Follow Us on Google
From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
The dwindling love for God occasioned by pursuit for earthly luxury by Christians was the focus of a paper presented by a board of trustees member of the First Century Gospel Church, Pastor Chibuzor Ezurike, at an event marking its 100 years in existence in Nigeria.
Founded in the 1920s, the Nigerian church, an affiliate of the parent body in Philadelphia, United States of America, had grown from its single cradle in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, to become a nationwide denomination with over 70 branches. Headquartered in Aba, Abia State, the church has in the past 100 years been preaching genuine love and faith in healing of the mind and spirit as admonished by the Holy scriptures.
However, that dream of the founding fathers seems to have been eroded as present-day worshippers, especially the youth, have chosen to serve self, engage in disobedience to Bible principles, and now give room for earthly pursuits, among others, according to Pastor Ezurike.
Speaking on the theme “Building on our foundation,” Ezurike said the church at inception focused on the Holy Spirit and its proper place, while God responded by answering prayers rapidly. He posited that the mad rush to acquire wealth, engagement in unending quarrels among brethren and disobedience to constituted authority have distanced the people from their maker: “Members were ever ready to make sacrifices as they were not coerced to give. Real blessings of God were very prominent among members. Unity was the talk of the day.
“The mad ambition to get wealth was not like that then. The extreme zeal to be on top was not like that. Court and police cases were taboos, while members devoted more time in studying and doing the word of God.”
He further lamented that some church elders now promote divisions by encouraging pastors in error, while youths recklessly lord themselves over those in high authority, a situation that he said was the handiwork of the devil.
Ezurike emphasised that, for the church to return to the glory envisioned by its founders, “we must devote time to seek God in prayer, focus on teaching the real word of God, obeying His word and express and pursue love for one another, as did people like Moses, Joshua, David, Gideon and Daniel, among others.”
A senior pastor and head of the church nationwide, Rev. Humphrey Nwaiwu, welcomed the ministers, drawn from across the country, to the three-day event. He urged them to eschew rancour and work towards the growth of the church: “God has given us grace to live and witness the celebration of…100 years in Nigeria, we have to show more commitment to be found worthy to receive the crown; anyone that has served righteously.”
