Dedication of the Apostolic Church, Ndot Area: the People Speak

by Chidera Odii

I became an elder of The Apostolic Church in 2007 but a member of the church earlier than this time. Since 2009, I have been the Chairman of the Area Building Committee in charge of building and renovation of the church that is over ten (10) years until the Field Superintendent reinaugurated the building committee and I was re-appointed the chairman for the second time. About the dedication that is coming up. It will start on 9^th to 12^th of May, 2019 and we have designed to use one stone and kill many birds. As a result, we will be having our convention and dedication of the building, Ndot Area Temple. As Chairman of the Area Building Committee, I must confess to you that it has not been easy handling this project. This building has been made possible by the unrelenting efforts of the entire members of the church and we give God all the Glory. The dedication will have in attendance people from all walks and life, major dignitaries starting from men of God from five (5) Areas and men and women of God from other denominations. We are also expecting the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Moses Ekpo who has given us his words that he will come in person. In a nutshell, we are expecting dignitaries from within and outside the country. We know many people would want to attend this epochal occasion considering the long period of time which this temple had taken before its find completion.

Elder Dr. Emmanuel Ibanga, Chairman of the Area Building Committee, Managing Partner, Family Excellence Investment Resources – real estate in Nigeria and overseas, and Director of Ploblem Hotels and Suites Nigeria

I have been a member of this church since 1985 and was ordained an elder of The Apostolic Church in 2001. I have been a member of the Church Building Committee for ten (10) years. Currently as it concerns this dedication, I am the Secretary of the Central Working Committee. In fact, to me, this building project could be likened to the Israel’s broken walls of Jerusalem, in that the project has been on ground for over thirty (30) years. Many superintendents have come and gone without completing this project. Today we thank God for the purposeful leadership of Apostle Dr. A. O. Udoiyak who doubles as the Field Superintendent and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of the Apostolic Church as well as the Supervisor of the building project. We appreciate the sedulous and dexterity of our Area Superintendent, Apostle E. O. Akpan who has today, brought this building project to a gladdening fruition. In all we say, glory be to God.

Etteyen Sunday, former Head of Personnel and now Head of Counsel in the University of Uyo

When I visited Apostle E. O. Akpan’s station at Ndot it was then that I understood why he is driving the kind of car he uses till today. He is a man of God indeed, selfless, dedicated and committed to the work of God.

Pastor Emmanuel Eduongo, the Director of Media and Public Affairs Department, the Apostolic Church, Uyo Field

I am from this village and this is my church, I’m a private man at the moment. I want to tell you that any work without God is nothing. I want to express my profound delight for seeing this building project come to completion. This building project started in 1979 and at that time there was no money anywhere and this whole place was a remote village, and we decided to delve into this project. You know it is difficult to see people working for God and not feel tired. That is to say, it takes courage and God’s grace to do the work of God and sail through to the end. At that time, The Apostolic Church here was only consisted of about three areas unlike now that we have five areas. By areas I mean like Etim Ekpo, Abak, Ikot Okoro etc. In all the five areas, this place is the traditional headquarters of the Apostolic Church in Abak five, former Abak Local Government Area. The building is about five thousand (5,000) capacity. A view from inside the building will reveal the old nature of the architectural design as it could have been expanded the more if it were to be today’s design. This project is today completed after many years of turbulence and tumultuous experiences. In 2010, Apostle Dr. A. O. Udoiyak (Ikot Ekpene Field Superintendent of Ikot Ekpene Field and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of the Apostolic Church as well as the Area Superintendent, Apostle E.O. Akpan) by the grace of God, these two men of God came in and decided to complete the building. As you can see everyone is happy even the villagers who are non members of this church are excited that this building after many years has finally come to a completion.

As a servant of God, if you said you love God but fail to undertake projects that could advance the propagation of the gospel then your claim is in doubt. So gentlemen of the press, this evening I am very excited to inform you that God has done a great thing for us here and I will not fail to praise Him. It is going to be a great occasion as many top notch dignitaries have been invited to grace the occasion. It may interest you to know that we are expecting the governor, senator and House of Representatives member elect, chairmen of local government councils etc. In my own description, the building is amazing and I’m very delighted to have seen the beginning and the completion. You can see my excitement is unique; this is because it was not everybody who saw the inception of this project that has the privilege of seeing its completion.

Honourable Elder Sunday Okoko, former member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, served in many boards and parastatals of government

I come from Ikot Etukudo, a nearby village here; I worship at Ikot Ikpan district. Incidentally by the grace of God when the committee was constituted, I was appointed secretary into the committee that comprises elderly people to write the history of this church. well, I can only give the design. The design was done by late Elder Udom Essien Etok in 1989. He did the design free of charge as an elder of the church. He was the first contractor to handle this project. You know it is not a government project and as a result, it had suffered series of hiccups and stagnations occasioned by paucity of funds. Sometimes the job would just come to a standstill as any new apostle who may not be interested in the project will just mind his business. We thank God for sending to us somebody who cares. I mean a man of God who is not selfish and that is why you see what you are seeing toady.

Elder Ezekiel Nelson Udofia, a civil servant, works in the government house