The Rt. Rev. Ken Sandy Edozie Okeke, facilitator and organiser, Church of Nigeria’s Bishops/Wives Training School, has charged the church’s new bishops and their wives to make themselves available to God to be used to accomplish His purpose.
Addressing the bishops and their wives, who were undergoing the statutory orientation course at the Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor, from January 8-15, 2021, the elder bishop said God has made their elections and consecration possible because He has specific assignments for them.
He urged them to yield to the service of God and be obedient to His directives.
Highlighting the importance of being available for God, Okeke disclosed that God used Peter and Paul to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, because they made themselves available for what God planned to do, and that God is always doing new things.
On his part, Dr. Ngozi Okeke (a.k.a. Nneobioma), a co-trainer and facilitator of the project, admonished participants to be good representatives of Christ.
Drawing reference from football clubs fans, who passionately love and uphold the values of their teams to the point of being cautious of what they do while wearing the teams’ shirt, Nneobioma enjoined participants to be careful of what they do, as they belong to Jesus Christ’s team and what they do invariably reflect on the team’s image and values. She warned them of the implications of indulging in evil works, which tarnish the Lord’s image and His church.
Nneobioma urged them to lead the people to do God’s Will. “At this time, when people want to be told what they want to hear, you should be bold enough to guide them aright and let them know what wearing ‘Jesus Team shirt’ entails,” she said.
The participants and their dioceses are the Rt. Rev Godffery Ekpenisi (Ika); Oluwaseun Aderogba (Jebba); Ebenezer Okunyelu (Osun North East); Christian Onyia (Nike); Olukayode Adebogun (ADOTT- Canada); Martyn Anagbogu (ADOTT – Canada); Felix Olorunfemi (Etsako); Cletus Tambari Ajigben (Gombe); Benson Chukwunweike (Awgu/Ani Nri); Peter Oludipe (Ijebu); Adegoke Agara (Idoani); Enoch Atuboyedia (Okrika); and Gabriel Elabor (Esan).