The Genesis Of Anglican Children's Ministry (ACM) In Nigeria
In or around 1958, a group of boys who were of Anglican stock and we're serving their apprenticeship as traders, started gathering by the street corner, with the aim to having their night prayer together. The action of the group was mis-interpreted and mis-judged by their masters who made sure boys became a subjugated people.
There and then the group fizzled out. But as God would have it, in 1962 another group of boys emerged, this time determined to make it. They started with three boys and later increased to seven boys and we're led by Mr. Andrew Izuagba, a youth member from St. Andrew's Anglican Church Odoakpu Onitsha.
Their gathering place was at No. 2 Ogalonye street Odoakpu Onitsha. The pioneer members included M/s Andrew Izuagba, Mishark Onyeharam, Abel Udo, Edwin Amugo, Jonathan Anachuisi, Geoffrey Okafor, Edwin Eruchalu, Philip Ezeasouba, Japhet Chieseilim, Samuel Okpala-Olisa, Vincent Obichili and a lot of others. Many of them must have been attending church activities at their various villages before coming to Onitsha. But we're denied the freedom of participating in church programmes by their masters. The idea of gathering to pray by the street corner came up due to the fact that in those days servants were made to sleep in their masters stores/warehouses to guard against possible breaking of their stores by hoodlums.
Name for the group
It is natural that where two or three are gathered the next is the search for identify. In line with this belief, the group came up by 1963 with the name Anglican Store Boys Association (ASBA). Subsequent to that were held, Mr. Andrew Izuabga become the first leader of the association. While Mr. Edwin Eruchalu became the secretary. They establishef branches at Ogalonye street, Bright street, Moore, Okwei, Francis, Nottidge and Kano streets.
They gather by the street corners every night for prayers after they might have taken their supper and returned to their stores from different houses of their masters. They were receiving the much desired spiritual guidance from Rev. Canon Samuel Aguluefo.
The organization as the name implies, was an all boys association, however a girl by name miss Martian Ifemacho was courageous enough to identify with or join the group. As the group was developing over a period of time, people began to join, men and women also started encouraging the members and in the process of it, m/s C. C. Akpacha and G. E. Chukwudum were appointed patrons while madam Elizabeth Anwadike and madam Adigwe were appointed patronesses.
Mr. Godwin Nwosu was made organiser, m/s Geoffrey Ojukwu and Japhet Chiekeilim were made auxiliary leaders. They continued to grow from strength until 1966 hostilities which led to Nigeria - Biafra between 1967 - 1970.
Earlier before this time, the group had mapped out every first Thursday of the month when they would gather from different branches, marched to the church with songs for Night prayers.
It was This movements or social disposition that endeared the group. Of course God used it in attracting more people into the association. That is how what is known in the ministry today as "First Thursday " began.
ASBA after the civil war
When the war ended in 1970, those who survived the war returned to onitsha. Some people started organising ASBA centers again. Through the instrumentality of George I. Nlebedum and others, a new branch was opened at Emodi street, odoakpu, Onitsha in 1971. Followed by elections which brought mr. Gozie Okeke as the leader and Mr. Ohammuo Uwabunkonye became the secretary. From there ASBA branches started to emerge in fegge and its environs.
The women activists of the association in early '70.s remained madam Christiana Onyekwu known as "mama APA" and Mrs. Liliana Asiegbu popularly called "small madam" for the fact that she joined this group a very young woman. It would be recalled that the nickname "small madam" came from a security man who met them on return from one of the APA missionary trips to Aba. Their commitment to the work of the group actually paved way for the creation of mothers department, which Mrs. Christiana Onyekwu and Liliana Asiegbu headed as leader and secretary respectively. Inspite of their motherhood demands, they chose to swim or sink with the association and thereby became sources of inspiration to the group.
From ASBA to APA
Due to the growing need of the members of the society of the other sex and status to join association, the leader felt impelled to search for a more suitable, acceptable and accommodating name for the group, since the name ASBA had remained an impediment. By 1972, during one of the meetings of the organization at St. Mark's church Nnewichi Nnewi supervised or chaired by Rev. S. A. Akuwa, the name Anglican Store Boys Association (ASBA) was altered for Anglican Praying Association (APA). By this time boys girls, children, men and women have joined. Even some masters who were once sceptical of the group have joined.
The quest for recognition
The association being aware of the fact that the church has not given it official recognition and as such was left out of the scheme of things in relation to major church programmes. In any case, the leaders continued undaunted but not without serious effort to that effect. In addition to several efforts made, the organization under the lead of George Nlebedum and Emma M. C. Ogene as the secretary went to the Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. L. M. Uzodike in 1974 with the request that APA be given a spiritual director (Chaplain) for the members to feel officially recognised and accepted. To show his support, the bishop in his pastoral letter to the association said :
"That this young organization (APA) is the life wire of the church, given a place in the church " though the letter could not have significant change in the negative attitudes of some people towards the group, it went a long way in encouraging the leader in their quest for recognition.
A.P.A and the A.C.S.C.
The diocese of Aba what it called Anglican Catechism Study Class (ACSC). The group was doing a similar job to that of APA. Between 7th July 1973 - 1984, several attempts were made to get APA q ND ACSC operate under a common name. Several trips were paid to Aba ACSC by the diocesan APA officials led by Mr. David Ezeike on one hand, and other APA leaders on the other hand. Agreement was reached during one of such trips to work out modalities under which the issue of common and practice would come to fruition. Hence each party could not agree to drop its name for the other. The result of that assignment was over taken by events.
