By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The presiding Bishop of the Christian Central Chapel International, CCCI, a.k.a Faith Mansion Centre, City of Testimonies, Ikot Ene-Obong 8 Miles Calabar, Bishop Dr Gospel Emmah Isong, has charged Africans home and in diaspora to use their religions in building bridges that would attract peace and development to the continent of Africa.
Isong, who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, gave the charge while deliverying a speech at the 2nd edition of the 2023 Spiritual Day celebration, organised by Interreligious Association for Peace and Development, IAPD, on Sunday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Abasiakara,’ meaning God rules, at the CCCI auditorium, the cleric stated that spirituality is one of the greatest asset possessed by Africans, which if properly harnessed, can help to build bridges that will attract development to the continent of Africa and not chaos.
IAPD Regional Cordinator and Africa Sub-regional Director, Universal Peace Federation, UPF, Rev. George Ogurie, while speaking on the topic: ‘Family Values From Christian Perspective,’ while reflecting on the topic Spiritual Day, stressed that the organisation is likely to win the United Nations, UN, Inter-faith Harmony Award.
He stressed that if the organisation keep doing what it is required, the organisation is likely to win the award.
Ogurie stated, “We are sure of winning the United Nations, UN, Inter-faith Harmony Award.”
Also speaking, the President, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, FFWPU, Nigeria, Rev. Imo Essien Nkanta, who spoke on the purpose of the spiritual day celebration, emphasized the unity of the continent, adding that unity is strength.
He said that the event provides the opportunity for people of different religious faith to rub minds, brainstorm on issues bordering on world peace and unity, and to find a way of co-existing peacefully with one another to make the continent of Africa and the world at large a better place to live.
Continuing, he said, “Africa Spiritual Day celebration will help in the promotion of universally shared values, as well as unite believers of different faiths, traditions and make them understand that we are one human family under one Creator, irrespective of the perceived differences.
The event was rounded off with speeches by Imboni, Dr. uZwi-Lezwe Radebe, IAPD-Africa Chairman and founder of The Revelation Spiritual Home; El Hadj Habib Kane, Director of Religious Affairs, Mali; Father Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila, Chaplain at AU, from Ethiopia and Venerable Dr Ilukpitiye Panasekara, Chief Monk Buddhist, Tanzania, both in the auditorium and at zoom.
