“there cannot be a better structures built else where than the better ideas structured in the minds of humanity.” Pence
One of the New Year special gift presented to Adamawa Christians by the state Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza is the dedication of a unique edifice structure whose architectural taste wears beauty of holiness and goodness by all standard. This structure stands the best in recent times,suggestive to be at per with the Taraba State CAN Secretariat in the entire nineteen Northern states.
It would have not been possible to build a complex with twenty two offices and three conference Halls Secretariat within the span of one year,if a righteous Man is not in the throne. It is indeed a watershed achievement and would not have been possible if the Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese,Stephen Dami Mamza could not say yes to the Priestly call of service to God through Humanity.
The Personality of Bishop Dami one could seen it in many dimensions as a true Man of God (MOG),ordained by the Catholic Church,Preaching the laid down gospel of Jesus Christ. His stable position and his conviction to follow the path of destiny has earned him a good name, a respect he commands by many to be a man of adorable character whose level of integrity is unquestionable of a standing order,making him one unique chairman many presume he came with new innovation of making right wrong and rewriting well the epistle of CAN in Adamawa to bear the true name it ought to have been bore in the annals of history.
Suffice it to say that the emergence of Dami as the CAN chairman of Adamawa State was because of the Church politics and the six other Blocs influencing and forming major decisions of who becomes what in the leadership structure of the mother CAN. Divergence interest played out, worked and supported the candidature of Stephen in 2016. They worked against the power of incumbency by the then CAN chairman, Bishop Mike Moses from the PFN bloc. The believed was that Dami by all standard is most qualified and will work in the interest and for the interest of all people under the body of Christ uniting the state at large to tow the path of peace.
Knowing his ready made leadership capabilities,his astute intervention to source and frugally use the money realised through a direct labour, the Adamawa state Christians can boast and brag of what i can call a “five star” CAN Secretariat at the center stage of the state capital. With this milestone achievement an applause of special praises and thanks should be given to Dami for the relentless efforts and firm decision he took to do that.Sir From my heart,my Lord Bishop i join the league of good people in Adamawa state to say a heart touched thank you,availing yourself for the Master’s use and brought hope back to many people in the state. It’s a new dawn,a new world and great beginning of new growth. Thanks so very much Sir.
Mr Chairman Sir, what you have done is indeed a task that an ordinary man with a small heart does not have audacity to it. It is a good fight of Faith you fought because there were forces contending with you not to accomplished this dream to a reality. Becoming the Nehemiah of our days,the Samballats and the Tobiahs posed as enemies of our time mocked and taunted the work never to be completed,but you took the risk and prefer to die serving God’s people against all odds than to leave them in shame and you to die as coward is now the joy of all Christians. You took the deliberate step not to fail the people whom God allowed to lead,God will really bless you.
Bishop Sir,you have once said and i quote “As I sworn with Holy Bible I will continue doing everything humanly possible toward protecting the interests of my people regardless of any disparity”. This is a decision only a man with good leadership ability can profess,expecting you to do much more than the building(s) or the structure put in place for His glory.
Beyond the beauty and the glamour of this great edifice that over 150 millions was spend on,the expected desire of God’s people is to see a united body under the symbol of the House you built to return the glory of the people. Like the stolen ark of God (Tabernacle and the Altar of God) once taken away from to the Camp of Israel,eulogizing it to be Ichabod- meaning the Glory of God has departed in the land. This day we are proud to say the Glory of God has return in Adamawa state,the Land of beauty. Sir you received the grace to worked out this building to reality,I quite believe the grace is still in you to begin to work the unity of the body of Christ engrafted in the holy secretariat God use you to build. This unity will spread across all religion and races,the peace of God that passes all understand shall envelop every race like the waters that covers the sea.
