Posted by By PETER ANOSIKE on
Arch Bishop G. A. Essien, a co-founder of the Christ Army Church of Nigeria, who died recently has been described a man used by God to solve human problems. According to Rev. Cannon P. I. Dibie, the minister in charge of Abuja branch of the church, God used Essien to perform a lot of miracles.
Arch Bishop G. A. Essien, a co-founder of the Christ Army Church of Nigeria, who died recently has been described a man used by God to solve human problems. According to Rev. Cannon P. I. Dibie, the minister in charge of Abuja branch of the church, God used Essien to perform a lot of miracles.
"Essien was a man filled with the holy spirit", he said, adding that it was his miracle that made the church to get a land where they first built their church in 1944.
Dibie told Saturday Sun that while Essien was living in Isoko, the child of a chief of the town died and Essien was called to pray for her. According to him, after the prayer the girl rose.
He said that the chief gave a portion of land to Essien to show appreciation for what he did for him. "Rev Essien used that land to establish a church and called it Our Saviours. That was how Christ Army Church started in Lagos in 1945".
Dibie said the vacuum created when the founder of the church, Gary Braide, died was perfectly filled by Essien. Braide had broken away from the Anglican Church.
"On the first day of his church service when he broke away from Anglican Church over 2,000 people attended. He healed the sick and performed many other miracles. When he died the power was transferred to Rev. Essien, just like Elijah handed over to Elisha. Essien on his own part performed many miracles.
"As a result of the gift of healing which our church leaders are endowed with we don't go to hospital and we don't take drugs. In any branch of our church, we always have a place for the sick. The drug that the people there take is prayer and they are being healed. Let me use myself for an example. In 1980, I was sick and I was taken to our church in Shogunle. By then Bishop Essien was on tour of the Eastern part of the country.
The ministers prayed for me and I was not healed, so they took me to the hospital. The medical doctor there diagnosed me and said that nothing was wrong with me but still I was not alright. Then Bishop Essien was called and he came and met me on the hospital bed. He laid his hand on me and said that my name should be changed. Previously, my name was Osadebe and he said that my name should be changed to Isaiah. He called me the name three times and I answered. He then told me to stand up and go. Instantly I was healed". Essien would be buried in March.