future Conference [GAFCON] was convened in Jerusalem by Archbishop Peter Akinola and other like-minded Anglican Primates mostly of the Global South, as an alternative to the Lambeth Conference in 2008. This first GAFCON Conference was led by the Holy Spirit to chart a new course for the Life, Teaching and Mission of the Anglican Church as we sought to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the LORD of the Church, to His Mission Command and the Authority of the Word of God and to maintain our cherished Anglican Heritage as we have received it.

The JERUSALEM DECLARATION of 2008 remains the Definitive Document for Faith and Practice for Orthodox Anglicanism. Since then, GAFCON has become a Movement in the World-wide Anglican Communion. The KIGALI COMMITMENT 2023, set out the Future Direction of GAFCON Movement. The decision of the General Synod of the Church of England to allow the Church to bless Homosexual marriages, ratify the liturgies for such marriages and to undertake the re-writing of the Holy Bible in order to produce a gender-neutral God and other aberrations, is an affront to the Christian Faith. The General Synod of the Church of England in February 2023, erred in matters Doctrine, Morals and Practice and as such, both their leadership and Decision are not to be regarded as truly representing the authentic Biblical Authority of the Anglican Church. Therefore, we call on them to repent and return to the path of Faith in Christ Jesus, and obedience to the Word of God and the cherished Heritage of the Anglican Communion.

GAFCON and the GSAF Primates no longer regard the Archbishop of Canterbury as the First among Equals in the Primate and Leadership in the Church. To know where the authentic Anglicanism that is faithful to the Historic Faith and Apostolic practices and Missions is going, take time to read the JERUSALEM DECLARATION, 2008, and the KIGALI COMMITMENT, 2023 Documents attached in the Appendix.

THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL: Our Synod Theme is taken from one of the core Texts that matter to our Christian Faith: The Account of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Encounter and Impact of the Risen LORD on the earliest Believers.  We are invited to these Seven Miles Journey to Emmaus by the two Disciples of Jesus, in company of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. “And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass [it happened] that, while they ‘communed together’ and ‘Reasoned’, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them” [vv. 13-15]. Luke, like the other Gospel Accounts, recorded the events the Last Week of the Earthly Ministry of Jesus, commonly called the Holy Week. These were the events of Jesus’ suffering, death and burial and his Resurrection on the Third Day.

From Luke 23, it was evident that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, and Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and just man from Arimathea, who himself was a Disciple of Christ and a man that was also “waiting for the Kingdom of God, requested for the Body of Jesus from Pilate and it was granted to him. He took down the Body, wrapped it in a linen, and laid it in a Tomb that was hewn out of the Rock, where no one had ever lain. This was before the Sabbath. The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee witnessed the burial. They subsequently prepared the spices and fragrant oils with which they came back to the tomb on the early morning of the First day of the Week. When they arrived, they found that the stone had been rolled away from the Tomb. They then went in and did not find the Body of Jesus. Matthew 28 records the event in the action of the Angel coming down and the earthquake and the Stone being rolled away. Jesus Christ arose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit and the command of the Father.

The scenario was an atmosphere of Heaven’s Action. It was an environment of power and glory of God and signified total victory over death, sin and the power of the enemy. “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior, waiting for the coming day, Jesus my Lord, up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph over His foes, a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives with His to reign, He arose, hallelujah Christ arose” . The Angels’ question carried the message, thus, “Why do you seek the Living among the Dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee saying “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

Paul affirmed that he declared the same Gospel which he received and in which we stand, and by which also we are saved, if we hold fast the word which was preached to us that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.”

The event and evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christ Faith. It is the content of the Gospel Message and the demonstration of the Power of God that brings Salvation to everyone that believes. It is faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross – the blood of His Cross – that brings cleansing of all our sins, His blood that destroys the power of sin, curse, darkness and death. He rose for our justification that we be forgiven completely and be made acceptable to God. The Risen Lord Jesus Christ showed Himself to His Disciples, to individuals and groups. Till this day, He still shows himself through the gospel and still walks with us along life’s narrow and lonely roads. He still talks with us and accompanies us when no one cares.

WALKING ALONG WITH GOD:

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE: The Biblical concept of earthly life is very clear that our human life is temporary. It depicts life as transient, a sojourn and pilgrimage. God already knows our days and everything that concerns our existence. The reality of our mortality has been made clear from the fall of man. As God said “In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.  Life is so perceived that even when Pharaoh asked Jacob “How old are you?” , the response was not just given as a figure or number of years but the historical evaluation of all of one’s life. Jacob said “The days of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their Pilgrimage.”

This sense of limited time and understanding of one being on a journey and a destination is very clear. The journey of life has challenges. The Psalmist says, “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am! Indeed, you have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before you; certainly every man at his best state is but vapour. Surely, every man walks about like a shadow; surely, they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.”

When we consider the saints of old, the whole of life is understood as a journey and should be lived with purpose and eternity in view. Peter the Apostle wrote to the Christians in Asia Minor who were facing suffering and persecution. He addressed them as pilgrims, sojourners and temporary residents of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithynia” but they should know who they are in Christ – their true identity was in Christ. They were the Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. When our temporary life is compared with the eternal Word of God and the impact of what God does in the lives of Believers, the difference is incomparable.

The Word of God carries Life, and by it, we are born again, not of corruptible seed but of the incorruptible seed through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. While all flesh is as grass and flower which will fall and perish, the Word of the LORD endures forever.”  It then means that the enduring power through the journey of Life comes from God, His Word and guidance, and the journey of life can be sustained through faith in the Living God. When we number our days in the journey of Life, it is required that we apply our hearts unto wisdom and this we need to ask God to teach us to do.

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH: Within the life journey of individuals, there are moments of significant spiritual encounters; some may be liberating; others may be frightening and dark. For every Believer in Christ, there is always the moment of the Turning Point or Conversion and turning to the Living God. Even in the ordinary life experiences, there are seasons of great interventions of God in healing, deliverance and help that transcend our normal human expectations. Such moments build up our spiritual and psychological life and faith history.

It’s spoken of Abraham that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise as in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  The journey of faith has always looked beyond its immediacy to God and with Eternity as its main focus. Paul said “We walk by faith and not by sight.”  Abraham and the Patriarchs did not focus on their earthly country or home because they had opportunity to return to such city, “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

The journey of faith is possible only as we depend on the LORD our God and are sustained by the working of the Holy Spirit. It demands perseverance, patience and the sustaining grace of God which may come when humanly speaking, we are spent and unable to carry on. God will always show up for those who wait on Him.

The journey of faith shapes the lives, character and values of all who have committed themselves to walking with God. The grace and power of God in Christ Jesus has a continuous impact on the believer that lasts through life. Paul said to Timothy, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured. And out of them all, the Lord delivered me.”

THE TRANSFORMING JOURNEY:

The fundamental factor in our walk with God in the transformation it brings to the servant who diligently journeys with God. The life of Saul of Tarsus is a case in point. The encounter of the Persecutor of the Believers in Christ, who had the support of the Religious authority to arrest and bring down to Jerusalem in chains and even to stand as the prosecutor and executioner, was very phenomenal. The Damascus Road Encounter not only changed the life of Saul but opened a new horizon of faith in the Living God, Mission of the Kingdom of God and indeed the actualisation of God’s purpose in his life. Acts 9 contains the narrative of the Encounter that transformed Saul of Tarsus into Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. God directed a disciple called Ananias to go and minister to Saul to whom the exalted LORD had appeared to, so that he might receive his sight. It was evident that God’s purpose in encountering Saul was marked out from the very beginning: “The LORD said to Ananias “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.”

