By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has announced plan to honour late Rev Uma Ukpai alongside other eminent scholars with an award for excellence within the fold of PFN and beyond, during its 40th Anniversary celebration across the 36 states and Abuja beginning from 19th of this month in Lagos.
PFN National Resident and Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries International, Bishop Francis Wale Oke disclosed this while interacting with journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Oke said that late Rev Ukpai whom they noted as one of the founding fathers of PFN with over 65 million followers all over the world, would be honoured with a Posthumous Award.
The National President represented by the National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare of the Jesus Is Life World Outreach Ministries, Kaduna, described late Ukpai as a trailblazer, a wonderful gift of God, not only to the church, not only to our nation, but to the entire world.
He said the 40th Anniversary birthday of PFN with a line up of programmes, is planned to be a reflection of late Uma Ukpai’s legacy while on earth, who he regretted, was billed to be the only speaker at the event but for his death.
The PFN also said that as the national delegation of PFN, they were in Uyo to officially announce the home call of Rev Uma Ukpai, affirm the news and to comminserate with his family and indeed the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“The PFN is 40 and we’ve lined up a programme for the 40th Anniversary, beginning from 19th of this month in all our states nationwide, to celebrate the Anniversary. On the 23rd of this month at the Redemption City Old Arena, that celebration will also hold. It has to hold in Lagos as a national base, because it was the crusade of our father, Pa Uma Ukpai, that was held in Lagos that gave birth to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. And so we cannot hold a 40th year Anniversary in any other place except first in Lagos.
It’s a historic location and event.
“Our father, Pa Uma Ukpai, was scheduled to be the only speaker on that occasion. And then the news broke out that on the 6th of this month, Baba went to be with the Lord. Our National President immediately visited Mama Uma Ukpai and the family and commiserated with them, encouraged them, prayed with them, but decided that when they come back home to Uyo, the PFN national leadership should send a delegation to welcome them, to commiserate with them, and to officially, bring a word of greetings and encouragement to the family as a fellowship.
“The PFN wishes to officially announce, not from Lagos, not from Abuja, but from the home base of Baba, to the world that we actually confirm that our father has gone to be with his Saviour, whom he loved so much, and who loved him so dearly. We are standing here today to address the world officially as one of the main works that Baba did on the face of the earth.
“He was an icon of great value. A trailblazer, a wonderful gift of God, not only to the church, not only to our nation, but to the entire world. And the PFN celebrates our father. We expected that he would be the main preacher at the celebration at the event, and now that he’s not here, we decided that we’re going to make this 40th Anniversary a celebration of all Baba’s good works while he was here with us. So, on the 19th, being Sunday of this month, all the 36 states of Nigeria plus the FCT will hold a thanksgiving service and an award service to celebrate all icons who have been of great blessings to the PFN. And of course, in all the 36 states plus the FCT, Baba will be officially celebrated.
“It will be a dinner and an award night. Eminent Nigerians will be given an award to appreciate, all that several persons have done within and beyond the Pentecostal fold for our nation. At that service again, Baba will be celebrated, and be given an award posthumously,” Bishop Oke said.
It would be recalled that 40 years ago, Rev Uma Ukpai of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Outreach organized a crusade in Lagos which later brought about the birth of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, now growing to have over 65 million membership globally. The 40th Anniversary celebration in his honour, is noted as a thoughtful idea by PFN, Oke noted.
