By Akuma Ebere
No fewer than 35 new Reverends have been added to the number of clergy serving in the National Holy Ghost Church of Christ INT’L by virtue of priestly ordination and issuance of decree of consecration.
Reverends Joel .C.Okeke and Anaene Okoye were also elected Bishops which the official consecration will take place on November 2024.
Speaking during the service of ordination and licensing, the Archbishop of National Holy Ghost Church of Christ, His Grace Archbishop Prof Cynthia Adaoma Josephson who ordained the new priests at All Souls Cathedral, Ubaha Ndiowu Orumba North LGA Anambra State, on Sunday ,16 June 2024 congratulated them on the privilege of being called to serve in vineyard of the Lord.
She reminded the newly ordained priests that priesthood was a divine call to share in a more intimate manner the priesthood of Christ, adding that priests were called by God to live lives of service to others to be credible shepherds ready to take on the world.
Archbishop Josephson said that the newly ordained priests are on Christ’s mission of saving the lost and better described as “souls winners” not as a “breadwinners “. He, therefore, charged them to serve God in truth and sincerity.
“As you strive to fulfill your vocation, I urge you to trust in God’s providence and serve Him in truth and sincerity which are the only way to save lives and have authority over Satan. I pray that the grace to rekindle daily, the gift of God you received with the laying-on of hands sustain you,” she said.
In a swift reaction while answering a question on what inspired her to pursue a career in ministry, Primate Josephson said:
“I was a member of Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement before I got married to my husband, Archbishop Prof Dennis
“Ikechukwu Josephson who was the founder of National Holy Ghost Church of Christ in the year 1964, May 26. He became an Archbishop in 2009. I became Reverend after I got married to him, so life continued till the year 2015 when my darling husband had stroke.
“In 2016, he told me that he wants to do what the holy spirit administered to him since 2014 ,he brought out olive oil and anointed me and said that God told him to make me the General Overseer and Archbishop of this great church. My husband had gone to be with the Lord.
“By the grace of God ,he was laid to rest on 21 May 2021. Since then it has not been easy, but God has been my strength and today He gave me the grace to ordain 35 Reverends to the glory of God.
“Although this is not the first consecration I have performed since my assumption of duties as the Archbishop.
“In 2016, I consecrated 14 Bishops and 14 Reverends and in 2022, I elevated the first female Archbishop of Liberia and by God’s grace the ministry is 60 years this year, “she concluded.
In his appreciation one of the Bishops- elect, Revd. Okeke thanked God for finding him worthy to be called a servant of God, assuring to work in accordance with the God’s principles and words in discharging his duties in His Vineyard.
He thanked Archbishop Prof Josphenson whom God used to elevate him to the Bishop position, just as he saluted his provincial Bishop, Bishop Dr Chukwudi Anyaene for his fatherly roles and his contributions towards his journey to position of a Bishop.
Bishop Joel Okeke equally thanked his lovely wife ,Mrs Chinelo Okeke Joel , children and everyone that witnessed his ordination as Reverend and Bishop -elect and prayed that God’s blessings will follow them all.
In their separate remarks, the Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police, Peter I. Muo (Rtd) and Anambra South Provincial Bishop, Bishop Chukwudi Anyaene thanked everyone for coming and described the ordination as God’s doing,Even as they urged the newly ordained Priests to remember that their authority comes not from them but from God and charged them to humble themselves before God and His people.
Among special guests of honour were;Bro Sunday U. Ezenwanezi, Bishop Dr. Uche Ifejilika, Bishop Dr. Steven Egbochukwu, Bishop Oscar Osemeka and others.