Paul himself confirmed this and more of the purpose of God in calling him in his defence before King Agrippa, in Acts 26:12-19. Paul always appreciated the grace and mercy of God in saving him and calling him to be a Minister of the Gospel to the Gentiles. He understood his own case as one “that in me, first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”  The gratitude of Paul for the mercy of God that changed the course of his life was quite evident, and the understanding of the patience and foreknowledge of God that was manifested in the life of Paul was clear. Paul himself said, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent/violent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy…”  The importance of this is that the encounter with Jesus Christ with any person always results in new creation and new purpose in life. If God showed mercy to Paul, He will surely show mercy to me and you; nobody is too depraved that Jesus cannot save and help.

God’s dealing with Israel and in keeping His promises and Covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is amazing. After 430 years of sojourning and slavery in Egypt, God still remembered and came down to deliver the children of Israel from the house of bondage in Egypt. In the night of the Passover (Exodus 12:12), God brought judgement upon Pharaoh, the land of Egypt and their gods. On that night, more than six hundred thousand men on foot, beside women and children, marched out of the Land of Egypt because God came down on their behalf. The great events of the crossing of the Red Sea and God’s presence with Israel was amazing. “Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honour for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”  The amazing presence of God in journeying with them marked Israel out from the other nations. As the Scripture says, “And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”

The most defining moment was God pledging himself to Israel in his Covenant with Israel on Mount Sinai and the giving of the Law that distinguished Israel from other nations. The faithfulness of God is beyond our understanding, be it to an individual or a people, God’s self-condescension to our level and show of mercy is not what we merited. It is the grace of God so that no one shall boast. The new making of the believer or God’s people is totally God’s act of mercy towards the one who cannot stand by himself or herself.

The journey of Israel through the wilderness, under the leadership of Moses the Man of God, and the conquest and settlement of Israel in the land of Canaan, under the leadership of Joshua the Servant of God, is analogous of the Christian’s life and walk with God. Our journey in faith will always include the intervention of God that creates a new man through faith in the Living God, Jesus Christ. The process that brings us to God’s promises and eternal inheritance will always take us through the seasons of wilderness wandering. Such challenging moments are meant to take away the mixed multitudes, the heart of unbelief and murmuring. It is intended by God to bring out the faithful and believing fighting men that conquer and possess the Promise Land and occupy it till Jesus comes.

The wilderness experience is meant to destroy ‘Slave Mentality’ in us. Paul’s understanding of the journey of the Christian Life is that it is a warfare against the spiritual forces that contend against God, His Word and purpose of His Kingdom. As he said to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on Eternal Life, to which you were called and confess the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” [1 Tim. 6:12]. Again he said, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus… You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier…”  Apostle Jude admonishes us “to earnestly contend for the faith that is once for all delivered to the saints.”

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS ENCOUNTER: Cleopas and Simon had an encounter with the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, in the evening of the Day of his Resurrection. They were travelling to Emmaus, a seven miles journey. Like the rest of the disciples, they too were perplexed and could not fully understand the event of the Resurrection as reported by the women and confirmed by Peter and the other disciples. There are some things that God is still doing that we lack insight into and how to respond appropriately. Jesus will always go along with us at the level of our understanding. “To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  God gives us grace and gifts according to the measure of faith.  It is intended that we should complement one another in the service of the Kingdom of God. No one person has it all as the Scripture says, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith….”  Paul talks of this growing in knowledge and the grace of God when he said “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child and I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

The sincerity of faith and honesty in the confession and expectation of the two disciples came out clearly as they responded to the question of Jesus as to what happened in Jerusalem. The two disciples could not comprehend the Resurrection of Christ but their faith in and their expectation of what they, like other Jews, were sincere. It was like Jesus asked of “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  The core of the events in Jerusalem was Jesus Christ, his suffering, death and resurrection and what that meant for all who believe in Him. Therefore, Jesus’ question “What things?” , was meant to draw out their hearts’ response to Who Jesus is and what happened. For these disciples, it was the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and Word before God and all the people.” It was evident that they believed in Jesus Christ and followed Him.

 They also understood the miscarriage of justice and conspiracy against Jesus and the role of their religious and political leaders as “how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.” Their perplexity as to the resurrection was evident because of the news and information of certain disciples who went to the tomb and came back with the news that his body was not found in the tomb and this was confirmed by the Angels that “He is Risen.”

Their expectation which was in line with those of their contemporaries and popular hope of the Jews, persisted even among the disciples as they said, “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel….”  This expectation was so strong that even as Jesus was about ascending into the Heavens, the disciples were still asking Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?”  Could this be that often our human and popular expectations veil our hearts from the true understanding of God’s purpose and work among us? God will need to deal with our ignorance in order to bring us to the right perception of His will and purpose. As Paul said of Israel, just as Moses covered his own face with the veil, so were the mind of the people covered with veil until it is removed, and the veil can only be removed as the people turned to the LORD who is Spirit. He removes the veil and also gives freedom to the children of God. But more so, the Spirit of God also brings transformation and changes us into conformity with Christ; this happens progressively from glory to glory.

As Jesus interacted with them and saw their heart of faith in Him, He taught them and expounded the Word of God to them. Their willingness to think within the context of the Scripture and not their popular Jewish political expectation was a fertile ground for the Word of God. They opened their hearts to the Lord Jesus and the Word of God and felt the warmth of the Word. No doubt, by the time they got to Emmaus, the walk along with Jesus had empowered and energised them. The following factors were essential and impactful in this journey, namely:

• The Presence of Jesus Christ,

• The Word of God taught and expounded,

•  A receptive heart and an indwelling of the Word,

•  An intimate fellowship with Jesus and fellow Believers

• The Sacramental Experience of the power of God:

The Ministry of the Anglican Church is summed up as the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament. The Sacrament is defined as the “outward and visible signs of the inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace” [Catechism]. When we talk of the grace we receive, it is “God’s favour towards us unearned and undeserved. By grace, God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts and strengthens our wills” [Catechism], to do what is pleasing to God. The two Sacraments instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Anglican Church observes and celebrates these Sacraments but very often, we become too acquainted with them that we fail to discern the Body of Christ and the potency of the grace that God avails us, and so we lose out in the gains that ought to come to us. Paul wrote about this concerning the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

The experience of the disciples in Emmaus when the risen Lord Jesus Christ took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, was such that it was then that their eyes were opened to understand that all this while, they had been interacting with the One who died and rose again. The moment of every Holy Communion should be a moment of fresh encounter with God. This is the reason we need to prepare our hearts, confess our sins, reconcile with our neighbours and with God and come with humble hearts and living faith, at every Holy Communion.

Many people have always been blessed in very special ways during Holy Communion services. These blessings come as healing, a touch of relief, restoration, strengthening of faith and insight into the Word of God. We should encourage people to come to worship, especially the Holy Communion or baptism, with expectation and faith that God desires to touch and bless them. Yet, we do not encourage any superstition or teaching of Transubstantiation like the Roman Catholic doctrine. The Elements are material and means of grace. The Holy Communion Service is not a service in which the Priest offers any sacrifice because Jesus Christ has offered the Perfect Sacrifice of himself once and for all times on the Cross. It is only a service of Thanksgiving and a Commemoration, a celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ until He comes in Glory. The Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion offers us great teaching moments that our Pastors must explore in order to nurture the faith of our members and disciple the new converts.

