Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – St. Christopher Anglican Church Kaduna marked and celebrated its 80th anniversary on 6th September, recounting testimonies of how God saw them through during their trial moments in the past, celebrating God’s faithfulness.
Some of the activities marked during the celebration include communion service, testimonies, health walk, seminars, dinner and award presentations and a thanksgiving service.
Awards were given to some outstanding members of the church, including all Priests alive who were at one time in charge of the church.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Passing on the Baton’, during the thanksgiving service, the Guess speaker Rt Rev. Gabriel Akinbiyi tasked the congregation to remained steadfast in running the race of life irrespective of trials and persecution urging them not to drop the baton which he described as the undiluted word of God/sound doctrine.
He said, “As you received Christ, you have been given the baton for a race which you must run to a finish. Holdfast the baton and be strong and fearless irrespective of the persecution you would encounter, God will deliver you. Your persistence would lead you to reach your goal and pass it over to the next generation.”
Rev. Akinbiyi added that the church has witnessed a lot of revival through prayers; urging them to pray more to overcome the works of the evil ones and also, for the continual growth and glorious future of the church.
He congratulated the church for the celebration of God’s faithfulness and opportunity gained through freedom to worship and sing praises to God. “Now we have the opportunity to sing and praise God which was not like this in those days because the church then was an organization of men but now it’s the leading of the spirit,” he noted.
Vicar of the Church, Joshua Mallam while expressing gratitude to God for the 80th anniversary, appreciated church members for their various contributions which have become source of blessings to all; pointing out that, the church has produced many great men and women who are impacting immensely to the society.
“The mission work is still on the increase, while we pray for more financial and prayer support for God’s mandate to be accomplished,” he added.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Usman Oyowe in a remark said the essence of the celebration was to recall some of the difficulties and crisis the church had in the past in its leadership; stressing that they have witnessed changes which is why they are celebrating. He said, those people who try to stop us from proclaiming the gospel failed at a point in time, those people even try to instigate the appointment of the bishop but they where chase out of the church under cover. The congregation rose up against them but we intervene to stop them.”
“It shows that the attempt to bring the church down or reduce the faith of the church failed. We are celebrating that today because after that time, we have never had a strong attempt to stop us from doing what we are doing in accordance to the gospel,” he explained.
The church started as a military church serving mostly British officers around the 1930s and governors who were British. Most of the Ministers of the church before the ‘70s were expatriate.
