Christ The King Catholic Church Honours Moses Ekpo With Ambassador Of Faith Award

By Timothy Ekpo

IKA

The Akwa Ibom deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, has bagged the distinguished Ambassador of Faith award from Christ TheKing Catholic Church (CKC), Efen/Ikot Okoro, as the church marked its Silver Jubilee anniversary.

 Other awardees included the Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, Most Revd Camilus Umoh, who was honoured with the Good Shepherd award; the parish priest, Very Revd (Fr) Michael Essien, who bagged the Eti Asanga Utom award, while the chairman, Ika Local Government, Engr Malachi Ukpeh, got the Odudu of the Parish award.

 Giving his remarks at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the church, the state deputy governor thanked the laity council of the church for the honour done him with the award of an Ambassador of Faith.

 Ekpo said he had every reason to be part of the silver jubilee anniversary of Christ The King Catholic Church, Efen/IkotOkoro, because 25 years back, he was part of the mass which marked the inauguration of the church.

 The deputy governor explained that Ika people had been so dear to him as the traditional institution of the area had conferred the title of “Nde Uyio Ika,” on him several years ago, while the Ambassador of Faith award, was another honour bestowed on him by the church in Ika.

 He told the congregation that all his life he had tried to live up to the expectation of being the voice of Ika and the expectation was buttressed by the fact that he was an in-law in Ika, adding that the relationship had endeared him to be very close to people of the area and the church.

 Ekpo congratulated the church on its Silver Jubilee celebration and for sustaining its religious obligations in the area, stressing that it was unique that 25 years after its creation, CKC was still conducting weddings, confirmations, first communion and still evangelising to bring children and other categories of persons to Christ.

 He commended the Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, Most RevdCamilus Umoh, for promoting peace in Ika Parish and IkotEkpene Diocese.

 Ekpo stated that for CKC, Efen/Ikot Okoro to recognise the sterling qualities of the Bishop, and conferred the Good Shepherd award on him, was in recognition of the excellent work done by him to ensure the growth and unity of the diocese.

 He applauded the organisers of the event for accomplishing the Silver Jubilee anniversary task, while also appreciating the newly wedded couples and the choir as well as donated towards the church fencing project.

 The president, CKC Laity Council, Cate. Augustine Akpan, said the Ambassador Of Faith Award, conferred on the deputy governor was in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the church and humanity.

 The chairman, Ika Local Government, Engr. Malachi Ukpeh, who traced the history of the church to the period of crisis in the parish, said the silver jubilee anniversary was the celebration of the institution of peace into the body of Christ and commended the Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, Most Revd Camilus Umoh, for promoting peace in the parish.

 Ukpeh urged the people of Ika to desist from acts capable of truncating the needed peace and unity in Ika Local Government.

In his homily, Most Revd Camilus Umoh urged the congregation on the need to propagate good relationship with God in order for them to receive blessings.