Be True Ambassadors Of Christ On Earth, Alile Urges Ministers

SAINT Joseph’s Chosen Church of God (SJCCG), Cowan Estate, Ajagbodudu, Delta State, has produced its first female apostle since its 69 years of existence.

This is coming two years after it ordained its first set of female ministers. The consecration, which was performed by the Spiritual Leader of the Church, Apostle Hayford Alile, on Patience Nohuoma Alile and six others as apostles and 31 pastors, held during the 57th yearly conference of the church in Sapele, Warri.

The other candidates elevated to the posts of apostles in a very colourful ceremony two Sunday ago included the church’s General Secretary, Levi Okwukwe Ogbonna, Ezekiel Ahamefule, Kenneth Osanebi, Geoffrey Owiriwa, George Ogbondamati and Peter Okwute Apugo.

In his sermon titled: “The journey so far, Where do we go from here? the officiating minister, Apostle Hayford Alile counseled the newly ordained ministers on their special duties to the Church of God and the public. He enjoined them to be true ambassadors of Jesus Christ on earth, while reminding them that the church is a spiritual place, where the Holy Spirit speaks and reveals events/issues to ministers and the church through the prophets, prophetesses, seers and dreamers.

Said he: “the church believes in divine health and divine healing as a way of life. The garment, rod or staff and the method of ordination in the church were all given to us directly by God.”

Reminding them of their cardinal responsibilities as shepherd of the church, the Spiritual Leader noted: “You are the representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ and through you, His finished works are made manifest to the church and the entire world. In other words, you are His ambassadors. As a peculiar person, you radiate the light of God to the entire world without which the world cannot see. Without you, the world cannot be sweet. You are soul winners or fishers of men as well as seekers of the lost.”

He enjoined them to live in a blameless way by always being in the spirit, fighting in the spirit and being clothed in the spirit, soul and body with the whole armour of God for both offensive and defensive attacks.

Alile reminded the ordained of what he referred to as the Golden Rule. “Jesus Christ in His Sermon on the Mount summarised the most powerful human relation strategy in the history of the world, when he said: ‘In everything, do to others as you would have them to do you.’ If you practise this principle, it can produce valuable and golden results. We are to honour others as inherently valuable (spiritual) beings, as miraculous unique creations, no matter how seemingly imperfect and unworthy they may appear to you,” he said.

Earlier, the church’s head of Finance, Mrs. Dosike Akporhiare read the church reports for the year, outlining the progress made in several areas including the emerging new campground on Sapele-Warri Expressway and progress recorded in the area of education. She stated that the process of establishing the church-owned university has begun with the acquisition of 206.406 hectares free of charge from the Obadan community, 33 kilometres Benin-Auchincloss Road.

According to her, the Corporate Affairs Commission has accepted the name Obadan University. She explained that with the support of the Spiritual Leader, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has promised to approve the certificate of occupancy free of charge, while the journey to the Nigerian University Commission, NUC, for an operational licence has commenced.