Be exemplary, trustworthy, Ndukuba’s wife tells Anglican Bishops’ wives

The President of the Mothers Union and Women’s Guild of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Mrs. Angela Eberechukwu Ndukuba, has admonished wives of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Nigeria to develop as vessels of honour for divine use.

Mrs. Ndukuba, who is also wife of the Primate of Church of Nigeria and leader of the Archbishops and Bishops’ wives, addressed them at a national Retreat, with the theme, “Bishop’s Wife A Vessel unto Honour” taken from 2Tim. 2:20,21. It was hosted by the Province of Jos at the Ibru Centre Agbarha-Otor from January 13 to 16.

Reminding Bishops’ wives that the retreat was aimed at preparing themselves for the task of co-shepherding with the Bishops, the leader urged them to work hard to enhance their value and relevance.

“Sisters, we are all vessels, made of different materials. The particular material does not really matter, but being of honour. It is not automatic to be of honour, but worked out. Being vessel of honour is not about being honoured by people, but comes from within. Let us not feel that we have arrived, but work out our salvation to become vessels of honour for our Master’s use. We should be exemplary, available and trustworthy,” she said.

Welcoming the Bishops’ wives to Ibru Centre, Archbishop of Jos and Bishop of Yola, Most Rev. Marcus Ibrahim, said they were compelled to host the Retreat at Ibru Centre because of insecurities in the Northeast. He charged them to make use of the Ibru Centre for deeper meditation that connects them to the Lord for divine encounter.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Lai’atu Marcus, wife of the Archbishop of Jos, appealed to participants to take the programme seriously, so that they would do exploits, as they return to their various dioceses.

Earlier in a Holy Communion service, presided by the Archbishop of Jos and assisted by the Bishops of Bauchi and Langtang, Rector of Ibru Centre Agbarha-Otor and some clergy from Diocese of Ughelli, the Bishop of Langtang, Rt. Rev Stanley Fube, urged the women to be a blessing to their husbands and not destruction.

He underscored women’s great influence on their husbands, both negatively and positively, stressing that women are capable of bringing their husbands down or lifting them up.

He cited the Biblical stories of Eve, who made her husband to eat the forbidden fruit; Jezebel, who asked her husband: ‘Are you not the king over Israel’ oppress and act in impunity; Abigail, who intervened in the case between her husband and the king and the Shunamite woman, who convinced her husband to receive a prophet.

He said: “If testimony of your life can be shared by your husbands, children, clergy wives and parishioners, you are a virtuous woman.” 

Other speakers at the event include Rt. Rev. Dr. Olumuyiwa Ajayi (who led the Bible Study), Rt. Revs Prosper Amah, Godffery Ekpenisi, John Aruakpor, Foreman Nedison, Rev. Canon Dr. Alex Akpodiete (who gave a Health Talk), Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Odutemu (who did the exposition on the theme) and Ven. Dr. Princewill O. Ireoba, who gave the final charge.