The Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Obimma Emmanuel, has said that several trials and tribulations he went through in the course of his ministry as a priest in the Lord’s vineyard helped to announce him to the world.
Speaking yesterday at the Holy Ghost Adoration ground, Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, during a Holy Mass to mark his ten years of priesthood, Fr. Ebube Muonso, who went emotional in recollecting his labour in the Lord’s vineyard since he was ordained in 2011, however, praised God for abundance of grace, which he said, saw him through all the trials.
“My ten years of priesthood was full of ups and downs; but God saw me through. His grace has been there for me. He has not left his servant in any step in this ministry,” Fr. Ebube Muonso said.
“Throughout these ten years; ever since I was ordained, the love of God – His mercy has been enormous. I am not oblivious of the fact that in life, one is bound to face challenges. I’ve really encountered challenges; but God has been there for me. Three times, there were assassination attempts to my life.
“In one of such attempts, bullets were raining on my body; but I was absorbing them like ice block. Up till today, it is still a surprise to many. In another attempt, I was with my personal assistant and driver in my car, when the assassins struck at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Umudioka. We came in late at night, and on arrival to the parish gate, assassins surrounded my car and opened fire; but we all escaped unscratched.
“Many said I have charms. That was the first blackmail. Whenever I travelled abroad, some would say I’ve gone to India to illuminate my power. I will also not forget the stampede that took place at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground in November, 2013. But all these challenges form the basis of my success stories,” he added.
Fr. Obimma, who also said God used his ministry to liberate different people from poverty, bareness, and sicknesses, also recalled how, in 2016, during his trip to Guangzhou, China, God used him to heal a Chinese business mogul suffering from terminal cancer, whose date of death was already confirmed by medical experts.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Willie Obiano, represented by his wife, Ebelechukwu, described Fr. Obimma as a “true man of God, who has left positive footprints in shepherding the flock as Catholic priest.
“Your ten years of priesthood have been of fruitful devotion to the Lord and His just will for our society. As you continue to minister before the ultimate priest with burden for the wellbeing of our state, we faithfully rejoice that God will receive your supplications and intercessions on our behalf,” Obiano said.
Anambra State president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prince Emeka Udodeme, said Fr. Ebube Muonso has deployed diverse competencies to the growth and development of the church through the sanctification of the people of God.
The ceremony was also attended by governorship candidates in the state, including Obiora Okonkwo (ZLP); Godwin Maduka (Accord); Charles Soludo (APGA); Andy Uba (APC); as well as church groups, community leaders, clergies, and others, who showered encomiums on him.