Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt Rev Prof Samuel O Ike has charged Nigerians not to allow current economic difficulties to override their faith. He urged them to work hard with the fear of God at all times in order to overcome, assuring that the times would get better.
At the 100 years centenary celebration and thanksgiving of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Asata, Enugu, Bishop Ike, charged the members to redouble their efforts in the service of God and sustain the spirit of Evangelism that had seen the church multiply and raise several Bishops.
“God has been very gracious to us at St Bartholomew’s Church, Asata which has given birth to many other churches. And many Bishops, who are pioneer members, are piloting the affairs of other Dioceses. And this church has given birth to many choir masters of renown. It has given birth to evangelism, pioneering evangelical fellowship. This church was the pioneer Cathedral of the Enugu Diocese and so I pray that in its pioneering efforts, they will not go back in Jesus name. They will rather maintain it and take it to another level; particularly the youths. They have to wear their armor of evangelism and be at the forefront as I have fought for evangelism over the years. I have trained some people and the youths have to train some younger people and sustain and maintain the evangelism as they are the instruments in God’s hand to actualize his work. The youths should go through worship, through evangelism and bring true revival and the search for holiness and Godly presence in the church; the youths should fear the Lord, love the Lord and respect his word for the empowerment purpose of the church; the youths should strive to work ahead of this church and ahead of any other for the glory of God in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen”, he stated.
Archdeacon Enugu East Archdeaconry and Vicar-in-Charge, St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Asata, Venerable Uchennageme Ugwu, while appreciating God for the strides made by the Church, prayed God to continue to direct the minds of the members into proper worship and repentance.
“Our main goal here is to preach the raw word of God. I repeat the raw word of God because many things are going wrong, where people are meant to believe in what is not biblical. Most importantly, however, we are still in unity. We have not had quarrels here but they have strengthened us”, he stated.
Explaining that the church became the first headquarters of the Diocese of Enugu, he listed retired Bishop of Ihiala , Rt. Rev. Dr. Ralph Okafor; retired Bishop Emmanuel Ugwu of Awgu/Aninri Diocese; retired Bishop Samuel Chukuka of Diocese, Rt Rev. Aloysius Agbo as some of the Priests produced by the Church.
One of the organizers of the anniversary, Dr Eunice Nwonu, who retired from the Department of Nursing Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus in 2016, stated that the centenary was a period of excitement for the members “because a period of 100 years is not a day’s journey”.
“There were people who started the church but somehow they are not here today. So, those of us who are witnessing the celebration are happy and excited. I’m really excited. Being 100 years is not enough but being 100 years with a lot of impacts. If in the 100 years of an institution, and it doesn’t make an impact, that institution has wasted the 100 years. However, in the case of our church, it has made a lot of positive impact. In fact, this place is seen as a training ground for priests”, she stated.
The two days event featured presentation of awards to those who served the church in various capacities since inception.
