ESCHEW PRODIGALITY TO RUN AWAY FROM HAVING PRODIGAL CHILDREN, SAYS CLERIC

By David Okpala/Stella Okpala :

The Bishop, Diocese of Aguata, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Samuel Ezeofor has enjoined fathers to work with wives to bringing up children they can proudly call their own.

He said this while admonishing men who stood behind their wives to be ushered into Women Guild of the Church, at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Akpo, on December 9.

The cleric said, “By sacrament of baptism, man is admitted into the household of God and saddled with responsibility of preaching and living life of love to humanity and God.

“Against this backdrop, it is agreeable  that you as men are immediate pastors of your families. Therefore, if prodigal children are produced, the implication is that you did not pastor well.”

He cited example of Eli in the Bible, who was lenient from stopping the children from toeing the Lord path, but paid dearly for it.

“The story of prodigal son in the Bible did not record where his father resisted sharing what he has to giving him his own share.

“There were no questions about where he was going and what he was going to do with these resources there. Good a thing, he came back but paid dearly for his action. It is common knowledge that once there is a prodigal son, there must have been a prodigal father.

Bishop Ezeofor added that families are small units of the Church cum society.

“If we do not get it right in our families, we have ourselves to blame. Those of us deriving joy from wealth of our children at tender age without proper known source of income are not helping matters.”

He pleaded with fathers to spend time with children at home, to understanding their behaviours as to know when there are changes, to making amends on time.

The Church Service was to induce young Christians with the power of the Holy Spirit to become true ambassadors of Jesus Christ. It featured administering sacrament of confirmation to over 50 young Christians from Amaiyi Archdeaconry.

17 Girls were admitted into Girls Guild while 10 women were admitted into women folk of the Church.

The service had pastors and wives, of all the Churches in Amaiyi Archdeaconry in attendance.

The young confirmed Christians interviewed include Lydia Chukwu, Adaeze Okolie and Wisdom Ezeonyeji.

Those admitted into Girls Guild and women folk include Ijeoma Okpalaunegbu, Chikodili Ogbuaja, Chioma Ifedigbo, Mrs Helen Eze and Mrs Ozioma Onyebueke.

These persons spoke separately, yet agreed in expressing joy attaining new status in the Church. They promised going to serve humanity and God to achieving better society.

*David and Stella are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.