Some Ministers Have Disappointed God– Ebonyi Cleric

A newly ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of God, Abakaliki, Rev. Ezekiel Mbam-Nkwegu, has expressed displeasure over the conduct of some ministers in Ebonyi State, stating that many have disappointed God by failing in their spiritual responsibilities.

Rev. Mbam, who made the remarks while addressing newsmen shortly after his ordination's ceremony in Abakaliki, described his journey into ministry as a long awaited fulfillment of destiny. “It was not an easy journey, but today God made it possible, and I thank Him for what He did, what He is doing, and what He will do. Since 1997, I had desired to be a minister in the Nigeria Reformed Church, but what I termed administrative bottlenecks and church politics pushed me out. But today, I am a minister. A call is a call, and it cannot be jettison,” he said.

On the commercialization of the gospel, the cleric frowned at the growing trend of prosperity driven sermons, insisting that his calling is rooted in preaching Christ and His crucifixion. “This assignment is a tasky one, especially in this present day ministry. I don’t commercialize the message of Christ. Where I am, some don’t see me as being in vogue because I don’t preach prosperity or magic in the pulpit, but the Word of God is my foundation, and I don’t intend to change that,” he maintained. He acknowledged his mentors, including Rt. Rev. Chidi Igwe, Bishop of the Presbyterian Church of God, and Bishop Ikeakor, whom he described as ministers committed to biblical truth.

On the role of religious leaders in society, Rev. Mbam lamented that some ministers have failed to speak truth to power. “Some ministers have failed the church and failed God. Our call is to preach the word undiluted and to tell the government the truth where they are not getting it right. We are not called to paint issues. Even though I have never met the Ebonyi state governor one-on-one, I commend his efforts in certain areas especially in chastising appointees doing wrong and praising those doing well before their faces, but there is still room for improvement because much is expected from him,” he said.

Other speakers at the ordination, including Rev. Izuchukwu Orji Ibiam, Associate Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Azuiyiokwu Model Parish, described the event as excellent and a testament to Rev. Mbam’s passion and commitment to God’s work. The minister’s wife, Mrs. Scholarstica Monica Mbam, also expressed gratitude, recalling the family’s two decade long struggle to reach the milestone. “Today is a great day. We have been fighting for about twenty years to get to this place. The road has not been easy, but God has made it possible,” she said, urging Christians not to measure themselves by wealth but by faith in God. Similarly, Mr. Mbam David, a Senior Community Health Worker at Sudan United Missionary Hospital, Onuenyim Agbaja, praised his younger brother’s resilience and dedication, praying for God’s protection upon his ministry. Rev. Ezekiel Mbam Nkwegu, who hails from Onuenyim Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area, is the first Izzi man to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church of God in Ebonyi State.