Anglican bishop of Arochukwu/Ohafia Diocese, Rt Rev Johnson Onuoha has blamed myriad of challenges confronting Nigeria to sin which he said had long held the citizens captive.
He called on Nigerians, especially christians, to work hard to escape spiritual captivity.
The bishop spoke in Onitsha at the 2023 edition of the Fresh Manna International Conference of the Diocese on the Niger, Anambra State.
The four-day event which was its 20th edition was held at All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha where the maiden conference took place between December 4 and 7, 2003.
Speaking on the theme, “His Divine Presence”, the Prelate argued that someone in captivity could see good things but could not enjoy them.
He expressed worries that such was the experience of most Nigerians who he said were in captivity, adding that spiritual captivity was very challenging, painful and frustrating.
The prelate, however, assured that God would restore all stollen blessings of the nation and those of the people should Nigerians believe and embrace the divine presence, reassuring that God could turn the nation’s situation around once more, only if human beings could put their faith in Him.
Underscoring the need for the nation and the people to embrace God’s presence, Onuoha noted that without God one would always remain stagnant, without physical well-being and without a peaceful home.
He explained that these were few signs of bondage and captivity. The Bishop noted that freedom from captivity was not a distant dream only if one could submit onesself to God’s presence.
“If there is any area you are in opposite directions with God, you are in captivity and you are in the dark if you are in captivity. Captivity makes you to lose your vision as well as neutralises your vision.
“Spiritual captivity will make you feel unfulfilled, hopeless, and make you always experience near success syndrome, “he said.
The conference in its commencement featured among other things, renditions by various choral groups, various Bible exposition topics and about 17 different life-changing seminar topics.
Some of the seminar themes were the “Clergy and Wives” anchored by the Rt Rev Johnson Onuoha, “Church Teachers and Wives”, presented by Ven I. C. Obalum, “Knights and Ladies” by Ven. Charles Chukwurah and “Leadership” by Mr Chinedu Nwonu.
Others are, “You and Your Prayer Life” presented by Evang. Ben Onyema, “You and Your Health”, by Dame Dr Vivian Onwuekwe, “Agricultural Awareness” by Dr Somto Eyisi, the “Christian Youth”, by Princess Ijeọma Agudosi and “Business Breakthrough” by Ven Prince Chukwuma.
The host Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, appreciated the guest speakers for attending the event and generously sharing their experiences with the conference participants.
The Bishop also thanked all the priests and members of the Diocese for their various efforts in making the year’s conference a success irrespective of what he described as present social and economic challenges.
He announced that cheques covering different tuitions of students on the diocesan scholarship scheme were ready and could be collected by the beneficiaries in diocesan education office.
No less than 15,000 Anglicans and non-Anglicans from within Anambra State and beyond attended the conference while millions of viewers joined the conference on various platforms of the social media.
