Bishop Abrifor Urges Nigerian Christians to Participate in Nation Building as GCC Marks 58th Anniversary with Annual National Convention
The Head of Mission and Presiding Bishop of Gospel Church of Christ (GCC) Worldwide, Bishop Dr. Benson Abrifor, has called on Nigerian Christians to actively participate in nation building, stressing that Nigeria remains our only country.
Bishop Abrifor made the call at a press briefing to herald the Church’s 58th anniversary and annual national convention. The four-day convention, scheduled to hold from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30, 2026, will take place at the Church’s National Headquarters in Lagos.
He urged Christians to take part in the 2027 general elections and play a decisive role in electing credible leaders, encouraging all eligible Nigerians to come out and vote for candidates of their choice who can lead the nation to its promised land.
Speaking on the significance of the annual gathering, Bishop Abrifor described the convention as the Church’s annual Feast of Tabernacles.
“It is our annual Feast of Tabernacles, where we retreat as a family before God to be refreshed with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and power. It is also an occasion for everyone to offer a sacrifice of obeisance to our Lord Jesus Christ on our collective altar, to receive instruction and inspiration for direction in the years ahead,” he said. He disclosed that this year’s convention is themed “A New Page.”
Expounding on the objectives of the convention, he said it is aimed at obtaining fresh direction for the years ahead, reaffirming the unity of the Church as a family, receiving fresh anointing for greater exploits, and renewing hope in the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He charged Christians to remain steadfast in their love for God and for one another, and to continue preaching the gospel in season and out of season in order to win souls for Christ.
Bishop Abrifor also called on the Federal Government to urgently address the prevailing anguish and insecurity in the country.
He decried the senseless killings, destruction of property and ravaging hardship across the nation, noting that the performance of the present administration has fallen far below the expectations that Nigerians bargained for in 2023. He called for prompt and decisive action to halt the killings and alleviate the economic hardship.
The cleric also condemned the proposed bill seeking to prohibit preaching of the gospel in buses and other public places.
“Let it be known that Nigeria is a secular state. We must not persecute any religious body or show preference for one religion over another,” he warned.
According to him, “We are talking about a new era, a new dawn, and we want to see new things. The New Page will challenge both the Church and the nation to move from the old era into a new era where we can advance to the next level of our lives.”
Bishop Abrifor further admonished the Church, the nation and those in government to turn a new leaf and remain accountable to God, as the return of Christ to judge all works is near.
He appealed to Nigerians to eschew self-centeredness and embrace patriotism.
“We are what we are today because of the general attitude of Nigerians to corruption. The attitude of the average Nigerian is corrupt, selfish and self-centered. No one wants to be patriotic; rather, almost everyone prefers to please themselves, live in affluence and own a fleet of cars at the expense of nation building,” Bishop Abrifor stated.
