NAN-H-22
Xmas
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Dec. 24, 2016 (NAN) A cleric, Prophet Christopher Owolabi, has advised Christians to devote their energy toward prayers and thanksgiving rather than engaging in ungodly acts while celebrating Christmas and the New year.
Owolabi is the prophet in-charge of Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Irapada in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
He gave the advice on Saturday during a special thanksgiving service held in the Church.
He described Christmas season as “a sacred period for intense prayers and thanksgiving’’ to attract God’s favour and blessings for individuals, households and the nation at large.
Owolabi expressed the regret that some devotees had reduced the holy season to a period for engaging in excessive alcohol intake and other ungodly behavious.
“Christmas period is not all about storming every available joint to engage in excessive drinking, fornication and other illicit acts as being practiced by many Christians today.
“There are far many challenges in the land today requiring our attention and interceding for divine intervention and solution.
“It is therefore the duty of every devoted Christians to be more committed in giving thanks to God and seek further blessings in the coming year,” Owolabi said.
The cleric urged religious leaders in the country not to relent in their responsibility of educating their followers on the need to abide by God’s commandment at all times.
He also called on the citizens to reflect on their past mistakes, misdeeds and shortcomings in the previous year and change for the better in the coming year.
He urged wealthy individuals to extend their hands of assistance to the needy and the less privileged in the society.
The man of God expressed the need for the nation’s political class to close ranks and discharge their responsibility in accordance with their electoral promises.
He called for more support of the citizenry for the present administration’s anti-corruption crusade to enthrone a stable and improved economy for the country.
Owolabi noted that the current economic downturn was a temporary set-back toward achieving a developed economy for the country in 2017 and beyond.
“With the prayers of all stakeholders the socio-economic challenges will surely be a thing of the past,’’ he said. (NAN)
ISHO/AEA/AEA
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