BRIEF HISTORYOF THE OWERRI PROVINCIAL PRAISE /WORSHIP MINISRY

The ministry have been operating with the name band and singing ministry in the Diocesan

level of the catholic charismatic renewal of Nigerian. But in the year 2002 two members of the

ministry, Br Philip iroh

From Aba Dioceses and Sis Dr Benardeth Ubbaonu

Were sent to Ghana for the first Anglophone West African conference of the praise/worship

ministry. It was on their way home with other members from other dioceses and province in Nigeria that

the spirit of God, ministered to them the need to Change the name of this ministry and at last the name

praise/ worship ministry came to existence.

Following, back home in our province, election was held so as to have officers to run the affairs

of the new born baby and as God would have it, the following officers were elected to run the affairs of

this ministry for the first three years, namely:

Br Philip iroh------ Co-ordinator

Br Celestine onyeigwe ----- vice

Sis Benadeth Ubbaonu------- Secretary

Br Andrew ibeh

Bro Philip co-ordinated the affairs of this ministry until 2008 when another administration came

on board,with Sis Dr.B.Ubbaonu as the new co-ordinator.

Br. Bede Amadi ---- Deputy

Sis Perpetua okparachukwu-----secretary

Bro. imo Okoro---------vice secretary

Bro. Christian Ezewusi----- treasurer

Bro. Elendu Benjamin, Financial sec.

In 2011 sis Dr. Benadeth Ubbaonu was elected the provincial Chairman of the Catholic

Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria and another election was held that urshed in the following to co-

ordinate the affairs of the ministry for another three years

Br Bede Amadi- co-ordinator

Br Christian Ezewusi- deputy

Sis perpetual okparachukwu- sec

Br Imo okoro- vice secretary

Br Elendu Benjamin- fin sec.

Br Moses ekpo- Tresurer

Br Emeka ohazurike- pub sec.

Again, due to the National stipulation that elections in CCRN should be held in the same year,

Owerri province, as obedient children to the national authority.in the year 2013 instead fo 2014 had her

election and the following came on board.

Br Bede Amadi- co-ordinator

Br Christian Ezewusi- Deputy co-ordinator

Br Moses Ekpo- secretary

Sis Oluchi Eleberi vice secretary

Sis Pepertua Oparachukwu treasurer

Bro Emeka Ohazurike, Financial Secretary

Bro. Chinedu Iwuji, Publicity Secertary

Bro. Philip’s Administration tried in erecting or putting the structures and innauguration of this

ministry in different dioceses and prayer groups.it was not indeed an easy task, Sis Dr. Beneandeth

Ubbaonu’s regime tried also, it was her administration that saw the need for the Owerri provincial

Charismatic, to own a musica/PAS equipment,because previously during any of the provincial

conference or programmes, the province spends huge amount of money in hiring of musical

equipments, to curb this menance, the province at Orlu Diocesan conference in 2008 bought her own

musical\ PAS that cost them almost 3 million naira,being the first in the national charismatic to own a

musical\ PAS equipment, the Musical instrument was used at the 2009 national conference at Ubulu

Ukwu and at the last Onitsha provincial conference. Again as God would have it, it was still Dr.

Ubbaonu’s regime in the year 2012 that bought an 814 mercedes Make instrument van, worth nearly 2.

million naira and donated it to the Owerri Provincial CCRN. Infact the history and achievements of the

Owerri provincal Charismatic today will not be complete if our ministry is omitted.

To tell you our pioneers, this journey has not been easy, not withstanding the short period we

have been in existence in the province, we have made remarkable contribution to CCR in Owerri

province, we have not relented in the work and piloting the affairs of this Ministry, as been handed over

to us, we have kept the flame aflame, we have been having our workshops\ seminars, retreat, in

different Dioceses, visiting our sick and elderly ones, helping some of our member. Both spiritually and

otherwise.

As the church compliments the govts in developmental works, so to our ministry in the running of

the affairs in the province. This administration like the previous administration, in the year 2013 @ the

provincial retreat at Okpala bought an Sumec 3,800 capacity generator set and donated it to the PST

because those days during PST meetings at the temporary office, you see the excos sweating, fanning

themselves with invitation cards, but the ministry in their generousity thought it wise to get a genset,

the PST now holds their meetings comfortably, because the Generator generates light that powers the

electric fan inside the office.

Even at the national level we are not left behind,in 2011 national workshop of the national

praise\worship ministry competition, we came second, there has not been any national conference,

without us been fully represented, fully participation, we are not left out in Decision making at the

national level of C.C.R.N. because of the stuff we are made of. It will interest us to know that the

present national publicity secretary ( the image maker) of the national praise\worship ministry is from

our province I standing here with you. just like the CCRN in the province. this ministry have made the

province proud, to the extent that every national exco of this ministry never fails to honour any invitation

extened to them as you can see today, even our last provincial conference at Umuahia can testify to

this, we have really out ran some of the provinces that started before us both in material, spirituality

and otherwise,we pays our due, up to date at the national level of P\W ministry, we are always on top

we no dey come last, thanks to our predecessors.