THE IMPACT OF THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: The Encounter with the Risen LORD changed everything for the disciples in Emmaus. It was evident that their uncertainty about the resurrection of Jesus Christ was cleared through the expounding of the Word of God by Jesus. The Word of God needs to be taught with clarity, both to enlighten, equip and to build up the faith of the believers. The fellowship and encounter with Jesus in person and through the whole Word of God and the experience of the power and presence of God in the Breaking of Bread or the Sacramental experience, broke the chains of fear and brought great conviction and assurance. It was such that they ran back to Jerusalem without fear and with joy and a living Message of the Gospel thus, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.”  This is a shout of discovery and finding something very transforming. It is a healing of emotions, soul, spirit and body. It is sanctifying and freeing.

This encounter brought freedom to the disciples to go forth as Living Witnesses. Encounter with the Living God has always brought people to the understanding of Divine purpose in our lives. Such encounter has always been a Covenant experience that creates a special relation that unlocks the door of greater Mission to a particular people and to the world. We see this in the life of Jacob in the bush as he realised that God was with him and entered into a Covenant with God as his own God. Prophet Isaiah’s encounter opened his understanding of who he himself was as well as who God is. It also led to God calling him to his Prophetic Ministry.

Similarly, the disciples, on the road to Emmaus, ran back to Jerusalem with the purpose and mission of God for the Church. Jesus affirmed that “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of my Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”   The Scope and Impact of transformation affects the individual, family, church and society. It is the transformed person that can change the family, church and society through the Word of God and the power of life by the Holy Spirit.

IMPLICATION OF OUR SYNOD THEME FOR LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY:

1. The Word of God: Understanding, believing in and guidance through the Word of God is very fundamental for our spiritual walk with God. There is need for us to return to the Word of God. We must consider it the wholesome Word, in such a way that we seek that the LORD, and doing this will help us so to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Word.”  The Word of God will nurture our character, give us eternal hope and full understanding of the work of God in our lives and in His world.

2. Communion and Fellowship: The presence of the risen LORD creates fellowship among believers. We need to intentionally encourage brotherly kindness and support for individuals and families in our local churches. Every local church is the gathering of Believers that manifests the reality of the living God through the working of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Friendships created around the Word and prayer always endure through life.

3. Intentional Pastoral concern for people will bring out the uniqueness of the Church in a hurting world. The Anglican Church Ministry is pastorally-based and rediscovery of the pastoral and nurturing teaching Ministry will give life and transformation to the Ministry of the Church. Jesus, in walking along with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, listened, talked with, taught, encouraged and prayed with the disciples. Hospitality in vulnerable situations will bring great impact in the community, especially as we face violent attacks in some parts of our country.

4. Mission Engagement of the Church: The impact of the encounter with the risen LORD was such that the Message of the Resurrection of Christ and affirmation that He lives, is the main task of the Church; this is the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:1; 6-18. The faithful proclamation of the Gospel within and outside the church, in words and in deed as we live out our faith daily, must be the task of every believer.

5. Collaboration in Health and Social Welfare Issues: There is need for concern for Mental and Spiritual health of the People. The Church and Government must collaborate on issues that concern the mental and spiritual health of the people. In such stressful and challenging times as these, the message of the Gospel and indeed the Word of God, is the panacea for the maladies in the society. The transforming power of Christ was such that the fears, concerns and worry of the disciples were dealt with when they came to know Jesus at the breaking of Bread. The pastoral and spiritual resources of the Church must be put into the wider use of the healthcare of the people. The Church must engage the social issues in the life of the communities such as poverty, drug addiction and abuse, human trafficking, prostitution and the rehabilitation of those caught in these lifestyles that dehumanise people. The Church and other religious organisations must engage with the Government in peace-building in communities.

ABUJA DIOCESAN MATTERS:

The Diocesan Endowment and Development Fund Taskforce: The Diocese of Abuja will be 35 years on November 26, 2024. The pivotal role of the Diocese in the Church of Nigeria demands that effectiveness in shouldering internal Diocesan and external national and international responsibilities of the Church is required. To this end, a strong financial base is required. We are greatly indebted to all our members, families and parishes for your sacrifice and support to the work and ministry of the Church. Our Diocesan schools, guest houses and other establishments are in need of remodelling as well as massive renovations. We have embarked on other new projects such as the Bethrapha Medical Centre and the Chancel Estate Development, Jahi. All these require massive funding so as to keep the Diocese working and fulfilling her role and Mission. Therefore, the Diocesan Board has approved the constitution of the Diocesan Endowment and Development Fund Taskforce. This Taskforce was inaugurated on Sunday 7th May, 2023. The members are:

1. Senator [Gen] Tunde Ogbeha –  Chairman

2. Rt. Hon. Sir Austin Opara

3. Hon. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN   – Chancellor

4. Chief Chikwe Udensi

5. Rear Admiral Segun Adebari

6. Engr. Ebele Okeke, CFR, OON

7. Barr. Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni

8. Senator Mao Ohuabunwa

9. Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu

10. Chief Mrs. Williams

11. Sir Allwell Ogunedo

12. Dr. Peter Nmadu – Secretary

13. Ven. Ernest Onuoha

14. Ven. Ben Idume

15. Ven. Yemi Fatusi

16. Ven. Festus Nwafili

17. Ven. Andrus Ukaejiofor

18. Ven. Chima Okorie

19. Ven. Owoeye

20. Canon Joshua Gabriel

21. Ven. Samuel Emeana

The Target is to raise Three Billion Naira [N3B] in the next three years for the Endowment and Development of the Diocese of Abuja. The taskforce will be involved in the administration of the Fund. There will be a Diocesan Designated Account for the Fund. Through this Fund, strategic Diocesan Projects will be executed. We hope to commission some of the projects during the 35th Anniversary in November 2024. We are in need of all our members and friends. Every gift, support and contribution is appreciated and God will surely bless you and your family.

Anglican Boys Fellowship: In pursuit of our Diocesan focus on Family Ministry and issues arising from juvenile delinquency, resulting in negative impacts on the family, after due consultation, we are convinced that there is the need for us to establish a special ministry that will focus on nurturing our sons into maturity in faith, character and conduct. It is the boys of today that shall be the men and fathers of tomorrow. Just as we pay attention to the Girl-Child, equal attention must also be paid to the Boy-Child. This is in pursuit of what the Scriptures say in Psalm 144:12, thus: That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style … happy are the people who are in such state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD! In order to lay a good spiritual foundation for the boy-child and ensure that we raise the next generation of fathers and leaders, we need this targeted ministry for the boys and young people in the Church to take care of them from 3-19 years. We hereby institute and establish the Anglican Boys/Young Men Fellowship in the Diocese of Abuja and appoint the Rev. Canon Smart Simon as the Chaplain. The Bishop is also the Patron while every Vicar is the local Church Chaplain.

CATHEDERAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT STATUTES:

Following the Constitution of the Diocese of Abuja, 2021, and the Statutes of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, we want to bring into effect the Institution of the Greater Chapter and Lesser Chapter of the Cathedral as provided for in Articles VI & VII.  And during this Synod, we shall elect and appoint those that will constitute the membership of the Greater Chapter and the Lesser Chapter. And pursuant to Article XIV of the Statutes of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, we hereby constitute and establish the Six Statutory Canonry Stalls and the Statutory Canons of the Cathedral Church of the Advent as follows:

1. Canon Residentiary:   Ven. Dr.  Olayemi Fatusi

2. Canon Theologian:    Ven. Dr. Princewill Ireoba

3. Canon Liturgist:       Ven. Festus Nwafili

4. Canon Ministerial:  Ven. Dr.  Olusegun Akinola

5.Canon Missioner:

6. Canon Musician:

The Greater Chapter will be inaugurated and the Statutory Canons will be installed on Sunday, 27th August, 2023.

