By Ita Williams
The Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has charged the outgoing Associate Minister of Asin Ufot, Efut Parish, Rev. Patience Odor Ateb, to remain faithful to her calling and uphold the Christian faith as she begins a new phase of ministry.
Speaking at her send-forth service, the guest minister, Rt. Rev. David Toyokeke Oka urged Ateb to remain steadfast and model her future ministry on Apostle Paul’s final exhortation to “fight the good fight of faith.”
He encouraged her to continue serving God with dedication, integrity and commitment, regardless of the challenges ahead.
Taking his text from 2 Timothy 4, he read: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.”
He said the sermon was not framed as a farewell but as a template for the ministry ahead.
“As you begin this new ministry, remember that your calling is to serve Christ faithfully to the end,” Rt. Rev. Toyokeke said, and charged her to “Preach God’s Word without compromise, lead with humility and integrity, and seek the Lord’s approval rather than human praise.”
He added a cautionary note against the dangers of success, advising the outgoing minister to “remain watchful against pride and temptation, guard the faith entrusted to you, and stay steadfast in prayer and obedience to God’s Word.”
The Minister-in-charge of the parish, Most Rev. Daniel E. Etim, in his remarks, described the transfer as a “strategic expansion” of her calling rather than a departure from God’s will, thanking Rev. Patience for her diligence.
The chairman of the occasion, Eld. Hon. Amb. Justina Edem, described the celebrant as a “fulfilling woman of God whose qualities would be sorely missed”
Comrade Ita Williams, who represented the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Archibong Bassey, said the celebrant had consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the spiritual wellbeing and safety of journalists.
“Her desire has been to bring journalists to the throne of grace, praying against death and violence against them in the course of their constitutional duty,” Williams said.
Rev. Patience herself urged fellow ministers to embrace humility as a precondition for divine favour.
“When you humble yourself, the Lord will elevate and place you above,” she said, and noted, “As a minister, when you serve God faithfully and wholeheartedly without compromise, you will never go unrewarded.”
Her husband, Very Rev. Ateb A. Odor, described the day as “a dream come true” and advised colleagues to “preach Christ and direct people to salvation.”
He also issued an unequivocal defence of female clergy, arguing that divine calling overrides human restriction.
“Anyone that God calls into His vineyard, He has already prepared such a vessel for the message of the kingdom. Depriving a vessel from answering the call of God is like depriving the message of God from being spread,” he stated.
