The Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland has enjoined Christians to eschew malice and envy, warning that nurturing such emotions could hinder the effectiveness of prayers. The Bishop, Diocese of Ifo, Reverend Nathaniel Ogundipe, said this at the rededication programme of St Jude Cathedral Church, Ebute Meta, last week.

In his sermon, the Bishop noted that the cathedral was built for the purpose of serving God and seeking for his intervention in face of plethora of challenges before humanity.

He said: “We must leave behind malice and hypocrisy as these are hindrances to prayers. For our prayers to be accepted, we must come to God with pure and clean minds. When you come to God in this cathedral, you must put off your old self, which has been corrupted and put on new self that embraces peace and love.”

Emphasising the need to be closer to God, especially in these trying times, Ogundipe noted that only prayers can solve the nation’s challenges, lamenting that the country’s safety is being compromised, as unemployment is driving the youths to crime for survival.

He said: “We are sick as a nation and Nigeria is no longer safe. As we come to this church, I urge everyone to pray fervently for our leaders, especially as we rededicate this building to God’s service. Let us also remember our graduates who are finding it hard to get jobs and are becoming vulnerable to heinous crimes. Let us put them in prayers so that they can find God’s support and guidance.”

He also urged the government to wake up to its responsibilities by finding solutions to the nation’s nosediving economy, which is “making life extremely difficult for many people.”