Two prominent persons were on Sunday honoured with Luther Ambassador International award by the Lutheran Church of Nigeria.
They are Elder Effiong Essien, the Akwa Ibom State Head of the Civil Service, and Dr. Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for International Development Cooperation in Cross River State.
Luther Ambassador International is the highest honour of Lutheran Church of Nigeria usually conferred on some deserving members as a means of encouraging them to render greater services to the church and humanity.
The investiture was performed at Luther Hall, Obot Idim in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, the National headquarters of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria as part of the National special Thanksgiving Service to usher in the New Year.
The National President of the church, Most Rev Christian Ekong noted that the award symbolises sacred responsibilities and God’s call for them to serve Him in that capacity.
Ekong who is also the Archbishop of the Church said that the choice of Elder Essien and Dr Asibong was borne out of their contributions at various levels to the service of God and humanity.
The clergyman congratulated the awardees on their Investiture, praying God to strengthen them to continue to extend their philanthropic disposition to the downtrodden globally.
In his sermon on the theme Called by Christ to Bear Fruit, ArchBishop Ekong said the church begins its year by marking the feast of the baptism of Jesus Christ that signalled His earthly ministry.
The baptism of Jesus Christ, he noted, dispelled darkness, brought light to the world, bound the broken hearted, eliminated fear and provided hope and redemption for Christians.
Reacting to the investiture, Elder Essien, the Head of Civil Service, and Dr. Inyang Asibong, led in the Thanksgiving session, thanking God for elevating them to the position of Luther Ambassadors International.
They thanked the church for the honour done them and prayed God to guide, direct and lead them to record global impact as Luther Ambassadors.
The ceremony was witnessed by some members of State Executive Council including the Dean of Commissioners and Special Advisers, Dr. Glory Edet; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong as well as the Dean, College of Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Uduak Iwoh.
