‘COVID-19 has provided us opportunity to make fresh start’

From Nigeria-

Archbishop Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, the 5th Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), told journalists, including NKECHI ONYEDIKA-UGOEZE, that Nigeria’s political class has fueled corruption, insecurity and crisis in the country.

How do you see you’re taking over the leadership of the Anglican Communion at a time the country and the world are witnessing a major health crisis? 

THE context in which we took over the leadership of the church was very challenging, being the time of the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lockdown, which was later relaxed.
Before then, we have had issues of banditry, insecurity, kidnapping and other security issues. Apart from that, there is also an economic dimension, but on every side, our nation, Nigeria, and the world are facing a very difficult time. 

More here-

https://guardian.ng/interview/covid-19-has-provided-us-opportunity-to-make-fresh-start/

Attacks on Nigerian Christians persist despite pandemic lockdowns

From Nigeria-

Minutes before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Anglican Rev. Canon Bayo James Famonure was praying with his wife and two sons in the family’s sitting room when at least three armed herdsmen stormed into their home in Nigeria’s central Plateau state. 

The latest in a string of attacks on Christian leaders in central Nigeria began with the gunmen demanding money. Famonure said he had no cash, and the intruders shot him in the head and leg. Then they shot his wife, Naomi, in the back, and their two sons in their legs. 

As the assailants fled, neighbors carried the family to a hospital in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. Famonure’s wife underwent surgery on Wednesday, reported Mark Lipdo of the Stefanos Foundation in Jos. Doctors removed a bullet from her back that narrowly missed her spine. Doctors treated the rest of the family and all are in a stable condition, Lipdo said.

More here-

https://world.wng.org/2020/05/attacks_on_nigerian_christians_persist_despite_pandemic_lockdowns

Anglican Bishop warns priests against allowing worshippers without face masks into church

From Nigeria-

The Bishop of Anglican Communion, Aba Ngwa North, Rt. Rev Nathan Kanu, has threatened to sanction any priest that allows members to attend church service without face mask.

The Anglican Bishop also decried negligence of the government’s directives on COVID-19 lockdown put together by governors of the affected states in containing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kanu made this known while delivering sermon attended by our correspondent on Sunday.

He said church leaders in various denominations in Abia State assured to take personal responsibility for the enforcement of the rules on social distancing and face masks during service.

More here-

https://dailypost.ng/2020/05/03/covid-19-anglican-bishop-warns-priests-against-allowing-worshippers-without-face-masks-into-church/

I Dare Police To Stop Me – Anglican Archbishop Says As He Holds Church Service Amid Lockdown

From Nigeria-

Archbishop of the Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday, said the Province will not shut any of its branches over the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said shutting the church at a time like this would mean giving the devil an opportunity to ravage the people and the country, Sun News reports.

Chukwuma faulted the order of government to close churches and places of worship. He said it is unfortunate and wrong to categorise church and worship centres with drinking parlours, night clubs, markets and companies.

The cleric said he would not shut the churches because he is not the owner, as the church belongs to Jesus Christ, adding that if people were stopped from “running to their God in worship in a time like now the whole world is in confusion, where would they run to for safety, help and deliverance?”

More here-

https://sundiatapost.com/i-dare-police-to-stop-me-anglican-archbishop-says-as-he-holds-church-service-amid-lockdown/

Members desert Anglican, Catholic churches ahead of Easter

From Nigeria-

Members of Anglican and Catholic and Anglican churches in Anambra State are deserting their worship places ahead of the Easter period due to the ravaging threat of Coronavirus otherwise called COVID-19.

The churches shut their doors to their members last Sunday and resorted to Facebook and Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) radio broadcast to preach their sermons and directed their adherents to hook on to social media networks and on-air platforms.

At Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Awka, where Palm Sunday Service was held to mark the final week of Lent and herald Easter Sunday, Archbishop of the Province on the Niger, Alexandar Ibezim defended the worshipers’ action, saying the Church asked them to stay away from service in line with government’s directives.

More here-

https://guardian.ng/news/members-desert-anglican-catholic-churches-ahead-of-easter/

Anglican bishop asks Lagos diocese to comply with directives on COVID-19

 From Nigeria-

The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev (Dr) Humphrey Olumakaiye has directed all Anglican parishes in the diocese of Lagos to comply with the directives of the Lagos State Government to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state.

