Archbishop Ibanga tasks christians on community development

Mfonobong Ekanem

The newly ordained Elders and Deaconesses of Everlasting Christ Gospel Mission Int'l have been charged to help accomplish their tasks by identifying and developing gifts in both the church and community.

The Prelate for West Africa, Wesley Synod International Mission Canterbury for Africa and President/Founder of Everlasting Christ Gospel Mission Int'l, His Grace, Archbishop Dr. Sir Friday Ibanga gave the charge.

He made this known recently during the 2022 August Spiritual Gathering Thanksgivings/Ordination of Elders and Deaconesses Service with the theme: "Gather My People; Let Them Increase My Presence In Their Lives By Building A strong Prayer Altar" Deuteronomy 4: 10; 1 Corinthians 16: 13; held at the Mission headquarters, Mbiabong Ikot Udo Uso, Etoi' Uyo.

According to him, "the final book of authority in matters of faith for Christians, the Holy Bible, when you collect your salary share it to your wife first, yourself, to the church and to your community.

"Infact, as a man when you collect your salary, when you remove your tithe, the first person on your list should be your wife; then church and community, you 'll see the miracle you have".

Archbishop Ibanga stressed that an elder must be blameless, a husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable and hospitable to strangers.

"The Holy Bible says if you seek a noble position as an Elder, you must be a husband of one wife, know how to take care of visitors."

He stressed further that an elder must promote fellowship and hospitality among believers; ensure good order in the church and stimulate love among the believers.

"You must take care of the church, not just to get an office then go and sleep, you must also come  and find out what is going on in the church.

"As an ordained Elder or Deaconess, the best inheritance you have for your child is your name; for some names are padlocks while some are keys. Also, you transfer connections, relationship and philosophy to your children".

The Man of God, while addressing a huge congregation said Deaconess must be serious; not double tongue, not slanderer; but must hold fast to the mystery of the kingdom with a clear conscience.

"A Deaconess is someone who gives luck, favour to young ones; she must not be a parrot or a gossiper; she must not bring public tradition into the things of God.

"You rebuke, correct people to God; you don't bring contempt to create trouble in the church and in your environment".

The Prelate posited that the time has come for the youths to rise and read their Bibles adding that 'youths' is a period of time in their biology that they define whom they want to become.

He explained further that Christian youths must stand out wherever they find themselves even as he advised them to let the beauty of Jesus Christ be seen in their daily activities.

The Founder urged youths to shun violence thereby encouraging them to create a democratic dialogue  if they are not satisfied with the conduct of their friends.

"Create an audience of dialogue, not violence; be bold to sit with anyone and relates your problem instead of violence.

"Learn to create supernatural; don't depend on friends; don't allow anybody to influence you excessively, for excessive influence is undue influence. This is part of the system designed by Satan to destroy youths".

"Create a silence moment for yourself; stop going from house to house to report wrong things to blackmail people; stop using your phones to gossip people" he stated.

The President encouraged worshippers to be spiritually minded in order to conquer the spirit of death; reminding them that death does not kill people automatically; rather, it goes gradually into the bloodstreams.

"When you are a gossiper, carries of careful utterances, bad behavior and jumping into people's welfare when you are not invited, death enters you gradually.

"When you are more spiritually conscious, the volume of flesh in your environment will reduce; and death can not kill you".