The Anioma Delta Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, has consecrated and ordained five additional Ministers of God into the full Gospel Ministry.
Conference President, Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, The Rev’d Dr. Paul Anyasi, led other ministers of the Conference to perform the ordination, in a solemn ceremony held on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Agbor, Delta State.
Those ordained included; Pastor Blessing Chukunalu from Glory Of God Baptist Church, Obiaruku, Pastor Ewiwilem James Onyeka of Calvary Baptist Church, Ute-Okpu, Pastor Ewiwilem Nkechi also from Calvary Baptist Church, Ute-Okpu, Pastor Olikeze Ejike Emmanuel from Pilgrim Baptist Church, Onicha-Ugbor and Pastor Uyakonwu Christian Nkem from Philippian Baptist Church, Idumuje-Unor.
Their ordination and consecration was sequel to the taking of a statement of pledge and the litany of commitment by the four recommending Churches, upon a motion which was unanimously adopted by the Conference.
In his Charge, the Conference President, CP, Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, Rev’d Dr. Paul Anyasi on behalf of the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev’d Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji admonished the newly ordained Pastors to lead their various Local Churches towards defending the policies, believes and practices of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
Dr. Anyasi urged them to be faithful and steadfast in leading their Churches in supporting the cooperative programme of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and said that the Convention exists by cooperation.
“It will be an error to ordain you into the gospel ministry where you don’t believe in the traditions of the Baptist.
“I want to encourage you to understand that faithfulness is the hallmark of service and as God sets you apart today and as you return to your individual churches, I urge you to defend the policies, beliefs and practices of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
“Where you are entrusted, the Lord God Almighty expects you not to play down the significance of our Baptist tradition. That is what makes us unique and that is what we are. We exist by cooperation; just make sure you lead your church in supporting the cooperative program of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
“It will also not be ethical enough, after being ordained by our denomination and the next thing is for you to scuffle the cooperative program of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. So I charge you to understand that we exist for one another,” the Conference President admonished.
In his message titled, “The Pastor, An Ambassador Of Christ”, the Chairman of the Anioma-Delta Baptist Conference, Rev’d Monday Opone described the office of a Pastor as a unique and peculiar one that is belabored with daunting challenges.
Rev’d Opone explained in great detail the enormous challenges and responsibilities that face the office of a Pastor and said that the office is not by any means an ordinary one, even as he spelled out who a Pastor is and the responsibilities that are expected of him.
“A Pastor is God’s representatives; you are called by God, chosen by God to represent him. As an ambassador, you are to protect and preserve the flock and the Church of God from destruction.
“It is your responsibility not to pull down the church or the denomination. Your job is not to destroy the congregation, but bring them together for the good of the denomination.
“The Pastor is to feed the members of the Church, to ensure that Christ is planted in the heart of Members. Preaching and teaching that Christ is formed in the heart of your members. It is your responsibility to nurture and nourish the flock of God through preaching and teaching of the word of God. You should lead the Church to care for the people,” he stated
While charging the newly ordained to know that the job of a Pastor is not an easy one, Rev’d Opone affirmed that the work has a great reward from God, and cautioned that the office demands an aggressive study, intensive prayers, dedication and commitment.
Rev’d Opone who took his scriptural references from Jeremiah Chapter 3:15 and 1st Corinthians Chapter 3:6 through 8, also elucidated the responsibilities of members and God expectations from them.
The renowned Baptist Pastor explained that members of the Church are required and expected to shine as light in the world by manifesting the teachings of the Word of God.
“Our responsibility as a Church is for us to ensure that the seed being planted in us by the Pastor falls on a fertile ground and grows to manifestation. It gladdens the heart of a Pastor when he sees progress, growth in members. Open up your heart to allow the word of God to be planted in you.
“Follow the leadership of the Pastor as the Lord God leads him. Members are not there to compete with the Pastor, but are there to support. It is our duty as members to pray for our Pastors, tell God what you want to see in the live of your Pastor. We are to stand in the gap for them. Pastors are human and need the support and prayers of members. He also need visitation; he need encouragement.
“It is the responsibility of the members to care for their Pastors, to support their Pastors, let us learn to provide for our Pastors conducive environment to do the work of God. It is our responsibility to honour and respect our Pastors for the fact that they are God’s representatives,” Rev’d Opone admonished and concluded by saying that nothing is too much for members to do for their Pastors.
Highlight of the ordination service which also had the Vice Chairman of Anioma Delta Baptist Conference Rev’d Johnbull Atamhenwan, the Moderator of Pilgrim Baptist Association, Rev’d Moses Ekene Okolie, and the Former Chairman of the Conference, Rev’d Sunday Ossai, officiating alongside the Conference President, included the anointing and consecration of the ordinands, laying of hands by ordained Ministers of the Conference, presentation of certificates of ordination and bibles to the newly ordained as well as beautiful renditions of classical hymns by the Choir of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Agbor.
