Nigerians have been urged to tolerate each other irrespective of ethno-religious and political differences in order for the country to be in peace and witness development.
The call was made by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang on Saturday during the dedication of the ECWA Gospel Church in Kulishin village, Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Mutfwang reminded Nigerians of the need to rekindle brotherhood among one another, support and promote the country to the glory to God.
The Governor said that, “It is indeed a great privilege and honour to be here to sharpen one another; to build one another.
“We have come to fellowship with you and to assure you that you are our brothers and we hope that God will sustain and prosper the fellowship existing between us.
“My prayer as I have trusted God for the people of Plateau State, I trust God also that all of us that God has deposited in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, that we will come together.
“Under the glory that God has deposited in our land and in our time, that it will come to manifestation, and Nigeria will be better for it.”
While admonishing the congregants on the need for genuine relationship with God, Caleb Mutfwang reiterated that God desires the heart more than physical structures, hence the need for genuine fellowship with God.
According to him, “We thank God for this institution that Hon Jerry Damara and his friends have built for God.. Like the preacher and other speakers have said, God does not reside in structures built by the hands of men but in our hearts.
“So I pray for all of us, that our hearts will be the greatest place of worship of God, may this structure indeed give glory to God and may God’s blessings be upon us and help us to worship Him always.”
In his remark, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon who was the Special Guest of Honour said that, “Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and also join the Chairman to welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of the Dedication and Commissioning of this magnificent and imposing edifice, The ECWA Gospel Church, Kulishin, Shongom LGA, Gombe State.
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According to him,”This beautiful edifice certainly reminds me of King Solomon’s temple which he built for the Lord during his reign as King in Israel. The Scriptures revealed to us that on the day of the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed that the temple would be a great blessing to the people (I Kings 8:22-54).
“It is our collective prayer that the dedication of this new edifice, ECWA Gospel Church, Kaltungo will be a tremendous blessing to the entire ECWA Family in Gombe State and indeed to the Body of Christ in Nigeria.
“I am greatly delighted that this edifice was built and presented to ECWA Church, Kaltungo by the family of Hon. Jerry Joseph Damara, friends and Associates to honour the Almighty God and especially the people of Tangale and all other groups in Gombe State this is being Dedicated and Commissioned today by the President of ECWA, Rev. Dr. Stephen Panya Baba, CON and all ECWA Family nationwide. My congratulations as Special Guest of Honour and that of all of us family of God Almighty.”
“God bless your labour of love in the service of the Lord, and may the Lord bless all those who will worship here. I pray the Mercy and Grace of God abide with all the faithfuls and believers in the Lord.
“May this Church – ECWA Gospel Church, Kaltungo be a home and Centre for Peace and wellbeing in the State, ensuring continued cordial relationship among all the various ethnic groups and faiths in the State; contributing your quota to the peace, stability and wellbeing of our country and nation, Nigeria, let us be each other’s brothers keeper.”
Also Speaking, one time Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana commemded the donor of the Auditorium describing it as a great service to God and humanity.
Jerry Gana admonished the community to let the act of service to God further unite them so that the entire area can be developed.
In his sermon, the Guest Speaker, Rev. Silas Yako, while delivering the message titled: “Setting a good example”, urged Christians to live more by examples in their actions rather than words.
He stressed that peaceful coexistence is the most important aspect of religion that is acceptable to God as it is one of the major teaching of Jesus Christ.
Yako then appealed to the beneficiaries of the building to see it as a privilege to serve God better in a conducive environment.
The ECWA Gospel Church was built and donated to the community by Mr. Jerry Damara, Managing Director /CEO of Mesotho Group and former member of the House of Representatives from the area.