By Danjuma Auta
Christians have been enjoined to always avoid negativity and live lives that will speak for them even after death.
The ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Sabo Nmadu, who was guest speaker at the dedication of the book on the life and times of the late theologian and evangelist, Dr. Byang Kato, gave this advice at the Charles Frame Chapel, ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos, venue of the event.
Taking his reading from Deuteronomy 34:1-34, the cleric stated that Byang Kato, who lived and died alone in the Kenyan ocean, was like Moses who lived a fulfilled life and died alone in the wilderness.
According to him, Christians should realis realize that just as they come into the world alone, so would they go back to the creator alone – without the crowds at their burials.
He said that Kato’s death had been arranged by God and nobody could question Him over that adding that he did everything with great determinations so as to be remembered positively.
ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Panya Baba, stated that Kato was a great asset to Christendom as he transformed the Church and humanity as a whole.
Represented by the ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, Rev. Baba maintained that ECWA would ever remain grateful to Byang Kato and his contemporaries for working tirelessly in the Lord’s vineyard which had yielded a lot of fruits for the kingdom of God.
He noted that the dedication and presentation of the book, “Byang H. Kato, Theologian and Evangelist,’’ was coming at the right time as a lot of history was being forgotten by many church leaders and members and thanked the author for allowing God to use him to write such an historic and theological work for the benefit of all.
Earlier in his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Gen. M.L Agwai (rtd), described Kato as a committed, godly and hard working leader who served God with zeal and resilience and called on Christians to emulate him.
While presenting the book to the public, Prof. Jerry Gana praised the author for doing a thorough job in capturing the life and times of Dr. Kato who touched and transformed many lives when he was guest preacher at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He added that Kato was an intelligent man with a continental appeal and global acceptance who was always digesting and explaining the word of God passionately and accurately.
The author, Rev. Peter Sabo, explained that he was inspired to write about Byang Kato because of his contributions to the growth of the gospel of Christ, adding that he planned to continue working to bring back the memories of all the giants of the Christian faith within and outside Nigeria.
He charged gifted writers not to be discouraged by the decline in the reading culture and called on pastors get involved in writing books.
There were goodwill messages from NEF, the Kpop Ham, Mallam Danladi Gyet Maude, JETS, ECWA Education Department and ECWA Women Fellowship International, among others.