The new priests undergoing the rituals of ordination
By David Onwuchekwa
The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Rt Rev Ephraim Ikeakor has explained why he spends so much on Bible reading competitors as he ordained seven new priests in the Diocese.
Bishop Ikeakor while conducting the ordination ceremony of the seven priests including his Media Manager in the Diocese, Rev Ugochukwu Godswill Umeakuana, recognized and handsomely rewarded youths in senior and junior categories of Bible reading in the Diocese who performed wonderfully well in the competition.
Ordination in progress
The Bishop, in line with the Biblical injunction charged the newly ordained priests to go and make disciples of all nations, asking them to be mindful of pursuit of material things against their growth and spiritual well-being of the worshipers.
Members of the Knight and others in church
“As they tell you in other denominations that the success of a pastor depends on the type of and fleet of cars and the landed property he has, we appeal to you to disregard that. Jesus is our Role Model in the ministry.
Bishop Ikeakor in the process of the ordination
“He told us to go and make disciples of all nations. Faithfulness is all encompassing. You should be faithful in your calling, in your service and worship of God.
“Live the life that is worthy of a pastor in word and indeed, “Bishop Ikeakor charged the new priests.
Rev Umeakuana receiving guests at his stand after the ordination
“The greatest sermon any preacher, priest including Bishop can preach is the sermon of the 1 Corinthians 11:1.
Paul said: “Imitate me just as I Imitate Christ. Let us be models in everything on behalf of the congregation, “Bishop Ikeakor admonished.
On the Bible reading competition, he said: “There’s a great spiritual foundation. Satan and his agents are dragging our young people to idolatry and one of the instruments of allurement is money.
“If they can give children money to come and worship idol, I can make it higher so that, even though you are not worshipping God with money, you encourage them, that they can be blessed financially by worshipping God, reading the Bible and by being committed to the church.
“So, we have no regrets, we will spend more to bring them into the church and bring them to God, “he added.
He called on the well-to-do in the Diocese and beyond to partner with the church to make a positive impact on the people.
“They should not depend on government that has failed the people. Let the church not fail them.
“Let them come home and donate sacrificially and I promise them that they have the right to ask how the money they donated is used. If I feel offended in giving explanations, you know fraud has come in.
” Let them partner with us to rescue our young people and redirect them to God to save them from idolatry, the Bishop concluded.
In his comments on the ordination, one of the newly ordained priests, Rev Umeakuana expressed gratitude to His Lordship, Bishop Ikeakor for being used by God for them to actualize their dreams.
He disclosed that his becoming a priest is not by accident but a design by God. He said it has been his childhood desire to work in God’s vineyard.
” I use my training as a communicator to communicate Christ. Everything is the way God has designed it in my life.
“The ministry we are called into is to act as a prophet, priest and a pastor. These offices have different roles to play in the propagation of the gospel.
“I implore my fellow servants in the vineyard that we should endeavor to play those roles. Let’s serve Him with all our hearts because this God rewards.
“If we can serve Him obediently, He is going to reward us. We should give our best knowing that the God we serve always expects the best from us, “he added.
The winner of the first position in the Bible reading competition in senior category is a 300 Level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Accountancy Department, Mr Godsvictory who went home with the sum of N700,000; N500,000 goes to the second position while the third person was rewarded with N350,000; among other consolation prizes.
Also in the junior category, Miss Nwadiliora Favour, a student of Holychild Convention, Amichi, won the first position and was rewarded with N500,000; N300,000 went to the second position; and N250 went to the third position in addition to consolation prizes to other runners-up.
