By Emeka Odogwu
Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Aguata, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Samuel Chukwudi Ezeofor, led other Bishops in the province to the 13th Edition of the Anglican prayer rally of Anambra State, ( APRAS 2026) at the Paul University Awka Compound.
APRAS is a prayer session held annually by the nine dioceses under the Province on the Niger, to seek God’s face and blessings.
Other Bishops who attended the spiritual gathering were the Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor; Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Ama; Bishop of Niger East Diocese, Rt. Rev. Obiora Uzochukwu; and Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi among hundreds of clergymen and thousands of laity.
Bishop Ezeofor who is the Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger and Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese, urged Anglican faithful in Awka Diocese and by extension the state, not to lose hope following recent developments bedevilling the Communion.
Bishop Ezeofor asked them to have faith in God by looking up to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of their faith, assuring them that the church would soon bounce back.
He regretted that the Church was in the media for the wrong reasons, but, expressed confidence that God would continue to purge and cleanse His Church of all forms of impurity.
He words: “My message to everyone is that we, as human beings, may stumble, but God is still on the throne.
“Our church may be in the media for the wrong reasons, but the devil will continue to be put to shame.
“This church belongs to God. Yes, it is human beings who run it, and it is also a human system, but God encourages us to look up to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.
“That things are not going the way we want has not made God to abdicate His throne.
“You are going to see, in a very short while, things are going to turn around.
“So, those who are discouraged should know that God is still on the throne and let them look up to Him. When things turn around, they will also rejoice.”
The theme of the prayer rally was, “Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High.
On that, Ezeofor, said prevailing societal challenges and the need for Christians to take prayer seriously to enjoy God’s protection informed the choice of the theme.
“When you look around, you will see the happenings. We recognise that if we all dwell in the secret place of the Most High, God will save us from all the problems we are passing through.
“There are all kinds of troubles and tragedies all around. But those who dwell in God’s secret place will be spared. We need to remind our parishioners that this is the demand of God for the hour,” he added.
In his message earlier, the Archdeacon of Onitsha South Archdeaconry, Diocese on the Niger, Ven. Dr Emma Ezeugo, advised parishioners to devote time to praying for the church, warning against what he described as “AI prayer”, which he insisted must be discarded.
“God will spare us from various forms of tragedies when we devote quality time to pray,” he stressed.
On his view of the rally the next day, the Archdeacon CHS Awka Archdeaconry and Vicar Church of The Holy Spirit Awka, Ven. Onyeka Egwuonwu, described the theme as apt, and engaging.
