Easter: Pastor Okeze tasks Christians to make sacrifices  

Pastor Idowu Okeze has tasked Christians in the country on the need for them to make sacrifices for the greater unity, peace, political stability and progress of Nigeria during this Easter festivals.

Pastor Okeze, in an Easter message signed on good Friday, called on Nigerians and Deltans in particular, to seize the opportunity of the Easter holiday to reflect deeply on what more they need to do as a people, to ensure that they live peacefully with one another in the nation’s quest for a better future for all citizens and residents in the country.

The statement reads in part: “As Christians, we must reflect on the import of Easter celebrations in our dealings, not only with other Christians, but with people of other religions.

“We must eschew bitterness and all forms of violence, because the progress, peace and security of the nation is anchored on good neighborliness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.”

He noted that if Nigerians lived peacefully with one another they would not be confronted with issues of armed banditry, herdsmen attacks, kidnapping and other vices threatening the soul of the great country.

Okeze urged Nigerians to let the significance of the celebration reflect in their relationship with one another, adding that “there is no doubt that these are tough times in our country.”

He reminded Christians that having gone through forty days of fasting and praying, Easter was a better time for them to purge themselves of those weights that “have impeded our progress as a people over the years by demonstrating love in its fullness not only to one another but also to our society.”

Okeze enjoined Christian faithfuls and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter, which are love, peace, justice, sacrifice and kindness to their daily living, and through this contribute to the unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“The major lesson of Easter is for us as Christians to rethink the reality of our faith. As Christians, we should continue to uphold the principles of our faith as it relates to honesty, justice, integrity, accountability, compassion, selflessness and the pursuit of the common good,” he added.