PROTOCOL: Your Grace, the Dean Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas D
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PROTOCOL: Your Grace, the Dean Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas D. and Mama Nkasiobi Okoh, the Archbishops, Mama Angela Ndukuba, my lord Bishops, the lord Chancellor, Registrar of CON & DOA, Your Excellencies, my lords Temporal, House of Clergy and House Laity, Brothers and Sisters in Christ. PREAMBLE: In the Name of GOD, Amen. We welcome every one of us to this Holy Convocation, the Second Session of the Eleventh Synod of the Diocese of Abuja. God has been with us all through the challenges of our times, as a Nation. No doubt Nigeria is a country under siege but as God frustrated the siege of Sennacherib over Jerusalem, God will deliver Nigeria from the siege of the wicked for the sake of the Saints. For thus says the LORD “Once more the remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”1 This Nation and the Church of God will survive and thrive better to fulfil the Divinely determined purpose of God. In times like these we need to hold unto God, He is the Lord of Host and will fight our battles. God will defend this city; this Nation, you and your family shall be safe. God is here in this Synod to guide, build, and bless His people. Expect God’s touch and help as He leads us into the future. You are welcome. 1 2Kings 19:30-31 [NIV] SYNOD RESOURCE PERSONS: There are Vessels prepared by God to minister to us, as follows: THE RT. REV’D DR. TIMOTHY YAHAYA Timothy Yahaya was born to the family of Late Rev’d Yahaya Tabbat in the year of our Lord 1967. He was born at Wusasa Hospital now St. Luke’s Anglican Hospital. His mother is Mrs. Talatu Yahaya. He is a second-generation Christian. He is a native of Manyi agwi of Zangon Kataf Local Government and his mother tongue is Tyap. Bishop Timothy Yahaya attended primary school, secondary school and by God’s grace had tertiary education where he obtained Masters of Art in Religion (M.A), Masters of Theology (M.Th.) and a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) He was Deaconed on the 17th June, 1998, Priested on the 27th June, 1999, preferred Canon June 2001, appointed Canon Residentiary 2002. He was elected Bishop and consecrated Bishop on the 26th November, 2006. Enthroned Bishop of Jalingo 2006, was translated to the Diocese of Kaduna 2015. Bishop Timothy is married to Esther and the marriage is blessed with 3 lovely children. We have been so richly blessed by God through your ministration at the Synod Opening service on Thursday. May God continue to bless you, your family and the ministry committed to your charge. THE MOST REV’D EMMANUEL EGBUNU The Most Rev’d Emmanuel Egbunu was born on 4th Sept 1960 to the family of Late Rev Canon Robert &Mrs Christiana Egbunu. He made a commitment to Christ at an FCS conference in Igbaja, Kwara State in 1976. He attended University of Jos where he obtained BA (English) in 1983; MA (Church History) in 1999, and PhD in 2017.He and Abiodun got married in 1988 and are blessed with a son and two daughters, among others they have been privileged to raise. In response to a perceived call, he served with Challenge Publications for NYSC in 1983/84 and was offered a job as Assistant Editor (Books), a position he held till 1989 when he was invited to the Pastoral ministry of the Church of St Piran’s on the Plateau, Jos. This necessitated his training at Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, obtaining Diploma in Theology in 1991. He was made Deacon that year by Rt. Rev T.E. Idowu- Adesola, and Priested the following year by then Rt Rev B.A. Kwashi who also preferred him statutory Canon in 2005. Recognizing a teaching gift in the young Priest, Bishop Benjamin Kwashi sent him for training at the Cornhill Training Course in expository Preaching by Proclamation Trust based in London in 1993/94. This was a major development in his handling of Scripture as hermeneutics and exegesis were the core emphasis of the course. During that time, he also served in the Parish of St Margaret’s the Queen, Streatham Hill in the Diocese of Southwark under the overseas Clergy license. Emmanuel has served as Canon in residence at St Luke’s Cathedral, Jos, Deputy Dean of Christian Institute, Jos; Academic Dean of the International School of Evangelism (ISE) and Cathedral Archdeacon at St Peter’s Cathedral in Minna. He was consecrated Suffragan Bishop on 9th February, 2003. Translated in 2004 as the Diocesan Bishop of Diocese of Lokoja, and also served as pioneer Archbishop of the ecclesiastical Province of Lokoja from 2009-2019. Archbishop Emmanuel Egbunu, a seasoned Teacher of God’s Word, he will Preach