The Vicar of St. Matthew Anglican Church, Mgbede in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Rev. Canon Ekene Okolo has enjoined Christians to identify the purpose for which they were created and strive to fulfill them while alive.
The Anglican cleric gave the charge while delivering a sermon at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Lady Hannah Mbaerilam, the Women Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ONELGA Ward 11 who marked her Diamond Jubilee birthday anniversary on Sunday.
In his message which he titled ‘Created to Fulfill Purpose’, Rev. Canon Okolo urged Christians not to take their existence on earth for granted, adding that man’s creation was a well thought out plan by God the father, son and the Holy Spirit, and not through happenstance.
He posited that God did not create man by chance or accident because God declared that man is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’.
The Vicar further posited that the inability of man to discover and fulfill the purpose of his creation, sadly, rendered his creation ineffective.
He added that the creator had foreknowledge of his creation before he began the work, and urged man to be guided by this truth before taking actions or inactions.
“Unfulfilled life is a life short-lived. It is not how long you stay on earth but how well you lived that makes your life well-spent. Life is not measured by numbers but by the impact a mad made on earth”, he said, noting that Jesus spent only 33 years on earth, yet made the greatest impact than any human being in history.
The Man of God described the celebrant, Lady Hannah Mbaerilam as a woman of admirable virtues whose impact in and outside the church spoke volume.
“We are not here to praise her because we know the role she plays in the church and society. She is a useful asset for the work of God and the church. If there is one testimony I have about Lady Mbaerilam, it is that she cannot have something and you have need of it and she goes ahead to deny you”, the pastor declared.
The Vicar went on, “What shall people say when we gather to celebrate you? You must live your life to please God and humanity”.
In her testimony during the service, Lady Mbaerilam evoked emotions as she narrated several occasions on God’s miraculous interventions in her life. She particularly recalled that “I was pronounced ‘dead’ for a whole day four years ago, only to wake up miraculously, the next day to see my younger sister crying by my side”.
While reflecting on her life, the Ogu (Kirikese)-born Economist-turned Caterer who clocked 60 on May 5, 2019 described her marriage to Sir Friday Nwalaetiyi Benny Mbaerilam, a former Rivers Chapter Chairman of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) as highly productive and fulfilling with three girls, four boys and five grandchildren.
Her words, “Cross cultural marriage is not without hurdles and challenges yet we surmounted all to the glory of God. I thank God for my marriage to a handsome, intelligent, humble, bold, courageous, lover of education and above all a great disciplinarian”.
The Thanksgiving Service was preceded by a birthday party Saturday night with the cream of society in attendance including Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Boma Iyaye, Mgbede Community CDC Chairman, Hon. Felix Onwuma, friends, relatives, women and youths groups; and political associates of Lady Hannah Mbaerilam.
