Contrary to the wild speculations that the Cleric of the African Church, Rev’d Richard Peters was sacked by the Church and barred from mounting the pulpit to minister, the African Church has confirmed the falsehood of the speculations by reinstating Rev’d Peters to continue in his ministry as a Reverend in the African Church.
Rev’d Peters who took to his Facebook page recently to announce his reinstatement, explained that he was not sacked by the African Church, but was only suspended for a short while, to enable him make amends on some of his unnecessary social media writeups and comments, which according to the church council, did not go down well with his position as a Reverend in the church.
Rev’d Peters who is also a journalist and a public affairs analyst/critic, appreciated The African Church for the discipline, which he said has moulded his life and has enabled him to be his best in the Ministry. He however pledged his resolve to carry out his professional duties as a journalist and continue to act as a watchdog of the society, to hold government accountable to the people, without being offensive.
In his article titled: GOD USED MY BISHOP TO SAVE ME, which he posted on his Facebook page, Rev’d Peters explained:
“For 3 months I was kept out of the pulpit due to my all political utterances and abuses to some persons all in the name of good governance advocacy. In the process of being outspoken, my priesthood mantle was questionable, the denomination I belong was ridiculed, the Christian community in general was abused.”
” Yes, to be a good governance advocate is not bad, in fact we should all reason together and become a voice to the voiceless but mine was too much full of flaws. In my own way I thought that life is all about the way you talk, abuse or insult people not knowing that there is more to live than to die shamelessly. Though I still hold to my opinion as a citizen of a country and a priest in God’s vineyard but there are ways I should go about it, not necessarily jumping to the discussion of every Tom and Dick, that even the party and people I support sometimes feel ashamed to privately and publicly identify with me.”
“As a man versed with the responsibility of handling the word of God, people both members and non members of my denomination expected to see that godly fragrance from the in and outside of me that even if I should comment on issues, I should be objective enough to drive home my point, due to some uncontrollable utterances, I mudsling that trust and my name and my Reverendship was a doubt to so many many people.”
” In this life, many are deceived into thinking that true enjoyment is provided by the things of the world—money, comforts, position, or power. But the enjoyment these things provide is temporary and fleeting.”
” Politics is not bad but the approaches which people used in playing it suggest evil and we (Christian) should not shy away from politics rather we should invest our ideas into the political development and according to the roles. My church did the right thing by placing me on a condition to see if I could at least retrace my action especially on political issues for the sake of my life, the Church and my family.”
” Though so many people misinterpreted the whole thing, some even spread false information that I have been sacked, when actually I was temporary relieved of my duty post. In that period of my temporal relief from duty post, I saw hell, my house was like a desert to me, though I talk to people on daily basis yet right inside me I knew that all is not well, a greater part of my life was taken away from me, no amount of money would have been enough, no other work would have been okay in replacement with the Lords work. I came to realizing that before I ventured into studying journalism, I had a call, so abandoning that call amount to disaster. I cried, pleaded God for mercy and while trying to curtail my commentaries, lo! Behold one day, I received a call that I have been pardoned, that I have been reinstated in my duty post.”
” My joy was restored, I am now a living soul, my heart rejoice because my primary point of duty has been restored.”
Rev’d Peters appreciated the Diocesan Bishop of African Church Uyo Central Diocese, Bishop James Bamidele, for the step he took to save him, stressing that God brought him to Akwa Ibom State for his sake, to save him from the shame.
“My bishop who I happen to call my father is indeed a good man, the step he took, saved me, God really used him to save me, in fact he came to Akwa Ibom State because of me, there is no better way to express my gratitude than to Say Thank you!!! I’m grateful. there is no better way to express my gratitude than to Say Thank you, I’m grateful”, Rev’d Peters said.
The Reverend promised to continually serve the Lord, and allow his (God’s) will to prevail in his life.
Rev’d Peters used the medium to advise those who mocked him during his period of distress, never to look down on anyone who makes mistakes in life, but should always lend a helping hand to a sinking soul.
