10/04/2026
๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฌ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐, ๐ฃ๐ต๐. ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ด๐ฌ๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐, ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ.
๐ง๐๐๐ ๐: "๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ" (๐๐ผ๐ต๐ป ๐ญ:๐ญ๐ฒ)
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐:
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Fathers and Mothers in the faith, my dear Colleagues in Ministry, our beloved Elders, youths, and the entire Presbyterian family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
On behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, her Trustees and the Principal Officers of the Church, I bring you greetings from the Throne of Grace in the name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit.
Today is not just another date on the calendar; it is a sacred milestone in the history of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. We are gathered here with hearts overflowing with joy to celebrate 180 years of Godโs unwavering faithfulness to us as a Church.
When we look back to that Tuesday, the 10th of April, 1846, when Rev. Hope Waddell and his team first landed the shores of Old Calabar to begin their mission work, we see a tiny mustard seed that was sown by faith, that has grown into a massive iroko tree whose branches have spread all over our nation Nigeria and beyond. To Him alone we return all glory and honour, now and forever more. It is through His grace alone that we have come this far. Our journey is a testimony of Godโs divine preservation, guidance and relentless flow of Divine Grace.
As John 1:16 reminds us, โFrom His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.โ For 180 years, we have constantly drawn from His inexhaustible well of grace, seeing us through all the challenging moments of our journey. In seasons where challenges abounded,
His grace abounded much more with us.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป (๐ญ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฒโ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ)
As I ponder on the faithfulness of God, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of gratitude to God as we gather to celebrate our 180th anniversary. Let us recall with deep reverence the courageous contributions of our missionaries and indigenous fathers whose sacrifices are the bedrock of our existence. We remember Rev. Hope Waddell, Hugh Goldie, the Edergleys, Rev. Anderson, Mary Slessor and our first indigenous minister, Rev. Esien Ukpabio and a host of others, who against all odds, left the comfort of their homeland to bring the light of the gospel to our shores. Presbyterianism in Nigeria would not be, if not for the sacrifices of these great men and women who laboured faithfully to lay the foundation that we are celebrating and enjoying today.
They endured hardship, disease, isolation and uncertainty, yet they remained steadfast and unmovable in order to better our future. Through their labours, the Gospel took root in our land, bringing transformation to lives, communities and institutions. What they planted by faith 180 years ago has flourished for our good and betterment today. We are proud to say that the little mustard seed that was planted has now become and Iroko tree in the comity of churches in Nigeria and beyond.
They did not just bring the Bible, they brought a blueprint that would transform and educate their converts in the new society. Through their labours, education became a right from the pioneering halls of Hope Waddell Training Institution to our hundreds of Primary and Secondary Schools today. Through education, we have liberated minds from the shackles of ignorance and produced eminent Nigerians, political leaders, technocrats, who are today contributing to our national development in various fields of endeavours.
In health care, healing became a Mission: our hospitals and clinics have continued to be sanctuaries of life, proving that the good news of the gospel cares for both the soul and the body.
Our believe in Priesthood of All Believers has moved us beyond the pulpit to the pews, commissioning Disability Champions and Lay Preachers, to ensure that the Gospel is inclusive, accessible, and devoid of barriers. Indeed, with a sense of modesty, we can proudly say that the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has evolved from a Mission Outpost into a Powerhouse of Reformed Heritage-guided by order, anchored in sound doctrine, and fueled by disciplined worship.
As we reflect on our journey so far, we cannot ignore the realities of our nation, Nigeria is currently facing many challenges, economic hardship, insecurity, persecutions, moral struggles and a growing indifference in spiritual truth. These realities also affect us and our mission efforts as a Church. Though there are fields yet unreached, communities yet untouched and hearts yet unchanged, we need to be steadfast in the faith and trust in the Lord always.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ:
As we celebrate the past, we must discern the call of the present. Grace is not just for preservation; it is for expansion. To this end, I lay before you our strategic focus for the coming years:
๐ญ. ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต
We are not a social club, we are not a political party, we are an Army of the Living God with a mandate to make disciples of all nations for Christ. Though we have impacted countless lives through our mission work and church planting, we will continue to intensify our desire for Aggressive Church Planting, Discipleship and Church Growth; aiming at our Church presence in every unreached corner of our nation and beyond. For this reason, spirit-driven revival programmes are encouraged to keep the fire burning in our pulpits. Our Ministers are encouraged to manifest their spiritual gifts fully within our Presbyterian ethos, seeking a Church that is not just numerically large but spiritually deep.
๐ฎ. ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ตโ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
A Church in debt cannot fully be a Church in mission. We are shifting from a culture of "levies" to a culture of Legacy Stewardship. We are prioritizing and resuscitating our two guest houses in Calabar and Aba that has been moribund for years. Work is in progress in establishing vocational centers across our Synods to empower our members and eradicate poverty within our fold. These projects will in future enable us be financially stable and independent. It is our desire also to strengthen the Mary Louise Archibald Legacy Foundation as this will further boost our financial base.
๐ฏ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Our youths are the live wire of the Church. We recognize that the "mission field" has moved into the "digital field." We are committed to creating high-tech vocational hubs and digital learning environments; providing platforms for youth leadership that recognizes their unique role in a 21st -century world. A Church that secures its youth, secures its future. We equally believe that the full realization of Hope Waddell University, a beacon of academic excellence will be of added advantage to the youths.
๐ฐ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น (๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐)
We are proud to be a Church where "all" truly means "all." We will continue to lead in disability-inclusive ministry, ensuring our infrastructure and our liturgy reflect the beautiful diversity of the Body of Christ. At this point, I also want to commend and encourage all Synods for their efforts, sacrifices and commitment in advancing the work of God in their various Synods. You have remained steadfast in preaching the gospel, nurturing believers and expanding the frontiers of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. I urge you to continue in love, diligence and faithfulness. Let our collaboration, support for one another and pursuit of shared vision, move the Church forward with renewed vigour.
To our ministers, Elders and members, I say this, the future of the Church depends not only on the structure but on the spiritual depth. Let us return to the essentials of our sound doctrine, fervent prayers, holy living and genuine love for one another. May our celebration today move us from reflection to action. The work ahead is great and the responsibility is ours. We must not grow weary, we must not lose focus, we must not abandon the mission. As the contributions of our forebears, transcended their own time and impacted our generation today, we must also strive to leave a legacy that will transcend our generation and impact the future generation.
In conclusion people of God, as we celebrate 180 years, our confidence is not in our history, but in our Helper. The same Grace that has sustained us from 1846 is the same Grace that will sustain us as we move on. The same Grace that built our first Chapel will build our future Universities. The same Grace that carried our fathers will carry our children. I believe with all my heart: Our best days are not in our archives; they are in our future.
I charge you all today to guard our oneness. Let us not allow our ethnic sentiments, tribalism, or personal ambition to destroy our unity. We reject the spirit of "divide and rule."
We are one body, one faith, one Presbyterian family.
Happy Presbyterians.... From Glory to Glory...From Glory to Glory, Happy Presbyterians
Happy 180th Anniversary!
Long live the PCN!
Grace Upon Grace โ Onward We Go!
Thank you, and God bless you all.
His Eminence, Dr. Ekpenyong Akpanika
๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ ๐พ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ก ๐ผ๐จ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ
