The Methodist of Bishop of Ihube diocese, the Right Revd.Dr Chinonyerem Ekebuisi has kicked against the distortions of Holy order and use of some articles of the Christian Faith as objects of caricature and warned skit makers in the country who are involved to refrain from such ungodly act.
The right Revd. Ekebuisi who gave the warning during his state of the nation address at the 16th synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, diocese of Ihube called on the church to be alive to its responsibility by opposing such attacks on the Christianity.
The Bishop who thanked God for the gradual peace and security which is are now returning to communities within the diocese, precisely Ihube and Chieze noted that there has been reduced crime rate in the areas which has also seen businesses picking up again.
Speaking on the theme of the synod and conference “Arise and Build” which is contained in Nehemiah 2:18, the bishop harped on importance of undertaking every divine mission, restoration and renewal, community involvement, Faith and Action, Unity in diversity as well as stewardship and responsibility which were exemplified by the Biblical Nehemiah.
Delivering his address at the synod, the Lay President of the Methodist Diocese of Ihube, Barrister Prince Ebere Nwokoro challenged the church to find a sustainable pathway of generating income outside the offering plate to enable to Church “Arise and Build”, pointing that it has become less feasible to fund their mission and programme on tithes and offerings alone.
Lay President Nwokoro who went on to inform the synod delegates that the foundation stone of Wesley Academy Chieze has been laid, stressed the need for building of missions schools at all levels within the diocese with a primary motive of transforming their communities while at the same becoming a veritable source of revenue that can help the church expand its reach and create opportunities for evangelism.
He also decried the issue of financial mismanagement that has unfortunately plagued some of the
local churches and circuits leading to scandals and skepticism at the grassroots while commending the effort being made by the Diocesan leadership to create and improve effective financial controls particularly the introduction of the Diocesan Monitoring Office Scheme.
Prince Nwokoro who concluded by appreciated the delegates at the 15th Synod for finding him worthy of being elected as their Lay President, also thanked the good people of Ihube – the traditional custodians of the land which hosted the synod as well as extended his thoughts and prayers to those who lost loved ones to the mayhem that befell the land in recent years and those whose wellbeing, income and livelihood have suffered in multitude of ways and are still being affected by the sad events.
He prayed that God will bring back permanent peace to Ihube, heal the wounds and unite all in the knowledge of His son Jesus Christ.
