St. Lake's Anglican Church Centenary celebration In pix

In pix, Centenary celebration of Emmanuel Anglican Church, Ogbaku. With the Bishop Cyril Okorocha

Bishop dedicates St. Paul's Anglican Church, Ogwa

In pictures, the Lord Bishop, Owerri Anglican Diocese, Rt. Revd Cyril Okorocha dedicated St. Paul's Anglican Church building, Oboro Umueze, Ogwa. 26th December, 2016. To God be the glory. 

Ali is obviously irreplaceable

Indeed time changes everything. Change can come through several ways-incapacitation and death which is the ultimate.

Why Nigeria’s Sports Ministry deserves a better head

Throughout last week, it was the usual one week, one problem, but really none could beat the saga between the Super Falcons (Nigeria's female soccer team) and the nation's sporting authorities. Let us do a review of it together.

Youths threaten showdown with EEDC ... Over alleged incessant removal of Mbieri feeder at Nworieubi

Youths in Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area have threatened a showdown with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over what they alleged to be inadequate distribution of power supply to their area.

Operation Python Dance’ unnecessary - Bishop

As the dust raised by massive deployment of troops in the South-East zone of Nigeria is yet to settle, an Anglican prelate and Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel C. Maduwike, JP, has added his voice to calls on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the soldiers from the zone since the South East zone is not at war with anybody.

Archbishop Chukwuma reaffirms supremacy of the Bible

Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop of Enugu, reaffirmed the supremacy of the Hoy Bible in the Christian life, recently, when he performed the confirmation of some Anglican faithful at Emmanuel (Ang.) Church, Achara Layout, Enugu.

Egbu Diocese gets new priests, deacon

Ten Anglican cleric were ordained priests while one was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Egbu at the weekend.

The hardest thing you’ll ever do

The hardest thing you’ll ever do is to put others first and yourself second, because we intuitively look out for ourselves. Self-preservation is man’s first instinct - but it doesn’t work. 

Bishop Maduwike hosts SAGS Old Boys at Atta

Bishop Emmanuel Maduwike of the Anglican Diocese of Ikeduru, last Sunday, hosted the 2016 end-of-year get-together of the St. Augustine's Grammar School Old Boys Association (SAGSOBA) Owerri Branch at the Bishop's Court, Atta, Ikeduru.

Robbers raid Port-Harcourt bound bus ... Cart away valuables

A commuter bus travelling from Owerri to Port Harcourt was recently intercepted by suspected armed robbers on Port Harcourt Road about 8.00p.m last weekend who robbed them of their belongings.

Boko Haram out with new strategy ...To kill Christians

North East-based terrorist group, Boko Haram, has reportedly begun indoctrinating young boys to attack and kill their Christian teachers.

Private sector should invest in professional football

It is not ideal that state governments should spend scarce public funds to run over 80% of the clubs in Nigeria's professional foot league (NPFL).

Buhari challenges FUTO ... Urges its researchers to make Nigeria great

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to improve its research efforts and make Nigeria a producing nation rather than one that is import-oriented.

Why Yoruba dominate Table Tennis in Nigeria

Many years back, when the National Stadium Lagos, was the beehive of Nigeria's sporting activities, this reporter had the opportunity of watching Nigerian athletes training for one of the Olympic games.

UK should be proud of its Christian heritage - Prime Minister May

Theresa May encouraged Christians "to speak about their faith" at work and in public during Prime Minister's Questions recently.

Gov Okorocha recommends local security for Nigeria

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is praying that Nigeria should adopt the local security network system to tackle the knotty issue of security in the country, just as he had done in the state.

Why govs exploit Local govts

Imo State factional chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. David Iwuagwu, has warned that until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) takes the responsibility of conducting all elections in Nigeria, including that of the local government councils, state governors would continue to abuse the system.

Killing of Igbos, a case for the ICC

Editorial
(c) Christian voice newspaper

It can no longer be construed as hesitation but outright refusal by the FG to look into the alleged recent killing of 150 so-called "Biafra protesters" who were peacefully celebrating the Anniversary of Biafra, The number is too many to be glossed over.

Enough of judicial terrorism By Okanga Agila

The US president-elect, Mr Donald Trump threw the luvvies of the world a curveball with his comments to President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines that his controversial fight against drugs was being carried out "the right way". For the records, in the four months that Duterte has been president as many as 2500 people have been executed on the streets for allegedly being drug dealers or users.

