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The Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese in Benue State, Most Rev William Avenya has urged Christians in Benue State to emulate the the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Wanune, Dr Emmanuel Ashinya, and contribute their quota in building the church.
Bishop Avenya made the call Monday during the blessing of Saint Augustine Catholic Church, Enger, in Tarka Local Government Area (LGA), constructed by the Rector, Dr Ashinya and dedicated to the worship of God.
Church dedication was part of event to mark his birthday celebration.
The Bishop, who commended the Rector, said “the challenge of building our faith and the church in Communities is ours. Leaders must do things differently. There is no deceit in the blessings of God. Dr Emmanuel had put up this structure. I pray that everyone who comes in to pray here would receive an out pouring of God’s blessings.”
The Bishop, during his Homily called on Nigerians to embrace honesty, selfless service, discipline and responsible leadership as essential values for societal transformation.
He described the church as a sanctuary from which the word of God, love, charity, humility and selfless service should flow to transform individuals and community live .
The Bishop also cautioned against the abuse of institutions established to serve the public, drawing from Jesus Christ’s condemnation of commercial activities in the temple and the prevailing culture of corruption, deception and exploitation in political, religious and other professional institutions.
He expressed concerns over the country becoming a one party state saying such system has contributed in breeding underdevelopment especially in Benue State.
He noted that there are very capable leaders in other political parties but many people stick to one party as a result those that could develop the state and country are not elected into office.
The Catholic Bishop challenged political leaders to demonstrate sincerity, provide purposeful leadership and prioritize the welfare of the people, while urging citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and exercise their franchise responsibly in the forthcoming elections.
Bishop Avenya also appealed to men to take greater responsibility for childcare and family upbringing, stressing that parenting should not be left entirely to women, who already bear enormous domestic responsibilities.
He charged members of the community to protect the newly blessed church against vandalism and other destructive activities, emphasising that its facilities were a collective heritage and should remain a peaceful place of worship for students, staff and residents.
Bishop Avenya commended Ashinya and his family for the initiative, describing the church as a valuable contribution to the spiritual development of the community, and called on the faithful to sustain their commitment to building the church through prayer, faith and responsible conduct.
He further encouraged the Federal Polytechnic community to promote discipline, excellence and creativity, while highlighting the Diocese’s commitment to developing educational and healthcare institutions, including the proposed Bishop Usuh’s University and the Labe College of Nursing Sciences, to contribute to human capital development.
Bishop Avenya prayed for God’s blessings upon Dr Ashinya, his family and all those who contributed to the construction of the church, expressing hope that it would become a centre of prayer, peace, spiritual growth and positive transformation.
A student of the polythecnic who identified herself simply as Joy said the church was the only station servicing students and Christian community in the area, adding that before now they would go more than two kilometers to worship away from the school premises.
She on behalf of other students appreciated the school Rector for building the edifice she described as a huge blessing.
Speaking, to newsmen after the event, the Rector and celebrant, Dr Emmanuel Ashinya explained that building the church for his people is a mission accomplished.
Explaining what motivated him, Ashinya said Building the church is a mission accomplished for me. At a tender age, my father had a desire to build a church in Minna Diocese. He tried but he couldn’t accomplish that dream, possibly due to some external factors.
“I was about six or seven years old when he was pursuing that ambition, and I believe he hoped that one day one of his children would fulfil that dream for him.
I wish he were alive today to see what he had always wanted. I have finally built the church, and for me, that is a mission accomplished.
Beyond that, Ashinya not that as an institution of learning, “I have always been concerned about the welfare of our students. I noticed that students living around this area, particularly Catholic students, had to travel into town to attend church services.
“That informed my decision to build this chapel. I also intend to construct another chapel that will serve students of other denominations.
“We are equally concerned about the proximity of facilities to the students, especially the female students, who constitute a significant percentage of our population. We have hostels around this area, and providing facilities close to them will help reduce the risks associated with unnecessary movement outside the school premises,” he said.
He appreciated Bishop Avenya for honouring him to come and commission the church and his staff, students, community members, friends and family for coming together to celebrate him pledging not to disappoint them.
