The Rivers State capital was agog as a respected Man of God and his wife were made Ambassadors in service of Christ. The event which took place at the Ministry of Justice Conference Hall, in the State Secretariat, was part of the 2014 Church Management Conference, organized by the Church Management Support Ministry (CMSM) in collaboration with South-South Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The conference with the theme, “Nation Building through Effective Kingdom Service: Implications for Christians in the workplace.” was declared open by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The Conference lecture was delivered by Rev. Prof. Alex Atawa-Akpodiete. In the lecture he provided Statistics on the Nigerian population and the comparative voters’ registration records of the South versus Northern Nigeria. He encouraged Nigerian Christians to register to vote and make sure they vote in the 2015 general elections.
Rev. Atawa-Akpodiete, who is also an aspirant for the Federal House of Representatives to represent Urhobos in Udu/Ughelli North/Ughelli South Federal Constituency of Delta State, gave six implications for Christians in the workforce, including making sure they go above and beyond the call of duty and avoid gossip in the workplace.
Rev. Alex Atawa-Akpodiete and his wife Deaconess Judith were conferred awards individually as Ambassadors. The Award of recognition read in pat “You have demonstrated the gifts and grace of God in the effective use of your position held in trust for God and Humanity worthy of Recognition, Emulation and Commendation.” The Methodist Archbishop, The Most Rev. Chimezuo O.N. Nwakpa, JP, who himself received an award, presented the award to Rev. Alex Atawa-Akpodiete.
The President of CMSM, Dr. Kayode Nisi, also launched his book titled “Managing Church Resources to Triumph.”
Rev. Atawa-Akpodiete told his listeners that “Christians need to play an active role in government like never before. If we are going to be able to change policy and influence decisions, it is imperative that people of faith become committed to doing what late American President Ronald Reagan called “the hard work of freedom”. Effective citizenship begins with knowledge.
