…CAN urges politicians to lead with transparency, compassion
His Holiness, Pope Francis, on Wednesday advocated debt forgiveness for poor countries to enable the internationally indebted nations come out of the woods and develop.
This is just as the Methodist Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Rt Revd Dr F. A. G. Onoja urged Christians to be careful how they go about celebrating the New Year festivities.
He told the congregation that they need to embrace God and live without sins this new year in preparations for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
In his New Year Day service sermon at the Methodist Cathedral of Grace, Kubwa Abuja, Bishop Onoja who titled his message, “the great separation”, bemoaned how Christians in this generation take God with levity by “I don’t care attitude”.
He said “our dressing, good interpersonal relationships and living must portray us as Christians”.
Quoting extensively from Mathew chapter 25, Bishop Onoja said as much as it is good to speak in tongues, pray and miracles occured, Christians’ interpersonal relationships with fellow human beings matters a lot.
He then prayed for a year of abundance, prosperity and unstoppable manifestations for the congregants.
Pope Francis said this in his 2025 World Day of Peace message with the theme: Forgive Us Our Trespasses, Grant Us Your Peace, sent out annually on January 1 to encourage peace in the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Pope’s message was read by the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most. Rev. Alfred Martins, during a Mass to commemorate the day.
The event was marked at the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral in Lagos to promote peaceful co-existence.
The Pope said: “God does not weigh up the evils we commit; rather, He is immensely rich in mercy, for the great love with which He loved us (Ephesians 2:4).
“That yet He also hears the plea of the poor and the cry of the earth…”
According to him, hope overflows in generosity and it is free of calculation, making no hidden demands, with the aim of raising those who have fallen, heal broken hearts and set free those in bondage.
The Pope added: “At the beginning of this Year of Grace, I will like to offer three proposals capable of restoring dignity to lives, enable people to set out anew on the journey of hope.
“In this way, the debt crisis can be overcome and all of us can once more realise that we are debtors whose debts have been forgiven.”
Also, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday urged politicians to lead with transparency, compassion and accountability.
In a statement in Abuja, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said: “On behalf of the National Leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I extend heartfelt greetings to all Nigerians as we usher in the Year 2025. Despite the many difficulties we faced in 2024, including economic challenges and insecurity, we have witnessed God’s grace sustaining us as a nation. His mercy has brought us this far, and we trust that He will continue to guide us through the trials ahead…
“We also call on those in governance to lead with compassion, transparency, and accountability.”
Also, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said 2025 would be “a landmark year”.
Speaking during the RCCG crossover service, he said: “The wind that started blowing last year will continue to blow this year but stronger.
“Earthly helpers would be replaced by heavenly helpers this year. Mockers would be louder and more aggressive, but unfortunately, many of them will not survive the year.”
Also, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFMM) Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, predicted that the events of last year would dovetail into this year.
He urged everyone to offer more prayers to successfully wade through the New u.
In his Prophetic Window into the Year 2025, Olukoya described the new year as one of “strange battles” whereby those without glory would fight to upstage those with glory, when the dark stars would fight to eliminate the shining stars; the tail would want to fight the head; the thief would fighting the owner; those uncircumcised would like to eliminate the circumcised.