THE NEW DIOCESAN ANTHEM: We have a New Diocesan Anthem which was composed by our Diocesan Musicians. The Diocesan Choir and Music Directors as well as Organists have worked very hard to give their best. We have directed that the New Diocesan Anthem will be sang in all our churches every First and Third Sundays of the Month. We have recorded samples for sale to all members. The Anthem is also found in the Appendix of this Bishop’s Charge. We encourage everyone to learn, love and sing it.

DIOCESAN MISSIONS:

Abuja Missionary Society: In the year under review, there have been efforts to reactivate the AMS in some of our churches. We must commend the AMS in All Saints Church, Wuse and St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama and other churches. We encourage the AMS to spearhead the Mission efforts of the Church. The reconstituted Diocesan Officials of the AMS were inaugurated during the Easter Cantata on Saturday, 8th April, 2023. They are to inject a new push for Mission. We direct that all Vicars work with the Diocesan AMS officials to establish Parish coordinators in all Parishes; Archdeacons are to constitute Archdeaconry AMS officials and inaugurate them.

Special Mission Tasks for New Churches: We gave special assignment and tasks to four Archdeaconries to plant news churches in some parts of the urban areas and to nurture them. Wuse Archdeaconry is sponsoring a church in Wuse 2. Maitama Archdeaconry is sponsoring a new church in the Rock of Ages Mall in Utako. We commend the efforts of Gudu and Gwarimpa Archdeaconries. We request that our Anglican members living in the new areas should go to these new churches as well as all those who will like to help build up the new churches. The Anglican Church, Katampe Extension, is waxing strong and we hope to conclude the negotiations for their land and commence the building of the church soonest.

The Diocesan Mission Outreach and Church Planting, 7-14 May, 2023: We thank our Diocesan Missioner, the Ven. Samuel Emeana and his Team. There is need for a well-coordinated Follow-Up programme for the new converts and new members, especially in the new churches. In order to facilitate the Missions of the Diocese, the Diocesan Board has approved the acquisition of a Toyota Hilux Jeep, fully equipped with the Mission Outreach equipment, generator and film projectors. We appeal for your prayers and partnership in Mission. The targeted Mission outreach to Katampe Extension area is yielding the expected result. We trust God to build the new area.

Diocesan House Fellowship: The house fellowship is growing gradually but we need to encourage our Lay members to help us in leading the House Fellowships. We encourage all Anglicans to identify with the fellowship nearest to your residence. This will help us know one another, encourage one another and in times of challenges, be there for one another. House fellowships are for prayer and the study of the Word of God. We commend the Ven. Festus Nwafili and his Team.

Other Diocesan Spiritual Enrichment Programmes: Carnival-for-Christ is organised to celebrate our Diocesan Anniversary in the 4th week of November. The Football field of the AGGS will continue to serve as our venue for now. We thank all our Archdeacons for the mobilisation of our members for the programme. The 2022 Carnival for Christ was held from 21st to 27th November, 2022, and it was very fruitful as many people gave their lives to Christ, especially from our rural churches. Carnival-for-Christ 2023 will be held from Monday, 27th to Sunday, 3rd December, 2023. In 2024, we shall celebrate the 35 years of our existence as a Diocese. Pray and support it.

Diocesan Clergy School and Orientation programme: The Diocesan Clergy School was held in December and we were greatly enriched by the resource persons, Bishop Atere and Bishop Ikeakor, as well as other clergy that God used. Every clergy in the Diocese is required to avail himself of every opportunity for spiritual nurturing and refreshing as Paul admonished Timothy saying “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

Way-of-the-Cross Lenten Programme: The 2022 programme was held from 5th to 8th March, 2023. Due to the national elections and the uncertainties of the period, we adjusted the programme of the Way-of-the-Cross as we started on a Sunday and concluded on a Wednesday.  God moved in a very powerful way and we were blessed. Every resource person who ministered was greatly used by God. We thank the organising team led by the Ven. Olusegun Akinola.

Diocesan Prayer Events: Our Diocesan New Year Prayers events were held as scheduled and other Parish and Diocesan Prayer events have been ongoing. The 2023 Mission week ended with a prayer rally at the Anglican Church in Katampe Extension. God has proved Himself in our lives and situations; to Him shall be all glory and praise!

Clergy and Evangelists’ Wives Retreat: The Annual Clergy and Evangelists’ wives and the Clergy and Wives retreats were held. We thank Mama Angela Ndukuba, the wives of the Archdeacons and the Resource persons that God used to bless them. The Clergy and wives retreat took place from 23rd to 27th January, 2023. We were richly blessed through our resource persons who ministered to us.

DIOCESAN MINISTRIES:

Diocesan Christian Men’s Fellowship: The Diocesan Men’s Fellowship is waxing stronger. It is necessary that the Men’s Fellowship be built up because it is important to the overall health of the family and the church. Fathers are the heads of families, they are covenant connectors, bearers of generational blessings, the Priests of the family altar and leaders in God’s Church. Therefore, men are encouraged to have statutory time for their fellowship and events so as to be nurtured in faith, identify their place in the ministry and mission of the local congregations, create time for recreation and hobbies, and for mutual support for one another. We charge each Archdeacon and Archdeaconry to encourage and build up the Men’s Fellowship and assign tasks to them. The Diocesan Executives were charged to produce our Diocesan Christian Men Fellowship Uniform. We are happy to announce that the CMF now have their uniform; they will use this during their Convention and Father’s Sunday on 18th June, 2023. Meanwhile, the Diocesan Convention will be held in June. We encourage the women and family members to celebrate the fathers and encourage them. As the Women Ministry is caring for the girls and young women, the CMF will take care of the Anglican Boys Fellowship of Abuja Diocese. They will work in collaboration with the Diocesan Women Ministry in caring for the Boys Fellowship.

Diocesan Women Ministry: The Women Ministry has continued to make giant strides through spiritual, social, educational and other Ministry events. They have held their Annual Retreats and Prayer Days. The Compass Rose Table Water factory is doing very well, though there are several challenges with power supply. In a recent test conducted by an independent organisation as to the quality of the table water in FCT Abuja, THE COMPASS ROSE TABLE WATER CAME OUT AS THE BEST QUALITY DRINKING WATER in the city of Abuja. It came out best among the others despite their names or packaging. It is important that we highlight this in our Synod and encourage our people to patronise the Compass Rose water. Every Diocesan, church programme and function, should serve our Compass Rose water.

We appreciate the Federal Government for siting the Women Skills Acquisition Centre in the Women Water factory compound. We hope that this project will soon be handed over to the Diocesan Women. We will ensure that the Training Centre functions maximally in empowering women and our young people. The Women Ministry has also purchased the machines for the production of the Holy Communion Wafer Bread and will soon commence production. They will be able to produce enough to meet the Communion needs of the Dioceses in Abuja Ecclesiastical Province. Please patronise them.

Youth and Children Ministry: The Children and Youth Ministry is doing very well. We have appointed Mrs. Eniola Adebulehin as the Coordinator for the Diocesan Children Ministry; the Rev. Canon George Agun is the Diocesan Coordinator for the Youth Church; the Rev. Jerry Markus is the Coordinator for the Diocesan Youth Empowerment Programme, Canon Nelson Akinwande is the Coordinator for our Secondary Schools Fellowships, the Ven. Ovie Ezimeruwe is the Coordinator of the Anglican Youth Fellowship while the Ven. Olayemi Fatusi will coordinate the students of tertiary institutions and their fellowships. These coordinators should work together and collaborate with the Vicars of our churches to mobilise the young people for optimum participation and contribution to the success of the Joshua Generation programme and the impactful Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Abuja. They have organised training programmes for teachers, and participated in national training programmes and events.

