Churches to open on Sunday
I am again delighted to address you today on behalf of the church in Benue state on our collective fight against COVID -19 pandemic in Benue State. As you are all aware the fight was/is a serious one that everybody has to participate for the collective and general good of the people of the state.
It could be recalled that on March 28, 2020 we announced the temporary suspension of church activities in the state. We told all ministers of the gospel and church leaders in the state not to open their churches for worship. Church weddings as well as burial ceremonies were all suspended. As a deliberate measure to check the spread of the life threatening virus, we had to follow it up with close monitoring even as we also used to caution our members to intensify prayers for God to intervene in the fight and also to respect and observe the health rules provided by health experts which included regular washing of hands with water and soap, use of hand sanitisers, maintaining social distance, avoiding of hand shaking and hugging among others.
I am also delighted to inform you that the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom after an exhaustive meeting with the State Action Committee on COVID-19 headed by the deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu decided to ease the lockdown. Following the resolution of the committee and the Governor of Benue State, I am pleased to announce to the Christian community in the state to also reopen their churches for activities.
In this regard I wish to direct that all the ministers of the gospel, leaders of churches as well as the CAN coordinators of the various local government areas in the state to open their churches for worship from next Sunday, May 24, 2020.
While continuing with the church activities in the state I want to urge the Christian community to continue to observe the health conditions. The health conditions are important for healthy living and not just to guide against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. I am sure that the pandemic did not spread the way it should have done because of the strict adherence to the health conditions.
I will not hesitate to inform you that I highly regret the temporary closure of churches in the state. My insistence that that church activities should be suspended is regretted as the lockdown has negatively affected the spiritual life of some Christians as well as the economy of the church and even the vulnerable members of the church. But as regrettable as the action was, it was also inevitable even as it was for the common good of the Christians in the state. The dead cannot worship God only the living will do so. We had to close our churches to avoid the spread of the pandemic to enable us live and serve the living God.
On a very special note I want to appreciate the Benue State Governor Dr. Samuel Ortom and the State Action Committee on COVID-19 for their relentless fight against the pandemic in the state. I strongly believe that it was their vigorous fight that led to the discovery of cases of COVID-19 in the state. This also led to more serious fight by the entire Benue people on coronavirus. This is a true demonstration of servant leadership. As a church we are proud to identify with the Benue State Governor whose major concern is to serve the state with commitment, dedication and patriotism.
On our part we shall continue to pray for the governor and government of the state to continue to come up with people oriented policies that have direct bearing on the lives of the of the state; policies that can provide accelerated development in the state.
To the Christian community in the state let me extend my heartfelt commendation to you. There was about a hundred percent compliance to the temporary closure of churches in the state. The ministers of the gospel and church leaders in the state complied and closed down their churches. We remember that the directive to close down churches came so impromptu such that no minister of God prepared for it. That the directive was sudden and coupled with the strict adherence to the directive, there was serious hardship on the servants of God within the period of the lockdown which started on March 28, 2020. I urge you not to be worried as the living God you serve who knows everything will provide all your needs for you.
I also want to appreciate the church in the state for being prayerful. We implored you not to relent in prayers believing that prayers are capable of unlocking all seemingly impossible things. I strongly believe that it was the power of your prayers that the deadly virus could not have rapid spread in the state. It is also our collective prayers that those infected by the virus in the state, the country and the world at large should have speedy recovery so as to join their loved ones to continue with their normal life activities.
As the state government has decided to ease the lockdown which also entails reopening of our churches, I still want to encourage all Christians not to relax in the strict adherence to the health conditions. While they observe the conditions, they should not hesitate to report any suspicious movement for immediate action. Again, when the symptoms of COVID-19 begin to manifest such people should be reported to the medical facilities available for management and treatment immediately. This is said to be a sure way of curtailing the spread of the pandemic.
Let me again remind you that the war against coronavirus is not for government alone but a war for all and that everybody should buckle up to fight so that collectively we shall defeat the virus. Be reminded also that as a church our greatest weapon is prayer and with relentless prayers the war against COVID-19 will be won with ease.
Thank you and God bless you all.
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