Anioma Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention has held an end of tenure appreciation service in honour of Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi who rotated out as its Spiritual Leader and Conference President.
The service was held on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the New Era Baptist Church, Boji Boji, Owa in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State.
It was attended by the newly appointed Conference President, Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Utih Godspower Dike, the Chairman of the Conference, Rev. Dr. Monday Opone, Moderators of the various Associations, other members of the Executive Committee of the Conference and delegates from all the Associations and local Churches within the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference.
The service which had the former President of the Defunct Delta State Baptist Conference, Rev. Gideon Oyibor as the Special Guest Minister was also attended by the Conference President of Providence Delta Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. D.D. Thinker who represented the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji.
In his sermon titled, ‘Why We Must Appreciate Our Leaders,’ Rev. Gideon Oyibo congratulated Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi for the completion of his tenure as the Conference President of Anioma Delta Baptist Conference after ten years of meritorious service, even as he described Conference President’s tenure completion as a form of ‘deliverance’, considering what one goes through as a Church leader in the Baptist Denomination.
He articulated reasons why Christians should appreciate their Church Leaders and said that appreciation gives hope and inspiration to those that are being appreciated.
“We must appreciate our leaders because it is biblical. It is the will of God to appreciate our pastors. In doing this, we are responding to the will of God through obedience to God.
‘It is more about God and not the leader, it is more about the will of God. It is about honouring and serving God more than the Leader.
“If you do it in the name of the Lord, to glorify the name of the Lord, you will be rewarded by God Almighty. It is not about anyone, but all about God,” Rev. Oyibo said.
He maintained that the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference is not about who is the Conference President, but, rather about God.
He emphasised that all that was needed to move the Anioma Baptist Conference forward, has been made available by God
The renowned Baptist preacher said that the problem of the Conference remains that the people who he noted are precious gifts, given to the Conference by God himself, have refused to allow God to use them towards moving the Conferences forward.
He therefore urged such people within the Conference to repent and make themselves available for God to use, with a view to moving the Anioma Baptist Conference forward to the glory of the Lord God Almighty.
The Man of God further maintained that Church Leaders must be appreciated because of the challenges they pass through, the stressful nature of the work they do and because of their need as well as for the fact that appreciating Church leaders is rewarding.
Testimonies of the goodness of the Lord God Almighty in the life of the outgone Conference President was given on behalf of the Conference by the Conference Chairman, Rev. Dr. Monday Opone.
The various organizations in the Conference that included Pastor’s Fellowship, Deacon’s Fellowship, Men’s Missionary Union (MMU), Women Missionary Service (WMS), Youth Fellowship and Pastor’s Wives Fellowship also gave testimonies of what God used Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi to achieve as the pioneer Conference President of Anioma Delta Baptist Conference.
The Conference President of the Ethiope Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Thinker also testified of the value God used Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi to add to the Forum of Baptist Conference Presidents as well as his invaluable contributions to the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the End of Tenure Appreciation Service, Rev. Dr. Eseoghene Igbigbidje thanked the outgone Conference President and Executives of the Conference for bestowing on them the trust and opportunity to meticulously plan, coordinate and carry out the appreciation service.
“We are truly thankful to the members of the Executive Committee of the Conference for their unwavering support.
“We also wish to extend our appreciation to all the Moderators of the various Associations in the Anioma-Delta Baptist Conference, as well as various organizations and Fellowships for their invaluable contributions.
“May the grace of God shine upon us as we honour the legacy of Rev. Dr.& Mrs Paul Friday Anyasi as we look forward to the future with hope and anticipation,” Dr Igbigbije prayed and urged all to continue to work together for the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference in unity and love for the greater glory of God.
In his Citation, Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi, born on August 16, 1968 was described as a highly experienced Christian leader in Nigeria. This is as a result of the various leadership positions he has held, within the defunct Delta State Baptist Conference, the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference which he pioneered as the Conference President for ten years, the Nigerian Baptist Convention, and a Senior official of the Delta State Government as a onetime Executive Secretary of the State Pilgrim Welfare Board.
The citation while noting Dr. Anyasi’s academic and theological qualifications credited him with a University Degree, Two Master’s Degree and a Ph.D.
He is said to be skilled in effective communication, information management, effective team player, team coordination/management as well as counseling and peace building.
“Dr. Paul Anyasi has undertaken several training, conferences, seminars, and workshops on areas of church growth, leadership, management, and strategic planning in Nigeria and abroad.
“He is a seasoned Pastor, Biblical Preacher and teacher, multi-talented leader, and a strategic thinking professional with over 30 years of leadership experience in Pastoral Leadership, building relationships, cultivating partnerships, and growing success channels.
“With his experience as a Church-based Pastor, denominational leader, and public office holder, Rev. Dr. P.F. Anyasi has grown and developed to be a strategic problem solver and change executioner,” the Citation further revealed .
The high point of the appreciation service was special prayer for Rev. Dr. Friday Anyasi and members of his family, presentation of Merit award by the Conference to the outgone Conference President for his meritorious services to the Conference as the Pioneer Conference President.
The Conference and its various Organs, the various Associations and Local Churches as well as individuals later came out one after the other to present their items of appreciation to the outgone Conference President.
Accompanied by his beloved wife, Mrs Obiageri Anyasi, Dr. Anyasi who was visibly elated responded by expressing his profound appreciation to God for using him to pioneer the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference ten years ago.
He appreciated the members of the Conference for the support and show of uncommon love for him and his family and said that he will continue to make himself available to continue to contribute his quote towards taking the conference to another level of glory.
While emphasising that Anioma Delta Baptist Conference remains a New Conference, Dr. Anyasi said a lot has been achieved and called on members of the Conference to support and cooperate with the new Conference President to build on the solid foundation that has been built within a period of ten years, towards moving the Conferences forward to the glory and praise of the Lord God Almighty.
