Oge Nzekwe, Courage Ijogi And
Ukpong Ukpong

Sunday June, 21 2009 was marked by various churches in Uyo as Father's Day celebration. In Living Faith Church, Ikot Ebido Oku, the preacher, pastor Ime Archibong who spoke on the theme, “fatherhood, the challenge of today”, declared that God is a father to the righteous and charged fathers to live up to their responsibility in families and communities at large. He listed some challenges of fatherhood of young fathers, lack of identity and shifting responsibilities and warned fathers to train their children in the way of the Lord.
In a related development, Pastor Vincent Chiori of Abundant Life Ministries, Uyo while delivering a sermon during Fathers' Day celebration in Four Square Gospel Church, Afaha Ubo Itam, declared that” a father's job is to guide his children to their places of destiny” Drawing his inspiration from Jn 3: 16, the man of God disclosed that God released his son, Jesus Christ to the earth in order that He might fulfill his destiny for human race. He maintained that, although it is often painful, fathers should prepare their children well and at appointed time release them to face their destiny in life.
“When a father has prepared a strong foundation for his children, he can be assured that wherever they go, all would be well”. Pastor Chiori insisted. Similarly, at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Uyo Parish, the parish Minister, Rev. Orok E. Okon preaching on the theme, “Walk Before me and be Blameless”, called on fathers to use the celebration as a period for sober reflection on their roles in families, and charged them to pattern their lives according to Abraham by striving to work blamelessly before man and God.
Present at the event were Barr. Ita Enang, Chairman of Business Rules and Ethics Committee, Federal House of Representatives, Obong Okon Uwah, Deputy Speaker, AKHA, Prof. Ekanem among other dignitaries.