The Rt. Rev. Godwin Adeyi Robinson, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lafia Nasarawa State ordained six Deacons and three Priests in 2022 Trinity ordination held at St James Cathedral Lafia with the theme “Disciple the nation, Luke 10:2.
Delivering the sermon, the Retretant, Venerable Benedict Okwunjo from the Diocese of Otukpo took his text from John 20:19-23, with the topic, Go and do as I did. The cleric said, a messenger has a message, and in this case, there is the message which Jesus Christ has given to his disciples to deliver. He said Jesus was able to meet with His disciples despite the shut doors. Jesus repeatedly said, “Peace be unto you”. Little wonder then why did Jesus repeat the statement. There’s a message in this. The work on the cross is the work of peace. The reason why He came down and died was to make peace between God and bad man. To divide the hostility and barriers. He came to reconcile us with God. Christ is our peace. The cross was for peace and the message which the disciples should carry about is that of peace!
Forgiveness leads to peace. He authorizes them to forgive sins. Jesus performed miracles and made disciples. Therefore, in our own contemporary, we must be disciplined so as to disciple others. You can’t give what you don’t have.
The guest speaker continued, by saying that as Christians, Jesus expects us to do more for His namesake. He explained Christian as a “little anointed one”.
The fiery priest, in an emotion-laden voice, however, gave three attitudes we are to imbibe as Christians. First, we should not forget our assignment which is to go and make disciples of the nation. Second, we must daily eat the big FROG. FROG is the acronym for Fully Rely on God. We must on daily basis rely on God. Woe unto he, that put his trust on any man
Third, we should be humble, remain humble and die in humility. This is the mind of Christ.
The service was climaxed with the laying of hands on the candidates for diaconate and priesthood ordination.
The candidates for diaconate ordination were Bankole Blessing Juwon Lewechi, Dodo Audu Jacob, Uzochukwu Christian, Kenneth Udeogu, Ibrahim Zaka Bazzy, and Bala Nshee. Those priested were Rev Obinna Okafor, Rev Japhet Onyeme, and Rev Sgt Luka Yusuf Kigbu.
The bishop charged the ordained to live up to the expectations and appealed to the congregation to give them full support.