The economic hardship being faced by the citizens of the country and the insecurity in different parts of the country were brought before God as he was asked to salvage the nation and show mercy to his people.
These were the petitions of the Christian faithful who converged on the Cathedral Church Of Saint Faith Awka for the 2024 Lenten Prayer Convention hosted by the Anglican Diocese Of Awka.
The annual prayer convention initiated in 2010 by the Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim is aimed at bringing men back to God through words of salvation.
The theme for this year’s edition was ‘This mountain shall be removed’.
It featured intercessory prayers, praise and worship, special renditions, ministrations, and thanksgiving.
Speaking during the prayer convention, Most Reverend Ibezim who is also the Bishop, of the Diocese Of Awka, said that through God’s inspiration, he initiated the program which has recorded a lot of breakthroughs, success and God’s divine visitation on his people.
He said these testimonies have made the diocese wax strong even as he revealed that the convention is the cardinal time that God blesses his people.
Most Reverend Ibezim explained that they chose the theme given the situation of things in the country as a way to give the church more reasons to have faith in God as he stated that there are physical mountains around which needs strong faith and trust in God to be moved.
Earlier in his message, the guest preacher and Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Right Reverend Nedison Foreman explained that mountains are unseen hindrances and opposition to progress in life, stating that anytime God opens the door for his people, adversaries will come their way just to hinder that which God has made, therefore, saying it is important to understand the key to deliverance and secret of liberty to remove the mountains.
Right Reverend Foreman told the congregation the greater their destiny, the greater their mountains which means they have to pray without ceasing.
Lending her voice shortly after the prayer convention, the President of the Women’s Ministry, Province of the Niger and Diocese Of Awka, Dr. Mrs. Martha Ibezim thanked God for the grace he gave to his people to gather for the program, stating that what is needed in Nigeria is God’s intervention in tackling the mountains of hardships, killings and shedding of blood.
On his part, the Secretary, of Awka Diocesan Mission and Evangelism, Venerable David Ezeobi said they were set up to carry everybody along in evangelism as they are reaching out to the grassroots and speaking to troubled souls of the good news of Jesus Christ.
Altar calls were made where many surrendered or renewed their life to God.
A renowned gospel artiste, Chika Okpala led the gathering through praise and worship, singing soul-uplifting songs in the worship to God while special anointing and prayers were offered to address many circumstances and challenges in the society.
By Amaka Okoye (ABS Religion Correspondent.