Faith-based organizations have been urged to collectively remain a voice of conscience to leaders and a pillar of support to governments across all levels.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, made the call in Ughelli in Sunday at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
The Governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon Prince Johnson Erijo, appreciated the church for standing by his administration in prayers, in counsel and in community partnership for development, describing the anniversary as a celebration of a remarkable milestone in the history of the Fellowship.
He added that it was also a celebration of years of impact, spiritual awakening, and nation-building through faith and of the enduring power of the Church in shaping society for good.
“Forty years ago, visionary fathers of faith came together with one purpose to raise a prophetic voice for the body of Christ and to build a united platform for Pentecostal believers across our nation. Today, we salute their courage, foresight and unwavering commitment to the gospel.
“Their obedience has given birth to a fellowship that stands as a moral compass in our nation and a beacon of hope to millions. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has, over the decades, remained a strong ally in the pursuit of peace, justice and good governance.
“You have been a voice of conscience to leaders and a pillar of support to governments across all levels. In Delta State, the church has stood by us in prayers, in counsel and in community partnership for development. For this, I express my profound appreciation.
“As a government, we firmly believe that governance is at its best when it is anchored on righteousness, compassion and service to humanity, values that the Church embodies and promotes. We will continue to uphold religious freedom, strengthen collaboration with faith-based institutions and support programmes that uplift the spiritual and socio-economic well-being of our people”, the Governor stated.
He remarked that the event came at a time when the nation was going through various challenges, economic pressures, moral decline and social tension, expressing confidence in the words of the Scripture that, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”, and believing that with a united, praying and engaged church, Nigeria would rise again.
Oborevwori charged the PFN not to relent, but to continue to speak truth in love, build bridges of unity among the body of Christ, equip the next generation for kingdom leadership and be an agent of transformation in the society.
In a message on the occasion, the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke; noted that the organization, from a little beginning four decades ago, had grown to become a strong voice in the nation’s religious space.
Bishop Wale Oke paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Fellowship, especially Rev Dr. Uma Ukpai, who passed away recently, promising that the vision and mission of the organization would continue to be vigorously pursued.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of PFN, Bishop Abos Willie; said it took the grace of God for the body to have remained relevant over the past 40 years and urged Christian leaders and members of the Foundation to remain steadfast in the pursuit of its set objectives.
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