Members of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru, their friends and well wishers will from Thursday 18th May 2023 converge on the Basilica of Saint James the Great Cathedral, Atani for the second session of the sixth synod of the Diocese being hosted by the Cathedral Deanery.
Already, the cathedral where the four day synod will take place has been adequately decorated in view of the event.
The synod theme: “Possessing the gates of your enemies”, carefully chosen by the President of the Synod and Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Right Reverend Prosper Afamefuna Amah from Genesis chapter 24 verse 60 is aimed at following up Last year’s synod theme which was “Let us pray” and those of two previous years.
The three key words of the theme: Possess, Gates and Enemies are highlighted as follows. One, to possess means to have, to take control of, to own, to dominate or to strongly influence. Gates as contained in the scripture are not merely door-ways into the city, as they connote places of power, authority, defence, splendour and safety and whoever that have them is totally in control. An enemy means any person who is always hostile to someone else, builds hatred and opposes the good of others.
Thus, the 2023 Ogbaru Diocesan Synod is expected to equip the participants effectively on how to deal with their enemies with a view to possessing their possessions. Don’t be left out.
According to the clerical synod secretary of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru, Venerable Edozie Onwuanyi, delegates to the synod will arrive on Thursday 18th May for registration. It will be followed by courtesy call on the traditional ruler of Atani and his wife, Igwe Ohita and Chief Mrs Eziafa Odunze. The courtesy call will be followed by an opening service at the synod venue by 3pm. Saturday 20th May will be for the presentation and launching of the Bishop’s charge by 10am while the four day synod will come to an end on Sunday 21st May with a special church service and launching of development fund for various ongoing projects in the diocese.
Synod is an annual meeting of the diocese where laws governing it are made and approved as a working document of the Diocese for its growth and development. During synods, funds are also raised for different projects in the diocese. They are also used to assist churches facing difficulties, building new ones and for other evangelisation purposes that will ensure rapid expansion of God’s kingdom on earth.
Some of these church and outreach programmes designed to make the parishioners of the Diocese of Ogbaru to be in touch with God include Fresh Oil where attendees have continued to receive testimonies from God’s intervention in their lives.
The ongoing projects where funds realized from this year’s synod will be channeled into are the rebuilding of the Church at St Matthias, Obene, staff quarters and Chapel at Elshalom Convent, administrative building at the King’s Ambassadors Seminary, Atani, sand filling and landscaping of the Bassilica of Saint James the Great Cathedral, Atani and towards youth empowerment.
The women ministry of the diocese under the presidency of Dr Uche Amah, the Bishop’s wife, must be commended for their support to the various diocesan projects. Already, the Women Ministry has established a garment factory in the area where boys and girls are trained in fashion designing and tailoring – a measure which will go a long way in making them self reliant in addition to contributing to the socioeconomic development of the country. Clothes designed and made in the garment factory are sold at affordable costs.
It behoves on the people of Ogbaru to continue with their support to the Diocesan by coming out in full force to take active part and to invite their friends to be part of the diocesan projects.
As the stage is now set for the second session of the sixth synod of Ogbaru Diocese, Anglican communion, the Cathedral administrator Reverend Canon Frank Akachukwu on behalf of the Cathedral Deanery has opened his arms to receive the president of the synod, Right Reverend Prosper Afamefuna Amah, his wife Dr Uche, Diocesan officials, members of the Council of Knights and Ladies and all the delegates to the Synod.
Written by REV. SAMUEL NDUPU
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