NEWS
Use Christmas Season to Renew Faith in Christ – Abia SSG Urges Christians
Christians have been urged to see the Christmas season as a time to deepen their faith in God and reaffirm commitment to humanity.
The Secretary to the Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, made the call at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, during the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols organised by his office to usher in the Christmas celebrations.
Kalu emphasised that the Christmas period should inspire acts of kindness and compassion especially towards the less privileged in the society.
“On this Christmas, ladies and gentlemen, may we renew our faith in the almighty God, and may we renew our commitment to one another, irrespective of real or imaginary differences,” Kalu said.
“This is a duty we owe ourselves and our society. We owe ourselves commitment, responsibility, action, all yet towards making our societies better.”
The Abia SSG maintained that the State is experiencing a season of renewal and progress under Governor Alex Otti, describing the transformation in the past 30 months as profound, powerful, and impressive.
According to him, the positive changes witnessed across the state have restored hope to a people who had long endured the effects of bad leadership.
“Abia is specifically different. Abia is on the move for good. So let us therefore collectively reaffirm our hope for a better tomorrow for our state, for our nation, and for the global community at large.”
In his sermon, the guest preacher and former Principal Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Rev. Uma Agwu Onwunta, said that the birth of Jesus Christ represents God’s gift of love to humanity.
Guest Preacher, Rev. Uma Agwu Onwunta, at the event.
Speaking on the topic “The Birth of Children and the Gift of Sons,” from Isaiah 9:6, Rev. Onwunta stressed that anyone entrusted with leadership must reflect God’s values in service.
He lauded the developmental strides of Governor Otti, describing him as a blessing to Abia State, especially through his infrastructural initiatives and people-focused governance.
In an interview, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described Christmas as a season of joy, reflection, and gratitude.
Kanu said the period offers individuals and governments an opportunity to take stock of their achievements and chart a course for the future.
He commended the Governor for the peaceful and welcoming atmosphere in the state, which he said has continued to attract investors, professional bodies, and organisations to host their national events in Abia.
The Eagle News gathered that this year’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols featured scriptural readings and singing of Christmas hymns with many dignitaries and government functionaries in attendance.