Maduoma enjoins Christians to purge themselves of old life

Chairman of the Joint East Provincial Council of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Caleb Maduoma, has urged Christians to purge themselves of old ways of life and decide to serve the Lord without blemish.

Addressing the Council, comprising all the Diocesan Bishops, Clerical Synod Secretaries, Chancellors, and Treasurers/Financial Secretaries of the 55 Anglican dioceses in the Southeast, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa States, which met at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt from February 5 to 6, 2020, the Archbishop noted that Paul was once the star of the Pharisees, did all sort of things that a Pharisee ought to do, but his old idea of what was right and wrong became meaningless to him the moment he received Jesus Christ.

The cleric used the opportunity to announce his retirement from active service on September 22, 2020, after 40 years of service in God’s vineyard. He invited friends and well-wishers to his thanksgiving services expected to hold between September 19, 20 and 22 at Ndiawa Arondizuogu and Awalla, Ideato South.

In their welcome address, the host Archbishop and Bishop, Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye and Rt. Rev. Ralph Ebirien of Niger Delta Province and Diocese called on the delegates to depart from sin and demonstrate by their conduct that they know Christ.

Rector of the Ibru Centre Agbarha-otor, Ven. Dr Princewill O. Ireoba, who was at the meeting to solicit for the patronage of the Ibru Centre, urged participants to make use of the Centre by holding retreats, Clergy/Wives, Leadership, Knights, Organisations and Societies programmes there.

Stating that the Centre was built to international standard and beautified like Paradise, Ireoba said it is also available for conferences, seminars, camping, dinners and other Christian, social and corporate activities at very minimal cost.

The meeting, which started with a Holy Communion service, was celebrated by Rev. Canon Umorami S. Azery and the preacher, Ven. A.A. Ogbidor. It featured reports and review of the activities in the zone, including Paul University Awka, Trinity Theological College, Umuahia and translation of Church Liturgy to local languages of which the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye reported that translation of the Church Liturgy into Efik language has been completed, while other languages are in progress.

Rector of the Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, Ven. Prof. Udobata Onunwa, disclosed that the College had commenced post-graduate studies in three schools: Religious Studies and Theology, Social Sciences and Education.

The Council also received the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, led by the zonal co-ordinator of the Southeast, Mrs. Ogechukwu Ireoba, who came for a sensitisation visit for Christian pilgrimage.