From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Rev. Stephen Panya Baba has commissioned the newly constructed ECWA Gospel Church in Kulishin, Shongom Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe State. This commissioning marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Christian community in the area.
While dedicating the Church which was built by Mr. Jerry Damara Managing Director/CEO of Mesotho Group and former member of the House of Representatives, the ECWA President challenged all sons and daughters of ECWA to emulate the philanthropist by contributing to the growth of the gospel the area. He called for assistance in constructing schools, clinics, and provision of vehicles in the Church.
Also speaking at the event which was attended by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau state, Gombe state Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Martin Luther Agwai (Rtrd), and former Speaker Yakubu Dogara as well as former minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, Paulen Tallen and Solomon Dalong among others, the former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, (Rtd) stated that the construction of the Church reminds him of the Temple of King Solomon.
He prayed that God would answer every prayer that would be offered in the newly built Church. He also prayed that the Church would be a very great blessing to the people of the area and the entire ECWA family.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the occasion Prof. Jerry Gana congratulated the people of Shongom and Kaltungo LGAs for having the Church constructed and prayed that the presence of God will abide with them and bring his light to shine upon the people of the area, Gombe State and Nigeria at large.
On his part, the Plateau state governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang commended Mr. Damara for building a Church where people will come and serve God as he called for unity irrespective of tribal differences for the development of the area and the country in general.
The governor reminded the residents of the need to rekindle brotherhood among one another, and support and promote the region to glory to God. He said, “It is indeed a great privilege and honor to be here to sharpen one another, to build one another. We have come to fellowship with you and to assure you that you are our brothers and we hope that God will sustain and prosper the fellowship existing between us. My prayer as I have trusted God for the people of Plateau State, I trust God also that all of us that God has deposited in the Middle Belt of Nigeria will come together”.
In his sermon Rev. Silas Yako, Guest Speaker at the event, while delivering the message entitled ‘setting a good example’ urged Christians to live more by examples in their actions rather than words. He admonished that ways of thanking God for his goodness are numerous, including worship, and imbibing a lifestyle worthy of emulation since people are more prone to copying what you do other than what you say.
Delivering a vote of thanks, Jerry Damara appreciated the Christian community for joining him in thanking God for what he has done in the life of his family. Briefing the gathering on how he made the decision to construct the Church. He explained that the decision was reached after he was invited to a launch where only N700,000 was realized out of N25 million needed for the project.
