Fiery priest and Spiritual director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, yesterday formally handed over Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu, where he served as parish priest for 20 years to his successor, Rev. Fr. Theodore Ozoamalu.
During the hand-over ceremony, Mbaka informed those around that he was going to suffer as he would be moving from a duplex to a room in Our Lady Parish, Emene, where he is to serve as a resident priest, under another priest. He, however, urged them not to worry, asserting that God has greater plans for him.
Mbaka, however, said he welcomes the decision of the church leadership with absolute acceptance and obedience, stating that nobody should see him as a recalcitrant priest.
According to him, “I know we are going to suffer; between now and few months to come, I am going to suffer; I am going to suffer because I have no place to lay my head; I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Ministry’s assets; I know I am going to suffer; fortunately it’s going to happen in the month of Lent; so I am going to use my exit here to observe the Lent.
“But Jesus said it to His apostles in John 16:20, ‘You will be sorrowful and the world will be rejoicing but very soon I will turn your sorrows to joy.’ So I am waiting for that moment because for now I know we are going to suffer.
“The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now; even though I have accepted it as the will of God; it is the will of God through suffering; it is a mega suffering. But however, the grace of God will carry us all; even though some of you may pray that God should remove this thorn from us, the scripture says ‘His grace is sufficient for us; for its even in your weakness that the power of God is demonstrated.
“So we are moving but don’t forget the scriptures, ‘my brothers they make me keeper of vineyards, my own vineyard I keepeth not. All these while we have been keeping vine yards, building for Christ The King Parish…Bishop Gbuji asked them, how much …but because I don’t want to disclose my charity, they can’t keep that account.
“How many trailer loads of cement came here? All the monies I made from my cassette and other private crusades all of them were used to build this church. We cannot quantify it but let God be glorified.”
“It is the will of God; and when the will of God either permissive or however, happens, nobody should question it. All you have today is Amen; so to the will of God Fr. Mbaka has said Amen.”
He assured that the parish would not collapse due to his exit, and urged the members to treat his successor well and assist him in any way he needs help and not allow him to cry.
His words: “Don’t starve him; don’t allow him to suffer; in my own time I didn’t need your help because God blessed me in my own unique way and I am happy. God will keep the parish because we have fought the good fight; I am not regretting anything and the highest gift God has given here is his Holy Spirit who assisted me up till now.”
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