Uyo – Josephine Ikpo, the General Overseer, Christ Sermon Light International Mission Uyo, has advised parents and the youth to continually seek ways for peaceful and harmonious co-existence in homes and the larger society.
Ikpo gave the advice in a sermon to mark the Children’s Day of the Church on Sunday in Uyo.
Ikpo said that children, who would not respect their parents at home, would hardly respect the laws of the land or be God-fearing.
Similarly, the General Overseer of the Pentecostal Church, also advised parents to uphold their responsibility to discipline their wards and nurture them to be God-fearing and embrace peaceful co-existence.
The prelate, who took the sermon from the book of Proverbs and and Ephesians, also urged parents to administer discipline in love.
She said that parents should bring up their children “in the ways of the Lord ‘’ and should not, in the guise of discipline, foist child abuse on their wards.
Ikpo said: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right; if you desire to go to Heaven. A child who is not disciplined bring shame to the mother.
“Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
“And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.’’
The prelate also urged parents to provide for their children because “according to the Scriptures, a lazy person will come to want, make excuses for not working’’.
“A good man leaves inheritance for his household,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Children’s Day of the Church was marked with Bible quizzes, competitions, Bible reading, drama, recitations, jokes and debate.
The occasion was also marked with parental encouragement and donations encouraged by evangelism drive. (NAN)