Ibiaku Issiet Community in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has been thrown into tears following the eternal exit of their prominent son, Senior Apostle Tom Etim from the earth.
Until his demise, Apostle Etim was the Founder and General Overseer of Power Tower Mission International, PTMI. He died after a brief illness.
A press release by Innocent Bassey, Secretary, Church Management Board bemoaned the exit of the clergyman.
Also read: Former AKHA member, soccer star in Akwa Ibom passes on
A former member of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bassey Etim said the death of his senior brother was ‘’shocking,’’ adding that he had visited him in the hospital.
According to him, he prayed with him before travelling to Abuja, only to be informed on the telephone that he had passed on.
Popularly known as BAFIL, Mr. Etim described the late brother as a committed Christian who lived for the betterment of others.
“My late brother was a committed Christian to the core. After church service, he will make sure that tithes and offerings are shared to all physically challenged persons in the church. You need to see how they will line to collect their and he will make sure it goes round to everyone,’’ the younger brother to the deceased said.
Meanwhile, Rev. Innocent Bassey, Secretary, Church Management Board in a press release bemoaned the exit ‘‘His death left us, the family, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and indeed the entire public with a great sense of loss. Surely, this is the will of God and glorious exit indeed.
‘‘The late Senior Apostle Tom Etim is the immediate past Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Oron Chapter, where he served for two consecutive terms.
He was also the immediate elder brother to the former National Assembly member, Rt. Hon. Bassey Etim popularly known as BAFIL.
At the grassroots, Senior Apostle Tom Etim made tremendous impacts in reaching out to his people through preaching the undiluted message of Christ and instituting life-touching programmes aimed at uplifting the people and by extension improving the economic fortunes of his community.
The deceased was also the Chairman, Organization of African Instituted Churches, Oron chapter, the state Welfare Officer of the organization; Chairman Board of Trustees of Nigerian Christian Youths in politics; Chaplain for National Women in Agriculture and Environmental Protection; Chaplain of Transparency and Accountability Center and a member of Nigerian, American Christian Peace Movement; Weldon Christian Messengers, USA.
A renown philanthropist, he was also the Grand Patron of Akwa Ibom State Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, Apostle Etim was also a member of the Management Board of BAFIL Petroleum.
The International Headquarters of PTMI is located in his community and this explains why the village unanimously decided to name the longest street in the community after the church.
The funeral service is slated for December 23, 2022 at the Prayer Tower City, Prayer Tower Avenue, opposite Dakkada Luxury Estate, along Airport Road, Ibiaku Issiet by 10 a.m. prompt.
