By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a historic moment at the Anglican Church of Redemption, Awka (ACORA) in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State on Sunday, while the congregation danced to their satisfaction, as the Church held her first Anglican Youths Fellow (AYF) Sunday, for the year 2024.
Themed “I Will Arise and Go Back to My Father”, the well-attended service, which was the first of its kind in the church, was heralded by a week-long program activities that also marked the Youth Week, including training, visitation, and sports activities, among others.
In his sermon during the service, Rev. Emmanuel Ogbuefi, who also read out the Youth Sunday address of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Archbishop Alexander Ibezim, dwelt on Luke 15:18, Deuteronomy 13:19, Joshua 24:15, and other biblical passages to advise the youths to always be careful and mindful of the choices they make, as choice-making is very important and should be guided with the Spirit of God.
While noting that God set before mankind death and life, Rev. Ogbuefi who is also the Youth Chaplain in the church, also reminded them that the choices they make today can make or mar them in the future, even as he further warned the youths who are far away from God to return to the Father, which would be perfected through understanding of the Truth, seeking God, and allowing the Word of God to direct them.
Emphasizing the need for one to be dead to sin to live in Christ, he also “charged every youth to rise from the midst of worldly life, sin laziness, youthful desires, idle worship, drug addictions, wrong choices, sexual perversions, get-rich-quick syndrome, sacrificial murders, complacency, and delights.”
The lively service was spiced-up with various performances by the youths, including special renditions with local instruments, a pantomime, presentation of an article “Youth Absenteeism in the Church: The Malady and the Remedy” (written by Izunna Okafor, and presented by Alvan Chinazaekpere), among other side attractions that both entertained, educated and uplifted the spiritual lives of the congregation.
In their remarks, the Vicar, Anglican Church of Redemption, Awka, Ven. Dr. Obiora Alokwu, and a curate of the church, Rev. Can. Clement Izuegbu, confessed to have been wowed by the event, the packaging, and the beautiful renditions of the AYF songs backed up with local instruments; as well as the flashy-cum-spectacular dance steps of the congregation which, they said, were all far beyond his expectations.
While showering panegyrics on the organizers and the youths for their dedication and extraordinary performances, they also lauded the congregation for queuing in, even as they called for more commitment and dedication to sustain and keep the already-ignited light burning without fading.
In a vote of thanks, the AYF Leader in the church, Mr. Izuchukwu Onyema hailed the leadership of the church for their support, and specially extolled the members of the AYF for their sacrifices and commitments, which, he said, all contributed to the success of the event.
The event also featured the rededication of the youths, and the integration of the ACORA Youth Board, led by Pharm. Uzo Umeononihu, to the AYF, for a more harmonized and impactful administration; even as some stakeholders and elder statesmen in the church also dwelt on their experiences to shower encomiums and offer some words of advice to the youths, which all made the day auspicious and propitious to the youths and the congregation at large.
More photos from the event (Photo credits: ACORA MEDIA TEAM):
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