November 26, (THEWILL) – The South South Zone of the Organisation Of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) has taken Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges to God in prayer by organising a one-day prayer and thanksgiving service.
The annual prayer and thanksgiving service, which is the third in the series, took place in Calabar with participants from all six states in the zone as well as some national officers of OAIC.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service, the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of the OAIC, His Eminence Apostle General Dr. Bassey Edem, said they hoped to thank God in their own way to draw more blessings from him.
Dr. Edem, who is also the Head of Finance of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, said they came together to thank God for his goodness to them so as to trigger more blessings to the State and the South South Zone.
He explained that all the churches established and owned by Africans came together to form the OAIC, which is a block in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
“All churches established and owned by Africans all came together to form the OAIC. These churches have local content and our organisation is out to propagate Christianity in our own fashion.
“Every year, we appreciate God for what he does to us. He helps us with our finances, health, churches, homes, and families. Each time we thank Him, He gives us more blessings so we believe that having thanked God for what He has done for us, He will open ways for us to have more blessings from him,” Dr. Edem said.
Also speaking, Pastor Wilfred Eta Asim, the first vice chairman of the OAIC in Cross River State and the Chairman of the LOC, said, “We cannot do without prayer as it is life.
He said when they pray to the God who answers prayers he hears, adding that nothing is impossible for God.
He also disclosed that they are going to join their voices and pray to God concerning individual, and societal challenges and the country’s problems as a whole.
In his address, the Zonal Chairman of the OAIC, His Grace Archbishop Dr. Eniyekenimi Israel Ege, said the OAIC is grateful to God for “making them share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, for giving us hope through the toughest of times and strengthening us for his divine purposes.”
He added that the OAIC “is the representative body that brings together African Independent and Instituted Churches (AICs), offers them a forum for sharing their concerns and hopes, and enables churches to minister effectively to the needs of their members and communities.”
Speaking, His Eminence, Elder Israel Akinadewo, the Nigerian Regional President of the OAIC, commended the South South Zone of the organisation for its consistency in all its functions.
He said this has rekindled his hope that “we all understand what is at stake for the future of OAIC and also exhibit love and unity among ourselves”.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Dr. Takis Etim Caiafas, said he is happy God’s children are gathered to pray, saying it’s the will of God that we pray at all times.
He gave instances of the benefits of prayer and re-emphasised the need to pray without ceasing, adding that prayers will bring down problems and worries, and ensure that no weapon fashioned against us prospers.
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THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
