The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Christian community under the aegis of the NCC Christian Fellowship (NCCCF) recently organised its annual End of Year Thanksgiving and Christmas Carol to thank God for a successful and prosperous year, and to seek divine guidance for the year 2022.
The event, which took place at NCC’s Annex Office, Mbora District, Abuja, members revealed in the glory of a successful year 2021 through rendition of soul-lifting and praise worship through special carols that resonate with and symbolize the Christian culture of celebrations at Christmas. It was a happy moment and fun-filled occasion for all members of the Fellowship and their guests who came to the chapel to partake of the celebrations.
In his exhortation, the President of the Fellowship, Mr. Yakubu Gontor, thanked the congregation for attending and freely participating in the activities. He emphasised that the main purpose of the 2021 Carol Service at the Chapel, as it is the tradition, was to give thanks to God for His faithfulness and protection throughout the year 2021. Gontor said, the end of the year is usually marked by bliss, peace and good tiding for humanity, and prayed that the reason for the season shall continue to glow, manifest and abide in the lives of all the attendees and the Commission.
The Board Chairman, Professor Adeolu Akande, who was unavoidably absent had earlier transmitted a message to the Fellowship, expressing delight at the organisation of the carol and thanksgiving service, describing the season as a time to express love to everyone and to build social solidarity among all members of the society, irrespective of faith, in order to our country a better place for all.
Delivering a sermon at the event, Pastor Olarewaju Osho, who focused his message on, Divine Restoration, anchored his preaching on the Holy Scriptural texts in the Books of Matthew 1: 20-23, and Joel 2: 21-27. He urged all Christians to continue to emulate Christ, and to be thankful. Osho, implore the congregants to see the centrality of thanksgiving in Christian life and assured them that The Almighty God shall restore all that the enemies have stolen, because Christmas is also a period for Divine Restoration. He also thanked the NCC Christian Fellowship for organising the Christmas Carol in a successful and impressive manner.
The event was also marked by observance of solemn quiet moment and prayer for the repose of the souls of Alhaji Ahmed Joda and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye former Chairmen of the Commission’s Board, as well as Dr. Eugene Juwah, a former Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. The three distinguished personalities died in the second half of the year 2021.
The arrival of Mercy Afolabi, a gospel singer and entertainer marked a climax of the event, the dynamics of the celebrations heightened as attendees danced to the highly entertaining music. The occasion also featured exchange of gifts, merry making and prayers for God’s protection for the staff of the Commission, their loved ones and the country in general.