My Lord Bishop,unity is the work that’s most paramount at this time the Church in Adamawa that is expected to be branches connected to the true vain (Jesus),bearing more fruits but is in great disarray and almost cut off from the mother vain because of lack of unity of purpose,oneness and direction to truly be what God ordained it to be. The church in Adamawa is unfortunately rather becoming a flock of sheep without an under Shepherd. What else? The bears,Lion and Lioness, including Hyenas and Jackals will have their munch of daily bread from the flocks. Believe you me,it is an urgent call that need a serious attention
Jesus in John 17:21 prayed and prayed again when he was about to depart from this world of sin,He asked God to unite His disciples and said,” That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Yes one in the spirit,soul and body,to be one under the umbrella of a united peaceful body of Christ without strife or bitterness of whatever reason. This I pray and I hope to see becoming a reality. Our unity gladdens the host of heaven where in the bible God is saying how pleasant it is for God people to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1).
Praise and Glorious with a shout of Hallelujah to God,thanks,lifting of holy hands in adoration of God a brand new house (CAN Secretariat) was commissioned and ready for use. Sir I respect you and envy the Grace of God in you.
However I have some reservations and exceptions that I consider another urgent need and desire of the church. World over both secular and religion states have come to terms that human development is far better than whatever type of development one could be experiencing. The idea in people makes and transform the world into another God’s recreated art of wondrous work. Like the current vice president of America,Mike Pence who penned that “there cannot be a better structures built else where than the better ideas structured in the minds of humanity.” Human beings are the most valuables gift of nature by God.
My Lord Bishop Dami,I’m constrained to say that the good job of building a house for God use can never be compare with the job of building people for God. This is probably the great task a head of all Christian leaders in this country,neglecting human development is what is contributing and bringing to the strata of society the social menace we are seeing today. Following the steps of our Master,our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,the bible says any where He goes,he was just doing good (Acts 10:38). He went about doing the work of building people: healing the sick,delivering the oppressed,opening the eyes of the blind,feeding people in thousands and above all teaching them the words. Jesus came with the ministry of reconciliation,stomach infrastructure,improving the well being of humanity and better the corporate existence of Mankind. This is what we must collectively involve as people who are called by His name.
The twelve discipline were groomed to know God and believed Jesus to be the saving Messiah,transferring the power touched on the day of Pentecost is what today we can be boast of having the gospel being heard in all corners of the world. It is because Jesus was busy equipping and developing them to build nations.
Through out the earth ministry of Jesus,I can’t see it on record that he built a church for God the Father, but rather is red chasing people selling and buying at the temple (Church),merchandizing the place (House) that ought to be a house of prayers (Mathew 21:12). The eight beatitudes teaching of Jesus in Mathew 5:3-12 has clearly demonstrated that He was send by God to develop humanity to knowing the good way to live a fulfilled life of both the spirit,soul and body. No Wonder God in the epistle of 3 John 1:2 is quoted saying “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
My Bishop Sir,you were able to build a house for God because you are trained by somebody somewhere else,equipped you and help you grow to a level of a Bishop,and the best is being seen in you that the people of God were having much interest on you to lead them. You are a known philanthropist who is always show compassion to the needy in the society, doing that is in away developing the people (spiritual,economical) which is indeed the heart bit of God. I pray you to much more in this regard with no preference to religion or ethnic background of people in need.
It is also time to work in harmony with all relevant church leaders,cutting across individuals and group of people who will support you achieve greater success. Your coming on board as the CAN chairman was instrumentally supported by well meaning individual who see the good in you to lead,please Sir still rally around them as they can be of great support to help you have a good and enviable administration.
Your team of leaders,your core labourers in God’s vineyard are equally people of great abilities,stay together,brainstorm together and be leaders whose history will be kind to you that you once govern the Christians in Adamawa.
Chairman Sir,thank God the house is built,it is now time to begin the building of people as I wish and pray you a good journey to stardom of catholic priesthood. From a Bishop,I love to see you becoming an Archbishop,from an Archbishop I will praise God the more to see you becoming a cardinal of the catholic church,from there,who knows God might will you becomes the first black Pop. This is all I pray for you.
Happy new year,I pray you Keep safe through the year and emerge with great vigour, determination, motivation and resilient to face the challenges of the New year.
Thank you and God bless you.
Tom Garba,FIMC,FBDM
Opinion writer
Wrote this from Yola
Adamawa state.
