By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna
While admonishing Christians to give thanks in all situations, the President of HEKAN, Rev. Amos G. Kiri expressed this in a speech on Sunday August 2, 2020
“I want to start by expressing our condolences to all the families that lost love ones in the recent killings in Southern Kaduna.
“We cannot forget the killings in Birnin Gwari and also the Killings in Katsina and other places in our dear Country; may the souls of all the departed rest in peace.
“As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to give thanks in every situation,” he said.
Speaking on the theme: “In Every Situation, Give Thanks (Philippians 5:18), he extended greetings from all of them at the Headquarters of the United Church of Christ in Nations (UCCN) a.k.a HEKAN Church.
“The situation of these past months-the months that we were all locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be an exception; we thank God for preserving us at this most difficult time for all of mankind.
“Someone may ask; why thank God when the people of the world in the present century had never seen nor experienced a catastrophe of this global magnitude in their lives? Yes! It is true that we have never seen anything like this.
“At the same time too, we have never seen and experienced God’s love and grace like this in our lives in the present century.
“The CoronaVirus (COVID-19) came unnoticed, drove the world off the streets, and stopped all businesses by closing down factories and manufacturing companies,” he said.
Speaking further, he explained that schools were shut down and markets were also closed.
“Mysteriously to the ordinary and canal man, Church buildings were also under lock and key. However, all throughout this period, the love of God abounds.
“The word of God says, nothing “in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God” not even COVID-19 can separate us from the love of God, please join me to praise the Lord! It may indeed interest you to know that during the lockdown:
“More Churches were established (every home became a Church as it was in the early Church).Some men as head of the families took the positions of Pastors in their respective home Churches.Most families were more united than ever.
“The offerings and tithes in the home Churches increased tremendously,” he said.
Further on positive aspect of the lockdown, he said that there were fewer sicknesses during the pandemic as people became more prayerful.
“More knowledge of diversification was utilized during the pandemic to reach out with gospel message.
“Our missionaries at mission fields were busy winning souls,” he added.
