A Bishop’s ‘50 years of ceaseless grace’

AS the day approached, Rt. Rev. Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia, the Lord Bishop of Isiala-Ngwa South Diocese of the Anglican Communion knew he had to mark it differently.
He was turning 50 and it would not be just merry-making.
“It has been 50 years of ceaseless grace from God and I was not going to forget that”, Bishop Nwaobia told The Guardian and he did not forget.

To mark the day, not only was there some joyous merry-making, Bishop Nwaobia also touched peoples’ lives that would be remembered for a very long time.

Among his programmes for  “50 Years of Ceaseless Grace,” Nwaobia addressed issues concerning young people.
The topic “Youth Mobilisation and Motivation for Greatness” was discussed with Professor Durojaiye Adegboye of ‘Gospel on the Wheel’ as key speaker while Lady Florence Nbogu of Basic Health Organisation from Abuja handled “Your Health and You- Equipping youths for life challenges”.

Adegbeoye in his lecture told youths to be careful, urging them to carefully decide what their future would be and “also remember that you are unique but weak without God.
“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, read His Words and obey His laws and remember to flee youthful lusts, which include sex, as sex is meant for those who are genuinely married.
“God frowns and would judge sex before marriage as well as extra-marital sex.

“Be obedient and respectful and with God always in your life and you remain focused, you can achieve any height you desire,” he said.

In her lecture, Nbogu told young people to remember that they have the power to rule their lives and live a long life.
“Health is what you do not value until you loose it, so you must strive to always be in good health, noting that health is wealth.
“Understand yourself and flee from those drugs you are allergic to.  Avoid preventable diseases and discipline yourselves by fleeing youthful lusts of inordinate affection with the opposite sex, which will ruin your future if you indulge in it.  Be patient!” she urged them.

Part of the celebration was opportunity for those present to check their blood pressure, their height and weight free of charge while some also benefitted from free examination of their sugar level.
There was also commissioning of a big hall with a library named ‘Iwuagwu Resource Centre’ dedicated to the Bishop Emeritus of Aba Dioceses, Prof. Augustine O. Iwuagwu.
Speaking at the occasion, Iwuagwu described Nwaobia as a broad-minded man of God who sees things clearly as they ought to be and remembers history.

“He is not just an administrator, but one who sees himself as a father and cares for everyone.
“I remember a time a retired Archbishop came here and his car was snatched by armed robbers, Isaac ensured that arrangement was concluded in the Diocese and another car was given to the Archbishop in replacement.
“He is also blessed with a good wife, Hope, who blends with the husband and surrenders herself to her husband to move the work of God forward.”

Also, a book entitled Bishop Isaac Nwaobia: His Life and Ministry, the foreword to which was written  by the former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili and reviewed by Rev. Decency Chiedozie Oluchukwu Chine was launched during the event.
The book of  10 chapters is an autobiography that chronicles the humble beginning, the development, growth, call, life, times, experiences, achievements and challenges of the man of God.
In his words, Nwaobia said the 50 years of ceaseless grace was associated with Biblical term “Jubilee,” which had to do with not just a celebration, but also a period to take stock of one’s life and march forward.

“I have seen it as an opportunity to take stock of my life and of those wonderful moments God spared my life. I am a living miracle who twice escaped death through the finger of God and of course, those were the times I was made to know He was always present with me and definitely, there were other numerous miracles that God has brought in my life for me to live up till today.  I appreciate God’s goodness and has, therefore, decided to impact on the youth for them to see God’s goodness in my life and take after me,” he said.