RURAL OUTREACHES AND SYSTEMATIC CHURCH PLANTING

One of the cardinal goals of the Chapel is to be an epicenter of revival and reaching out to souls- a project very dear to the heart of God. Thus soon after the dedication of the Chapel in 2008, the outreach committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Mr. Damian Duruewuru.

Amagu Ugbawka: Church and Vicrage:

After the initial survey of possible places of outreach-with emphasis on areas where the gospel had not penetrated much, the church went into Amagu Ugbawka in Nkanu East LGA, of Enugu State. The church went with the gospel, medical outreach and gifts of clothing. After the first outreach in February 2009, the church at Amagu Ugbawka was planted. She worshipped initially under canopies in a family compound, with Mr. Israel Eze as the church teacher. A consolidation outreach held in May 2009 further strengthened the church. By November 2010 the Chapel commenced the construction of a church building to save the worshippers from the vagaries of the weather.

Several visits were made by the various groups in the Chapel to encourage the brethren at Ugbawka. One of the most memorable was the visit by women fellowship in December 2010 where over fifty women members of the Ugbawka Church received a new Nigerian wax wrapper each in a service laden with the word of God and rededication to Christ. The construction of the church building which commenced in November 2010 was completed in May 2011.

The Lord Bishop, (now Most Rev. Dr. E.O. Chukwuma) dedicated the Mount Olives Anglican Church Amagu Ugbawka, as it was christened, on June 4, 2011. The Lord supplied the eleven (11) million naira needed for the project without any launch, appeal or levy to anyone. With the progressive growth of the church numerically, it became necessary for a resident priest to be posted to the church. This necessitated the building of a vicarage for the priest. On Saturday March 24, 2012, the Lord Bishop graciously dedicated the three bedroom parsonage of Mount Olives Anglican Church.

PIX Ugbawka Church and Vicarage

Isiogbo Nara: Church and Vicarage:

After establishing the station at Ugbawka the Chapel was further motivated to reach out to other hinterland areas, where there was evident need for the gospel. Thus in January 2011, through the help of Mr. Isaac Nwaneri (a missionary engaged by the chapel), the outreach committee located Isiogbo Community in Nara, Nkanu West LGA as, a fertile ground for the gospel.

The first outreach was held on 18^th February, 2011. The newly planted church was meeting in a primary school. A follow-up outreach was held in May 2011. In line with the vision of systematically discipling the congregation to growth in Christlikness, several follow up visits continued to the church. These visits included workers training, love feast, follow up visits and consolidation outreaches. All these helped to strengthen the faith of the new coverts.

The chapel again embarked on the construction of a modest place of worship at Isiogbo Nara. God, the matchless provider for all endeavours dear to his heart (i.e. winning souls for the Kingdom) miraculously- without appeals or owing a kobo to any quarter, raised eleven (11) million Naira for this building project.

The construction of the vicarage took off six months later, precisely on September 24, 2013.To enable the new priest posted and his family to settle in, the Lord Bishop dedicated the vicarage immediately on completion on December 19, 2013. It was a joyous occasion which recorded the presence of sixty two priests and one hundred and thirty indigenes of the village. The great provider has proved His word in time- tested tithes and freewill offerings of this largely student congregation and a number of supportive non-members for this work.

PIX Isiogbo Nara Church and Vicarage

Ime Ama Nomeh: Church Planting and Building

The church continued its surveillance to the hinterland to locate viable places for church planting. This time the outreach was to Ime Ama Nomeh in Nkanu West LGA, with a weekend outreach held from November 15-17, 2013. By Sunday, November 17, 2013 in a service officiated by Ven. Prof. S.O Ike, with fifty-six (56) indigenes in attendance, the Anglican Church at Ime Ama Nomeh was planted. Since there was no suitable public place like primary school, the church was located in a family compound, under canopies. The Chapel soon embarked on the construction of a worship place for the church at Ime Ama Nomeh.

After securing three plots of land, the construction of the church building commenced in March, 2014. As at date the building is virtually completed and ready for dedication, at the cost of thirteen million naira provided by the Lord of Harvest. The young congregation, under Bro. Mike Ezeude, as the church teacher, has been growing numerically and spiritually as the members continue to see the love of God at work. They average more than fifty (50) in attendances now.

Indeed, the Works Committee of the Chapel under Sir. Steve Okeke (then) and currently under Engr. Osita Ezeadi, has modeled faithfulness and dedication to God in all these construction works. May the Lord bless them abundantly.