By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
The Head Pastor of Flock Assembly Ministries International, Enugu, Reverend Celestine Okenwa has enjoined christians across the world to live in peace with one another as they celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ.
Reverend Okenwa made the call this morning, in a special church service to mark the 2023 Christmas celebration in Enugu the Enugu State capital.
He further stressed the need for Christians to always show love and tolerance to fellow Christians and by extension their Muslim counterparts, adding that Christ who came to salvage mankind lived for peace, love, and tolerance.
“The Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, whose birth the entire Christendom is celebrating today lived a life of sacrifice. His life preached the virtues of peace, love and tolerance. So, for to say that we are Christians, it means that we emulate his lifestyle, and for us to celebrate his birthday, we have to first, received him in our lives,” he emphasised.
Continuing, he said, “the best way to celebrate Christmas is for one to submit totally to Christ, whose birth has called for the celebration. It is not necessarily a period to slaughter goats, cows or other animals neither is it a period to show up with your new clothes and other material things. It is a time to receive Christ in your life and submit totally to him.”
Reverend Okenwa warned religious leaders in Nigeria to stay stay clear of partisan politics, pointing out that this would compel them to derail in their primary role of winning souls for God.
The cleric however, lamented the current wave of economic hardship in the country, adding that if the trend is not checked, it might result in many Nigerians, losing confidence in the present administration.
“I think that the spate of the difficulty orchestrated by the fuel subsidy removal is alarming. It is biting too hard on our people and if it is not urgently checked, the effects would be terribly devastating,” he lamented.
Okenwa however, urged Nigerians remain calm and patient with government, adding that the new price regime in Nigeria’s oil sector, may result in a boost to the economy.
