ERCC calls for collective efforts to fight terrorism, other crimes
NAN-H-17
Terrorism
By Awayi Kuje
Akwanga (Nasarawa state) Nov.14, 2016 (NAN) The Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) has called for collective efforts to fight terrorism and other forms of criminality to fast track development in the country
Dr Jerry Madibo, the ERCC President Nationwide, made the call on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as the church marks its centenary celebration (100 years).
He said that the call became imperative due to the importance of peace to socio-economic development of the country.
Madibo, who took his time to give brief history of the church, commended Arthur Judd, who came right away from South Africa for missionary work leading to the establishment of the church in Nigeria in 1916.
“The establishment of this church has not only saved people who were in the grip of sin, but has also saved people who were traditional idol and ancestral worshippers as ERCC has many mission stations across the world so as to preach the word of God.
“Aside from the primary mission of evangelizing the people, the missionaries also considered education and health care services as their cardinal objectives as the church has established many tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools, among others.
“The Church is not left out in the area of peace promotion, that is why we always use the word of God to preach peace and urge Nigerians to live in peace irrespective of their background as peace is the necessary requirement for the development of any nation.
“It is in view of this, I want to call for collective efforts towards fighting off hatred, terrorism, insurgency, criniminality and all sorts of social vices so as to make the world a better place to live by entrenching peace, love and togetherness.
“The call for collective effort to fight off terrorism and other social vices was necessitated by the fact that the activities of the insurgents and other criminal activities have affected our lives and the socio-economic development of the country negatively,” Madibo said.
Madibo also urged Nigerians to engage in legitimate livelihood and shun all negative tendencies all the time in the interest of peace and national development.
He said that the church had plans to improve on the services it had been providing in the areas of education, health care delivery, agriculture, women and widow empowerment so as to better the standard of living of Nigerians.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the church has set aside 10 consecutive days for the centenary celebration. (NAN)
AKW/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi