Ayokunle, Ndukuba, Uche, others fete Methodist Church over 180 years of christianity in Nigeria

Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba (fifth left); and Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Uche (fifth right); and others at the event

The immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has called on Christians to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ by examining their lives and repenting from their evil activities. He noted that God’s mercy would no longer be obtainable at the Second Coming if they refused to change.

Ayokunle disclosed this, last Sunday, in Lagos as the Methodist Church, Nigeria, celebrated the 180 years Methodist Missionaries, led by Rev Thomas Birch Freeman, landed at the coast of Badagry on September 24, 1842 to spread the gospel.

The Church also used the occasion to mark 60 years of carving out Methodist Church, Nigeria from its parent body, the Methodist Church, Britain.

Speaking on the theme: “Prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” Ayokunle, who is also the immediate past President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said that Jesus Christ would certainly come back sudden, at an unknown time to deal with everyone, according to their works.

The guest preacher, who also recounted how the Methodist and his church, the Baptist came out of the Church of England, explained the relationship between the two churches.

He said that Methodist Church was consequent on evangelical revivals of the Wesleys, while The Baptist Church emerged because of the failure of the Church of England to concede to immersion as the proper mode of baptism. He noted that the Baptist Church also came into Nigeria in 1842, but when asked to go into the hinterland because of the presence of the Presbyterian Church in the Calabar area where they landed, they refused and went back to England until the 1850s they returned to the country. He added that Rev. Henry Townsend of the C.M.S. also worked with both Methodist and Baptist churches.

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba who led some clerics of his Church to celebrate the anniversaries with Methodist Church at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, co-celebrated at the Eucharistic Service and the anniversary Thanksgiving Prayer.

The Primate was accompanied to the occasion by the co-chairman of the Anglican-Methodist Joint Commission and Archbishop of the Province of Niger, Most Rev (Dr) Alexander Ibezim; Rector of Ibru Centre Agbarha-otor, Ven. (Dr) Princewill Ireoba; Desk Officer for Ecumenism at the Primate’s Office, Ven. Joshua Lambert; Dean of Ezekiel College of Theology Ekpoma, Ven. (Dr) Izunna Eze and Primate’s Chaplain, Rev. Canon George Agun.

The host, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Uche appreciated all who celebrated with them and thanked God that the event held before his exit. Prelate also used the occasion to announce some significant developments in the church such as the creation of some missionary dioceses, election of over 30 Bishops for the first time and inauguration of the Anglican-Methodist Church Commission.

Other events that featured during the service included the conferment of two distinguished Methodists, Public Relations Officer of the church, Aramide Tola Noibi and one other person as knights, cutting of anniversary cake and special anniversary thanksgiving.

The Bishops of the Methodist Church Nigeria as well as some Prelates/Presiding Bishops and Conference Secretaries of the Methodist Church from other countries, including Ghana, Gambia, Togo and Benin Republic witnessed the event.