Morally, we are not left behind,some people mistakes our cheerfulness, happines for canality,

No. we are the most cheerfull ministry so far as the CCR is concerned because its what you have that

you give while on stage. At the province we no dey carry last, their has not been any PST organized

programme that we didn’t fully participated,at Emii, Pastoral Centre, Okpalla, Name them ,we are the

only ministry that is owning the least amount of money “ Even if we are owning”. when it comes to

helping the PST, we are there for them,we goes to every assignment giving to us by the PST, Both

National, provincial, Dioceses and prayer group wise. Spiritually, we are challaged by the epistle of st

Paul, living a life worthy of our calling, we organizes Retreat/seminars from time to time, but some

people mistook our Seminars/Workshops for only coming to learn or play the instrument No, we like as

St Paul,said promels our Body and Brings it into subjection so that after singing we shall not be found

wanting.

Lastly as the ministry that carries first, we are here again today,as the 1st Ministry in the

Province, Even in the National to honour their prodeccessors.

Like I said in one of my books (The True Missionary. pape 84) “The missionaries who

Dedicated their lives in spreading good news should be adequately Honoured and reverenced” in the

same line the “missionaries” who laid down the foundation of this ministry and those who love our

Ministry should be“appreciated” Abi no be so , infact we have tried. How many lions will one kill to be

called “ogbu agu”.

Inspite of all these, we are faced with So man challenges, some of our members are still lacking

Behind, some of us are still living as if they are still in the world, But our prayers is that, before the end

of this programme the great God will turn us around for good.we are faced with the challenges, of

reaching our Brothesr and sisters in the Rural areas because of the Distance, it has really made it a

challenging task to us, at times we hire taxis, keke to take us to our destination, we have used the

Keke that belongs to one of us that at times we get stranded on the road.a journey that is suppose to

take us one hour,at time takes extra hours, because we go on public transport. we at times treck from

UBULU UKU town to the NSC, we are challenge at times seeing some other provincal ministries

coming to ubulu uku wit their private cars owned by the ministry, therefore I becomes on you today,

haven seen our light to help us procure a provincial evangelical bus that will help us take this

message to the grass rooot.

Once again we promise you that this light you people ignited will never go down God

helping us.

Compilled by

Br. Bede AMAdi

Provincial coodinator.

An address presented by Br. Bede Amadi, the Owerri provincial co-ordinator of praise/worship

ministry in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria. At the occasion of the ministry’s first Praise

summit at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri this day 10th -12th sept-2015.

His Grace most Rev.Dr Ajv. Obinna the metropolitan Bishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical

province

The cathedral adiministrator

The provincial chaplain

The provincial chairman of the CCRN in Owerri province and the national excos.

National officer of the CCRN with DSTE present

National executives of P\W ministry

Provincial executives of other ministries and wings

Representative of Government

Our Resource persons.

Brother and Sisters presents.

It is indeed my honour, with profound deep sense of responsibility and in reverence to God for

his overflowing blessing upon us that I joyfulyl welcome you all to this great gathering. The 1st.

Provincal praise summit of the owerri provincial praise/worship ministry of the catholic

charismatic Renewal of Nigeria.

It was after our provincial workshop at St Brigids Catholic Church Ahiara that the thought of

having such as a programme of such magnititude came into the mind of the present excos because the

present executive have been of the zeal of seeking for an avenue to work for God. We therefore

innaugurated the committee. though at first this program was tagged a conference. But with the

instruction from the Hierarchies, we were instructed that ministries are not allowed to hold a conference

as obedient ministry we changed the name to praise summit.

It has not been easy for my team, at a day we thought of calling it a day. But the epistle of

Apostle Paul in __________ strengthened me and my team the team of this programme did not come

as a surprise or mistake, when all others fail. the current situation of the country calls for a sober

reflection, the hope of the masses seems to be dashed, the human right, the Boko Haram menace.

People no longer sleep with two eyes closed, the Rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. It is at

the backdrop of these situations that God is telling all of us today that when all other fail. He will never

fail. Like one song composer wrote, Jesus Never fail 2x

The man and this world

Might fail you

But Jesus never fail

My brother and sisiter we have come to be touched by God in a different way, soaked with the

water from on High, we have come to say Lord, you are Hope, just like the woman with an issue of

blood in John. We should therefore allow God to touch us, allow the Holy Spirit to permeate in us,

empty ourselves, let us not allow our old self to remain with us. This is mount zion the dwelling place of

God, to some it may amaze them, how the praise/worship ministry gained entrance into this podium,

that is the really the beginning of good things that will start surprising us in Jesus name? Amen.

The world today is in a mess, just look a the president of American signing gay marriage into law

almost half of the earth is in one war or the other people running here and there for help but we are

here today to tell you, that when all others fail, Jesus will never fail.

Again we have come to sing/praise to our God, because St Augustine would say, he that sings

well prays twice.

I bet you before the end of your stay here, through praises, burdens will be lifted from someone

in Jesus name. Amen.

Because what 40days of fasting and prayer can not do. will be done today with 5 minutes of real

praise to God. Because when all other fail praise will never fail. The situation of our country need our

theme.

I want to thank in a special way the committee headed by Brother Emeka Ohazuruke.