Archbishop Ecclesiastical province of The Niger and Bishop, Diocese of Awka, Most Revd Alexander Ibeziem has charged newly ordained Priests/Deacons to be diligent in prayer and reading God’s word that would deepen their faith.
Ibeziem gave the charge during the declaration and Oaths by the Deacon/ Priest Candidates at the Trinity Ordination of Deacons and Priests held at St Paul’s Church, Umuokpu, Awka.
He urged the priests to fashion their lives and that of their households according to the ways of Christ.
“You need to promote unity, peace and love among all christians and especially among those who you serve,” he said.
Earlier in his sermon, themed ” An Approved Workman, Ven. Chris Ogbodo urged the clerics to cultivate the lifestyle of prayers, saying such disposition would make them spiritually sensitive to the their environment.
He reminded them that pulpit is not a place of gossip, hence the need for them to be apt to teaching and faithful dispenser of God’s word.
He further called on congregation to always care and support the priests, prayingq God to guide their hearts and thoughts.
Among those priested were Ezeugo Ozoemena of Our Saviour Anglican parish, Awka, Chinonso, Anaemena, Emmanuel Chijoke, Okonkwo, Johnson Uchechukwu, Igwe Clement Uchnna , Rev Obiora Ogbonna Ibeziem and Rev Stanley Nweke
They took the oath of submission to accept and immediately submit to any sentence depriving them of any or all rights and emoluments pertaining to office of Deacon/ priest, which may at anytime.
They also confessed and declared before God and His Church that they have never been members of secret cult and never to join any secret cult and owe alligiance to serve no other but the Lord Jesus Christ , affirming that their loyalty to God will always be absolute, total and undivided.