ON THE NIGER ORDAINS 18 DEACONS, CHARGES MINISTERS TO PROCLAIM CHRIST AFRESH AMONG YOUTH

By Alex Uzoigwe

The Basilica of St Andrew’s, Onitsha, Anambra State, figuratively assumed an unprecedented theater of spiritual carnival today, Sunday, July 16, 2023, when the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, under her vision for the spread of the Gospel, ordained 18 deacons.

The venue had before the 9.30 am formal commencement of the church service, swollen with a large crowd of people who had thronged the church from across the state and beyond to observe the ordination.
Presiding the three-hour Trinity Ordination, the Diocesan, the Rt Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo, assisted by the Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, the Rt Rev Obiorah Uzochukwu, while reminding the candidates of their pastoral responsibilities, especially to their flocks, conducted their solemn declaration of various oaths.

Among the oaths administered upon them were, Oaths of Allegiance, Oaths of Submission, and Oaths of Canonical Obedience at which points they confessed not to be members of any secret cults and also pledged to make themselves abstain from immoral behaviors.
Earlier in a sermon, a senior minister of the diocese, the Sub-dean of the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Ven. Samuel Ezewudo stressed the need for the Church to pay quality attention to the present generation of youth.
According to him, the youth seem to be more oriented towards the world of the internet than they are expected to align with the objective world.
In the sermon which he tagged “Called to proclaim Christ afresh”, the venerable explained that because God wants to meet His people especially, “Our children should be allowed to proclaim Christ afresh”.
He, therefore, appealed to the new deacons to be more diligent and highly responsible for what he described as their “divine call”, adding that as a result of the present technological innovations, the youth ought to be well guided by taking Christ afresh to them.
The young Deacons included;

Rev Chukwunonso Agbalakwe, Rev Chekwube Anyadiufu, Rev Izuchukwu Ejiofor and Rev Chukwuemeka Joseph.
Others were: Rev Benjamin Maduekwe, Rev Ekene Ndubuisi, Rev Paul Nwabufo and
Rev Isreai Nwizuchkwu
Also among the Deacons included: Rev Chibuzo Nsogbu, Rev Chiemezie Ogidi, Rev Augustine Okeke and Rev Ifeanyi Okolo.
The rest were: Rev Chukwunonso Okonkwo, Rev Innocent Okonkwo, Rev Augustine Onuorah, Rev Christian Onwuemelu, Rev Daniel Okwuosa and Rev Izuchukwu Udeze.
Highpoints of the ceremony were various songs by the host choir, administration of the Holy Communion and the special Marching in the Colour by the Boys and Girls Brigade of the diocese.