By O’star Eze
Gubernatorial aspirant under the PPA in the upcoming Anambra governorship election, Godwin Chukwunaenye Ezeemo, and Governor Willie Obiano were among dignitaries that joined the Sisters’ Fellowship International (SFI) to celebrate its 30th anniversary at the fellowship’s headquarters, Nkpor, recently.
Speaking at the event, the international president and founder, Rev. Mrs Nches Iredu, said the need to celebrate the ministry at 30 was revealed to her in a vision a year ago.
Iredu said that the 30 is a spiritually significant number, which stands for the end of a phase and the beginning of another in the state, the ministry and the lives of all its members.
“Thirty years ago, April 1987, this ministry was born. God told me that 30 is a significant number and that I should celebrate it.
“After 30 years, there will begin a new cycle of life and I know that Anambra State, this ministry and you all will experience a new cycle of life…,” she prophesied.
Appreciating the governor and Ezeemo, alongside other guests, the international president and founder, noted that celebrating with others attracts cause for celebration.
Citing instances with her life experiences, she affirmed that God never fails and urged the guests to keep holding on to their vision, stressing that despite difficulties on the way, those that hold onto God and persevere will excel.
“God’s destiny does not guarantee lack of hitches. He has assured us that even through the valley of shadow of death, he will be there.”
She charged the guests to remain firm in the lord, saying that God is always releasing miracles but it takes faith to partake of them.
She said that the two pillars holding SFI ministry are love and appreciation, stressing that the two pillars have helped the ministry transform lives and restore broken homes.
Noting that the devil fights Christians’ love for God, she observed that “when our love for God waxes cold, whatever service we are giving would lack value. You can serve God and go to hell but you cannot love God and go to hell. When you love God, you learn to manage and tolerate one another.”
Appreciating God for the ability of women of varying classes to come together and stay together, courtesy of SFI, the founder said the ministry has taught members humility. Reminding women that God said the convention would be a transformation camp, she charged women to show their transformation in character, thereby showing good examples to even unbelievers.
In his sermon, titled “Great is Your Faithfulness”, the guest speaker, Bishop Chuka Aguegbo, said there are many reasons to celebrate the doings of the Lord in the life of the fellowship, pointing out that if not for God, the vision of SFI would have been aborted from day one.
Citing Isaiah 63:7, psalm 27:13, 119:9, 142:5, the bishop said though we are in perilous times, God still protects and gives health. He enjoined the guests to embrace the path of love, the summary of all commandments.
Highpoints of the event were the singing of hymns and spiritual songs in praise of God for all his blessings.