…As Rivers CAN Holds Annual Thanksgiving Service
Rivers State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has organized its 2021 annual end-of-the year thanksgiving service to God.
It was held at the corpus Christi Catholic Church, Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt on Tuesday December 14, 2021.
The Rivers CAN under the leadership of Most Special Apostle Stanley Dimkpa has since assumption of office in 2019 made thanksgiving one of its cardinal objectives.
This includes the yearly end of year thanksgiving where Christians gather to reflect on the blessings and grace of God throughout the year.
Apostle Dimkpa said God has continued to honour their prayers and thanksgiving, adding that the yearly gathering unites them the more.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the CAN chairman, Most Special Apostle Dimkpa thanked the Almighty God on behalf of the state and nation particularly for the gift of life and protection against the deadly Covid-19 and other deadly diseases that hitherto threatened the peace and existence of the world at large leading to severe economic hardship and death of loved ones.
He also lamented the challenges of the black sooths with its attendant deadly illnesses and called on the local and state governments to urgently partner with the federal government to find a lasting solution to the menace.
He stressed that the danger caused by the carbon sooth which he noted, arise from oil activities and illegal bunkering is worse than Covid-19.
Most special Apostle Dimkpa disclosed further that the National challenges in the country including the insecurity requires every hands to be on deck.
“The global threat of Covid-19, alarming rate of insecurity and very poor governance in our country is not a one church or group affairs but call for a united intercession so that unbelievers will known that we have a living God (John 17:21)”.
The man of God made it known that though they have been making their individual prayers and thanksgiving as different church entity, that it is very imperative the gathering of different church groups and believers in Christ Jesus will provoke the Almighty God the more to bless the land and its inhabitants.
Dr. Dimkpa also used the opportunity to congratulate Gov Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his team for the developmental strides achieved in the state, his efforts at passing into law the Anti-open grazing bill as well as the VAT bill and pledged the support of the Christian body at all times to these uphill tasks.
The CAN chairman equally called on the governor to use his good offices as a performing active administrator to match out all the agencies of government as well as the Local Government Area chairmen to fully executive the anti-open grazing law and end the loitering of cows in the farmlands.
In his sermon, the international chairman of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) and former Vice President of CAN, Most Revd. (Dr) Daniel Okoh spoke on the theme of the celebration “the power of unity”, noting that unity engenders the blessings of God. He emphasized on the need for members to make sacrifices despite challenges for continuous growth of the association.
He maintained that CAN has become a great voice that is not only bringing hope to the hopeless but intercedes for the good of the nation through prayers.
“We should try as much as possible to run away from materialism and pursue righteousness and holiness as a solution. This will help us to focus on the will of God about our country”, he said.
There were intercessory prayers for the state government, the nation, the governor and his cabinet members as well as other government agencies.
There were also goodwill messages from other prominent men of God at the event, including the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt , His Lordship, Most Revd. (Dr.) Camillus Achibong Etok Udoh who was the chief host.
