Prayers for Peace in Mbengwi Intensified as Bullets Rain

Prayers for Peace in Mbengwi Intensified as Bullets Rain

The 2018 International Day of Peace was commemorated last Friday September 21st. Recognized by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1982, it is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people. The theme for this year was "The Right to Peace - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70". In its Article 3, it states that "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person". These elements build the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

To mark the day, some denominations organised weeklong activities that ended last Sunday September 22nd 2018. At P.C.C Njembeng Congregation in the Meta Presbytery of the N.W region, Christians attended service with peace plants. Reverend Epie Mark K. is the parish pastor. "You know we live at a time when we are in dire need of peace and the Moderator of the P.C.C organised a week of prayers for peace. We have been praying for peace in our land and our nation. This week of prayers culminated with a special church service today to pray for peace because we see that our brothers and sisters are dying, they've fled their homes, our land has been deserted and we think that only God can restore us back to our past glories. We can only cry to him because he is the prince of peace" he said.

Christians With Peace Plants in Church During Service

It should be recalled that on Thursday June 7th 2018, a college of clergy men in Mbengwi in collaboration with the Momo administration under the stewardship of the Senior Divisional Officer, Absalom Monono Woloa organised a special ecumenical service dubbed "Our Choirs Sing for Peace". Since then till date, but for a few exceptional cases of military and separatist fighter's excesses, the town of Mbengwi is reported to have fortunately been enjoying relative peace, compared to other areas. To the Reverend Epie Mark, it's a clear prove that God answers prayers. Hear him, "For sure our God is a God who always says Yes and Amen, our God is a God who never lies. He has assured us that his peace he gives to us and so we are very confident that God is using even us here in Mbengwi to prove to the world that he is a God of peace and we pray that we experience better peace than we have experienced so far, God being on our side"

While others have been focusing all their attention on prayers 24/7, the presbyterian church believes prayers precede action. It is for this reason that the church has been reaching out with humanitarian support to Internally Displaced Persons in Cameroon and refugees in Nigeria brought about by the ongoing anglophone crisis. Put together by Christians of the P.C.C through its local congregations and supported by partners like The Methodist Church of England and Mission 21, the donations in cash and materials like medication, dresses, mattresses, food and other equipment are being handed to victims irrespective of their religious inclinations.

 A similar exercise is to be conducted by P.C.C Njembeng in the days ahead reason why the parish pastor called on all I.D.Ps within the congregation to get registered so as to benefit irrespective of age for the items have been classified for persons between 0-4 years, 5-11, 12-17, 18-59 years and 60 years and above. As Rev. Epie Mark put it, "The church first took the initiative even before the government because we have to be one another's keeper, we have to be brothers and sisters in the Lord, taking care of the needs of one another. And so as a church, we felt the need to meet the needs of our own brothers and sisters who have lost properties, who've lost homes and are displaced, living in other people's lands and houses. We thought the only way we could meet them is to give a generous hand to them. The government has just come behind us and we cannot condemn such a gesture because it is in the one hand to meet the needs of the people but what we demand so strongly from the government is justice and that the powers that be should look into the situation and solve it from the roots for us to live in peace." he ended.

Rev. Epie Mark K. Parish Pastor, P.C Njembeng

Drawing his text from Galathians 5:13-5, the officiating minister at the service focused his sermon on Christian freedom during which he said Christianity is the only true democracy. Barely six days after the service, it rained bullets in Mbengwi when separatist fighters attacked the gendarmerie and police posts in Mile 18, the heart of the sub division. The military, charged with securing territorial integrity succeeded to chase the attackers away.