The Diocesan Evangelists Ministry: We must commend the Venerables Chima Okorie and Segun Akinola for effectively coordinating the Diocesan Evangelists. They have organised their Annual Retreat and Training programmes. Last year, we sent 14 evangelists who were selected through a very tough selection process to go for the Selection Conferences of the Anglican Theological Colleges. They have all been in training at different Theological Colleges since September 2022. The conduct and behaviour of some of the evangelists are making us to rethink on recruitment, training and deployment of evangelists. We will be disengaging those who have shown character and attitudes not in line with our calling in Ministry. It will be better for such persons to do secular work and be faithful Christians, than be in Church work and not be committed to the Ministry of the Church.

The Diocesan Lay Readers: The Diocesan Lay Readers are being coordinated by the Ven. Okpuno, but we direct the Ven. Okorie and Akinola to join him in coordinating the Lay Readers. Regular refresher programmes will be organised, and their posting will be centralised so as to send them to where they are most needed. The Diocesan Lay Readers will assist the Diocese in some of the newly planted churches and mission stations. During the last Michaelmas Ordination, we licensed new Lay Readers and renewed the Licenses of the old ones. We appreciate their zeal and labour of love for the Church of God. God will bless your ministry among us.

EDUCATION MISSION:

The Diocesan Education Management Board [DEMB]: The DEMB under the leadership of Dr. Sir MacJohn Nwabiala has been a very formidable Team in the management of our schools and all issues relating to education. They have organised refresher seminars for all our teachers, encouraged several enlightenment educational programmes for our schools and worked tirelessly to improve the welfare of the workers as well as the infrastructure in our schools. We must commend the Taskforce under the Ven. Peter Okunromade and the Ven. Steven Ejezie as well as the Director of Administration, the Ven. Benson Eyinagho, for sorting out critical issues in our schools. This Taskforce worked to give us clear operational directions and the implementation of the New Salary scale in our schools. In order to encourage the members of our Diocese, We have resolved that a rebate in the Tuition fees be granted to members who have more than two children in our Secondary schools. This was implemented in the 2022/2023 Academic Session. The handbook for all our Schools, the guidelines for all PTA and other publications on the operations of the Education Ministry of the Diocese are now available. We thank the DEMB for this good work.

DIOCESAN SCHOOLS:

Anglican Girls Grammar School, Gudu: We appreciate the efforts of the Management, Staff, students and our esteemed parents for their work and synergy that brought great improvement and progress in the school. We have experienced increase in student-enrolment and staff reappraisal for effectiveness. AGGS remains the flagship of the Diocesan schools and has performed excellently well in public examinations. We appreciate the contributions of the PTA and their executives. We request that the PTA of AGGS should collaborate in building a block of classrooms to improve our infrastructure to come to what obtains in other schools. The plan to establish an HSC for Advance Level programmes by the school is on course. We will soon commence work on the building designed for this as soon as we obtain the necessary approvals from the Development Authority. We are committed to overall improvement and growth of all our schools, and to see that they are centres of excellence in education, moral upbringing and Christian nurture, that will raise great leaders of the future.

All Saints Schools, Wuse: The new management team for this school is doing very well in repositioning the school. The impact is seen in the increase in population of the pupils and students. We have recruited more staff and are working on the infrastructure. The Diocesan has purchased a new bus for the school and refurbished the old one to meet up with increasing demands of our children. We need to improve on the facilities of the school, especially as we face inspections from the Ministry of Education. Our secondary school arm needs to be an Examination Centre for WAEC, NECO and other public examinations. The tussle and contentions with the PTA came to a head when the PTA Executives whose tenure had expired sought to embarrass the Diocese. This made the Proprietor to withdraw his recognition of the PTA in the school. This action will remain in place till we deem it right to start afresh.

Anglican International Academy, Zhidu: This is a growing and fledging School of international standard that belongs to the Anglican Communion. We are working to see that it is built up to stand out. We must express our profound gratitude to our Parishes that took on the challenge of executing projects in the school. In February, the Dignitaries took a decision that we need to tackle the issue of development and improvement of the school, using the interventionist approach. The Diocesan Board approved that we raise Fifty Million Naira to tackle critical infrastructure needs in the school. The AIA Project Taskforce was constituted as follows:

1. Ven. Stephen Ejezie  = Chairman

2. Ven. Ben Enwuchola  = Vice Chairman (Now Bishop of Otukpo)

3. Ven. Benson Eyinagho  = member

4. Ven. Festus Nwafili = member

5. Ven. Andrus Ukaejiofor          = member

6. Mrs. Ogunyowo Iyabo = member

7. Mrs. Ifeoma Nwakama = member

8. Arc. Arthur Oguegbulu = member

9. Engr. Samson Oderinde =  member

10. Engr. Ibe Maduabuchi =  member

This Team is doing a great work and we remain indebted to them. God will honour them in return.

The Parish Schools: Our Parish schools are doing very well. The supervision of DEMB has helped in improving the standards of these schools. We commend the Parishes and their local Education Committees for the sustained work and progress they are making. We hereby give this directive: All Diocesan Schools are to encourage our pupils to sit for the Common Entrance to our Diocesan Secondary Schools. We encourage our members to patronise our Secondary schools by enrolling their children therein.

HEALTH MISSION:

The Parish Clinics are functioning in some Parishes. We thank our Diocesan Guild of Medical practitioners, our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health technicians and other health workers. They have always been there to attend to our health needs in all our Diocesan and Church of Nigeria events and programmes, including this Synod.

We have constituted a Diocesan Health Supervisory Committee for our schools, under the chairmanship of Dr. T. Wakama, assisted by Dr. Henry Onwewu. They will assist in setting out the operational guidelines for the Sickbay in our schools, assist in procuring the necessary pharmaceuticals, and supervise the healthcare issues in our schools.

The Bethrapha Medical Centre project is being executed according to plan. We are making plans to have a partnership with some health organizations in America and Europe to help us in the healthcare delivery in the hospital as soon as we start operations. The aim is that Bethrapha Hospital will provide both medical health services and training facility for the healthcare professionals. We plead for your support and commitment to this vision until it is realised. The proceeds of this Synod will be for the Bethrapha Hospital project.

DIOCESAN TRAINING CENTRE, WUSE:

The DTC has come into full operation in the old Episcopal House in Wuse, Zone 5. The students are fully engaged with their studies. We thank the management team under Venerables Joshua Lambert and Segun Akinola. We announce to this Synod that the Diocesan Training Centre [DTC], Abuja, is now affiliated to St, Francis of Assisi Theological College Wusasa, Zaria, for the award of Certificates and Diploma in Pastoral and Theological Studies.

We mandate the DTC to start a Certificate Course for Women in both Theology and Christian Education. This course will give priority to pastors’ wives to train them in the basics of Church Ministry. We hope to pick some Clergy wives from that DTC Programme and sponsor them for further professional training in education for NCE and B.Ed. In this way, we shall develop the capacity of our Pastoral and Lay Ministerial Teams.

ABUJA DIOCESAN ANGLICAN COMPASSION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE [ADACADI]:

ACADI, our National Church faith-based organisation is doing very well. Her impact is being felt in the Church, as they tour the country to help Dioceses establish their own Diocesan FBOs. The launching of the NAWADA and the execution, is creating the needed awareness on the dangers of drug addiction and substance abuse. Indeed, with the magnitude of the problem, there is need that the Church of Nigeria should establish a Rehabilitation Centre for drug addicts. In addition to the War against Drug Addiction and Abuse, ACADI and ADACADI are starting a programme on Training and Economic Empowerment and Fight Against Malaria. We are partnering with some International Organisations to execute this Project.

