ADDRESS:
ANEGBIRA CHRISTIANS UNITE FOR IMPACT IN EGBIRALAND
- I give thanks and glory to God Almighty Father, the Creator of all things for making this inaugural ECUF Conference a reality.
- I Consider it a rare privilege and honour to welcome all Anegbira Christians resident within the FCT to this inaugural Conference.
- The Egbira Christian Unity Fellowship was established decades ago in Jos by our founding fathers. The fellowship started meeting in the house of the late Pa. Engr. Michael Tenuha. A new ECUF Centre was later established in Kaduna to reduce the burden of those travelling to Jos for Fellowship. Prominent among these our Founding Fathers are: Prof Tom Adaba, Dr. John R Adive and Chief Joseph Adive in Jos, and Elder Capt. Joshua Atureta (rtd) in Kaduna and many others. I am also aware that in the early 80s Col. S.S Umar (rtd) actively championed ECUF in Lagos.
- While Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) are Association of Churches (Corporate Organization), Egbira Christian Unity Fellowship is a free Association of individual Christians irrespective of denominational or even political differences.
ECUF is therefore neither a Church nor an Association of Churches. ECUF has no source of income, as we do not collect: First Fruit, Tithes, Offerings and Seed Offerings. ECUF depends solely on the free will donations of individuals members to run its affairs.
The Primary Objective of ECUF is to unite all Anegbira Christians for positive impact in Egbira land.
Our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST the Messiah commanded us to:
- Love one another as He has loved us. John 13:34 – 35, John 15:12.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
- Our Lord Jesus Christ explained in very clear terms the eternal life He brought for us John 17:3
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
- Our Lord prayed to God that we His followers would be one united body in John 17:9-11; John 17:21-24
“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
- Furthermore, as Christians we are admonished not to forsake fellowship together in Hebrew 10:25.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
This is to ensure that we act as sources of strength and encouragement to one another
- There are certain Projects and Activities that demand our collective support and commitment:
- By the grace of God we had our Egbira Bible – IWE ONINI about 11years now. We should all endeavour to learn to read it .
- We celebrate Egbira Bible Day (EBD) annually, on the last Saturday of October. We should all endeavour to participate actively and make it EGBIRA CHRISTIANS FESTIVAL DAY.
- A review of Egbira Bible – IWE ONINI is currently being proposed. The review is expected to produce a second Edition that has both Egbira and English versions side by side, to facilitate easy reading. This is a project that deserves the support and commitment of all Anegbira Christians.
- There is also the Annual Kogi Central City Wide Crusade. This and other Evangelism efforts in Egbira land also deserve our collective support and commitment to spread the Gospel of Christ in Egbira Land.
- There are also ongoing Television and Radio Programmes meant to propagate the Gospel of Christ in Egbira land which equally require our support.
- There is currently a disturbing trend in Egbira Land that require our necessary action. The scarcity of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) Teachers in our School at home, such that CRK is being taught by people of opposite faith. This situation is totally unacceptable and therefore require urgent necessary action by all of us.
- In concluding this Address, I wish to emphasize the fact that ECUF is an Association of all Anegbira Christians.
We should all therefore resolve to participate actively in the Activities and Programmes including our financial commitment for the Propagation of the Gospel of Christ and its positive impact on Egbira Land.
At this juncture, I wish to appreciate and thank one of our Fathers – Prof. John Momoh for freely bequitting to ECUF a gigantic Storey Building at Okengwe – UNITY HOUSE, which now serves, as our National Secretariat
As from next month therefore, we should all be committed participants, in ECUF Monthly Fellowship Centres scattered all over the FCT: Abaji, Kwali, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Bwari, Kubwa, Gwarinpa/Life Camp, Nyanya/Karu and Mararaba axis.
I specifically want to appeal to the Pastors and Ministers of the Gospel amongst us to play host to ECUF Monthly Meetings in their various areas.
May the Lord God Almighty continue to keep, preserve, and bless us all. May He crown all our endeavours with success in Jesus Name Amen. Thank you very much for coming and your kind attention.