Senator stages free health outreach for community

Drugs and food supplements worth thousands of naira were, at the weekend, distributed freely to communities within and around Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, courtesy of senator samdaddy Anyanwu, in collaboration with Neolife Health Organization and Nma Olebara foundation.

Debt recovery tops agenda at Ikeduru Knights meeting

Debt recovery was on top of the agenda during the last business meeting of the Ikeduru Council of Knights which took place weekend at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Umuhu Atta, in the Ikeduru council Area of Imo State.

Muslims want Christian gov jailed in Pakistan

At least 200,000 Muslims poured into Jakarta recently to demand that the Christian governor of the city be jailed after allegedly insulting the Qur'an.

ANCOPSS ends professional training in Owerri

The Mandatory Continuing Progression (MCPT) for All Nigeria Confederation of principal of secondary schools in the South-East ended in Owerri, recently.

Dealing with depression

Elijah, who’d been fearless for three years, became frightened when Jezebel threatened his life. So he ran to the desert, where he became depressed and announced, ‘I have had enough, LORD…Take my life’ (1 Kings 19:4 NIV 2011 Edition).

... What next for Christians in America?

Barack Obama's former faith advisor has spoken about the future for Christians in politics after the divisive and shocking events of the 2016 US election.

Recession not death sentence- Dr Ogbonnaya Onu

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, gave Nigerians hope, recently when he declared that recession is not a death sentence.

The Money

Early in my career while doing work that I saw as more of a mission than a job, another company offered me a position that would give a significant increase in pay. Our family could surely have benefited financially from such a move. There was one problem. I hadn’t been looking for another job because I loved my current role, which was growing into a calling.

The power of intercessory prayer

Sometimes God moves sovereignly, giving you neither notice nor explanation. Other times He moves only in answer to prayer. The prayers of Rees Howells, ‘the Welsh intercessor’, were so powerful that they’re credited with thwarting the Nazis and influencing certain events in World War II. 

Teenage footballers as family breadwinners

Desperate poverty most times drives Nigerian youths to sports, especially football, through which they prematurely assume and play the roles of breadwinners for their families even as teenagers.

ASUU has a case, but...

The educational burden of Nigeria is unbearable because of sheer number and spread. But the enormity of the problem is under-rated. When university teachers go on strike to ask for more pay, better facilities, more funding and all the other things they complain about, it is hard not be in sympathy with them, even though they have no reason to be blind to the fact that the country is very poor now, putting it bluntly.

Biafra is no big deal - Chief Iwuanyanwu

Renowned politician and business mogul, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said that there is no reason why the mention of Biafra should cause panic in Nigeria.

Rivers election re-run: Wike alleges rigging plot

Rivers State's Governor, Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, says the state government will in coming weeks release an audio-visual footage of a plot to rig the forthcoming re-run election in the state.

Why God doesn’t remove all pains, sicknesses

The premise that follows God's ability to heal is that he can and will heal all sicknesses. So if that's the case, why doesn't God heal all diseases or at least not in the abruptness and methodology that we would want Him to?

Why are so many Mexican Priests being killed?

One of the world's most Catholic countries is also the most dangerous to be a Catholic priest.

Nigeria police lose 128 men ... In three months, IG expresses concern, blames militants

The rate at which police officers and men lose their lives in recent times in the course of their official duties has become a deep source of concern for the police hierarchy.

How not to discipline your children - Bishop Osuegbu

The seventh Edition of Christian Men's Fellowship of the Anglican Diocese of Okigwe came to a close recently at the Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas, Okigwe.

Ethnic, religious cleansing must stop now -CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned that ethnic and religious cleansing which has characterized the nation all these years must stop henceforth.

Displaced Northern Christians eat leaves to survive - Bishop

Christians who fled Boko Haram's attacks have faced "open discrimination" in refugee camps and have been forced to eat leaves to survive, according to a Nigerian bishop.

Night maranders invade Owerri ... As Christmas approaches

Owerri city centre during Clean and Green era 

Armed robbers and petty thieves are having a field day in Owerri metropolis, with tales of attacks at some flashpoints in the capital city as Christmas approaches.

How Donald Trump defeated...

Donald Trump's stunning and “upset” victory over Hillary Clinton in the recent US presidential election should primarily go down in history as the triumph of a political outsider over a corrupt and arrogant media industrial complex, not necessarily as the triumph of a derided billionaire against a woman that was a political insider like no other.