We have since established our Abuja Diocesan Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative [ADACADI] and since their inception and leadership, under His Excellency, Ambassador Raff Bukun-Olu Wole Onemola, they have connected with our parishes. They work with ACADI to step down and implement the ACADI programmes and adapt them in our Diocese. They will work with ACADI to identify and work in communities to meet peculiar social and health challenges in our rural communities in the FCT, especially on Health Education, Dietary issues, sanitation and hygiene and preventive Health in Maternal and Child care in our churches.  The ADACADI Taskforce will include the following:

1. Amb. Raff Bukun-Olu Wole Onemola     =   Chairman

2. Mrs. Ebele Johnson =   Vice Chairperson

3. Evang. Chukwuebuka Ejackam        = Secretary

4. Mr. Chibuike Iroegbu    =  member

5. Rev. Canon Gabriel Joshua = member

6. Mr. Oluchukwu Obele                     = member

7. Mrs. Taiwo Oladosu = member

8. Mrs. Blessing Marcus = member

9. Mr. Ayo Ipinmoye =  Consultant

10. Dr. Peter Nmadu =  Consultant

INVESTMENTS:

Guest Houses: Renovation work has started in All Saints House, Wuse, Zone 3. The taskforce on the renovation of the All Saints Guest House, Wuse, Zone 3, led by Arc. Irene Erivwo have successfully got the Approval for the Renovation of the All Saints Schools, St. Jude’s Church and the Guest House. We are indeed very grateful. May God bless and reward all of you.

Chancel Press and Publications: This Diocesan Press is doing very well and we commend the Diocesan Investment Committee and the Management Team for their labour of love for the Church of God. We appreciate the high quality work they do and urge them to continue to improve until the press becomes the best in the City of Abuja. Let us remind all churches in the Diocese of Abuja, that all printing work of the congregations shall be handled by the Chancel Press. This is our own Diocesan Press.

DIOCESAN PROJECTS:

Bethrapha Hospital Project: This hospital project is in progress. The block work is completed and the work on the roofing, plastering and screeding will commence very soon. The proceeds of this Synod will be dedicated to pushing this project to a point of initial take-off. We appreciate the efforts and labour of the Diocesan Project Committee for the good work they are doing. We need to also build some Staff Quarters for the essential staff for the hospital and the School of Nursing Building and other Training facilities.

DIOCESAN LAND MATTERS: The Diocesan Land Committee is led by Barr. Paul Ayam. They have done a great work in following up on identifying the Diocesan Lands and rectifying the Documentations of all our Lands. The Diocesan Board has approved two Sundays: Last Sunday in June, and 1st Sunday in October, 2023, for our Diocesan Land Collections in which all income of the churches will be sent to the Diocesan Treasurer and special appeal will be made to our members to help the Diocese sort out our Land Bills. This is required of us all. God will bless you as you support this effort of the Diocese. We thank you for your support in 2022. We realised about Thirty Million Naira [N30m] and we have been able to settle the Ground Rents and other Bills for AGGS, All Saints Schools land, former Episcopal House Wuse, Cathedral Church of the Advent, All Saints Church Wuse Zone 5 and Church Guest House, Wuse.

We have constituted a special Land Taskforce in All Saints Church, Wuse and St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama, to tackle the land issues confronting us in these Churches. They have done very well and we commend them so much. On 14th December, 2022, the St. Matthew’s Church Taskforce was inaugurated under the Chairmanship of Prof. Jerry Gana. They have done well. We would have had a very stressful time with our new neighbour if not for the timely intervention of this Taskforce. We signed an MOU with them on 5th May, 2023. The Taskforce has set the goal of delivering all the essential documents in no distant time. We thank the Vicar, the PCC and the Taskforce and all the members of St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama.

DIOCESAN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING:

The youth empowerment programme which Baba Nicholas Okoh started in 2018/19 has been continued. In spite of the COVID-19, the Committee on the Carnival-for-Christ in November, 2020, organised a special workshop for Youth Empowerment. Through the help of Lady Priscila Eleje, we were able to invite the CBN to participate. This partnership has continued to yield fruit in the sponsorship of some our young people in their drive to be financially independent as well as employment for others. The Diocese has been able to give out machines and equipment to assist some of our members to establish their own income-generating ventures. We must commend Rev. Jerry Markus and his team. Rev. Canon Levi, a Director in SMELDAN, will join this Diocesan Youth Empowerment Team.

In order to sustain the training and empowerment of our youth, in 2021, the Diocese through the Archdeaconries sponsored about 15 youths in a 9-month training programme in Peter Akinola’s Youth Skill Acquisition Institute, Abeokuta. In 2022, we sent 18 young people and some Diocesan Evangelists. The goal is that we shall empower young people as well as women with skills to start economic ventures that will sustain their families. The Diocese will run the Skill Acquisition Centre being built in Lugbe, in partnership with the Women Ministry. In November 2023, we hope to establish a Diocesan Workshop to absorb some of those we are training in Abeokuta. As part of the Hospital Building project, we have acquired two block-moulding machines that are moulding blocks at the site. This will grow into our Diocesan Building Team to support the construction work of the Dioceses and even the University Project in Kwaita, Abuja. We solicit your prayers and support for the Youth Empowerment drive of our Diocese.

CLERGY WELFARE:

Clergy Wives’ Allowances: This has been sustained in the Diocese and we appreciate the support of all our churches. However, all Clergy wives who are not resident in Abuja and as such, not serving with their husbands in the demands of the Parish Ministry, will no longer benefit from this allowance.

Burial Rights for Clergy and Wives: We appointed a small Team to look into the responsibilities expected from the Parish, Archdeaconry and Diocese in the case of the demise of a Clergy or a Clergy wife. The recommendation has been adopted and also included in the New Diocesan Conditions of Service which the Diocesan Board has approved. This document will be printed and made available to all Clergy in the Diocese.

Clergy Welfare and Health Insurance: In order to improve on the access to good healthcare by the Clergy, irrespective of where they serve, we have processed a registration with the FCT Health Insurance. We request that all Clergy should register as required. Every Clergy family should fill the form and return them through their Archdeacons for onward processing.

Diocesan Review of Salary: There is need for us to review the Salary of the workers in the Diocese in view of the present economic realities of our time. Several options have been weighed and we shall implement the increase in phases as already approved by the Diocesan Board.

Diocesan Clergy Chancel Housing Scheme: The Diocesan Board has approved the establishment of a Diocesan Housing Scheme which shall have a statutory registration with the CAC and participate in the Federal Mortgage programme. These processes have been completed and soon the Clergy will commence the process of individual registration and also to meet the set conditions for participation in the Housing Scheme. However, we must note that those who are 60 years and above are not eligible.

DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION:

Transfer of Clergy: Please see the appendix for the current disposition of the Clergy in the Diocese of Abuja.

Restructuring of Parishes:

We have restructured some Parishes to be contiguous to the Archdeaconries geographically. This is to enhance effective supervision rather than being under the Archdeaconry that founded them. Part of this exercise was to create some New Mission Parishes as follows:

Angwan-Rogo Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Ven. Joseph Unuayan; Congregations: St. Silas Anglican Church, Angwan-Rogo, St. Philip’s Church, Guyidna, Anglican Church, Karomajiji.