Olumakaiye who gave this charge in a press release signed by the Synod Secretary, Venerable Segun Ladeinde, said that sequel to the directives of the Lagos State Government banning all religious meetings and gatherings of more than 50 worshippers as part of the precautionary steps towards managing the further spread of the coronavirus, all diocesan programmes that attract a crowd of more than 50 people have been postponed until further notice.

His words: “Sequel to the directives of the Lagos State Government banning all religious meetings and gatherings of more than 50 worshippers, as part of the precautionary steps towards managing further spread of the corona virus disease (COVID-19), all vicars are directed to ensure strict compliance to these directives in line with the position of the church as a law-abiding entity.

More here-

https://tribuneonlineng.com/anglican-bishop-asks-lagos-diocese-to-comply-with-directives-on-covid-19/

Nigeria: 5 churches burned, many Christians killed in Boko Haram invasion

From Nigeria-

More than 100 Boko Haram militants opened fire sporadically and indiscriminately and set churches and houses on fire, killing many people, in the town of Garkida in Gombi area of the northeastern state of Adamawa, according to initial reports.

At least five churches were destroyed, including two houses of worship belonging to the Church of the Brethren denomination, an Anglican Communion church, and a church and a separate office of Living Faith Church.

There are unconfirmed reports of possible abductions.

Riding on about 60 motorbikes, with two men each carrying AK47s and RPGs, and accompanied by roughly 20 mounted gun trucks, the Boko Haram militants arrived from the Sambisa Forest area on Friday evening, according to Save the Persecuted Christians.

More here-

https://www.christianpost.com/news/nigeria-5-churches-burned-many-christians-killed-in-boko-haram-invasion.html

Gunmen attack Anambra church, bishop alleges threat to life

From Nigeria-

Gunmen, on Tuesday, attacked the Cathedral Church of St Michael’s, Umuikwu Anam, in the Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Anglican Bishop of the Mbamili Diocese, Rt. Rev. Henry Okeke, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday.

He also alleged threat to his life and those of other clerics in the diocese.

“There were shootings on Tuesday by the hoodlums, who stormed the church to pull down the ongoing cathedral building of the Diocese of Mbamili,” Okeke stated.

The bishop said he had sent a Save-our-Soul message to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on the development.

More here-

https://punchng.com/gunmen-attack-anambra-church-bishop-alleges-threat-to-life/

Pastor eaten by crocodiles while trying to walk on water like Jesus

From The "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" Department (Nigerian Division)-


A pastor who tried replicating the Biblical story of Jesus Christ walking on water has been eaten by crocodiles.

The pastor, identified as Jonathan Mthethwa, of the Saint of the Last Days Church, tried the demonstration at a river known as Crocodile River.

Mthethwa, from a local church in White River Mpumalanga died Saturday morning trying to demonstrate the biblical miracle to his congregants.

According to The Herald Zimbabwe, he drowned into the Crocodile River and was seen by his church members getting eaten by 3 crocodiles.

Deacon Nkosi, a member of the church, told the newspaper, “The pastor taught us about faith on Sunday last week.

More here-

https://dailypost.ng/2017/05/13/pastor-eaten-crocodiles-trying-walk-water-like-jesus/?fbclid=IwAR2a_ITADwtKwf4BYFB7TtBzxXsTQPjLn5Vz-U_H_-wPDkZ6wBjKUw0vfBc

Christmas celebration: Your ‘fall and die’ approach not biblical – Anglican Bishop blasts Olukoya

From Nigeria-

The last is yet to be heard of the controversial comment credited to the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, Pastor Daniel Olukoya, following his description of Christmas celebration as unbiblical.

The latest to react to the comment was the Bishop of the Diocese of Owo Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Stephen Fagbemi, who stated that Olukoya lacked in-depth knowledge of the bible.

According to Bishop Fagbemi, he emphasized that most of the doctrines being observed at MFM and other pentecostal churches do not have biblical backing, adding that “How many things he is doing today are directly traceable to or instructed in the Bible? Is it the fall and die approach to prayer or which one?”

His words, “I had wanted to respond to Dr. Olukoya of MFM on his display of theological and ecclesiastical ignorance until I read Fr Oluoma’s rejoinder, which I believe to be sound all round. Mine could be seen as an addendum to his well-crafted analysis and response.

