JOHN THE DIVINE ANGELICAN CHURCH, AWKA BECOMES A PARISH

By Peter Nwasike

The St. John the Divine, Anglican Church, Ngozika Housing Estate, Awka, was raised to Parish status, on Friday, July 10, 2020. Formerly, it was an Out-Station of Church of Pentecost, (Anglican Communion), Government House, Awka.<!--more-->
The Archbishop of Niger Province, and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Alexandar Ibezim P.Hd, JP, performed the inauguration ceremony, to consummate the elevation status of the Parish, in the presence of the Clergy and Laity, of the Parish.
Preaching the sermon, Archbishop Ibezim reiterated the injunction of Jesus Christ, when He mandated the First Discliples, to disseminate the Goodnews of salvation to all corners of the earth, with promise that he, Jesus, shall be with them all time, till the end of the world. Archbishop Ibezim commended the parishioners, for understanding the Divine mandate and started the Christian activities when they began to reside here, in a humble way, even in rented apartments, and with their faith, God watered their mustard seed, to grow into a giant tree, where many people have come to worship God in joy and gladness. He praised them for their tremendous faith, which made them to voluntarily contribute generously, to raise such magnificent edifice, to serve as befitting place of God’s house, in conformity with tastes and standards, with modern architecture and furnishings. He noted that anybody who entered the church, must acknowledge that the parishners sowed abundantly in God’s vineyard, and so, God shall actually sow abundantly in their individual vineyards.
The erudite and saintly Prelate, admonished them that the place is a holy place for sacred worship and fervent prayers, and must be accessed with solomenity and faith, adding that those who come here, both at this time of inauguration, and subsequent days, shall have their intentions granted by God. He paid special tribute to the Parish Priest, Rev. Prof. Benjamine Osisioma, and his wife, Prof. Mrs. Hilda Osisioma, for bringing their lofty academic attainments for efficient and effective administration of the new Parish. He said that the potential intellectualism of the parish, has qualified it to be a training venue for their “DIOCESSAN RESOURCE CENTRE”.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Prof. Benjamine Osisioma, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Ibezim, for coming to perform the solemn inauguration ceremony. He pledged the dedication of the perishioners, in the evangelization duties, both spiritually and physically.
The occasion was graced by members of the Clergy, Parish Council and Choristers, who sang melodiously during the solemn ceremonies.