By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu
The 2024 Church of the Holy Spirit, CHS, Awka Parish Women’s Conference, has ended with a charge on women to be peace bearers for a prosperous and livable society. The conference also touched on roles of women.
The Vice-President, Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild, Girls Guild and Young Wives Association, Diocese of Awka, Barr Mrs Chioma Egwuonwu, gave the charge shortly after her address with the theme: “I will not let you go unless you bless me”. Gen. 26: 32.
The event which recently took place at the Church of the Holy Spirit Awka was hosted by LOVE Family Group.
Barr. Mrs. Egwuonwu who is also the Vicar’s wife, thanked God for His grace and blessings for the year, even as she appreciated the Archbishop, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim and wife, Dr Mrs. Martha Chioma Ibezim, for their good work in the Diocese and Province.
She also thanked the Diocese for appointing Ven. Dr. Onyeka Egwuonwu an Archdeacon with a pioneering responsibility to the New CHS Archdeaconry, few weeks after his preferment as a Venerable.
Barr. Mrs. Egwuonwu highlighted the roles of Christian women to include but not limited to submitting to their husbands, loving and supporting the husband, caring for the household, being peace bearers, teaching and being teachable, as well as being role models for the children, among others.
She insisted that for society to thrive, women must inculcate the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their children and ensure they were peaceful and peace lovers in other to checkmate violence and crime in society from the outset.
The conference started with a Holy Eucharistic celebrated by the Vicar of the parish, Ven. Dr. Onyeka Egwuonwu, and assisted by other priests within the parish.
The entire women of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Awka, came out en mass for the conference, even as the Bible Study led by Rev’d Dr Nnaemeka Ezeonyi, centered on the benefits of Natural spices in meals, talk on seed of faith, among others, as drawn from the theme.
Barr. Philomena Okoye, former Registrar of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was the chief accepter of the Vicar’s wife address.
She thanked the Vicar’s wife for what she described as a well written and articulated address and adopted the address as a working document in the Archdeaconry and Diocesan level.
The Conference was exciting as the women expressed their appreciations to the Vicar’s wife and the host LOVE Family, led by the women’s leader, Mrs Chinyere Nwume.
Highlight was an award on Conference Sunday to a banker, Lady Ogoma Onyeakpa, as the 2024 Special Conference Lady, amidst pomp and ceremony.
In his sermon earlier, the Vicar, Church of The Holy Spirit, Awka, and Archdeacon, CHS Awka Archdeaconry, Ven Dr Onyeka Egwuonwu, appreciated the delegates to the conference and encouraged them to remain serviceable to God’s work and diligent in all they did. He emphasized the need for peace, unity of purpose and love in families for a better society.
The CHS Vicar directed the women to make Matthew Chapter 5, their watchword as it contained the ultimate Christian blessings, even as he warned on the dangers of women being arrogant.