More here-

https://dailypost.ng/2019/12/28/christmas-celebration-your-fall-and-die-approach-not-biblical-anglican-bishop-blasts-olukoya/

Over 2,000 Children, Women Benefit Free Medical Care, Others in Abijo Community

From Nigeria-

According to the Head of women, Anglican church of Transformation Abijo, Barrister Nengi-Kiri Wakama aka Mama yard, noted that "we are having an increase in term of attendance, and since we started this is the outreach with the largest turn out.

"The whole church is involved, both parents, teenagers and youth department. In spite of the Bible says that we should preach the gospel but ww don't preach the gospel just by words, we have to also show what we represent, we meet the spiritual needs and physical needs of the people and that is what we are here to do on Earth, we represent the body of Christ".

Venerable Kiki Wakama, added that the legal clinic was created three years ago, because we found out there are lots of oppression in our system. After the first two years of the program we realized that some individuals need not just a counseling and physical needs, we realized that people were going through some emotional need that could be taking care of physically like the legal unit to take care of landlord and tenant issues and some family issues. So their legal issues are taken care of appropriately."

More here-

https://allafrica.com/stories/201912190085.html

Akinyemi, Obi, Agbakoba decry graft, offer path for economic development

From Nigeria-

One-time Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has called on government to publicly expose corrupt Nigerians as obtained in other climes. He also urged the church to sustain education of the people on the danger of identifying with perverse politicians, reminding them that the handouts they get for vote inducement were mortgaging their future.

Akinyemi spoke yesterday in Lagos during the centenary anniversary lecture organised by the Diocese of Lagos Anglican Communion at All Souls Anglican Church, Lekki with the theme, “The church and good governance in Nigeria”, where the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Osat Obaseki-Osaghae and Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, also spoke against graft.

More here-

https://guardian.ng/news/akinyemi-obi-agbakoba-decry-graft-offer-path-for-economic-development/

Sowore: Archbishop of Canterbury replies SERAP

From Nigeria-

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Justin Portal Welby, has responded to an open letter by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) urging him to use his good offices and leadership and his “friendship with President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on him to obey court orders most recently involving activists Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, who remain in arbitrary detention despite a court order for their release.”

This development was disclosed on Tuesday in a press release by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP had in the letter to Archbishop Welby expressed “serious concerns about the disturbing trends by state governments and federal government to use the court as a tool to suppress citizens’ human rights.”

Responding on behalf of the Archbishop through an email last night, Dominic Goodall, the Chief Correspondence Officer at the Lambeth Palace, said: “Thank you for your recent letter. Much as he would like to, the Archbishop is unable to respond personally in detail, so I have been asked to reply to you on his behalf.”

More here-

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/11/19/sowore-archbishop-of-canterbury-replies-serap/

Nigerians facing hard times, says Anglican Primate

From Nigeria-

Considering the rise in insecurity, killings by bandits and kidnapping for rituals and ransom, this is not the best of times for Nigeria.

Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rev. Nicholas Okoh, said this at the opening of the 2019 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON) in Abuja.

Stressing that the ills would have been enough to ignite an internal war, he expressed hope of the country surviving the hard times and evil people.

Okoh, who expressed concern over the alleged rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, urged Nigerians to pray against any challenge facing the present administration and the seed of discord at Aso Villa.

More here-

https://guardian.ng/news/nigerians-facing-hard-times-says-anglican-primate/

Exodus from church worries Northwest Ankole bishop

From Nigeria-

The Anglican prelate of Northwest Ankole Diocese, Bishop Amos Magezi, has expressed concern over the rate at which men are abandoning the church for “worldly things.”

Speaking during the launch of Men’s Ministry diocesan committee at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Ibanda on Friday October 18, Magezi said men were spending all their money and time in bars and gambling.

“Men are not in church; they are not even in their homes, yet they are key in taking the work of God forward. So, we want men in this diocese to know their place and role in the church and its development,” he told the 13 newly sworn-in members of the diocesan committee

The committee was tasked to spearhead the continued rejuvenation of the Anglican Church in the diocese and especially evangelising to the men and convincing them to come back and support the work of God.

More here-

 https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1508903/exodus-church-worries-northwest-ankole-bishop

Ndukuba named new primate of Anglican Church, successor to Archbishop Okoh

From Nigeria-

The Church of Nigeria’s House of Bishops meeting at St Peter’s Cathedral in Asaba has elected the Most Rev Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, the Bishop of Gombe and Archbishop of Jos as the next of Archbishop and Primate of All-Nigeria.

