AS DIVINE BLESSINGS MANIFEST IN EMMANUEL ANGLICAN CHURCH, IZOMBE.
By Innocent Osuoha.
For the purposes of clarity, it is germane to state that this piece is not a compendium of contributors to a success story just the piece is premised on the spur of the moment.
When God answers a people's prayer, He does so miraculously and with alacrity to a point of leaving the faithful wondering how the positive events continue to unfold.
This is the scenario the congregation of Emmanuel Anglican Church, Izombe, Diocese On The Lake have found itself recently.
By way of a recap, Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe, is the Archdeaconry headquarters of Izombe Archdeaconry comprising five churches.
At the helm of affairs of the Archdeaconry is Venerable Sydney Onyekachi Arizie who has spent barely seven months before this divine visitation. Some Emmanuel Church congregants describe him as a " lucky Priest".
That is not to say that other Priests who had served in the Church did not perform, it's just that providence placed the cap, this time, on Venerable Arizie's head in line with Igbo adage, "nnunu ahuru n'akwu nwe akwu".
Back to the crux of this writeup. The foundation of the Emmanuel church new building was laid in 2009 by His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Chijioke Benjamin Ndidiamaka Oti, PhD. The foundation laying ceremony is indelible because it coincided with the thanksgiving service of the pioneer Scribe of the Diocese On The Lake Council of Knights, Sir Evans Eziohuru after his investiture.
After the foundation laying, work began on the building in ernest but had to slow down due to both foreseen and unforeseen circumstances climaxed by the Izombe turbulent periods.
According to the biblical aphorism, " what God cannot do, does not exist", so also, " hell cannot prevail when God's work is on the front burner". Infact, Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe, Diocese On The Lake is marching on.
In the Book of Isaiah, chapter 43 vs 19, God said, "Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth, Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert." Yours sincerely makes bold to say that this prophecy, as it were, have started manifesting in Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe.
According to Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (KJV). Need I say that the season to march forward has come.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (NIV). There is no gainsaying this.
Isaiah 60:22, extracts, "...I the Lord will make it happen in its time" (NIV). It is really happening.
Habakkuk 2:3: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come...". Honestly, one can boastfully say that, "indeed, God has visited Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe.
The Diocesan has always made appeals that the gigantic church building be given attention but as it is natural, " o memere Chi ekweghi, onye uta atala". God answers prayers.
This divine visitation started early this year when a congregant of the Church, an indigene, a Priest, living abroad, Venerable David Nwanekpe donated a portable Altar table Cross.
In quick succession, another indigene, also a congregant, touched by the state of the Church building, volunteered to commence the roofing of the Church.
The roofing which by estimation has already gulped millions of naira is ninety percent done. But unfortunately, this Volunteer begged he wants to remain anonymous.
As we speak, this Nehemiah is not known. Not even by this Writer. Though, one thing is certain--" na God win".
From the look of things, before the end of the second quarter of 2026, the Congregation of Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe, will be delivered of a brand new church building.
On 16th April, 2026, as the Congregation was still basking in the euphoria of the roofing, another son of the soil, a congregant too, Hon Desmond Anujuru, lit the entire church compound with nine solar lights.
Church members who visited the church compound, late that evening, couldn't believe their eyes.
An elated Archdeacon In charge, Venerable Arizie, wrote on the Church WhatsApp wall, "Brethren, please help me thank Hon. Desmond Anujuru for mounting 9 Solar lights on strategic points within the Church premises yesterday. It has helped in brightening the church environment at nights. You need to see it's beauty.He even supervised it by himself, demonstrating his love for our only Jerusalem".
Honestly, God has visited Emmanuel Anglican church, Izombe, and may His Holy name be glorified.
Gratitude must go to His Lordship The Rt. Rev. Chijioke Benjamin Ndidiamaka Oti, PhD, who has used any available opportunity to harp on the need for the Church building to completed.
Meanwhile, some members of the Church, Ezinwa Sam Okenwa, Mrs Meg Nnanna and a retired Perm Sec Bismarck Eziohuru have prayed God to bless all those who have made contributions to the realization of these projects as well as reward them Immeasurably.