Enough of Insecurities, Bloodshed, Kidnapping in Nigeria – Archbishop Emiaso …Hands over GCC Worldwide leadership to successor, Bishop Abrifor
The immediate Head of Mission and Presiding Archbishop of Gospel Church of Christ Worldwide, Archbishop Eric Emiaso, has completed his tenure as Head of Mission of the church. According to the succession plan for the Church, he handed over the leadership to his successor, Bishop Benson Abrifor.
The handover ceremony took place during the church’s 57th annual national convention, themed “The Finger of God”, held at the Church’s sub-headquarters in Warri, Delta State.
According to the outgoing Head of Mission, Archbishop Emiaso, “the unique stability of this great mission founded in 1968 by the late founding father and the first Head of Mission, Bishop Enoch Magbegor who transited to glory in 2005, is a succession legacy he left behind and which have been tenaciously followed by previous leadership, Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Osio and Bishop James Oteari who at different times piloted the affairs of the church before my taking over in 2018”, he said.
The church has grown from a mere house fellowship to its present status to become one of the impactful and transforming Pentecostal denominations in Nigeria and beyond, having passed through and survived all manner of daunting challenges, and is kept waxing stronger. It is also among the first thirteen founding churches of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
Speaking on the succession plan and handing over, Emiaso said, the church is not a private or personal church, but a public church as it were and this is exemplified in its manner of leadership succession with another turning point of smooth and seamless transfer of leadership and headship succession in the history of the church from the outgoing Head of Mission and Presiding Bishop, Archbishop Eric Emiaso to his successor, Bishop Benson Abrifor and to be celebrated during the church national convention 2025 in a memorable experience for the church and the body of Christ.
Explaining further on the church’s convention theme, Emiaso said the Finger of God is the power of God in motion to heal, deliver, pass judgment on the oppressors and enemies of God’s people. As a country, we seem to be wandering in the wilderness without our bearings but it’s time to seek the finger of God.
Enough is enough of the insecurities, the bloodshed, kidnapping, killings, and other vices in the land. There’s hardship, frustration, suffering, and hopelessness, in which the church, the last hope of the common man, would not sit back with a chauvinistic attitude, and the government of the day has come to its wits’ end and no longer knows what to do. The Almighty is our last hope, and we must resort to Him for help before things fall apart”, Archbishop Emiaso declared.
Major highlights of the National Convention that attracted the well attended and participation of the church members from many states in the country has Archbishop (Prof) Solomon Gbakara and Archbishop God Dowell Avwonakpa as guest speakers with Bishop Edward Emmanueta, Bishop Benson Abrifor, and Rev Jonathan Avwadjuyo ministering among others with the hosts Archbishop Eric & Bishop (Mrs) Rita Emiaso.
