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Anglican bishop enjoins Nigerian seminarians to pray

The Rt. Rev. Precious Nwala, Bishop of the Diocese of Etche, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has enjoined Seminarians to go a “step beyond routine prayers and lift their voices in prayer,” following the example of the Church, as recorded in Acts 4:23-31, reports Paul Okwuobi, special to ASSIST News Service.

Bishop Nwala spoke during the Passion Week prior to Easter 2009 at St Paul’s University College, Awka, Nigeria, where he was the main speaker at a retreat.

While challenging the seminarian to pray fervently always, he revealed that though he believes in the Church’s tradition, he studies it carefully to ensure the beauty of it in his ministry and not just “defend the tradition without proper insight.”

Bishop Nwala challenged the Seminarians to “pray against the current Revisionist Agenda” which he said is “threatening the mission of the Church via the campaign for acceptance of same sex marriages, gender equality, and the “resolve to rewrite the Bible.”

Besides the “Revisionist Agenda,” two recent developments in Nigeria were of concern to the Bishop, namely the news that Nigeria has reached an agreement with some foreign interests to establish an Islamic bank in Nigeria. This bank, according to Bishop Nwala, would operate without demanding interest from customers. He therefore frowned at the possible consequence this would have on Christians in developing country like Nigeria. Also, he expressed worry over the recent public hearing at the National Assembly aimed at considering the possibility of passing a bill that may allow homosexuality and same sex marriage.

He said that “Example is better than precept.”

It was not surprising therefore that after his exhortation the Rt. Rev. Nwala led the Seminarians in a prayer session. He underscored his prayer points with a quote from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, 7; “And seek the peace of the city wither l have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

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TAGS: Nigeria Anglican Church seminarians pray Rt. Rev. Precious Nwala same sex marriages

[04/27/2009]

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