Chaplain for the A.P.A.
When bishop Uzodike retired, another bishop in the person of Rt. Rev. Dr. J. A. Onyemelukwe was consecrated and enthroned as the Bishop on the Niger. The executive committee (special committee then) took up the issue of the chaplain again to the new bishop. The leader solicited among other things, the diocesan assistance in writing to other dioceses on the importance of having APA in their diocese and appointment of a chaplain to the association.
The bishop casting his mind back to the high level of welcome accorded him by APA children on his return from Owerri where he was consecrated, made a firm promise of appointing a chaplain for them. He described APA again as the life wire of the church due to its membership which include children and youths. The chaplain he said would be a young priest that would match the youthful nature of the organization. He also said that the APA would spread to other towns and dioceses through its members who might die one reason or the other leave Onitsha for other parts of the country. Having studies the group for a period of time, he lived up to his promise by appointing in 1983, (Rev. T. I. Umeh) now Rev. Canon T. I. Umeh the chaplain. The appointment was received with joy.
A.P.A Goes National
The first and the only retreat conference organised under APA Niger diocese was held on 9th - 11th December, 1983 at DCC Nnewi. The following year 1984, national Conference of APA was first held at diocesan church Nnewi on 13th -15th July 1984. During the business hour of the conference a decision was reached to elect officers for the national body. Consequently, the following people were elected on 14th July 1984, as the first national officers of the association. They were Rev. T. I. Umeh president. 1st vice president Mr. David Ezeike, 2nd vice president Mr. Rufus Umealakei, secretary Mr. Kenneth Osy Nwadukwe, asst. Secretary, Mr. Nnamdi Okoli.
A.P.A gave way for A.C.M
By the reasons of implications, vision and astute, the leaders of the association in mid 80's started looking for a better name that would spell out the duties/vision of the association and for it to be easily introduced to other dioceses in the Anglican communion Nigeria, which often quarrel with the word "praying ", if it is really a ministry for the children.
They claim to have got praying group in their churches. In 1989, through the counseling of the retired bishop on the Niger Rt. Rev. Dr. J. A. Onyemelukwa and initiative of Rev. Canon T. I. Umeh, then the chaplain of APA, the Anglican Children's Ministry (ACM) came to be. Meanwhile the group adopted "watch and pray" as its motto early 70's and dropped it for "Catch Them Young For Christ " in late 80's.
Leadership vacuum
Between 1987 - 1989, there was leadership vacuum in the ACM Niger diocese. This was due to disagreement over the meeting on administrative matters of the ministry, the chaplain or the leader Mr. Osy Nwadukwe who was the leader then gradually and quietly bowed out on matters of principle.
Consequent upon that the office of the leader suffered a systematic abolition. In place of the leader Mr. Oliver Igwegbe on 5th February, 1990, was appointed by the chaplain as his assistant.
Mr. Oliver was to resign later on the ground of frustration. Around may the same year Mr. Francis Okpara was appointed special assistant to the chaplain by the chaplain. The members continued undaunted in their call for the restoration of the office of the leader. Until 21st February, 1993, at Ebenezer church Ogidi when elections were help and Mr. Ifeanyi Mbakwe was elected the diocesan leader. However, he was made to function as a ceremonial leader before 7th April 1995, when he took control of his duties as a leader.
A.C.M. A dynamic Ministry
As the ministry continued to evolve, its dynamism became obvious and in response to the challenge, the leaders, in addition to bold or giant strides taken in other areas and in different occasions created units, zones, urban areas for effective leadership/management. Departments were equally created to take care of the spiritual, physical, social and mental needs of the members. The music dept known then as "voice of APA" was able to produce album/cassettes for the ministry in the very 80's and the 3rd volume of such production was launched in 20th May 1984, at Christ Church Onitsha. Gigantic projects were embarked upon.
One of such projects was a church building destroyed in 1984 at Nkitaku by Buhari/Idiagbon regime, as the church building was "counted" among structures. ACM in the early 80's through the effort of old Onitsha urban became the 2nd group that bought gospel band in the whole Niger diocese that comprises Awka and Nnewi diocese.
Past Leaders and secretary
Leaders:
1962 - 1967 Andrew Izuagba
1967 - 1970 Nigeria - Biafra war
1970 - 1971 Fred G. Okeke
1971 - 1977 George Nlebedum
1977 - 1984 David Ezike
1984 - 1987 Kenneth Nwadukwe
1987 - 1989 Vacant
1990- (special asst. To the chaplain)Oliver Iguegbe
1990 - 1993 (special asst. To the chaplain) Francis Okpalla
1993 - 1999 Ifeanyi Mbakwe
1999 - Peter Azombe
Secretaries :
1962 - 1967 Edwin Eruchalu
1967 - 1970 Nigeria-Biafra
1970 - 1971 Ohammuo Uwabunkonye
1971 - 1986 Emma E. C. Ogene
1986 - 1993 Fredrick Okonkwo
1993 - 1999 Ositadimma Eze
1999- Emeka Nwabia
Summary
From the foregoing, what started like a mustard seed at No. 2 Ogalonye street, Onitsha about 58 years ago has grown to be a ministry to be reckoned within the church in particular and Nigeria general. From all indications what one has seen and heard of Anglican Children's Ministry (ACM) no doubt is designed and ordained by God.
To God alone be all the Glory
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