Waru Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Ven. Joseph Chigbogwu; Congregations: St. Andrew’s, Waru, St. George’s, Takushara, Bethel Church, Mararaba Takushara, Anglican Church, Zidhyna, St. Mary’s Church, Wassa and Anglican Church, Madala.

 Ketti Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Ven. Oliver Ofoegbu; Congregations: St. John’s Church, Ketti, St. Mark’s Church, Kuyizhi, St. Joseph’s Church, Takalafiya 1, Church of Holy Cross, Gofe and Anglican Church, Dagaje.

Jabi Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Rev. Harrison Iwuoha; Congregations: St. Philip’s Church, Daikibiyu, St. Matthew’s Church, Jabi.

Wumba Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Rev. Isaiah Oluwaniyi; Congregation: Emmanuel Anglican Church, Wumba.

Jahi Mission Parish; Parish Priest: The Rev. Bitrus Bako; Congregations: St. Barnabas Church, Jahi 1, St. Matthew’s Church, Jahi 2, St. Mark’s Church, Kado-Kuchi.

Internal Auditors: The need for prudent management of the resources at our disposal cannot be over-emphasised. We have therefore appointed The Ven. Stephen Ejezie, The Ven. Benson Eyinagho and Mr. Padmoore Obinna Oguzie as our Diocesan Internal Auditors with immediate effect.

Diocesan Project Monitoring Taskforce: The Ven. Peter Okunromade, The Ven. Stephen Ejezie and The Ven. Benson Eyinagho are leading the Diocesan Project Monitoring Taskforce. They will supervise all Diocesan Projects and assess the progress and value for our money expended on all Diocesan Projects. They will report to the Primate and Diocesan Board.

PASTORAL VISITS AND EVENTS:

In the period under review, we visited all the Archdeaconries for Confirmation and Admission of new members into the Women’s Guild and Mothers Union. There is a remarkable improvement in the level of the preparation of candidates. But more attention must be paid to our rural and mission field churches. There is need for us to learn the basic Doctrines of the Church as set forth in the Catechism and Holy Bible. Those who come for confirmation must be baptized and their Marriages blessed, if they are married. Marriage in the Church is required of those to be admitted into the Women’s Guild and Mothers Union. The dates for the Confirmation and Admissions for 2023 will be given to the Dignitaries.

The Church building of St. John’s Anglican Church, Ketti, Abuja, has been dedicated, but their New Vicarage will be dedicated very soon.

HOSTING OF THE JOSHUA GENERATION INTERNATIONAL MISSION CONFERENCE 2023:

The Second Joshua Generation International Youth Mission Conference was held at Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, from 18-22 April, 2022. We thank all Bishops and Archbishops, Dioceses and individuals for prayers and financial as well as personal support and commitment to this movement. It is a Mission aimed at reaching out to our young people in a holistic way in order to empower them to reach out with the Message of Salvation and Hope to their peers and the communities around them within and outside Nigeria. We had about 34,000 youths who participated at the Conference. The young people are the future of the family, Church and Nation and we need to invest everything into them. They must take over leadership now so as to lead us into the future. God shall restore our young people and bring back our sons and daughters.

Some of our workers who have served for more than fourteen years nominated for the Diocesan Long Service Award. The presentations will be done during the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 29th May, 2023.

ABUJA PROVINCIAL MATTERS:

Mission and Ministry: The Province of Abuja has the Mission of the Proclamation of the Gospel and Ministry of the Word, Prayer and the Sacraments as the core Tasks of the Church. We thank God that in 2021, the AYF went to support the Missionary outreach of the Diocese of Zaki Biam. God granted them success in spite of the challenges. The Outreach of 2022 was at the Diocese of Kwoi. We thank the Provincial AYF and others for mobilising funds and people for the outreach. It is best done before the rains come and farming season starts.

Provincial Clergy Conference, 2022: The Rt. Rev. Markus Dogo, the Bishop of Kafanchan and his Team, planned and wonderfully executed the first Provincial Clergy Conference for all the Clergy in Abuja Province from Monday, 9th to Thursday, 12th May, 2022. The Theme was “Walking with God in Challenging Ministry Situation” [Exodus 32; 2Timothy 2:1-7]. We were richly blessed through the Resource Persons. The Council will decide how frequently we can hold the Conference. God will continue to bless the work of His servant in Abuja Province.

Youth and Children Work: Bishop Moses Tagbwaye of Gwagwalada Diocese and his Team, have done well in coordinating the work of the Youth and Children. They organised a training for our Children Ministry Teachers in the Province and mobilised them for the National Conference and Training last year. They have also planned for their work which we have approved. Please keep this fire burning. We need to invest more into recruiting, training, mentoring and deploying teachers and leaders for our Youth Organisations and Children Teachers. There is need to intentionally work to galvanise and train our Boys and Girls Brigade and deploy them for Mission and security in our Churches in the Dioceses. Our Provincial Brigade must be encouraged to do more. Our Provincial Team for Youth will help us harness the potentials in our uniformed Youth Organisations and organise a Provincial Training Camp for the Officers of Boys and Girls Brigade.

Translation of Teaching and Worship Materials

Bishop Jacob Kwashi is coordinating the work of Translation of the Devotionals, Bible Study, Worship as well as other materials in the three Zones of our Province namely, Abuja, Benue and Southern Kaduna Zones. Some work was done in 2021 and 2022. It is encouraging to note that the Abuja Team embarked on the translation of some materials into Gbagyi. As soon as they finish the editorial work, we shall seek for the printing and distribution for use in our communities. We have also set out to intentionally engage with the Community and Traditional leaders within the FCT. The Anglican Church must be rooted in our local host communities.

Trauma Counseling Training: We are greatly indebted to Bishop M. Dogo and his Team for organising the Trauma Training for our Clergy and some lay leaders in the three zones of Abuja Province. An American Missionary couple who specialised in this Trauma training worked with their team. We thank the Dioceses that hosted this training and pray God to bless them. This training should be stepped down to our Diocese and parishes so that we can raise in every community, a team of Community Helpers who will assist our people whenever there is need. The Bishops of Kubwa and Gwagwalada have been very instrumental in organising the Abuja Provincial training for the Faith-based Organisation in our Dioceses.

Northern Pastorate Fund for Mission, Training and Development: At the meeting of the Northern Bishops in Jos in 2020, we resolved to establish the Northern Pastorate Fund for Mission, Training of Pastors, Education and Welfare of Pastors. When compared with the Joint Council of the East and the Supra-West Council, the Supra-North Provinces and Dioceses have no Investment and no Pension and Welfare that is jointly owned. We need to build back, strengthen ourselves in the Lord and hand over a united and strong Supra-North to the future generation. The attacks and devastations in the North seek to destroy the Christian Communities and churches and we must be strong!

CHURCH OF NIGERIA MATTERS

Standing Committee Meetings: The Church of Nigeria Standing Committee meetings were hosted by the Diocese of Abuja in September 2022, and Kubwa in February 2023. We shall hold the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria in Nnewi in September 2023. We pray for God’s protection for His people.

Sundry Work of the Church of Nigeria: The LORD has been there for us. All that we set out to do as Taskforce, Committees, and Tasks are going according to plans. The Implementation Committee of the Anglican University of Technology, Kwaita, under the leadership of Prof. Jerry Gana is doing very well. We have started the physical development of the site. The Committee has also made much progress in meeting the requirements of the National Universities Commission, NUC. Work will soon start on the building of the Anglican Conference Centre in Piyakasa, FCT, Abuja.

The Committee on the Rehabilitation and Repositioning of the CSS Companies Ltd is on course in achieving their assigned duties. Very soon, Dioceses will be required to buy shares in the CSS Holding Company.

