Assemblies Of God Nigeria Celebrates Rev. Samuel Elijah’s Retirement.  … Completed His Ministerial Work With Integrity,  Unblemished Record – Church

Etieno Ibanga

The Assemblies of God Nigeria, Ukanafun Area  has organised a retirement/ thanksgiving service in honor of Reverend Samuel Elijah, the Pioneer Area Supervisor of Ukanafun Area of the church in view of his unblemished record of service in the Lord’s vineyard.

The Retirement thanksgiving service which took place on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at Assemblies of God Nigeria, Ukanafun Area Headquarters, Ikot Akpa Nkuk in Ukanafun Local Government Area provided the avenue for the church faithful, guests and lovers of the gospel to pour encomiums on the man of God whom they said was instrumental to church planting,  revival and evangelism.

The Ukanafun Area Supervisor of the Church, Reverend Aniekan Essien said ” Rev Elijah was appointed into office as the Area Supervisor of Ukanafun by the General Council of the  Assemblies of God Nigeria on 6th October 2010, he successfully served in that capacity for good seven years, he was  very diligent in his services during his tenure “

According to him, Many churches were opened in the area and many plots of land purchased for the Area’s  proposed Administrative Headquarters , adding that, the foundation and  block  work for the Supervisor’s quarters and administration block were raised during the stewardship of Rev Elijah.

Describing the celebrator as a Cleric who did not compromise with what was wrong,  Rev Essien stressed that Elijah completed his ministry in the area with good testimony , good reputation and integrity.

While congratulating him on his meritorious service, Rev Essien prayed God to continually grant  him good health and understanding on retirement.

Highlighting his pastoral journey which began on 7th January 1990 as a “Christian worker” at the Assemblies of God, Utu Abak and ended as a pioneer Area Supervisor of Ukanafun Area on 30th November 2017, Rev  Elijah said ” I had pastored six Assemblies of God churches at Utu Abak currently in Abak Missonary Area, Essien Udim, Nto Efa ,in Ikot Ekpene District,  Ibiaku Ntok Okpo ; Ikot Akpan Omon Road, Ikot Ekpene and Ekparakwa. Apart from my Genesis church,  Utu Abak, I had served as sectional leader in all the other churches .”

Rev Elijah who hinted  that each station had its own remarkable history and challenges but God saw him through, equated the beginning of his ministerial work with what is written in Zechariah 4:10 “Despise not the days of small beginning “, and climaxed with what is written in Job 8:7 ” though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end shall be greatly increased”.

The clergyman accompanied by his wife-Grace, appreciated the church for the honour done him and commended the current Area Supervisor of Ukanafun for sustaining the legacy projects he initiated and prayed God to bless them.

The ceremony was attended by  Family members of the celebrator, the Church faithful within and outside Akwa-Ibom,  guests and well-wishers.