May 27, 2022 is a day set aside to celebrate the children. Children in South, South Central, East Central and West Nigeria were not left in this year celebration! There were various activities and programs in different congregations across the Areas.
Activities included: cultural displays/dances, songs, poem recitations, bible recitations, drama, individual talent shows, visit to entertainment and event centres in their districts.
A prayer for children to know and understand God’s thoughts and ways
In Benin North District (Nifor Congregation) and South District (Ogiemwenken Congregation), the children paid a visit to Ogba Zoo for picnic. The Area Apostle (Apostle Odili) message to children in the area was based on the words of prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) Knowing that the thoughts and ways of God are without limit and unsearchable makes one humble before Him.
The creator of the universe is honest with His children; He is open and transparent and tells us what we need to know about His nature. One of the big differences between God and His children is that His thoughts and ways are not the same as ours. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). In all, God has revealed His thoughts and ways to us in the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…
In the West Area, Apostle Nwanza began his children’s day celebration in Island District at Ibeshe congregation and this was followed by the Lagos East and Ibadan districts…
For the children’s day message, the Apostle used Luke 22:45-46 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
The Apostle said: Prayers help, when we pray to God we talk to Him. We can tell God anything in our prayers.
He went on to say that God can comfort and help us by sending us kind people.
Our prayers are important because they help us to stay in touch with God.
We look ahead and are not afraid of the future.
To capture the attention of the children, the Apostle asked the children what prayers they know and the different postures we have for prayers.
He asked the children to say our lord’s prayer together and told them that they could also say that prayer on their own.
The Apostle was so touched when he asked the congregation if any child could recite psalm 23; to his greatest surprise almost all the children raised up their hands to recite it and when he called one to say it, it was an excellent thing to witness… A five year Sunday school boy recited Psalm 23 with so much confidence to the amazement of all present…