ON THE NIGER WOMEN END CONFAB, ENJOIN NIGERIANS NOT TO BE ANGRY WITH GOD OVER THEIR SITUATIONS

(By Alex Uzoigwe)

The four-day annual conference of the Diocese on the Niger Women, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, came to an end today, Sunday, July 9, 2023, with a plea to Nigerians not to be any angry with God over their current plights.

They were reminded that it was because of the possibility of a man experiencing trials, temptations and difficult situations that Jesus pre-counselled His disciples to always be watchful and prayerful “as temptations could come at any time”.
The Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, advised in the homily he delivered to mark the formal close of the conference held at the Immanuel Anglican Church, Umunnachi, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He enjoined every Nigerian to endeavour to cultivate the spirit of steadfastness and unalloyed devotion to God irrespective of their difficulties, adding, “We must at all times be devoted to God if we love God”.
In the homily which he tagged, “Devotion to Christ,” the bishop conceded that indeed, everyone had the desire to be for Jesus but wondered that when temptations, trials, troubles, and deaths, came if “we could still be for Christ?”, saying that such situations showed that not all were devoted to Him.
He, therefore, counselled everyone to be wary of Satan’s enticements, urging that he should be ignored “when he comes to deceive us”.
According to Bishop Nwokolo, “Something may be tempting you now, but always remember that you are for Jesus.

We don’t need to have dividend attention when we’re devoted to Christ, for you cannot be devoted to God and Satan at the same time. God does not want divided attention in His worship.

“We should therefore be strictly devoted to the things and doctrines of God and again, we should beware, for today, there are many doctrines that tend to deceive many people. So no matter the circumstances, don’t allow anybody or Satan to deceive you. Have a total surrender to God.”

The closing church service featured the cutting of the conference cathe ke, the conferment of Diamond Awards for some mothers and the launching of the women’s magazine, THE ECHOES OF HOPE.
In her brief vote of thanks, the President of the Diocesan Women Ministry, Dr Mrs Nonyelum Elsie Nwokolo, appreciated the host communities, their priests and everyone she said contributed in various ways to make the conference a success.
She announced that the 2024 conference would be hosted by the Omgba Archdeaconry, Onitsha.