The Anglican primate said the church must rise to the realities confronting Nigerians by extending support to vulnerable people and impacting lives positively.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily– The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba, has urged Nigerians not to surrender to the country’s growing challenges of insecurity, poverty and fear, but to become agents of peace and hope in their communities.
Ndukuba, who is also the Bishop of Abuja, made the call on Friday at the opening of the first session of the 13th Synod of the Abuja Diocese held in Abuja.
Addressing participants at the gathering, the Anglican primate said the church must rise to the realities confronting Nigerians by extending support to vulnerable people and impacting lives positively.
“Given our context of ministry in Nigeria, in a time when people are suffering, in a time of insecurity, in a time of much fear, in a time of much hunger and poverty, it is necessary for us to make ourselves available, not only to God, but also to the people around us, to be instruments of God’s peace, God’s power, touching lives and situations and families,” he said.
He explained that the synod was centred on preparing believers for service to both God and humanity, noting that Christianity must go beyond worship to practical impact on society.
According to him, Christians must return to God, remain committed to His word and submit themselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to influence the nation positively.
“Our prayer is that as we gather in this conference, God will so bless us that as we rise from this place, we will not only stand in the place of prayer, we will also be people who return back to the word of God, but also being teachable and being empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we will be able to touch the lives of the people around us,” Ndukuba stated.
Expressing confidence that Nigeria would overcome its present difficulties, he declared that, “God will deliver our nation and God will help our people.”
He further said, “God will so strengthen us that in the face of challenges we will stand strong to declare the counsel and excellence of our God.”
The primate also noted that the 13th Synod marked the beginning of another three-year cycle for the Abuja Diocese, during which new officers and leaders would be elected to oversee the affairs of the church.
In his sermon, Ven. Titilope Ogbonyomi said the teachings and presentations at the synod were intended to awaken participants spiritually and prepare them to discern God’s direction for the church at a critical time.
Speaking on the theme, “The Priesthood of All Believers, Equipping People for the Work of Ministry,” Ogbonyomi stressed the need for Christians to understand the true meaning of priesthood and the implication of Apostle Peter’s description of believers as “a royal priesthood.”
He warned against what he described as the gradual erosion of the true meaning of being a believer in contemporary society, arguing that changing cultural values and societal pressures were redefining truth and distorting God’s intentions for humanity.
“The believer is not defined by culture, opinion, or popular trends, but by a living relationship with Jesus Christ and complete submission to His Lordship,” he said.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Etiaba, described the synod as a period of reflection and evaluation for the Anglican Communion.
“Synod is a time of soul searching for the Anglican Communion. It’s a time to take account of what has gone on in the previous year, what is going on now, and where the church will go in the next one year,” he said.
Also speaking, Ambassador Godknows Igali said the Abuja Synod carried national significance because the seat of the Anglican primate is located in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the gathering was focused on discussing how Christians could be better prepared to serve the country and contribute meaningfully to society.
He disclosed that about 600 delegates, including bishops and clergy, were participating in the synod to deliberate on issues affecting both the church and the nation.
Igali also described St. James Anglican Church Asokoro, venue of the synod, as strategically important because of its location within Asokoro, home to major national institutions including the Presidential Villa.
On her part, Justice Sybil Gbagi also expressed optimism that the synod would further strengthen the church and the Christian community in Abuja.