All you need to know about peptic ulcer

Introduction:

Peptic ulcer is one the most common diseases in civilized countries and probably about one and half million living in Nigeria at the present time have suffered from this condition.

Key to a successful marriage

Marriage is a bond, an institution whereby a man and a woman are joined together in Holy Matrimony in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. It is a legal relationship between a husband and a wife.

Imo landlords kick against arbitrary tax

Landlords in Imo State are raising eyebrows at summons purported to have emanated from the Customary Courts over alleged default in payment of Tourism and Infrastructural Development Levy.

Eating fruits on empty stomach

If you eat fruits on empty stomach, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. 

Kano blasphemy killing: Where is justice for Bridget Agbahime?

By Godwin Onyeacholem

Indeed, for any keen observer of governance in post-colonial Africa, Nigeria must be a very depressing address. And this is more so for the simple reason that no country, in many people's reckoning, has done so much as Nigeria in consistently consciously making itself an object of perpetual ridicule in the comity of civilized countries of the world.

Don’t rush to approve the $30bn loan request by the Federal Government

By Rev Echi Nwogu

I wish to call on members of the National Assembly not to rush into approving the $30b loan request of the president for the following reasons:

St. James (Ang.) Church Obi-Orodo marks 30th anniversary

Pioneer members of St. James (Ang) Church, Odunmara, Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State have been showered with praises for their perseverance and faith amid persecution they faced while founding the church.

In his address at the 30th anniversary of the church, recently, the secretary of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr. Morgan Ohiri, paid glowing tribute to these founding fathers who planted the seed 30 years ago, which is yielding dividend upon which the gospel has become deep-rooted in Odunmara.

He particularly noted the contributions of the late Chief Festus Ohiri father of Eze Samuel Ohiri, in the building of the church.

Others were Mr Emeka Eze, Dr (Mrs) Victoria Metu, Dr. I.C. Ohiri, Barr. J.C. Uwandu, group leaders, as well as the present priest, Rev. Joseph Igbo, who, he said, had helped the church go grow.

In his remarks at the occasion, the traditional ruler, Eze Sam Ohiri, disclosed that his late father who designed the new church building and died after the foundation was laid, charged the family to carry on with his legacies, especially as it concerned the church.

He noted, with glee, the spirit of ecumenism which prevails in the community and advised people who shy away from God's work to rethink as there is blessing in giving to God part of what He gave to us.

The royal father was happy with the success of the occasion and urged youths to sustain the tempo of church activities in the community.

In his sermon at the service conducted by Rev. Can Mick Ndukwe to mark the anniversary, the Archdeacon of Orodo, Ven. S.U. N. Duruji, commended the designers of the new church building for their vision in using an oval architectural design that would stand the taste of time.

While urging Christians to trust in God, he called for constant prayers and encouraged youths to show gratitude to God by financing the church, describing the occasion as a celebration of God's goodness and the beginning of a new generation.

Certificates of recognition were issued to families of forebears and those who identified with the church among those honoured were Sir Enoch Chukwure, Sir Engr. Adol Oparaure and Rev. Nneji Anukam, in addition to the late Elder Patrick Uwandu Nwanyanwu, late Chief Festus Ohiri, late Barr. I.A. Onyeama, and others.

The first lesson, taken from Exodus 36:1-7, was read by Eze Ohiri, while Mrs. Oluchi Uwandu took the second lesson from Phil. 1:3-11 as the St. James Odunmara Choir sang at the occasion which also featured fund-raising.

Tough times are here, but fear not - Primate Okoh tells Christians

The Primate of all Nigeria (Anglican Communion) the Most Rev.Nicholas D.Okoh has urged Christians not to fear, despite all oppressive tendencies of the devil around them and the tough times they are passing through.

Mama Owerri drills mothers on raising godly children

Members of the Women's Guild of the Anglican Diocese of Owerri ended their 21st Biennial General Conference, recently, in Owerri where mothers were sufficiently drilled on raising godly children.

Pope Francis counsels Donald Trump

Pope Francis has said he will not "judge" Donald Trump on anything other than how his policies affect the poor.

Imo pensioners reject pay cut * Plan mass demonstration early in December

Pensioners in Imo State opened a fresh war-front with the government when they rejected a move to slash their pensions to 40 percent.

The child and family upbringing in a time like this

THE BIBLE SAYS "TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO AND WHEN HE GROWS HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT". PROVERBS 22:6

Child upbringing means care and attention given to a child from infancy till the time of adulthood.

