Naira swap, fuel crises: Church admonishes FG, CBN

Naira swap, fuel crises: Church admonishes FG, CBN

By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have again been enjoined to take holistic steps to stop the suffering and hardship Nigerians are currently going through as a result of the currency swapping and scarcity of petroleum products, just as the people were enjoined to continue to pray for God’s intervention in these affairs of men for succor and comfort.

The ECWA Fate/Tanke District Church Council (F/T DCC) gave the charge in a communique issued at the end of a maiden stakeholders’ prayer retreat held at Reverend D. C. Porter’s Campground, Shao.

In a communique signed by its Chairman, Reverend Dr Raphael Shola Omotosho and Reverend Dr Joseph Agboluaje, the Council shared with concern, worry and passion the difficulties the citizens, including the Church, are going through with just few days to the conduct of the General elections.

The meeting attended by over 290 members across board comprising Council Executives, Ex-Officio members and the representatives of the Local Church Councils (LCCs), all pastors and their wives; all serving Elders; all Fellowship Leaders at DCC, LCC and LC levels and all the Executives of Church Choirs in ECWA Fate/Tanke DCC, harped on the trio prayer policy of burn fire; catch the fire and spread the fire, with prayer sessions essentially focusing on thanksgiving, prayers for ECWA and and the forthcoming general lections.

The stakeholders’ prayer retreat also took a cue from ECWA Executives and ECWA President Rev’d Dr. Stephen Baba Panya’s cardinal strategy for repositioning ECWA spiritually and reinvigorating/energizing of members to worship and serve God in spirit and in truth to glorify Him.

This year 2023 that ECWA will elect its leaders at different levels, and which equally doubles as an election year for the Nigerian Nation, it “admonished Christians to rely on God for divine direction in electing our leaders after the God’s heart, to avoid misrule, and disappointment that could lead to despondency, confusion and elongated sufferings of the Church and the citizenry”.

The Council resolved to focus on three major themes of worshiping God in the spirit and in truth, pray without ceasing and pursue evangelism with zeal, vigour and commitment to bring all to the knowledge of Christ.

It explained that since God does not hire a man He cannot fire, office seekers and occupiers in both spiritual and secular realms in Nigeria should be strictly guided with this and make dedication, hard work, contentment, focus, faithfulness and accountability their watchwords so as not to incur the wrath of God.

The body stressed that in view of the inalienable fact that security is everyone’s business, Ministers of God, and Church Members should take their personal security seriously and accentuate their prayers with watching, taking due cognizance of the tense situation we find ourselves in this country today.

It emphasised that “all the arms of F/TDCC, Pastors, Pastors Wives, Elders, Men, Women, Youth Fellowships as well as Choir Executives should know, appreciate and pursue their unique and special responsibilities in building a glorious Church with due commitment and equanimity as the Lord directs”.

It advised members as recognised stakeholders in ECWA project to exercise restraint and watch their utterances about ECWA and its God-guided and directed operations and speak on these in a manner that His Holy name will be glorified.

The Council enjoined members to prioritise the development of Rev’d & Mrs. D C Porter’s Camp Ground, Shao, and demonstrate due commitment to this onerous goal, as it has been designated to host all major events of F/T DCC.

It urged all ECWA Churches to conform to and strictly abide with the mode of worship of ECWA which distinguishes it from other Churches and that it should be in line with the dictates of ECWA books.

In his Retreat teaching, Rev’d Dr. B M Owojaiye who spoke on the Theme: “Occupy Till I come”: Luke 19:13 congratulated Fate/Tanke District Church Council for the novel idea and the first of its type in recent years and described the prayer retreat as apt, timely and appropriate and called on other DCCs to borrow a leaf from the bright idea that birthed the proactive action.

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