Anglican Church Will Bounce Back Soon, Bishop Ezeofor Assures Faithful

By Praise Chinecherem

The Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger and Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr Samuel Ezeofor, has urged Anglican faithful not to lose hope or become discouraged by recent developments affecting the Church, assuring them that the Communion will overcome its present challenges and emerge stronger.

Ezeofor encouraged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, look up to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of their faith, and trust in God’s ability to restore the Church.

The cleric gave the assurance on Saturday in Awka, Anambra State, while speaking with journalists shortly after the Anglican Prayer Rally of Anambra State (APRAS), an annual spiritual gathering involving the nine dioceses under the Province of the Niger.

He acknowledged that the Anglican Church in the Province had recently attracted media attention for unfavourable reasons but expressed confidence that God would continue to purify and cleanse His Church of every form of impurity.

“My message to everyone is that, as human beings, we may stumble, but God is still on the throne. Our Church may be in the media for the wrong reasons, but the devil will continue to be put to shame,” he said.

“This Church belongs to God. Yes, it is human beings who run it, and it is also a human system, but God encourages us to look up to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.

“That things are not going the way we want does not mean God has abdicated His throne. In a very short while, you are going to see things turn around.

“Those who are discouraged should understand that God is still on the throne and continue to look up to Him. When things turn around, they will also have reasons to rejoice,” Ezeofor added.

Speaking on the theme of the prayer rally, “Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High,” the Bishop of Aguata Diocese said the prevailing challenges in society and the need for Christians to seek divine protection informed the choice of the theme.

According to him, the increasing wave of societal troubles, tragedies and uncertainties makes it imperative for Christians to deepen their prayer lives and remain under God’s protection.

“When you look around, you will see what is happening. We recognise that if we all dwell in the secret place of the Most High, God will save us from the problems we are passing through.

“There are all kinds of troubles and tragedies around us. But those who dwell in God’s secret place will be spared. We need to remind our parishioners that this is God’s demand for the hour,” he said.

Earlier, the Archdeacon of Onitsha South Archdeaconry, Diocese on the Niger, Ven. Dr Emma Ezeugo, urged parishioners to devote quality time to praying for the Church, warning against what he described as “AI prayer”, which he said should be discarded in favour of sincere and personal communion with God.

Ezeugo stressed that consistent and heartfelt prayers remained essential to securing divine intervention and protection against various forms of tragedy.

“God will spare us from various forms of tragedies when we devote quality time to pray,” he emphasised.

The prayer rally attracted several Anglican bishops, including the Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor; Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Ama; Bishop Obiora Uzochukwu; and Bishop Ndubuisi Obi of Niger East and Nnewi Dioceses, respectively.

The annual gathering brought together clergy and faithful from across the nine dioceses of the Province of the Niger to seek God’s face, intercede for the Church and pray for divine intervention amid prevailing societal challenges.

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