Archbishop Ibezim collates new Archdeacons, installs new Canons In Awka Diocese

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and Somto Alokwu

Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka diocese ( Anglican Communion), The Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim PhD, JP on Sunday collated 5 Archdeacons and installed 11 Canons at the Cathedral Church of Saint Faith, Awka.

The Archdeacons Collated were Revd. Canon Christian Afamefuna Chilotam Chinwuko, Revd. Canon Rex Chika Kanu, Revd. Canon Nehemiah Ikechukwu Ugoagu, Revd. Canon Goodness Benjamin Okechukwu Amaechi, and Revd. Canon Ekenedilichukwu Wilfred Nwafor.

newly collated and installed Archdeacons

While the Canons- elect include: Revd. Samuel Ezunu, Revd Bonny Okechukwu Ogaraku, Revd Nnamdi Chukwudi Ajaoku, Revd Ndubuisi Victor Ahanonu, Revd Timothy OkwuChineke, Revd Royce Umezulora, Revd Valentine Mbachi, Revd Samuel Ginikanwa, Revd Fidelis Ibezim, Revd Sunday Ike and Revd Prof Benjamin Osisioma.

Addressing the congregation shortly after the collation and installation ceremony, Archbishop Ibezim described the role of Archdeacons in the church as the eye of the Bishop in an archdeaconry while he described Canon as a yardstick used for measurement of service to the church.

Archbishop Ibezim who is also the Bishop of Awka urged the ministers to be focused in the service of the lord even in the midst of challenges and difficulty. He said that God called them to be soul winners which they must do through hardwork in the Lord’s vineyard.

Speaking shortly in an interview later, Archbishop Ibezim said: ” Today is All Saints Day. November 1, 2020, we collated and installed Canons and Archdeacons. The priests that were collated today are priests of integrity. They are priests that have worked hard in their various parish and so we preferred them in Canons and Archdeacons.

“The ministry is passing through challenging time, so we encouraged them not to lose focus. There are so many things that make servants of God to lose focus which chief among them is hardship. When the environment is hostile and guilt, it is very easy for the minister to lose focus.

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” So we challenged them today that no matter what is happening around them, they must focus on their ministry and what Christ has called them to do. Christ has called them to be soul winners that is the primary aim of being in the ministry. There are many things that we need to work hard in order to live up to the expectation that god requires from us. So today being All Saints Day, we used it to remind them that many have succeeded as saints so they have no reason to give why they did not succeed.”

Odogwublog.com reports that Bishop Ibezim reminded them that family plays a vital role in the ministry and urged ministers to solidify their marriages, be strong in the ministry and work as a team so that God will us them as role models on the ministry.

Archbishop Ibezim and Wife, Chioma Ibezim

In his sermon earlier, Right Reverend Festus Oyetola Sobanke charged Christians and Church ministers to be faithful in the service of the church and humanity.

Revd. Oyetola who is the Bishop of Omu- Aran Missionary Diocese described faithfulness as being full to what one believes, adding that one of the major thing that causes set back in ministry is unfaithfulness to God, Church authority and in all areas.

He said there are so many things about God Christians cannot understand because the Christians are losing sanity due to their unfaithfulness to God.

Right Reverend Festus Oyetola Sobanke delivering sermon

He reminded Christians that success in life is a product of hard work. According to him, success do not just come but manifests as much hard as one works.

Right Reverend Oyetola Further charged Christians to be patience and preserver because according to him, God did not create everyone equally, “for what some people achieved at the age of 20, same others achieve at the age of 40.”

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He however urged ministers to work for the master which is God and not for selfish purposes, stressing that a ministry will cease to be the day the ministers begin to celebrate themselves instead of the Almighty God for it is only God who owns ministry and not priests.

He warned ministers to avoid obstacles to fulfilling purpose of the ministry by avoiding pride, envy, discouragement which according to him are the things that kill the ministry of God. He charged them to work as servants and not to carry the office on the head reminding them that the devil was destroyed because of pride.

He further urged the ministers to prove their accountability to God for everyone will give an account of their lives on earth. He said that a lot of ministers die and the devil is happy because they failed to fulfill their purpose either as a result of pride or other advising them to remove pride from their lives irrespective of the office they occupy.

Provincial President, Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild and Girl’s Guild, Province of the Niger and Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, Mrs Martha Chioma Ibezim advised the wives of the newly collated and installed ministers to remain faithful servants of God in the ministry ,adding that they should support their husbands and remember their roles as home builders. She said “the men may not be there to take care of the house but it is the duty of the wife to fill the gap and make sure that the home is what it should be to have an effective ministry.”

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Speaking to newsmen after his installation, Revd Canon Prof Benjamin Chuka Osisioma who retired from Nnamdi Azikiwe University as Professor of Accountancy said that the new portfolio is not a matter of position or status but a commitment to work of the ministry, greater commitment to the service of God.

Ven Nehemiah Ikechukwu Ugoagu while thanking God and Archbishop Ibezim for the opportunity to serve more called on his colleagues in the ministry to be good laborers in God’s vineyard, “let us continue to be faithful to the lord who called us.”

Also, Revd Canon Samuel Chukwuka Ezunu while thanking God for the elevation said that to be a Canon is not easy but a standard or a measurement rule. He said that his new position depicts “a job well done” as he prayed to God for grace to serve and push on.

Ven Dr. Kanu Chika Rex urged colleagues in the ministry to work hard and wait for their own time for God’s time is the best. He said that an Archdeacon is expected to be an administrator helping the Archbishop and being the eye of him in their Archdeaconry and parishes.

Mrs Chioma Ibezim (Mama Awka) decorating vice presidents

Highpoint of the the occasion was the Oaths of canonical obedience, allegiance to God and vow against homosexuality and bisexuality administered by the Awka diocesan legal team led by Diocesan Chancellor, Hon Justice O. J. Okeke (SAN) to the new Archdeacons and Canons.

Also featured was the decoration of vice presidents and wives of Archdeacons by Provincial President and wife of the Archbishops/ Diocesan Bishop Mrs Martha Chioma Ibezim.