…Present Twins to God One Year After On Girls Guild Sunday
By Emeka Odogwu
It was jubilation galore at the Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit, Awka, when a couple, Barr Francis Onyeka Okoye and His Worship, Nonyelum Onyeka Okoye, danced to the altar to present their twins to God at their one year birthday anniversary.
The twins, Orajirimtochukwu Franklin Onyeka Okoye, and kamsiyonna Frances Onyeka Okoye, were born exactly one year ago.
The churching ceremony several months ago for the twins, www.odogwublog.com recalls, held the congregation spell bound as the officiating priest and Vicar Church of The Holy Spirit Awka, Ven Dr Onyeka Egwuonwu, eulogized the couple for recognizing the significance of God in their lives and the lives of the twins.
Ven Dr Egwuonwu prayed for God’s continued intervention on the family, particularly on the growth and progress of the twins as future ambassadors of God, the Anglican Church, Anambra State, Awka-South, Nibo Community and the Okoye family. He also prayed for protection and Divine grace on the parents of the twins to enable them to cater for them to actualize God’s desires upon them.
Ven Dr Egwuonwu who is also the Archdeacon, CHS, Awka Archdeaconry, praised the couple’s constant appreciation to God for their twins and urged others to emulate them and blessed friends and well-wishers who danced to the altar with them.
Barr Francis Onyeka Okoye is a Legal practitioner with R.O. Nzekwe and Co., Awka. He is also the Legal Adviser, ASATU Youth Wing Anambra State, as well as the immediate Past Secretary, Awka South Local Government Area.
His Worship, Nonyelum Onyeka Okoye, is a Senior Magistrate with the Anambra State Government.
They expressed gratitude to God for His mercies and enduring love on their family and prayed that His Grace continued to locate them.
The highlight was the cutting of the one year anniversary birthday cake.
Earlier in the sermon to mark the Girls Guild Sunday, the Vicar, Church of The Holy Spirit Awka, Ven Dr Egwuonwu, appealed to parents to train girls in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, noting that the knowledge of Christ, purity and life as depicted in their uniform, were the major reasons for establishing Girls Guild.
Ven Dr. Egwuonwu warned men to stop deceiving girls, both spiritually and otherwise, but to help them grow spiritually and otherwise for societal good.
He told the girls that their character spoke volumes of who they were; thus, they should build their character as models and not by shameless show of their nakedness. He added that responsible men looked for reserved women to marry after frolicking with those marketing their bodies.
‘Husbands don’t come by the size of the Bible you are carrying. And, attraction isn’t by showing your body to the public. Responsible men look for reserved girls and women, not wild ladies. Build your character, be a model, because whatever you think in your mind is what you are.
‘Don’t be stupid about love. Read your Bible always. If your environment is dirty, there is a problem in your life. If you are lazy with domestic chores, you are in trouble. Work to assist your family because it’s important. Is your phone more important than your life? Use your phone positively. Be wise, my daughters. You are an asset, wonderful asset. You shall not bring shame to your home and the Church. You are useful instruments for God. Let anger not destroy you,’ Ven Dr. Egwuonwu concluded.
The theme of the sermon was, “Dangers of materialism”.
He announced that in the belief of Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion, spirit and souls don’t die and the ability to control too much attachment to material wealth reduces one’s chances of pursuing shadows and a devilish agenda.
He reminded that the Bible only condemned excessive attachment to materialism, insisting that man must align with the will of God as three ways to be materialistic were Idolatry, greed and spiritual emptiness.
He listed 7 deadly sins, according to Thomas Aquinas, as pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, sloth and gluttony.
Vice-President of the Girls Guild, Nneora Barr Chioma Egwuonwu, encouraged the ladies to be exemplary in all situations while the coordinator of the Girls Guild, Nneora Dr. Ezeonyi, expressed gratitude to God for a successful week, commending the girls for being cool headed.
In her remarks, the Girls Guild Leader, CHS, Awka, Miss Blessing Ogbalu, thanked parents for allowing the girls to attend the practices that were now memorable in their lives sequel to numerous skills imparted to them.
She thanked the vicar and wife among other workers in the vineyard for the opportunity to serve.
They showcased their products like car wash, dish washers, etc.