He will become the 5th head of the Anglican Church when he succeeds Okoh next year.

Details of the election have not yet been made public, but the Anglican Cable Network Nigeria has released this biography of the new archbishop.

The Most Revd Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, hails from Ogberuru in Orlu (Imo State). He was, however, born in Anambra state in September, 1959.

He was ordained into the Holy Orders in September, 1989 and rose though its rank.

He was elected Pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Gombe and consecrated on the 21st September, 1999. 

More here-

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/09/25/ndukuba-named-new-primate-of-anglican-church-successor-to-archbishop-okoh/

Archbishop Okoh: The church is in crisis

From Nigeria-

The Primate of all Nigerian Anglican Communion and Bishop of the Diocese of Abuja, the most Reverend Nicholas D. Okoh has given reasons there is so much crises in the Church today.

At a dedication of a new place of worship for the parishioners of All Saints Anglican Church Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Okoh blamed the idea of relativism as the main cause of the crisis.

There was a time, he said, when there was a clear cut difference between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable, and what is Christian and what is unchristian.

According to him, today, people have reasoned things so much that anything has become acceptable and people, including those who profess to be Christians, now talk of relativism, whereby there is no absolute truth.

More here-

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/09/17/archbishop-okoh-the-church-is-in-crisis/

Church of Nigeria, Anglican communion, ends episcopal synod, elects new bishops

From Nigeria-

Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) from all the states of the country gathered on August 21, 2019, at Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State for the Episcopal Synod of the Church. 

The Synod was presided over by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, His Grace, the Most Revd. Nicholas D. Okoh, assisted by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Revd. Buba Lamido, with the Rt. Revd. David O. C. Onuoha as the Episcopal Secretary. The Archbishop of Bendel Province, the Most Revd. Friday Imaekhai, the Bishop of Ughelli, the Rt. Revd. Cyril Odutemu, whose jurisdictions cover Agbarha-Otor were also present. 

The Episcopal Synod, which is “a general meeting of the Bishops of the Church of Nigeria summoned independently of the General Synod to discuss Episcopal matters,” is convened by Primate of the Church of Nigeria, at a place and time, he determines, though three or more Diocesan Bishops may request the Primate to convene the Synod. 

More here-

https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/church-of-nigeria-anglican-communion-ends-episcopal-synod-elects-new-bishops/

Nigeria sitting on keg of gunpowder – Anglican Archbishop warns

From Nigeria-

The Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), South-South Zone, His Grace, the Most Rev’d Tunde Adeleye has warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder and would soon explode.
Addressing a press conference in Calabar on Monday, Adeleye said, “Today, we have countless jobless graduates roaming the Streets. The generations of our young adults are being wasted.

“This is because of the apparent selfishness of our leaders who do not have the future of the young ones in their minds. Consequently, many of these graduates have entered into various crimes including armed robbery, occultism and kidnapping.

“Unemployment of youths, in a nation as big as Nigeria, is like sitting on a keg of gunpowder, one day it will explode, it is a question of time,” he said

Most. Rev Adeleye, who is the Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta (Anglican Commission), said the problem of Nigeria could only be solved by restructuring.

More here-

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/08/nigeria-sitting-keg-gunpowder-anglican-archbishop-warns/

Gunmen abduct senior Anglican priest in Rivers

From Nigeria-

Reverend Canon Bernard Hanson, the Vicar of St Jude’s Anglican Church Odiemerenyi in Ahoada Diocese of the Anglican Communion and also the Clerical Synod Secretary of the diocese has been kidnapped.

He was traveling in the company of Rev.Canon Umegbewe Jerome who managed to escape in the confusion that ensued at the scene of the abduction.

The senior Anglican priest was abducted along Umuapu-Elele-Owerri-Port Harcourt road axis on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at about 8 pm.

Confirming the kidnap, the Bishop of Ahoada Diocese, Rt. Rev. Clement Nathan Ekpeye described the abduction of the cleric as a sign of the end time

The bishop who was reacting to the incident disclosed that the senior priest was abducted Wednesday evening along the Umuapu area of Owerri-Port Harcourt road. 

More here-

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/06/28/gunmen-abduct-senior-anglican-priest-in-rivers/