Christ Army Church Nigeria Restructured, Abel S. Vurasi Enthroned Pioneer Prelate

…As Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Uche Advocates For Servant Leaders

History was made over the weekend, precisely Sunday, April 4, 2021 at St. John’s Cathedral, Unyeada, Andoni Diocese, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.

On that eventful Sunday, the Archbishop of Christ Army Church Nigeria, His Grace, Most Rev. Abel S. Vurasi was enthroned the Pioneer Prelate of the Christ Army Church Nigeria, after 105 years of the existence of the Church in Nigeria.

This development followed the successful restructuring of the Christ Army Church Nigeria into four initial provinces and a metropolitan Church which will serve as the seat of the Prelate.

The decision to restructure the Christ Army Church Nigeria was unanimously taken at the 24th Synod Session of the Church which took place from Wednesday, March 31, through Sunday, April 4, 2021 at St John’s Cathedral Unyeada, Andoni Diocese, Rivers State, Nigeria.   

The Christ Army Church Nigeria as presently structured now has Rivers Province 1, comprising  Bonny, Rivers South, Rivers, Okrika and Ikwerre Dioceses; Rivers Province 2, made up of Bori, Ogoni South and Andoni Dioceses.

Lagos Province has Lagos, Lagos West, Edo/Delta/Bayelsa and Igboland Dioceses while Akwa-Ibom Province has Akwa-Ibom, Akwa-Ibom South, Ikot-Ekpene/Calabar and Uyo Dioceses.

A metropolitan Church shall be the seat of the Prelate, where he shall worship and preside over.

The colourful and epoch-making investiture rites of His Eminence, Abel S. Vurasi, Pioneer Prelate, Christ Army Church Nigeria, were performed by the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Emeka Uche, JP, who was ably represented by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. S. I. O. Agwu, Archbishop/Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria.

Speaking at the enthronement service in honour of His Eminence, Abel S. Vurasi, Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Uche said: “If you want to be great, you must be prepared to serve and be like a slave to others. In the kingdom of the world the test of greatness is power, but in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the standard is service.

What makes you great in the kingdom of Jesus Christ is the sincere service you render.  The willingness of the leader to give extra service is what makes the leader great. The Pioneer Prelate of Christ Army Church Nigeria must be prepared to serve all, irrespective of age or status.  You must be prepared to serve in humility and selflessly too. We must be ready to serve and not to be served. You are called to give service”.

The man of God who captioned his sermon “God Is Still Searching For Servant Leaders”, with quotations from Mark 10:42-45, 9:33-37, described the Pioneer Prelate of Christ Army Church Nigeria as a good, humble and God-fearing father whom God has sent to nurture His people. 

He warned members against dragging themselves or the Church to court.

“Nobody should take this Church to court. Don’t be an instrument of crisis in this Church. Those in Church authorities should separate themselves from Church money”, he cautioned, and congratulated the Pioneer Prelate of Christ Army Church Nigeria, His Eminence, A. S. Vurasi for his elevation. 

Other speakers at the well attended ceremony include His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Solomon Gberegbara, Bishop Anglican Diocese of Ogoni (Anglican Communion), and Chairman, Ogoni Church Leaders Council, the Chairman, Andoni Local Government Council, Hon. Lawrence Paul, Chief Hon. D. K. Badom, Community Leader-B-Dere, Gokana Local Government Area, home town of the new Prelate, among others.

In his vote of thanks, the Pioneer Prelate Christ Army Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Abel S. Vurasi expressed gratitude to God for keeping him strong in His service and for honouring him.

He pledged to serve diligently with the fear of God.

His Eminence was full of praises for members of the Christ Army Church Nigeria for the trust and confidence reposed in him and for finding him worthy to be the Pioneer Prelate of the Church.

Exercising his first official assignment as the Prelate of Christ Army Church Nigeria, His Eminence, A. S. Vurasi announced a 5 man provincial take off facilitating committee. They are: Elder Barr. S. D. James, Chairman; Barr. I. G. Igani, Secretary; Venerable G. A. Owubokiri, Member; Rev. Canon Joseph Johngbo, Member and Rev. (Priest) Ikechi Ogbonna.