Rivers: Correspondents’ Chapel ends press week with thanksgiving

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The week long activities of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council came to an end with thanksgiving service at Charismatic Renewal Ministry, Aka Rehoboth Centre in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Speaking on the topic, ‘I will pay my vow in the presence of his people’, the Rivers State Overseer of the church, Pastor(Dr) Bon Achumba said it pays to give thanks to God.

Taking his text from Palms 116 in the Holy Bible,the man of God said four things bear witness if you love God,namely you or your conscience,people, Satan and God himself.

The man of God emphasized that by giving thanks to God is the best strategy to breakdown problems confronting us.

Dr Achumba tasked us to always make a vow privately to God and as we redeem such pledge, our problems will be over.

“By giving thanks to God,those problems confronting us are already behind us. Therefore, I urge you to always privately make pledge to God and as we deliver such pledge our problems will be over,” the man of God said.

Achumba, spoke when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by Amaechi Okonkwo came for their Thanksgiving Church Service to mark the conclusion of their 2021 Press Week, which began on December 6, 2021.

He reminded Christians that Paul and Silas worked hard for God but their reward was arrest and imprisonment. “What did they do? They burst into thanksgiving songs. The rest is history, miracle, and lesson to Christendom.”

Achumba said: “The more you do Thanksgiving, the more your problems diminish.” He asked members to note the prophecy that came that morning saying; “Because you thanked me this way, I will make you to thank me more.”

He showed how God gives us huge gift but we despair over seeking material things. He asked: “If a governor gives you $10m today, and ask you not to be fighting with people, will you not agree and be satisfied and be a happy man? But if he says take $10m and not wake up tomorrow morning, you will scream and refuse it. This means that waking up every morning is bigger than $10m gift. Why not rejoice over waking up everyday?”

In his remarks at the church service,the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel, Amaechi Okonkwo said members of the Correspondents’ Chapel and journalists at large have every reason to thank God.

He recalled that even during COVID-19 induced lockdown when everybody took cover, journalists were out there for the interest of the society. Amaechi stressed that nobody would have protected journalists if not God, hence the need to thank God.

Okonkwo, said it was important to lead the members to thank God for making the week a huge success despite threats that made it almost not happening.

He revealed that he had to set up a secret prayer group. He remarked further that journalists devote all days to making the society survive and end up forgetting themselves.

This year, he said, the Correspondents resolved to look inward under the theme: ‘Survival of Journalists under economic and security uncertainties; with focus on strategic reporting of the maritime sector.’