As Christians across Nigeria joined the global community to celebrate Easter this year, amidst hardship, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on citizens to embrace hope and look unto God.
In his Easter message on Monday, the PFN’s national president, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, emphasized the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection as a symbol of victory over despair, urging believers to remain steadfast in faith and love.
According to him, Nigerians should look to Jesus Christ for hope and strength in the face of the country’s current challenges.
Bishop Oke noted that Easter was a celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and a reminder of God’s unwavering love for humanity.
He stated that Christ’s triumph over death is a source of encouragement for Nigerians grappling with various crises.
“Easter is a powerful reminder of God’s unfailing love… and the promise of hope even in our darkest hours,” he said.
Addressing the ongoing insecurity plaguing the country, especially in Plateau and Benue States, the PFN president decried the persistent killings and displacement of citizens.
He stressed that the message of the risen Christ was especially relevant in a nation “Facing persistent security threats, mass killings, and deep economic hardship.”
He encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, emphasising that the nation could overcome its tribulations just as Jesus overcame the grave.
Oke, who acknowledged the immense pain many Nigerians were enduring due to food insecurity, joblessness, and violence, urged citizens, particularly Christians, to hold on to hope and resist being overwhelmed by despair.
“Our faith must remain resilient, our love for one another steadfast, and our prayers ceaseless,” he said.
He charged the Church to step beyond its spiritual duties and actively support communities through acts of compassion, justice, and solidarity, saying, “Let our hands be instruments of peace, our voices advocates of justice, and our hearts vessels of grace. “He called on Christians to reflect Christ not just in words but also through their actions.