Former Minister tasks Ndigbo

Ndigbo all over the world have been advised to recover and restore their lost values as a way forward.

The advice was given by the former Corp Marshal of the

Ten Christian values that need to be revived

We are meant to live by example in everything we do.

1. Love

We all have different opinions on things and different views, but we have to love each other regardless. This includes people from all walks of life, no matter what their skin color is or what situation they are in. People desperately need to see the love of Christ shining through us.

Orlu Diocese celebrates 32nd anniversary

The Anglican Diocese of Orlu, last Sunday celebrated her 32nd anniversary at the Cathedral Church of SS Peter and John, the Divine Nkwerre, Imo State, amidst solemn pomp and pageantry.

Why processed food may cause bowel cancer

Common additives used in every day foods including bread, margarine and sweets may be behind the huge rise in bowel cancer, scientists claim.

Slash your salaries now - Bishop tells Buhari, Federal and State lawmakers

An Anglican Prelate has called on President Buhari and members of the National Assembly to slash their salaries in view of the crippling recession Nigeria is currently passing through and to equally put into practice the “change begins with me” slogan.

Anger as court frees suspects

The release of suspects in the murder of the Christian woman, who hailed from Imo State, has further shown that Nigerians are not the same as a people.

WE CAN'T BE SUCH CHRONIC DEBTORS

EDITORIAL: Christian voice newspaper.


The Debt Management Office reveals that as at June this year Nigeria's total debt stock amounts to a monstrous 16 trillion naira. Out of this staggering amount, External Debt accounts for 18.33 %. 

Relating with the opposite sex and marital decisions

Pastors and public figures too, fall into the group of those mostly accused for disappointing people in marriage. For instance a lady who takes it upon herself to cook and do other domestic chores for the pastor, lecturer or public figure might be doing this with marriage at the back of her mind. 

 Some go as far as buying birthday and Christmas gifts for the person involved, this is dangerous. Some of the men or women under this kind of “gift and hospitality” pressure might be boxed to an emotional corner where they marry the person involved as a way compensating them. 

 Marriage triggered by gifts and compensation do not often last or may not be as colourful and romantic as it ought to be. It is good to set the boundary in time so as to avoid damaging comments like, “After eating my food and accepting all the gifts I showered on him/her, he/she married another man/woman.”

The desire for the opposite sex also has a psychological or rather a developmental root. There is a stage in a child's development where there is an unconscious sexual desire of a child for the parent of the opposite sex. 

 Psychologists call this the Oedipus complex. Parents should take note of this stage and act accordingly to avoid a fixation. A boy or a girl can get to a stage in life where the boy for instance imitates the mother by wearing her clothes and applying her make-ups. 

 Some boys instead of standing to urinate as men stoop like the women to urinate. Serious attention should be given to the children to ensure that they develop in line with their sex so that we will not excuse away their abnormal behaviours as “natural sexual orientation.” 

Parents should be careful to watch the habits and nature of their children to determine their suitability for boarding school. Most of these abnormal sexual orientations are gotten from the boarding school. When a boy and girl of primary school begin to play “mummy and daddy” by mimicking sexual acts, the parents should watch it and reorder the sleeping rooms. Children who sleep with their parents can be curious and may peep!

Because of the freedom the university and higher institution offer our young people, some of them rush to make marriage proposals. The advice of my lecturer in those days can be quite helpful to some extent: “You may marry from your class but do not marry your classmate.” Before you propose or agree to marry somebody, think twice.

Can I wait for this boy to finish his schooling and get a job? Will I not get older by then and miss some serious people who are financially and socially ready to marry me? Will this relationship allow me to concentrate and finish my studies and come out with good grades? Can I keep the relationship pure by avoiding kissing, cuddling and sex for up to four to five years or even more?

Sudan shuts down Christian school

An evangelical Christian school in Sudan with more than 1,000 pupils has been closed after it was raided by authorities.

Iraqi Christians bubble again after liberation from ISIS

Iraqi Christians bubble again after liberation from ISIS

After more than two years of ISIS occupation, a church in Qaraqosh held its first service on Sunday.

Bishop Maduwike dedicates Ugirike new church

It was a two-pronged celebration for St. Simon's (Ang) Church, Ugirike in Ikeduru Diocese penultimate Saturday as it marked its 100th anniversary, an occasion that was used for the dedication of its ultra-modern church building built by legal