Amidst growing concern over the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti West, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Rufus Adepoju, has assured Nigerians that the disease will soon be history.
Adepoju urged members of his diocese, residents of Ekiti State and Nigerians in general not to panic but draw closer to God at ‘this trying period’ as they obey government’s stay-at-home order and observe other precautions.
Giving his charge via a video posted on the verified Facebook account of the Diocese of Ekiti West, Adepoju stated that people have not lost anything by obeying all the lawful directives given by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Quoting from Psalm 57:1, Adepoju said everybody must make God their refuge at this challenging period as they worship in private homes due to current suspension of physical church programmes to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The senior priest called on Christians not to be downcast by the prospect of not gathering together to celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter.
Adepoju said: “I want to encourage everybody both old and young that we shall all overcome this period. I believe that this pandemic will soon become history and it will definitely go away but let us be more closer to God.
“We may not have the privilege of gathering together in the physical temple but our body is the temple of God and we should keep on using it to serve God wherever we are.
“Each family should gather together in the morning and in the evening to worship God and pray to Him. The fathers at home are the priests and mothers are their supporters.
“God Himself knew that this problem (Coronavirus) would come, David knew that problem would come but we shall all overcome. You and your family will not be consumed by it.
“I want to admonish everybody to obey every order and directive given by our government by staying at home, washing our hands with soap under running water, use sanitisers on our hands, observe social distancing and other things we have been told to do.
“When you obey the authorities, you have not lost anything; it is even a time of rest for us and it offers an opportunity for us to pray more than ever before.
“There is no reason to panic, this pandemic will not consume us. When your time has not come, no death can claim your life.
“All these will soon become history and we will tell our future generations that at a period, no services were held in churches as a result of Coronavirus pandemic.
“Coming Sunday is the Palm Sunday, the next one is the Easter Sunday. If we can’t gather in our churches, that doesn’t stop us from celebrating in our private homes to thank God.”