The Bishop of Nike diocese of the Anglican Church of Nigeria in Enugu state, Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Christian Onyia, has said that the church has started fixing solar panel electricity in rural communities in the state in order to win souls for Christ and also to encourage pastors posted to rural areas.
He stated this Saturday in Enugu during a one-day diocesan synod held at the Cathedral Church of St Cyprian, Abakpa-Nike, with the theme “the great commission” (drawn from Matthew 28:18 & 20), which had in attendance the house of bishops, house of clergy and the house of laity, among others.
Rt. Rev’d. Onyia said each panel costs N280,000 and that the installation is specifically for churches with vicarages so it can serve both the church and the vicarage, even as he encouraged religious leaders to attend seminars, workshops, retreats, conferences so as to improve their persons and enhance their ministries.
He said: “Experience has shown that no one is going to come from elsewhere, no matter how sympathetic to our cause they may be, to develop the Diocese for us. We must look inwards and mobilize ourselves to do what no one else will come and do for us. We, therefore, call on all sons and daughters of what makes up Nike Diocese today, to see the need to rise up to the call and task of evangelizing and building up the rural part of this great Diocese.
“In furtherance of our resolve to provide a better working environment for our priests and to also reach out to the souls in the rural communities, we have started fixing solar panels and/or inverters in our rural churches. Each of the solar panel/inverters is costing a minimum of N280,000. It will serve both the church and the vicarage. We will seek to develop our clergy spiritually and otherwise to get them battle ready to face contemporary pastoral challenges of our times.
“We will encourage them to attend seminars, workshops, retreats, conferences so as to improve their persons and enhance their ministries. Looking into the future, we can say wholeheartedly that we have the human and material resources to attain our goal and set objectives. With our supporters, friends and with the continued commitment of our clergy, laity, come another three to five years, we shall be on top as far as rural evangelism/mission and development is concerned.”
