Anglican cleric admonishes Christians to always be prepared for eventuality
Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, the Anglican Bishop of Umuahia diocese, has enjoined Christians to always stand prepared as no one knows when death will come knocking.
In his sermon at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Nkata-ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, themed ‘Hope and Repentance’, drawn from the Bible books of John 14 and Revelation 7:9-17, during the funeral service of Augustus Ugwunna Mbanaso, a professor of surgery, Chief consultant surgeon and Chief Medical Director of Healing Cross Hospital, Umuahia, Ibeabuchi pointed out that every living being has but a short time to live on earth, hence the need for one to live a Christ like life.
The Anglican Bishop made it clear that death does not segregate and it is not designed exclusively for the rich or the poor, but it visits all at the due time and season.
Ibeabuchi, who pointed out that the resurrection of Christ and the belief in Him as the Saviour saves one from eternal uncertainties, said: “Let not your heart be troubled in the midst of many challenges facing you as a person or facing us a nation”.
Eulogising the sterling attributes of the deceased, Bishop Ibeabuchi revealed that in most cases, late Mbanaso would discharge some patients without collecting a dime from them.
In his tribute earlier, the Vicar, St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Nkata, Afara Ibeku West Archdeaconry, Godswill Emeruwa said the deceased contributed immensely to the growth and development of the local church.
“As a Christian, he preached and lived by the tenets of Christian virtue. Due to his commitment and love for the things of God, he was made a worthy knight in the Anglican diocese of Umuahia where he served God and humanity in different areas. He was the diocesan Bible study coordinator for years. He was the major financier of the St Peter’s centenary hall, a building he had in mind to complete during his discussion with the Bishop two weeks before his demise. He was till his death the diocesan medical adviser,” he said.