By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka
The Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, the Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor has blamed the numerous socio-economic challenges bedeviling Nigeria on the high level of ungodliness among the nation’s leaders.
Ezeofor believes that genuine fear of God among the nation’s leaders will enable them to take the right decisions that will positively impact the lives of the people.
In a sermon at Saint Mary’s Church Umuomaku in Orumba South local government area during a special thanksgiving service to mark the end of the twenty-first Aguata Diocesan Women’s conference, Bishop Ezeofor said God is still in search of a godly generation.
The prelate expressed worry that unless the nation’s leaders return to God in genuine obedience, the dream of turning around the fortunes of the country may remain elusive.
Ezeofor, who also spoke of the place of the family in God’s agenda for the nation, called on married couples to stick to their vows so as to safeguard their various families from devilish attack.
Describing the family as the smallest unit of socialization, the prelate observed that the attack on marriages by the devil is targeted at destroying the destinies of the younger generation, who will take over the society tomorrow.
“Children of God must take heed and fight this renewed attack on the family by the devil.
“Strife between couples, abandonment of child upbringing in pursuit of money and career, lack of respect for one another by couples, and other anomalies we see today in marriages, constitute attacks through which the devil is shaping the mentality of our children negatively and making them irresponsible.
“These young ones will grow up tomorrow to become leaders and without the right knowledge, how will they be able to steer the course of the nation aright?” he queried.
Speaking on the theme of the Conference, “God’s Great task for the Church: The Great commitment- Raising a Godly Generation,”, the bishop charged delegates to the conference to be purveyors of the message of raising a godly generation for improved societal livelihoods.
Bishop Ezeofor, who is also the National Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion, EFAC-Nigeria, disclosed that various oaths being taken in the church, especially during ordination, admission into the knighthood order, amongst others, are because of a lack of trust and called on the faithful to always live lives of trust and confidence.
He regretted that most people who were baptized in the church and received the sacrament of confirmation are now part of those engaging in acts that spite the faith they once professed, and called for godly parents who will salvage the situation.
In a remark, the President of the conference, Mrs Chinyere Ezeofor, who regretted that the youths who are the leaders of both the church and larger society are going back into idolatry and patronizing various shrines and deities.
She said the message of the conference was for mothers to be more dedicated in their roles towards engendering attitudinal change among derailing youths in the society.
Mrs Ezeofor reminded parents that celebrating ill-gotten wealth, especially by their children, is evil, urging them through reprimands, to always correct their wards when they find them deviating.
Some conference delegates, including Dame Chinyere Mbakwe, Lady Ngozi Ike, and Mrs Ifeoma Ekwueme, while describing the theme of the conference as apt, called for concerted efforts by couples in raising godly children.