at the concluding Thanksgiving Service on Sunday. May God continue to bless you, your family and ministry in the Church of God. THE MOST. REV’D DR. BLESSING CHINYERE ENYINDAH The Most Rev’d Dr. Blessing Chinyere Enyindah was born on November 16, 1962 in Omerelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State to the family of Mr. James Enyindah Chukwu and Abigail Orlu Enyindah Chukwu. A sole survivor of a premature triplet birth. He studied at Darlington College of Technology, Durham, England in 1983 -1986. And Seattle Pacific University, Washington, USA for his Masters and Doctoral studies in Journalism (1993-1998). Archbishop-elect Eyindah, is an experienced journalist, who had worked in various Media Houses and Broadcasting corporation. He started ministry in the Scripture Union Nigeria as Travelling Secretary and rose up to Regional Coordinator in 1997. He had his Theological training at Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, 2000-2002 (Dip.Th.). He was ordained Deacon in 1996 and Priested in 1997 by late Rt. Rev. Samuel Elenwo in the Diocese of Niger Delta North. In 2002, he was preferred Canon of St. Pauls Cathedral, Diobu and collated Archdeacon the same year. Archbishop-elect Eyindah, was elected and enthroned, Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre in 2007 and has successfully led his Diocese from 34 Churches in 3 Archdeaconries to 84 Churches in 13 Archdeaconries. He was elected Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta on Friday 23rd April, 2021 at the Episcopal Synod in Lagos. He is a seasoned Teacher and Expositor of the Word of God. He is our Synod Bible Expositor. We have been richly blessed by your teaching this morning. MAJOR GENERAL JOHN A H EWANSIHA (Rtd) Major General John Agha Harry Ewansiha (retired) is our Synod Seminar Speaker. He was born 26th October, 1960 at Benin City, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. John started his educational life at Army Children School, Ribadu Cantonment Kaduna and Army Children School, Ikeji Cantonment Lagos and passed out in June 1973. He then proceeded to the Nigerian Military School Zaria, Kaduna State from September 1973 to June 1978 for Secondary School education. On 3rd January, 1979, he joined Nigerian Army through the Nigerian Defense Academy Officer Cadet Training Programme as a member of 25th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1981, into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps. John attended several courses, at home and overseas during his military career. He obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration from Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria, and a Master of Science (MSc) in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. He has attended and presented papers in several seminars and workshops home and abroad. John is a recipient of various honours and awards, some of which are; Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Commanding Officers Medal, Pass Staff College (PSC), and a Fellow of the War College (FWC). He loves watching nature, reading, listening to music and news, jugging amongst others. He is blessed with 3 lovely children; 2 girls and a boy. We thank God for using you to open our eyes and challenge our faith in God in such a precarious time in our nation. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family. VENERABLE OBIOMA ONWUZURUMBA Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba was born 6th December 1949 in Eastern Nigeria. He had his undergraduate studies at the University of Lagos in Western Nigeria and lived for 28years in Kano before he was transfer to Abuja from the Diocese of Kano. He had is Theological Studies St Francis of Assisi Theological College, Zaria from July 1996 to July 2000. He retired from active Church ministry from the Diocese of Abuja in June 2015. He is happily married to his lovely wife –Martha, and their marriage is blessed with two girls and two boys. He served as Archdeacon of Maitama Archdeaconry and Personal Assistant to the Most Rev’d Peter J. Akinola , the former Primate of the Church of Nigeria and Bishop of Abuja Diocese. He equally served as Chaplain at the State House, Abuja from 2007 to 2015 Overseeing to the Spiritual wellbeing of the President and his family, Conducting Church services in the Chapel within the Villa and Handling Religious matters addressed to the Presidency. Venerable Obi and Sister Martha, are well known to us, indeed they are part of us. They have both been a blessing to many couples and homes through their Christian Marriage Ministry. They will both be leading our Seminar on “Bearing One Another’s Burdens in a Times Like this: Family Cohesion”.