The Rivers State Government has vividly acknowledged that it is the prayers of Christians that have been sustaining the Administration ensuring peace and harmony in the State and indeed the Nation.
Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo made this known while declaring open the 2022 Life Members Conference/Fund Raising in Port Harcourt last week Thursday with the Theme: “Jesus; Our Burden Bearer”citing Isaiah 53:4.
Dr Banigo who urged Christians to live their lives in righteousness for God to continually be their burden bearer called on all well meaning Christians to contribute towards the building of the Bible House for the Area.
The Deputy Governor who is also a Special Member of the Society further urged Christians to continue to pray for the peace of the Nation even as the electioneering process begins, adding that they should collect their Permanent Voters Cards in order to participate effectively in the 2023 elections.
The Deputy Governor who was represented by a Director in her office, Mr Benjamin Robert pledged her continuous support, and called on members of the Society to identify with the needs of BSN to enable it realise its aspirations and objectives.
In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Engineer Odimaa Douglas appreciated the Leadership of the BSN for ensuring that the Bible is distributed across the Nation.
Engr Douglas said “the Society is giving hope that the Word of God will not die” and called on Christians to join hands with the Society to ensure that the Area has a home of their own.
And in his speech, the Guest Speaker and a Lecturer with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Konteinbo-Ofori Trinya advised people not to judge people by what they wear because according to him “people sometimes carry burdens that are covered with their clothes”.
Professor Trinya continued ” everybody has a burden, hence Jesus Christ in the Bible called on those with heavy burden to come and lay it on Him and have rest”.
Earlier in his welcome address and overview of the BSN activities in Rivers and Bayelsa States, the Area Chairman, Elder Omoni Ayo-Tamuno lamented that the Area was facing a serious threat of existence as regards meeting National targets, especially in the area of Bible Distribution.
Elder Ayo-Tamuno regretted the lack of support or concern from Bayelsa State Christians in spite of several efforts made and added ” as at today, the work is 99.9 per cent based in Rivers State and is not good enough “, Church leaders and Christians in Bayelsa State are therefore called upon to embrace the BSN activities in the coming years.
Ayo-Tamuno opined ” if all Christian Missionary Schools source their Bibles, especially the Reversed Standard Version from the Society Bookstore, the target of 7,500 Bible Distribution by the National is achievable without stress”.
The Chairman singled out the Bishop of the Diocese of Okrika, the Rt Revd Enoch Atuboyedia JP for directing all churches within the Diocese to support BSN and their pastors enroll as members, while commending this uncommon gesture, he appealed to other Church Heads or Denominations to do same in order to grow BSN activities in the two States.
