LENT: A SEASON OF RETURN, RENEWAL, AND NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION By Bishop Evans Onyemara, PhD General Secretary, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN)
As we enter the sacred season of Lent, I bring warm greetings to Christians across Nigeria and beyond.
Lent is a solemn and spiritually significant period in the life of the Church — a forty-day journey of reflection, repentance, prayer, fasting, and renewal as we prepare our hearts for the glorious celebration of Easter.
Lent is not merely a religious observance or ritual tradition. It is a divine invitation — a call to return to God wholeheartedly.
The Prophet Joel declares, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12). This call remains relevant today. In a world burdened with fear, injustice, division, economic hardship, and insecurity, God is summoning His people to deeper consecration and spiritual awakening.
A Call to Personal Transformation
Lent challenges each of us to examine our lives honestly before God. It is a time to: Repent of sin and seek genuine forgiveness, Reconcile broken relationships, Renew our commitment to prayer and the study of Scripture, Practice sacrificial giving and compassionate service, Cultivate humility, obedience, and righteousness
True fasting is not merely abstaining from food; it is turning away from pride, bitterness, corruption, and injustice. It is allowing God to transform our hearts so that our lives reflect Christ more clearly.
A Call to National Reflection
As a nation, Nigeria stands in need of healing, unity, and divine intervention. Lent offers the Church an opportunity to intercede fervently for our country — for peace in troubled regions, wisdom for our leaders, integrity in governance, economic stability, and social harmony.
The Church must remain the moral compass of society, speaking truth with love and standing firmly for justice and righteousness.
Lent reminds us that spiritual renewal precedes societal transformation. If we humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways, He has promised to hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
A Journey Toward Hope
Lent ultimately leads us to the Cross — and beyond the Cross to the Resurrection. It is a journey that begins with repentance but ends in victory. The sacrifice of Christ assures us that suffering is not the end of the story. Redemption, restoration, and hope await those who remain faithful.
As we walk this Lenten path, let us do so in unity as the Body of Christ. Let us demonstrate love across denominational lines and embody the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ “that they may all be one.”
Final Encouragement
I encourage every Christian family, congregation, and community to observe this season with sincerity and devotion. Let our fasting produce compassion. Let our prayers birth revival. Let our repentance lead to transformation.
May this Lenten season purify our hearts, strengthen our faith, and prepare us for the triumph of Easter morning.
May God bless you, bless His Church, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Amen!
Bishop Evans Onyemara, PhD is the General Secretary Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN). He is a Bishop of Nigeria’s Premier Church – Methodist Church Nigeria.