The Church of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution Taskforce which was constituted at Evo under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Abraham Georgewill, has recorded some successes in resolving some problems in some Dioceses within the Church of Nigeria. We give glory to God Almighty!

The efforts of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee are yielding fruits. The return of The Ven. Solomon Adewumi to the Anglican Communion has been a healing move. Many people who left the Church of Nigeria to the Orthodox Church have come back. We have received, reoriented and integrated about 38 Priests and Bishops from the Orthodox Church and more will soon be cleared for reintegration. We shall continue to work for peace within the Household of God.

THE TWELFTH SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF ABUJA, 2023 TO 2025:

The Synod of 2023 is being hosted by St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama; that of 2024 will be hosted by Basilica of Grace, Gudu; and for 2025, we shall go to Gwarimpa Archdeaconry.

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS OF THE 12th SYNOD:

In line with the Constitution of the Diocese of Abuja, the Election of the Officers and Delegates were held yesterday and the Following were Elected and Appointed:

The Chancellor: Hon. Henry Odein Agimogobia

The Registrar:  Barr. Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni

Deputy Registrar: Barr. Betty Umegbulam

Registrar for Lands: Barr. Paul Ayam

Clerical Synod Secretary:

Lay Synod Secretary:

Advisers: Medical: Dr. T.T Wakama, Dr. Andrew Imogu, Dr. Henry Onwuewu

Diocesan Engineers:   Engr. Ibe Maduabuchi; Engr. Adewale Adesola,

Architects: Arc Irene Erivwo,

Surveyors:

Quantity Surveyor: Mrs. Mercy Iyotyer

Environment and Ecology: Mrs. Ogechi Igbokwe

Investments: Mrs. Priscila Eleje

Education: Sir Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala; Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede

Bishop’s Nominees: See Appendix

APPOINTMENTS:

Diocesan Project Committee: Engr. Adewale Adesola, [Chairman] Engr. Maduabuchi Ibe, Arc. Irene Erivwo, Mrs. Mercy Iyotyer

Rev. Canon Smart Simon is appointed as Chaplain to the Christian Men’s Fellowship and the Anglican Boys Fellowship.

OUR GRATITUDE: All thanks and praise go to God Almighty who has done wondrously and graciously for us. He has done that which is beyond our comprehension. To God immortal belongs all glory forever! We are indebted to all the Archbishops and Bishops as well as their wives, for your prayers and support. We appreciate the Dignitaries and their wives, Diocesan Officials and the Diocesan Board for your support and working together. The Clergy and Evangelists, their wives, as well as Laity of the Diocese of Abuja have been so supportive and encouraging. Your generosity was greatly extended to us and our family. We are indeed very grateful for the great support, gifts, prayers and visits. May God remember everyone and bless you abundantly. We thank all who have supported the work and Ministry in the Diocese of Abuja. God will reward your sacrifice. We thank The Ven. Festus Nwafili, the PCC and members of St. Matthew’s Church, Maitama, for your generosity and hospitality in hosting this First Session of the Twelfth Synod of the Diocese of Abuja.

We thank all the individuals and families who have given to our Parishes and supported the Diocesan Projects. We are grateful to Chief Afolabi and his family for investing in building the Multi-purpose Hall for our Anglican International Academy.  God will remember every one of you and bless you abundantly.

OUR JOYS:  We rejoice with our Clergy who married recently such as The Ven. and Mrs. Joshua Lambert, The Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Marcus, The Rev. and Mrs. Titus. We also rejoice with those blessed with new born babies, such as The Rev. Canon and Mrs. Smart Simon, The Rev. and Dr. Mrs. Obum Nnadi, and The Rev. and Mrs. James Anene. We also celebrate with members who have been blessed with new babies, new promotions, appointments and God’s intervention and help. Finally, we share in the joys of those whose sons and daughters graduated from schools of learning.

SORROWS: We stand with all who lost their loved ones and we express our condolences for their bereavement, especially, the loss of some of serving and retired Bishops such as The Most. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, The Rt. Rev. Jolly Ehigiator Oyekpen of Akoko Edo, The Rt. Rev. David Obiosa of Ndokwa Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Jonathan Bamaiyi of Katsina Diocese, The Most Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa, The Rt. Rev. Rufus  Morakinyo Okeremi former bishop of Ife East, the late Mama Olajide, Ibadan Diocese, and members of our Parishes in Abuja Diocese and the Church of Nigeria.

EPILOGUE: The Saints of Old who walked with God lived in Faith and acted in faith.  Hebrews 11 can be likened to a Hall of Fame of Faith, of men and women who walked with God in Faith. “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  The journey of Faith transcends the physical challenges, limitations or problems that may confront individual believers or the Church of any given period. It is clear that when such challenges are confronted in faith, they open doors for great testimonies. God’s intervention in challenges of life always build both life and faith. As it is always said “No Trial, No Testimony” and “Battles surround the birth of Miracles,” therefore, we shall not be afraid of challenges and trials, because when confronted in faith, they become the raw materials for the great work of God and building of our faith in the Living God.

The Risen Lord Jesus Christ lives and walks along with each believer and family in the narrow paths of life. We need to cherish the Word of God, take time to read, meditate and allow it to shape our thoughts, life and actions. We need to appreciate and explore the act of talking to God in Prayer, the Fellowship and worship with fellow believers, and to celebrate the Sacraments of our Redemption of Baptism and the Holy Communion. Above all, we must give our lives to Christ and daily follow in His steps, walking along with Jesus in life and character. This is the sure way to live.  Proclaiming the Gospel of the power of God is the way to be a Living Church in a dying world, for it is the Power of God to all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile. The Church of God lives by Mission to the world. Proclaiming Christ faithfully to the world and living under the authority and guidance of the Word of God is the way to go. As we journey through life and the confusion of our time and generation, the only and most reliable companion and guide is Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord of the Church. “For this God is our God for ever and ever, He will be our guide even to the end” [Psalm 48: 14]. In 1745, a Welsh Priest, The Rev. Peter Williams aptly put it in the Hymn:

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but Thou art mighty,

Hold me with Thy powerful hand:

Bread of Heaven, Feed me now and ever more. [2x]

Thank you for your patience and attention. May God bless you so very richly!

Your Brother and Friend:

++ Henry Ndukuba

 Communion. These warnings were blatantly and deliberately disregarded and now without repentance this tear cannot be mended.

The latest of these departures is the majority vote by the General Synod of the Church of England in February 2023 to welcome proposals by the bishops to enable same-sex couples to receive God’s blessing.  It grieves the Holy Spirit and us that the leadership of the Church of England is determined to bless sin.

Since the Lord does not bless same-sex unions, it is pastorally deceptive and blasphemous to craft prayers that invoke blessing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Any refusal to follow the biblical teaching that the only appropriate context for sexual activity is the exclusive lifelong union of a man and a woman in marriage violates the created order (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6) and endangers salvation (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Public statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other leaders of the Church of England in support of same-sex blessings are a betrayal of their ordination and consecration vows to banish error and to uphold and defend the truth taught in Scripture.

These statements are also a repudiation of Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, which declared that ‘homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture,’ and advised against the ‘legitimising or blessing of same sex unions’. This occurred despite the Archbishop of Canterbury having affirmed that ‘the validity of the resolution passed at the Lambeth Conference 1998, I.10 is not in doubt and that whole resolution is still in existence’.

The 2022 Lambeth Conference demonstrated the deep divisions in the Anglican Communion as many bishops chose not to attend and some of those who did withdrew from sharing at