The Anglican Communion, Diocese of Umuahia, has conferred the ‘Ambassador of Christ’ Award on the 2023 APGA candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Ogbonna Abarikwu,the APC candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency,Barr Anderson Akaniro and others.
In her 2022 Father’s Day Celebration, the Church of the Epiphany, Lodu, Ndume-Ibeku, in Umuahia North Local Government Area, honoured Chief Abarikwu and two others with the award of Ambassadors of Christ.
The 2022 Father’s Day celebration with the theme, ‘Salvation Has Come’, featured, music, drama, dance,catechism and several other activities to mark the event.
In his sermon, the Priest in-charge, Rev Liberty Gbaruko, admonished Christians to be committed in their walk with God.
According to him,they should seek after God with all sense of humility, stressing that God resist the proud.
Rev Gbaruko further stated that the Father’s Day celebration should be a turning point for those who still shy away from their fatherly responsibilities.
Taking his text from Luke 19:9,with the theme, Salvation has Come, the Priest said no one can become acquainted with Jesus or accept His offer of salvation and at the same time remain sinful, dishonest and uncharitable towards others.
The cleric stressed the need for all to receive Christ like Zacchaeus and be saved.
While congratulating father’s on their celebration, prayed God to continue to protect and preserve them, praying that fathers who are still cut in the web of drunkennes, infidelity,idol worship and immorality, would seek after Christ.
In his speech, the chairman of the 2022 Father’s Day Planning Committee,Sir Joshua Nnanyerem Ogbonna, congratulated fathers all over the world for being alive to witness another father’s day celebration.
He said fathers are saddled with enormous responsibilities,ranging from parenting to provisions for the family, urging them to endeavour to meet up with their duties and as well, raise godly children, as a failure on that part,could have a negative effect on the children, which will in turn have effect on the society.
Presenting the Awards of “Ambassadors of Christ”, to Ogbonna Abarikwu, Barr Kelechi Anderson Akaniro and Comr Nnamdi Ohaeri, Sir Joshua Ogbonna said the Church decided to honour some Abians who have distinguished themselves in various fields,as well as made diverse contributions to the development of the society.
Reacting, Abarikwu, expressed happiness over the recognition from the church, particularly at a time he is aspiring for a political position.
He promised not to disappoint the church but be a worthy custodian of the honour bestowed on him.
Abarikwu, however, advised fathers to be diligent in their roles as fathers and husbands, catering for their wives and training godly seeds, adding that fathers should comport themselves in an exemplary manner,so that their children can learn good examples from them.
He pleaded that Government should call off the strike,so that students can return to school,as their continuous stay at home,can breed negative vices.
Barr Kelechi Akaniro said fathers should give attention to the wellbeing of their children,as well, provide for their family, adding that when they rise up to their duties, caution their children aright, then the society would be better.
