By Calab Ishaya, Abuja
As the Saint Mary’s Anglican Church, Nyanya Gwandara joined the global family of the Anglican Communion to celebrate this years Father’s Day, Reverend Cannon John Sabo, Vicar of the Church, called on all men and by extension their families not to grow weary as the country is passing through a difficult period now. Rather he enjoined them to have faith in God and give Him the glory He deserves while emulating the examples set in the Bible.
He called on men the church and Christian men in general to understand their responsibilities and carry out such responsibilities as with King Solomon and other servants of the most high as we find in the Bible.
He enjoined all men and fathers to rekindle their zeal to serve God, while entreating their wives and the women of the church to support their husbands and the menfolk in general.
“Today marks the beginning of change for godly character and of righteousness. Don’t be tired in doing good”, he said encouraging the husbands not to allow their spirit be dampened by the challenges of life, but to go on fulfilling their God given responsibility of catering for their families.
For Evangelist Daniel Ogbe, he called on every Christian man to celebrate himself as a person, and to celebrate his relationship with Christ Jesus.
He then called on those who have to assist those who do not have.
On his part, Yohanna Nuhu, chairman of the men’s fellowship, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Nyanya Gwandara, said, “The message I have for the men of the Anglican Communion worldwide and especially in our country Nigeria is for us to draw close to God irrespective of our various challenges so that he will draw close to us.
“I say this because whatever changes anyone has, there is no amount of worries , unhappiness or thinking can add any value to us as we always remember that with God, all things are possible. Let us pray with our families continually and invite the Holy Spirit to give us guidance.
“So no matter how difficult things might be in Nigeria currently, we should strive to remain with God and take all our worries to him”.
Retired Venerable Samuel Aboi called on all to always assist the less privileged, orphans and the widows among us.
“Just like we learnt in today’s sermon, as men we should make sure we build and cater for our families as this is a God given responsibility. While doing that, we should also do our part in building our country and assist the government too in whatever way we possible including praying for them”.
Speaking on the current economic woes Nigeria is facing, he said: ” According to the Bible, there is a time for everything; a time to rejoice and a time to feel sad. Just like the preacher said in the sermon today, when we compare this year to the year 2020 when our movement was restricted and many households were struggling to eat, but this year we all go about our various endeavors freely though people are suffering from the hardship causes by the petrol subsidy removal.. When we look back, all we do is to thank God for making us survive both the pandemic and the hunger. So, let us exercise faith in Him that these too, the insecurity, hunger, unemployment shall all pass the same way the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant suffering passed”.
Members prayed for the men and fathers in the church, the ministers of God, the youth and children, and for Nigeria.
The women of the church took turns to celebrate and support the men with cash donations, after which the men also took turns to celebrate the menfolk with cash donations as well.
The children also added flavour to the programe with a melo-drama in honour to their fathers.
