The Ultramodern Worship Auditorium of the Ebenezer Baptist Church Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State was on Sunday January 8, 2023 formally unveiled and dedicated to the Lord God Almighty.
Rev’d Dr Paul Friday Anyasi, President Anioma Baptist Conference, Delta State, representing the Nigerian Baptist Convention President, Rev’d Dr Israel Adelani Akanji led other Baptist Ministers that included Rev’d Gideon Oyibo former Delta Baptist Conference President, in dedicating the massive edifice.
Traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, His Royal Majesty Agbogidi Obi Nduka, Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom led members of his Council to the special dedication Service that was hosted by the Moderator Pilgrim Baptist Association and Pastor in Charge of Ebenezer Baptist Church Issele-Uku, Rev’d Moses Ekene Okolie.
Vice Moderator Pilgrim Baptist Association Rev’d Gebriel Okpala led Pastors and members of the Association to the highly impressive special church service with other denominational church leaders in attendance.
The event was also attended by the Chairman and Managing Director of Fidelity Fortune & Management Company Nigeria Limited, Prince Ibe Ozoma and the beloved wife, Mrs Chioma Ozoma.
Dedicating the Ultramodern Worship Auditorium, on behalf of the Leader of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev’d Dr Paul Anyasi praised God for giving the Church such a wonderful place of worship, while appreciating the human instruments He used to finance and bring about the entire project, saying it can only be God’s doings.
“I am particularly happy that the groundbreaking of this wonderful work of God was performed on July 7, 2013 by our leader, Rev’d Gideon Oyibo and after about 9 years, he is here with us to unveil and dedicate it to the Lord God Almighty. It can only be God and him alone,’ Rev’d Anyasi said.
While appreciating the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku for his charisma, and humility in identifying with things that pertains to God in his Issele-Uku Kingdom, the Spiritual Leader of Baptist denominations in Delta North district, commended the Pastor and members of Ebenezer Baptist Church for adhering to the voice of God in building a great worship center for Him, prophesying a new and wonderful beginning for the entire membership of the Church in Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area.
In his homily, Rev’d Gideon Oyibo exposed the mystery of God’s Temple to be a holy place set apart for the gathering of God’s people with a view to meeting and experiencing God in a unique way, even as he cautioned that the Temple must not be defiled.
“The Temple that we are gathered in is the House of God. It is not a community hall; it is not a political meeting place. It is not an ordinary place, but a distinguished place, holy place, set apart for the service of the Lord God Almighty. It is a consecrated place where we come together to be with God, a public place where people come to seek the face of God,”
Rev’d Oyibo, a renowned Baptist Minister, admonished church leaders to always ensure that the right altitude and environment is created in God’s Temple to help the people experience the love and hand of God in their lives, saying that the altitude of Church leaders has a long way to go in determining how people are led to God.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are,” he quoted the scripture in 1Corinthians 3:16.
Rev’d Oyibo said, ” Let the leadership of the Church create an atmosphere for the people to experience the love of God, to experience the hand of God, to experience the fellowship of God, to experience breakthrough, to experience peace and fear of God. That is your responsibility.”
While praying for the leadership and members of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev’d Gideon Oyibo also recognized the humility and royal presence of the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Agbogidi Obi Nduka and prayed to God for him and his kingdom to continue to witness more development to the glory of God.
Earlier, the Moderator of Pilgrim Baptist Association and Pastor in Charge of Ebenezer Baptist Cathedral, Issele-Uku, Rev’d Moses Ekene Okolie welcomed the massive congregation and expressed his profound appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, and the Anioma Baptist Conference, the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, the Fathers of the day and their wives as well as other denominational church leaders for joining the church in dedicating and celebration the love and goodness of the Lord God Almighty.
In a brief on the new worship center, the Chairman of the New Auditorium Building Committee and Chairman, Deaconate of Ebenezer Baptist Church Issele-Uku, Deacon Chijioke Williams Ugbolue, said the vision of the building of the Worship Auditorium was given to the Pastor of the Church, Rev”d Moses Ekene Okolie and without the delay, the ground breaking with the foundation laying performed by Rev’d Gideon Oyibo on Sunday, July 7, 2013 whereby over Ninety Million Naira (N90,000,000) was expanded in the entire structure that included construction of the building, reclaiming and perimeter fencing of the land, equipping with state of the art sound and music system and power generating plant.
He however revealed the secret behind the building of the one thousand capacity Ultramodern Worship Auditorium and said God used two of His willing Servants, who he noted wished to remain anonymous, as His instruments in the building of the impressive Cathedral.
“The story of these two instruments with regards to the building of this cathedral reminded me of the scripture in first Corinthians chapter 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” God used one in planting the project and again brought in the other, to sustain and finish up the project in a magnificent way in consonance with His vision and mandate. Our prayer has been that God who made them instruments in His hand will accordingly, continue to bless and reward them greatly, up to their third and fourth generations.
“The Labour of Love and contributions of others such as Mother B.U. Nwofude’s family, Pa S. I. Ijeh’s family, Architect Chukwuwike Nwofude, Chief Henry Ugbolue, Mr. Parker Okafor and Chukwudi Okafor family are also indelible in the construction of this Holy Temple. God used them also in a unique way and He alone will continue to reward them immensely.
“We want to sincerely appreciate and commend our father in the Lord, the Rev’d Dr S.W. Martin of our time, the Moderator/ Spiritual Leader of Pilgrim Baptist Association and the Under-shepherd of Ebenezer Baptist Cathedral, Issele-Uku, Rev’d Moses Ekene Okolie, for holding on to the vision and for his amazing faith in ensuring the translation of the vision into reality despite all daunting challenges.
“Above all, as members of the New Church Building Project Committee, we are grateful to God for the enablement given to us to work and witness the conclusion of this temple. To Him and Him alone we give all the glory,” Dn. Chijioke Williams Ugbolue said.
Highlight of the highly successful spiritual event included handing over of the Project to the Church by the Architect and Project Management Consultant, Architect Chukwuwike Nwofude, prayer of thanksgiving by Rev’d Gideon Oyibo, dedication prayer and former cutting of the tape by Rev’d Dr Paul Anyasi on behalf of the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention and the unveiling of the commemoration plague by Agbogidi Obi Nduka, Obi of Issele-Uku.
The Redeemed Voices of Ebenezer Baptist Cathedral Issele-Uku, seasoned the outing with classical and spiritual hymns from Baptist hymnal while leading the congregation to sessions of consecrated praise and worship to the glory of God.
Also, pamphlets on Ebenezer Baptist Church Issele-Uku, Nigeria, Dedication Ceremony January 8, 2023 by Rev’d Dr. Dominic Nwadiei were presented and distributed free to the congregation at the Special Church Service.
