BY PRINCEWILL IREOBA
The recently retired Archbishop of Niger Delta and Bishop of Calabar, The Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye has underscored the necessity of transformation of the natural human minds to be truly Christians. Adeleye, who was the Retreatant for the Diocese of Northern Izon Council of Knights Retreat, themed A Transformed Mind (Rom. 12:2), held from August 5-7, 2021 at the Ibru Centre Agbarha-otor, Delta State, said that world’s mind is “jealous, envious, steals, kills, destroys, gets drunk, fights, keeps malice, gets angry, without control, curses people including one’s own children, very critical of others but does not want to be criticised, unteachable, proud, etc.” and therefore leads one to hell unless it is transformed by opening one’s heart to Jesus as Lord and saviour. He warned them against some factors that hinder transformation of mind, such as negative mind-set, worship of wealth, procrastination; and stressed that transformed life should be visible and evident to those around. The prelate proffered continuous contact with the Lord in quiet time, fellowshipping with other believers, humility to learn as what enhance being transformed and therefore made a passionate call to the Knights with the words of Ezekiel 2:12-13 and Romans 8:5-8 to return to the Lord.
The Chaplain of the Knights, The Ven. Dr John Torunana, who celebrated daily Holy Communion for the Knights said that it is Jesus in the heart that brings transformation. Noting that some people may be attending church gatherings, be very conversant with Church terminologies and even be knights without the assurance and reality of having Jesus in their hearts. Sharing his testimony of conversion, Torunana demonstrated that people can be in the Church and still be deep in sin and with untransformed mind. He said such people are still in flesh and enmity with God, and so cannot please Him. He said: “Those who operate in the flesh cannot please God no matter what they do. Such people are enemies of God and cannot make heaven.
I don’t want to be an enemy of God. I want to make heaven. Is that your resolve too?”
Other activities of the Retreat included a series of talks on Anglicanism by a senior priest of the Diocese, The Ven. Dr John Markson,Bible Studies, Syndicate discussions and presentations, interactions with the Diocesan Bishop, The RtRev.FunkuroAmgbare, who was also present at the Retreat and a Business Meeting, presided over by the Council President, Sir BravemanWodi. The knights also observed the Church of Nigeria’s fasting and prayer for the nation and Church as declared by the Primate, The Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba at the period. They also took out time to go for excursion to Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Art HouseContemporary and Michael Ibru Air strip, Agbarha-otor.