With hearts lifted in worship and intercession, over 3,000 members of the Anglican Church gathered in Awka, Anambra State, for the 2025 Diocesan Lenten Prayer Convention—an annual spiritual convergence organized by the Anglican Diocese of Awka. The convention served as a call to prayer for the restoration of Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and national unity.
Declaring the event open, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, stressed that sincere prayer has the power to restore Nigeria’s lost glory and secure a brighter future for its citizens.
“As believers, we must not relent,” Archbishop Ibezim said. “We are called to present our needs before God because nothing is beyond His power.” He also encouraged the faithful to maintain a positive outlook in their daily lives and to remain prayerful for leaders across all levels—political, community, and spiritual—rather than focus on criticism.
In his homily titled “Total Restoration,” guest preacher Rt. Rev. Bedison Foreman, Bishop of the Diocese of Jailogo, described restoration as the recovery of what has been lost through wrong actions or neglect. He highlighted four stages of restoration—singular, double, sevenfold, and total—emphasizing that “genuine restoration only comes through prayer and true repentance.”
Also speaking, Ven. Prince Oranye, Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Pentecost in Awka, called for stronger support of evangelism to help sustain the church’s spiritual growth and outreach.
Dr. Chioma Ibezim, wife of the Archbishop and President of the Mothers’ Union, charged women to take up the mantle of intercession, especially in light of today’s shifting societal values. “Women have a divine responsibility to stand in the gap—for the church, the family, and the nation,” she said. “God hears the prayers of women.”
For attendees like Chioma Okeke, the convention was more than a gathering—it was a spiritual recharge. “This event helps build my faith and gives me peace,” she shared.
The prayer convention featured praise and worship, testimonies, thanksgiving, and a renewed commitment to seeking divine intervention for national transformation.
