Already, on the 5th of December 2025, when all Apostles gathered for the funeral service of our late brother and friend, Bishop Udombang, our Lead Apostle, Oscar Nwanza utilized the occasion to request all six Apostles in the southern part of Nigeria to direct their choir leaders to prepare their choristers for a combined Music concert in Uyo in January, 2026. The Music concert, he explained, will be one of the events organized to commemorate District Apostle Michael Ehrich’s last ecclesiastical visit to Nigeria, ahead of his retirement sometime in June, 2026.

That motivational encounter with our beloved Lead Apostle lightened our heavy hearts because of the loss and was carried forward to Apostle Area central youth choir masters of The South-Central, South-West, South-East, South-South, Mid-East and East-Central on our return from the funeral trip. Immediately, preparations were set in motion for this unique music concert, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The enthusiasm, with which the choir leaders worked, sent ripples across the country and even some Apostle Areas that were not officially invited sent their representative to go and witness it. One of such was the South Apostle Area who sent two delegates and eventually joined in the combined choir presentation at the concert.

On the 13th of January, after a Divine service conducted by the out-going District Apostle and supported by the In-coming District Apostle but now District Apostle Helper, Martin Rheinberger, in Ikot Ekpene, with both Active and retired Apostles and their spouses arrived around 12noon to a well-organized music concert hall with choirs arrayed in colorful attire. The surprise was the presence of young children from The Child’s Right And Rehabilitation Network, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, arrayed in their school uniform with poppy eyes filled with excitement, also seated as a choir: Sight that visibly moved our District Apostle.

Apart from the choirs in their arrays, 1200 audience from all age brackets filled the hall: The District Apostle and his entourage took their seats as first role of audience, all facing the choirs.

Immediately after the District Apostle and his entourage took their seats, the Multi-choir and Program Coordinator, Ofonime James, called the hall to order and asked the District Apostle to please open the Concert with a word of prayers. Thereafter, each choir was moderated to make their presentation. Each presentation received very loud ovation. The climax was the combined choir presentations of (Gloria in Excelsis) and Hallelujah chorus by J.F. Haendel, classically conducted by (Shepherd Mike Melody) and Priest Uko Eyo respectively, to a thunderous ovation.

District Apostle expressed deep gratitude, urging all to remain in faith till we meet again. He asked the District Apostle Helper to say the closing prayer. The Concert ended at about 2pm.

District Apostle managed to find his way into a waiting car to take him to the airport as throngs of youths pressed on to sing farewell songs, take selfies and touch him, as it were, for the last time